Changes and tweaks to career mode

[LukeFF]

14 minutes ago, ROTER_BART said:

Hi Luke,

 

Do you know if there are there any plans to include Ju 52 careers for Normandy?

 

I looked for any Ju 52 units that would have been in Normandy but couldn't find any. ?

[ROTER_BART]

2 hours ago, LukeFF said:

I looked for any Ju 52 units that would have been in Normandy but couldn't find any.

Oh well, thanks anyway.

[l_commando]

I'm about 20 missions into a P-51 career so far and here are some additional things I've noticed:

 

1. AI B-26 squadrons seem to have a difficult time staying in formation. They are often very spread out and vary wildly in altitudes. B-25 squadrons don't seem to have this problem.

 

2. A few times my squadron's escort pattern didn't trigger and we all flew in a tall, straight stack formation.

 

3. My squadron mates haven't been very proactive in engaging aircraft attacking our bombers. They often simply ignore them until it's far too late.

 

4. All German Bf-109s spawn in with gun pods no matter what kind of mission they seem to be on.

 

5. Is there a way to make P-51 squadrons have a mixture of Malcolm Hoods and standard cockpits?

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, l_commando said:

Is there a way to make P-51 squadrons have a mixture of Malcolm Hoods and standard cockpits?

 

Unfortunately not - the game chooses a loadout based on the mission code number and so can't/won't mix things like Malcolm hoods.

 

There's also the issue that American and British P-51 squadrons share the same mission codes, so what would look right for the Americans would look wrong for the British, since they retrofitted pretty much all their P-51B/Cs with Malcolm Hoods.

 

B-26s - yes, it's been reported a few times about their erratic formation behavior. If/when you see this issue again (or the other things you mentioned), please attach the _gen.mission file from /data/missions in the Technical Issues forum - that's the best way for the developers to see the issue.

Edited September 10, 2022 by LukeFF

[Mtnbiker1998]

On 9/9/2022 at 8:15 PM, LukeFF said:

 

Okay, thanks, I'll see what I can do. ??

from my own personal (and purely aesthetic) standpoint, I think the OD green in general would be a better choice for Normandy aircraft. At the very least it "feels" more right than Bare metal this Early in the campaign, plus it gives Normandy a bit more of a unique identity compared to Bodenplatte's bare metal birds. 

 

IIRC in Bud Anderson's memoir he mentions the OD green not coming off his Mustang until Winter 44. That could just be the 357th though, maybe even just his own personal aircraft too.

[FoxbatRU]

I don't know enough about the air battles over Normandy yet. Please tell me what aircraft could be added to the Allies and the Germans during the career of Normandy? As flying and as targets. Of those that were not included in the official set. But so that it was more or less justified historically. For example, how to add Yak-1, LaGG-3, Yu-87D to BoM or Yak-1b, Yak-7 to BoS. I want to make a small mod. Or perhaps there is some kind of book specifically on the aviation part of the battle in Normandy?

[LukeFF]

32 minutes ago, FoxbatRU said:

I don't know enough about the air battles over Normandy yet. Please tell me what aircraft could be added to the Allies and the Germans during the career of Normandy? As flying and as targets. Of those that were not included in the official set. But so that it was more or less justified historically. For example, how to add Yak-1, LaGG-3, Yu-87D to BoM or Yak-1b, Yak-7 to BoS. I want to make a small mod. Or perhaps there is some kind of book specifically on the aviation part of the battle in Normandy?

 

I think you'd be better off asking this in the Mods section. ?

[FoxbatRU]

I will make the mod myself. I'd like a little historical advice. I know that the developers do not add aircraft to the career if the modifications are slightly different (for example, like the Yak-1 and LaGG-3 for Moscow). Perhaps someone advised me that this is historically more or less true to add to Normandy?

[Guest deleted@219798]

Since the update flying Yak-1 in BOS the only missions are ground attack. Although air activity is set at scattered our flight mostly runs into 1 or 2 enemy fighter groups, so bombs get ditched before reaching the target. If our regiment is only flying ground attack missions, are Sturmoviks and Pe-2 flying without escorts?

