Did you know that...

[Varibraun]

For anyone with some time on your hands right now, I thought it might be helpful to the community to post some things that make your "IL-2 life" better.  I could post a long list, but will keep it at a couple of my favorite "immersion features" to get us started (I look very forward to seeing what others have to say):

 

1.  Did you know that...Over the past 18 months, @PatrickAWlson and @Murleen have completely re-worked PWCG and created a "Dynamic Squadron Simulation" (my term, not Pat's) that can track your squadrons and pilots over the course of the war in both theaters?  (For those who don't know, Patrick Wilson is an amazingly talented programmer who created "Patrick Wilson's Campaign Generator" for RoF years ago.  PWCG is a great career complement to the BoX in-game SP career, and the only career simulation available for FC right now - plus it now provides a full coop option for both.  It is easy to download and runs as a free-standing Java program side by side with the game, just using Alt-Tab between the programs through an in-game mission that it generates). 

 

Here are just a few of the PWCG features:

 

-Fly multiple squadrons & pilots in the same career/war.  Even in SP you can have multiple pilots active at the same time and then decide which country, squadron, pilot, A/C you want to fly each flight.  Fighter today/bomber tomorrow - this provides great variety while progressing through the war.  (Your own pilots can even be competing to hit the top 10 on the Aces Board). 

 

-Campaigns track the squadrons regardless of the human pilot's fate.  So you can play Ironman, but not lose the progress in the war and within the squadron if/when you were a little to close to that flying debris in your last kill.  If you want to keep flying with that squadron, you just create a new replacement to fly with them from that point forward.

 

-Campaigns track every pilot through the war, including the AI.  Each Squadron has a log tracking the history of the squadron and it's pilots.  The log is persistent and tracks even if there isn't a human pilot there.  So, if you add a pilot to that squadron, you can review its prior history going back to the beginning of the campaign.

 

-Transfer pilots between squadrons and allies.  Ever thought your P-51 hotshot should do an exchange tour with the RAF? Now he can try his hand in a Spitfire or Tempest.

 

-Dynamic replacement of both pilots and A/C.  If a squadron loses too many A/C or pilots, it will be out of action awaiting replacements from the depot.

 

-AI progression - novice through ace level.  Keeping those young rookies alive in your squadron is important, especially if you can help them get 5 kills to move them to ace level AI.  Pat has even assigned squadron's different starting level AI depending on the nationality and point in war.  (Want a challenge, try flying P-40s in 1941 when even your Squadron Commander is a novice).

 

-Multiple Adjustable Squadron Flight Paths available in the mission planning screen (especially helpful to the Coop mission squadrons coordinating the bomber runs).

 

-Much more that I could add here, but you get the point...this in not your father's WWI PWCG (which was already great back in RoF).  Right now, this is almost the only way I play.

Spoiler

 

 

 

2.  Did you know that...The Team and @Andre now literally let you fly by the seat of your pants? 

 

By Jason giving access to the team's API, Andre's "SimShaker Wings" software (with the easy addition of a Buttkicker, or other similar product, or if you have a few more bucks, Andre's own Jetpad) brings an amazing tactile FEEL of flight & combat.  The jarring impact of hits, the shudder of the deployed flaps & landing gear, and actually riding the edge of the stall in a turn through my office chair undoubtedly make me a better virtual pilot in addition to the immersion they bring.

 

I couldn't believe the difference this simple addition made to the whole experience the Team created - it makes the detail in their work shine even more.  I became completely convinced in Andre's genius a couple of weeks ago when my Buttkicker lost connection.  Even though I still had sound, I initially thought my engine had cut out and I went from a WWII combat A/C to a glider.  I realized that I honestly wouldn't want to fly without it now.  (Caveat, I only fly in VR which I am sure enhances the effect, but I have to imagine this still adds a great immersion regardless).

 

Spoiler

 

 

I hope others from this great community will have some nice additions to this list.  AKA - You don't know what you don't know until you know...

[Velxra]

I guess I didnt know until I knew. Who would have known!

[The_Grim_1]

You have said everything I've been too lazy to write myself. PWCG is a godsend and Andres Sim Shaker with a buttkicker is the best  non-essential / quality of life / this money is burning at hole in my pocket, improvement I could have made. As far as hardware value goes for me:

1) head tracking ( bonus points for VR)

2) quality joystick

3) Andre software with a buttkicker.

 

Flying Sims take up more of my time than any hobby right now. As such, sometimes I feel like investing in this but as a VR player there's no point in me upgrading my cockpit because I can't see it. The Sim Shaker software added a physical experience that gives the game a whole new depth almost as much as VR did. Is a bonus if you play other games such as first person shooters. it's amazing feeling grenades go off around you and rifle shots. The artillery in squad and postscriptum is downright terrifying now. Please don't be mistaken and thinking that it vibrates, it doesn't. It actually moves you up and down with varying intensities. I can feel my landing gear rolling on the ground very differently than I can feel that same landing gear folding up or the shock of a shell on my aircraft or even the onset of a stall in high AOA. It's more of a piston than a vibrator.

 

If you have VR you absolutely have to download The 3dmigoto mod. It makes up for the resolution and spotting shortcomings of VR, as well as adds a whole bunch of quality life improvements. It gives you the same zoom settings that 2D players get which is amazing for scanning the sky and identification. It also does little things like allow you to dim the map when flying at night or adding knee boards because you can't glance at reference material with a headset on.  If you have a VR and you try 3dmigoto you will never go back.

