Varied roles for aircraft in campaigns

[FodderMonkey]

I know nothing about programming nor how BOS is put together, so I apologize if it’s not even possible to do this (and if anyone has already asked), but I would like to see more flexibility to use aircraft in different roles. For example, campaigns generated for the Pe-2 or Ju-88 as a dive bomber, or at least having some missions for these aircraft generated as such in a regular campaign; using the A-20 in a dedicated ground attack role instead of level bomber, etc. 

Otherwise, PWCG is far superior to the campaign generator included in-game and I appreciate all the work you’re putting into it!

[PatrickAWlson]

They do.  Pe2 and Ju88 squadrons will perform dive bomb attacks 10% of the time. 

 

Not aware of the use of the A20 as a ground attack plane.  Easy enough to make it so but how will the AI react?  At any rate all bomber units have a chance to fly low altitude bombing missions as well as missions at the usual altitude.  

 

Mission types are defined by squadron roles, which in turn are dependent on the planes being able to carry out those roles.  Me109 units generally have only 10% ground attack where FW190 fighter units are 20%.  Dedicated FW190 ground attack units are 100%.  P-47 units are 40-50 percent ground attack, P51 units less.  Russian fighter units vary in a similar fashion.  The allocation of roles is meant to combine history and fun - i.e. a unit will do what it did historically the vast majority of the time but some ahistorical stuff is thrown in for fun.

 

These are the roles a unit might have.  A unit may have multiple roles at the same time.

    ROLE_FIGHTER (RoleCategory.FIGHTER, "Fighter"),
    ROLE_STRATEGIC_INTERCEPT (RoleCategory.FIGHTER, "Interceptor"),
    ROLE_SEA_PLANE (RoleCategory.RECON, "Sea Plane"),
    ROLE_SEA_PLANE_SMALL (RoleCategory.FIGHTER, "Sea Plane Interceptor"),

    ROLE_ATTACK (RoleCategory.ATTACK, "Attack"),
    ROLE_DIVE_BOMB (RoleCategory.ATTACK, "Dive Bomb"),    
    ROLE_RECON (RoleCategory.RECON, "Recon"),
    ROLE_ARTILLERY_SPOT (RoleCategory.RECON, "Artillery Spot"),
    ROLE_SEA_PLANE_LARGE (RoleCategory.FIGHTER, "Interceptor"),

    ROLE_BOMB (RoleCategory.BOMBER, "Bomber"),
    ROLE_STRAT_BOMB (RoleCategory.BOMBER, "Strategic Bomber"),

    ROLE_TRANSPORT (RoleCategory.TRANSPORT, "Transport"),
 

These are the flight types that a flight may have:

    PATROL(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    OFFENSIVE(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    INTERCEPT(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    STRATEGIC_INTERCEPT(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    SCRAMBLE(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    LONE_WOLF(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    ESCORT(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    SCRAMBLE_OPPOSE(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER), 
    LOW_ALT_CAP(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    LOW_ALT_PATROL(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    BALLOON_BUST(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    BALLOON_DEFENSE(FlightTypeCategory.FIGHTER),
    GROUND_ATTACK(FlightTypeCategory.ATTACK),
    BOMB(FlightTypeCategory.BOMB),
    LOW_ALT_BOMB(FlightTypeCategory.BOMB),
    DIVE_BOMB(FlightTypeCategory.BOMB),

    CONTACT_PATROL(FlightTypeCategory.SINGLE),
    ARTILLERY_SPOT(FlightTypeCategory.SINGLE),
    RECON(FlightTypeCategory.SINGLE),
    SPY_EXTRACT(FlightTypeCategory.SINGLE),

    CARGO_DROP(FlightTypeCategory.TRANSPORT),
    PARATROOP_DROP(FlightTypeCategory.TRANSPORT),
    TRANSPORT(FlightTypeCategory.TRANSPORT),
    FERRY(FlightTypeCategory.TRANSPORT),

    STRATEGIC_BOMB(FlightTypeCategory.STRATEGIC),
 

Now combine those with various target types:

    TARGET_INFANTRY("infantry", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_SOFT),
    TARGET_TRANSPORT("transport units", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_SOFT),
    TARGET_TRAIN("train", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_ARMORED),
    TARGET_SHIPPING("shipping", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_HEAVY),
    TARGET_DRIFTER("transport barges", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_MEDIUM),
    TARGET_AIRFIELD("airfield", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_MEDIUM),

    TARGET_BALLOON("balloon", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_AIR_TO_AIR),

    TARGET_BRIDGE("bridge", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_STRATEGIC),

    TARGET_RAIL("railway facility", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_STRATEGIC),
    TARGET_FACTORY("factory", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_STRATEGIC),
    TARGET_CITY("city", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_STRATEGIC), 
    TARGET_PORT("port facility", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_STRATEGIC),
    TARGET_AIR("aircraft", TargetCategory.TARGET_CATEGORY_AIR_TO_AIR);
 

and that is the variety of missions that might be generated

 

[FodderMonkey]

Excellent info; thanks for the response!