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, kestrel444x500 said:

Since the update flying Yak-1 in BOS the only missions are ground attack. Although air activity is set at scattered our flight mostly runs into 1 or 2 enemy fighter groups, so bombs get ditched before reaching the target. If our regiment is only flying ground attack missions, are Sturmoviks and Pe-2 flying without escorts?

 

I'll have to check and see if something is amiss. What date(s) does this happen, and what unit is this?

 

EDIT: I'm guessing this is late November / December 1942? If so, yes, missions are weighted heavily towards ground attack at that time, in accordance with mission summary tables that are published in Black Cross / Red Star.

 

As for Pe-2s and Il-2s, no, they still have escorts. It's a separate mission template.

Edited September 21, 2022 by LukeFF

[Guest deleted@219798]

Date for these missions is 17th Dec and before. Unit is 296th regiment. It's not that missions are weighted to ground attack all missions are ground attack and nothing else. During the air bridge phase there were no missions to attack German transports.

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, kestrel444x500 said:

Date for these missions is 17th Dec and before. Unit is 296th regiment. It's not that missions are weighted to ground attack all missions are ground attack and nothing else. During the air bridge phase there were no missions to attack German transports.

 

Got it. ?? Yes, I had a look at the files - the missions during this time are heavily weighted towards ground attack, which is another way of saying the files are set up to choose ground attack missions more than anything else. 

 

That said, I'll run some tests of my own and see what sort of missions I'm given with this unit. There's always the chance I missed something somewhere. ?

 

Regarding attacking transports - unfortunately, that mission type is not yet in career mode. 

[Guest deleted@219798]

17 hours ago, LukeFF said:

 

Got it. ?? Yes, I had a look at the files - the missions during this time are heavily weighted towards ground attack, which is another way of saying the files are set up to choose ground attack missions more than anything else. 

 

That said, I'll run some tests of my own and see what sort of missions I'm given with this unit. There's always the chance I missed something somewhere. ?

 

Regarding attacking transports - unfortunately, that mission type is not yet in career mode. 

Thanks for the prompt replies.

[FoxbatRU]

I fly at an average level of difficulty and maximum saturation in the career of the RAF and USAF. I drew attention to the fact that the Germans have very weak air defense. Few anti-aircraft guns, few rapid-fire anti-aircraft guns. Please tell me, was it really like that? Will this change after D-Day? As far as I know, on the eastern front in 1944, the air defense was very strong (few planes, many anti-aircraft guns).

[LukeFF]

5 hours ago, FoxbatRU said:

I fly at an average level of difficulty and maximum saturation in the career of the RAF and USAF. I drew attention to the fact that the Germans have very weak air defense. Few anti-aircraft guns, few rapid-fire anti-aircraft guns. Please tell me, was it really like that? Will this change after D-Day? As far as I know, on the eastern front in 1944, the air defense was very strong (few planes, many anti-aircraft guns).

 

The number of AA guns is tied to the difficulty level, so to see the max that the mission templates will show you'll have to choose Max difficulty.

Edited September 24, 2022 by LukeFF

[FoxbatRU]

OK. I'll have to set the maximum. I was just confused in it that often the enemy has too many planes (at the maximum level).
And what is the parameter responsible for, the saturation of the battlefield? Just for the number of ground connections on the map or for something else?

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, FoxbatRU said:

OK. I'll have to set the maximum. I was just confused in it that often the enemy has too many planes (at the maximum level).
And what is the parameter responsible for, the saturation of the battlefield? Just for the number of ground connections on the map or for something else?

 

For the density of the front line targets, you need to adjust the Density of Front Line Activity setting. And yes, that parameter doesn't have any direct effect on AA guns.

[tattywelshie]

Just started an RAF career on Battle of Normandy and on two separate occasions the flight leader issued orders to taxi to runway, and sure enough, off he taxid back onto the runway he’d come from, none of the other members of the flight taxid and took off normally, bizarre! 

[Letka_13/Arrow_]

On 9/24/2022 at 7:14 PM, FoxbatRU said:

OK. I'll have to set the maximum. I was just confused in it that often the enemy has too many planes (at the maximum level).
And what is the parameter responsible for, the saturation of the battlefield? Just for the number of ground connections on the map or for something else?