Edited April 20, 2020 by The_Grim_1

[Lusekofte]

Yes I try to find a good career and that take time

I think I give patrick another go

[PatrickAWlson]

Thanks to @Varibraun.  I have been wanting to post a PWCG update in the main section for awhile.  After four months of rework the goal was accomplished - PWCG is easier to change.  In less than two months since 7 feature releases have been produced.

 

1. PWCG 8.7.0 was just released a minute ago.  With 8.7.0 eastern front 1944 and 1945 are in (use Stalingrad and Bodenplatte maps respectively).  You can now fly eastern front from Oct 1941 to the end of the war.
   1. Yes, Russian pilots will be flying 1943 planes ... let's hope for more collectors.
2. PWCG has high altitude intercepts.  The Me262 campaign with JV44 now focuses on these intercepts.
3. Varibraun did a good job of explaining multiple personas in a campaign.  I like fighters, but at times it's nice to do something different.  TBH I don't want to fly a Ju52 every day for three years, but when I do i just switch personas and fly Tante Ju for a bit.  Same campaign, just step into different shoes as you like.
4. PWCG has supported coop for awhile.  Latest allows the host to edit all friendly missions.
5. PWCG has a WWI campaign for FC.
6. The 8.x.x releases have constantly improved mission making.  IMHO the missions are more fun than ever.
   1. Key PWCG feature: Virtual Way Points.  They are basically a mechanism for making AI flights move without putting them on the map.  With this the AI comes to you as well as you going to it.  It allows scenarios where airplanes show up unexpectedly, maybe saving the day, maybe putting you from the pan into the fire. 

So, if any of you are curious, PWCG is a free download.  Installation is as simple as unzip it and make sure you have 64 bit Java installed.  If you don't like it, delete the folder and it's gone.  My guess is that most people are flying within 30 minutes of downloading it.

[Tycoon]

22 hours ago, Varibraun said:

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

 

2.  Did you know that...The Team and @Andre now literally let you fly by the seat of your pants? 

 

By Jason giving access to the team's API, Andre's "SimShaker Wings" software (with the easy addition of a Buttkicker, or other similar product, or if you have a few more bucks, Andre's own Jetpad) brings an amazing tactile FEEL of flight & combat.  The jarring impact of hits, the shudder of the deployed flaps & landing gear, and actually riding the edge of the stall in a turn through my office chair undoubtedly make me a better virtual pilot in addition to the immersion they bring.

 

I couldn't believe the difference this simple addition made to the whole experience the Team created - it makes the detail in their work shine even more.  I became completely convinced in Andre's genius a couple of weeks ago when my Buttkicker lost connection.  Even though I still had sound, I initially thought my engine had cut out and I went from a WWII combat A/C to a glider.  I realized that I honestly wouldn't want to fly without it now.  (Caveat, I only fly in VR which I am sure enhances the effect, but I have to imagine this still adds a great immersion regardless).

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

 

Did this come out fairly recently? I was looking at the buttkicker a while ago and people were saying it wasn't worth it for il2 because it could only interpret sound levels not actual input from the game.

[Taxman]

Right now I am waiting to D/L 8.7.   Used 8.6 for a few days and what an improvement.  I really like the the flexibility PWCG provides.  Right now I have 5 different campaigns going and each one provides its own surprises.  

 

Thank you Pat and Varobraun for your work on PWCG what a great mod.

[Varibraun]

52 minutes ago, Tycoon said:

Did this come out fairly recently? I was looking at the buttkicker a while ago and people were saying it wasn't worth it for il2 because it could only interpret sound levels not actual input from the game.

 

Yes - and it makes a huge difference!  Jason's announcement here:

 

52 minutes ago, Taxman said:

Thank you Pat and Varobraun for your work on PWCG what a great mod.

 

No credit to me, my only "contribution" was begging Pat to make the multi-squadrons available in SP as well as Coop.  I think he finally just got tired of my whining and added it.  Pat & Murleen have done amazing work, and we should really thank @Jason_Williams for his vision in supporting PWCG along the way.

 

[Taxman]

1 hour ago, Varibraun said:

 

 

 

 

No credit to me, my only "contribution" was begging Pat to make the multi-squadrons available in SP as well as Coop.  I think he finally just got tired of my whining and added it.  Pat & Murleen have done amazing work, and we should really thank @Jason_Williams for his vision in supporting PWCG along the way.

 

Ops sorry about that I did mean Murleen and of course Pat.  I wonder if we should start a thank you topic for Jason and crew? I do believe that there have been in the past and it may be time for a new one.  BTW Varibranun thank you for your "begging" to Pat.

[Varibraun]

On 4/21/2020 at 1:28 PM, PatrickAWlson said:

With 8.7.0 eastern front 1944 and 1945 are in (use Stalingrad and Bodenplatte maps respectively).  You can now fly eastern front from Oct 1941 to the end of the war.

 

Thank you Pat - Great new feature!  Now I really can't wait for the new collector a/c with Hurricane on one end and Yak-9 on the other!

 

On 4/20/2020 at 5:46 PM, The_Grim_1 said:

If you have VR you absolutely have to download The 3dmigoto mod. It makes up for the resolution and spotting shortcomings of VR, as well as adds a whole bunch of quality life improvements. It gives you the same zoom settings that 2D players get which is amazing for scanning the sky and identification. It also does little things like allow you to dim the map when flying at night or adding knee boards because you can't glance at reference material with a headset on.  If you have a VR and you try 3dmigoto you will never go back.

 

Yes, @c6_lefuneste work definitely needs to be on this "things to know" post for VR players.  Thank you @The_Grim_1 for that addition.