I also see this as a problem, because as a ground attack pilot this is generating missions where I have only a few escorts and we are always intercepted by an overwhelming force making ground attack basically impossible and getting my whole flight wiped out  I would just like to see historical opposition - usually only a few LW planes or good number of escorts and a lot of ground FLAK.

[justin_z3r0]

Had a strange one this eve.

Normandy - Aug 2 1944. 412 sqn. difficulty = hard

tasked with intercepting incoming attackers.

we find the FW190s easily and attack. before you know it - BF109 enter too. But.. P38s as well. So I'm thinking - OK we can handle this. intense dogfight all over at 1000-2500 ft.

I get hit but still flyable so try to help squadmates anyways. I get hit some more.

skies still seem full of aircraft so continue to try to fight. but then I dont see any p38s anymore... strange. mustve all been shot down.

then I am hit again. this time having to bail.

as I float down I SHIFT + f2 and CTRL + f2 around to see what going on. only 3 very damged spitfires left on the friendly side, and MANY 109s and 190 left. some damaged, some not.

I make it to ground and view after action report. No downed P38s though... strange.

 

Are aircraft being despawned more frequently / at shorter distances than before?

I cant believe we went form fairly even terms to completely outnumbered so quickly - without any American aircraft registered as going down. and none left in the air.

 

The entire mission was ~ 9 min from takeoff to bailing out.

 

Edited October 7, 2022 by justin_z3r0

[LukeFF]

7 hours ago, justin_z3r0 said:

Had a strange one this eve.

Normandy - Aug 2 1944. 412 sqn. difficulty = hard

tasked with intercepting incoming attackers.

we find the FW190s easily and attack. before you know it - BF109 enter too. But.. P38s as well. So I'm thinking - OK we can handle this. intense dogfight all over at 1000-2500 ft.

I get hit but still flyable so try to help squadmates anyways. I get hit some more.

skies still seem full of aircraft so continue to try to fight. but then I dont see any p38s anymore... strange. mustve all been shot down.

then I am hit again. this time having to bail.

as I float down I SHIFT + f2 and CTRL + f2 around to see what going on. only 3 very damged spitfires left on the friendly side, and MANY 109s and 190 left. some damaged, some not.

I make it to ground and view after action report. No downed P38s though... strange.

 

Are aircraft being despawned more frequently / at shorter distances than before?

I cant believe we went form fairly even terms to completely outnumbered so quickly - without any American aircraft registered as going down. and none left in the air.

 

The entire mission was ~ 9 min from takeoff to bailing out.

 

 

It sounds like there might be a despawning issue, yes. I'd post a report about in the troubleshooting section.

[LukeFF]

Besides the introduction of tactical codes in this latest update, one other significant change made to career mode is the initial experience ratings of AI pilots. I can't do anything about oddities like transport and bomber pilots having a bunch of aircraft kills on their record, but now the initial stats should be more varied than they were before. In particular, higher-ranked pilots should have more experience than before - German pilots, for example, are now more likely to have more medals at the higher rank levels like Oberleutnant and Hauptmann.

 

And, of course, all the new stock skins are worked into the various units and campaigns wherever possible.

[Guest deleted@219798]

I don't know about other planes but the tactical codes for the Yak-1 are plonked right on the red star on the left side. If there are 2 numbers it effects both sides. As these are applied by default to career planes there's no way to fix it.

[FL_Valkyrie]

Would it be possible to enable the editing of the First Waypoint for Bomber/attacker escort missions the same way you can do with all others?, Would really cut down on transit time when having Airstarts enabled.

[LukeFF]

3 hours ago, JG2_Nagisa said:

Would it be possible to enable the editing of the First Waypoint for Bomber/attacker escort missions the same way you can do with all others?, Would really cut down on transit time when having Airstarts enabled.

 

That would be something for the mission developers to adjust. 

[Ram399]

So, while I am extremely happy about the implementation of the new tactical codes and the immersion they bring to the game, I have to ask.

Is there a way to turn them off when utilizing custom skins?

I regularly fly in career mode using a custom skin set which already includes ID numbers, and the additional codes being overlayed on them is jarring to say the least.  I suppose I could just remove them from the skins but I try to match certain pilots to certain codes (CO, TO, HBS, etc.) and would rather not have them become completely random.

If there isn't a way to turn them off currently, then might I innocuously ask where they're located in the config files?

[LukeFF]

20 minutes ago, Ram399 said:

So, while I am extremely happy about the implementation of the new tactical codes and the immersion they bring to the game, I have to ask.

Is there a way to turn them off when utilizing custom skins?

I regularly fly in career mode using a custom skin set which already includes ID numbers, and the additional codes being overlayed on them is jarring to say the least.  I suppose I could just remove them from the skins but I try to match certain pilots to certain codes (CO, TO, HBS, etc.) and would rather not have them become completely random.

If there isn't a way to turn them off currently, then might I innocuously ask where they're located in the config files?

 

They're in the Scripts.gtp file.

[Ram399]

2 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

They're in the Scripts.gtp file

Ah, I looked right past it like six times.  Thanks Luke.

[Monksilver]

My problem with BoN before the last update and after it is that unless I am assigned to the fly the first mission of the day I don't get to fly. If I'm chalked up to fly a later mission then as as soon as the first one is run my name is scrubbed out and replaced with someone else. I've had multiple days with no missions as a result. Anyone else gettign this?

[Regingrave-]

1 минуту назад, Monksilver сказал:

My problem with BoN before the last update and after it is that unless I am assigned to the fly the first mission of the day I don't get to fly. If I'm chalked up to fly a later mission then as as soon as the first one is run my name is scrubbed out and replaced with someone else. I've had multiple days with no missions as a result. Anyone else gettign this?

Seen some reports on this, but wasn't able to reproduce that myself. What theater, squadron and date?

[Ram399]

2 hours ago, LukeFF said:

They're in the Scripts.gtp file

I'm sure it'll be fixed but I've managed to resolve the problem for the time being.
Also I found a typo in the codes for squadron 201201 in Kuban, code_14 has an extra 3 added so that it is currently "%20L3%3b" (2nd aircraft in pic rel).
Overall the system works great however.

Spoiler

 

[Monksilver]

58 minutes ago, Regingrave said:

Seen some reports on this, but wasn't able to reproduce that myself. What theater, squadron and date?

Normandy. On realistic career speed.

 

With RAF throughout from the very start.

with 19 Sqn on starting

13 June moved to 222 Sqn

25 June - 610 Sqn

10 July 127 Sqn

11 July 345 Sqn

 

At first all was normal but my problems started after 24 May since then nothing unless I'm down for the first mission of the day. There was an exception on 3 June when I got to fly 2, I think that was because I was slated to do 2 missions from the off that day.

 

I am now on 26 July. From 25 May onwards I've flown just 14 missions.

 

I have another career for Luftwaffe in Kuban that I've had going for a few weeks before BoN came out and this is unaffected so I still get to fly missions later in the day. So it looks like it might be a BoN issue only.

 

[LukeFF]

54 minutes ago, Ram399 said:

I'm sure it'll be fixed but I've managed to resolve the problem for the time being.
Also I found a typo in the codes for squadron 201201 in Kuban, code_14 has an extra 3 added so that it is currently "%20L3%3b" (2nd aircraft in pic rel).
Overall the system works great however.

  Hide contents

 

 

Ok, thanks. ? I've corrected the file and sent it off for submission.

[Airborne506]

Just wondering, is there ever a chance for heavy "fighters" (ju88c6 or me410) to attack bombers on a bomber escort mission? I just did one for a P38 squadron that took us to the east near the base for 410's and JU88's but we only got attacked by 190's and 109's.

[LukeFF]

12 hours ago, Airborne506 said:

Just wondering, is there ever a chance for heavy "fighters" (ju88c6 or me410) to attack bombers on a bomber escort mission? I just did one for a P38 squadron that took us to the east near the base for 410's and JU88's but we only got attacked by 190's and 109's.

 

Not in this timeframe and not with this map, no. The Me 410 daylight bomber interceptor units were all based farther east, and the Ju 88 C-6 units weren't tasked with heavy bomber interception in the West. The latter's main role at that time was either daylight maritime patrol over the Channel or nighttime bomber interception of the RAF's heavy bombers.

[Mtnbiker1998]

We now have the beginnings of a community skinpack for career mode in the mods section, is there any chance we could get some kind of official support for squadron blanks? I think I recall hearing that there was such a thing for RoF, it would be awesome here especially with the new tactical codes.

 

I'm sure having an established official standard for squadron blanks would help the third party projects like PWCG and EMG aswell.

[9./JG52Gruber]

Should I be seeing collector planes as opponents in career mode? Ex. flying a 109 career in BoM will Hurricanes show up? 

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, 9./JG52Gruber said:

Should I be seeing collector planes as opponents in career mode? Ex. flying a 109 career in BoM will Hurricanes show up? 

 

Yes

[Monksilver]

On 10/13/2022 at 8:35 PM, Monksilver said:

Normandy. On realistic career speed.

 

With RAF throughout from the very start.

with 19 Sqn on starting

13 June moved to 222 Sqn

25 June - 610 Sqn

10 July 127 Sqn

11 July 345 Sqn

 

At first all was normal but my problems started after 24 May since then nothing unless I'm down for the first mission of the day. There was an exception on 3 June when I got to fly 2, I think that was because I was slated to do 2 missions from the off that day.

 

I am now on 26 July. From 25 May onwards I've flown just 14 missions.

 

I have another career for Luftwaffe in Kuban that I've had going for a few weeks before BoN came out and this is unaffected so I still get to fly missions later in the day. So it looks like it might be a BoN issue only.

 

I've been doing another career in BoN, flying Typhoons with RAF squadron 197. All going fine until 19.05.44 and then the same problem started again. Slated to do 2 missions, do the first but then my name is removed from the second mission of the day, next day not slated for any missions, day after that slated for afternoon mission but not the morning, after running the morning mission my name disappears from the 2nd mission.

 

Unfortunately, this is seriously damaging my enjoyment of BoN.

[LukeFF]

Hey guys, there were some other additions/changes to career mode for this latest update, and they all pretty much have to do with the Rhineland phase of career mode:

• The takeoff times for the missions directly related to Operation Bodenplatte were updated, both for the Allies and the Luftwaffe
• The takeoff times and mission profiles for III./KG 76 were likewise improved for the December 1944 - January 1945 timeframe
• The American award names were updated to reflect official naming criteria for when an oak leaf cluster was added to an award.
• The Silver Star Medal has now been renamed the Silver Star (yes, strangely enough, the Navy and USMC award it as the Silver Star Medal, while the Army awards it as the Silver Star ?) 
• The frequency of being awarded the Bronze Star Medal was decreased
• The Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross requirements for the 352nd Fighter Group were updated to reflect Eighth Air Force Criteria. Some background: In the Eighth Air Force, before 16 September 1944, four hours of combat flying equaled one sortie credit and one enemy aircraft destroyed and confirmed by the Eighth Air Force Fighter Command confirmation board equaled 10 sortie credits. As such:
  
  Air Medal:
  
  1st award: 40 hours or 1 victory (10 sortie credits)
  2nd award: 80 hours or 2 victories (20 sortie credits)
  3rd award: 120 hours or 3 victories (30 sortie credits)
  4th award: 160 hours or 4 victories (40 sortie credits)
  
  DFC:
  
  1st award: 200 hours or 5 victories (50 sortie credits)
  2nd award: 240 hours or 6 victories (60 sortie credits)
  3rd award: 280 hours or 7 victories (70 sortie credits)
  4th award: 320 hours or 8 victories (80 sortie credits)
  5th award: 360 hours or 9 victories (90 sortie credits)
  6th award: 400 hours or 10 victories (100 sortie credits)
  
  And so forth
  
  From 16 September 1944:
  
  Air Medal:
  
  1st award: 40 hours or 1 victory
  2nd award: 80 hours or 2 victories
  3rd award: 120 hours or 3 victories
  4th award: 160 hours or 4 victories
  5th award: 5 victories
  6th award: 6 victories
  
  DFC:
  
  1st award: 200 hours (180 for commanders)
  2nd award: 240 hours (200 for commanders)
  3rd award: 280 hours (220 for commanders)
  4th award: 320 hours (240 for commanders)
  5th award: 360 hours (260 for commanders)
  6th award: 400 hours (280 for commanders)

For our purposes, the latter award criteria is what applies here, since the 352nd FG doesn't appear during Normandy.