PWCG 12.0.0 Beta 1: Iconic events

[PatrickAWlson]

I have put up a beta for PWCG 12.0.0: Iconic Events.  Details below.  To play the specific events create a campaign on the correct map and take leave until you are at the event date(s)

 

Please use this thread to discuss the beta.  Please do not post beta issues into other threads.  Please do not post your favorite pet peeve about PWCG in this thread.  Thank you.

 

PWCG 12.0.0
Add iconic events
Rhine: 
- Arnhem: 
- parachute and cargo drops 9/17/1944 - 9/28/1944
- Rhine map front line improvements to show drops
- Ardennes: 
- German attack Dec 20 to Dec 24 1944
- Bastogne cargo drops Dec 25 to Dec 28 1944
- Allied counter attack Dec 29 to Dec 30 1944
- Bodenplatte Jan 1 1945
- German airfield attacks and Allied scrambles
- Plunder Rhine crossing March 23 1945
- Varsity air drop March 24 1945
Stalingrad: 
- German bombing of city 8/20/1942 to 8/25/1942
- German dive bombing of barges 9/08/1942 to 9/12/1942
- Uranus  11/11/1942 to 11/22/1942 1942
- Encirclement with cargo drops 12/01/1942 to 12/31/1942
Kuban:
- Anti shipping period 10/08/1943 to 10/31/1943
- Includes scenarios with opposing sides coming into contact
- Russian invasion of Kerch 11/01/1943 to 11/11/1943

 

Added runway start AI scramble missions to airfield attacks.
Bugs:
Fixed issue that could cause planes to spawn on top of each other
Fixed issue some places where bomber could act like a fighter
 

[BladeMeister]

This is probably a dumb question, so my apologies in advance, but wouldn't one need to know what Sqn to start the Campaign with?

 

S!Blade<><

[PatrickAWlson]

31 minutes ago, BladeMeister said:

This is probably a dumb question, so my apologies in advance, but wouldn't one need to know what Sqn to start the Campaign with?

 

S!Blade<><

 

Any squadron will do.  These are not hand crafted campaigns.  They create events that are closer to the real thing at a moment in time in which the player participates.  PWCG will create a mission that is appropriate for the squadron that you are in.

[Varibraun]

I just extracted and I think it went into the normal PWCGBos folder, it didn't create a beta folder.  No worries for me because I backed up before extracting because it looked like it wanted to replace files.  Maybe I did something wrong on the extract? 

 

Anyway, looking forward to giving this a try.  Thank you!

[justin_z3r0]

I'm gonna give this a go! - Sept 17 - Spitfire - 403 sqn

Thanks Pat

6 minutes ago, justin_z3r0 said:

I'm gonna give this a go! - Sept 17 - Spitfire - 403 sqn

Thanks Pat

First mission generated. Looking good!

[Spasticus]

Should I use the beta or the main release?

[Varibraun]

I am trying to fly 2 or 3 missions in each of the events.  3 flown so far in Market-Garden/Arnhem, so I will move forward.  Very good ground and air action around the air bridgeheads, really nice work!

 

Issues: 

 

-I think this is one related to my mis-install(?) over my existing campaign.  After the first mission, I couldn't get a new mission (the in-game PWCG folder was gone).  I then deleted the entire PWCGBOS folder and reinstalled the beta download.  It extracted as PWCGBOS (not beta).  But that did the trick, next 2 missions went and advanced fine.  I will just backup and swap out folders if I want to go back to my actual campaigns.

 

-I think this one is preexisting, but in my last mission I don't have the front line displayed in the IN-FLIGHT mission briefing screen.  They show up in the original mission briefing.  Error file attached for this one if you want to see it.

Beta 12 Test Campaign202104191704521.zip

[FodderMonkey]

Quick note: my first mission (german FW190) had a Russian airfield nearby.  Chased defenders back to their base and there was active AA at the airfield.  First time in a long time I've seen that.  

[Nocke]

1 hour ago, Varibraun said:

I think this one is preexisting, but in my last mission I don't have the front line displayed in the IN-FLIGHT mission briefing screen.  They show up in the original mission briefing

For me they do show, but only zoomed out. Would be nice to see them zoomed in, too!

Besides, this version seems to generate really fantastic missions. Thx a lot!

[justin_z3r0]

Fir

23 hours ago, justin_z3r0 said:

I'm gonna give this a go! - Sept 17 - Spitfire - 403 sqn

Thanks Pat

First mission generated. Looking good!

From this flight.

Couple notes:

Tilburg was not populated when I flew over it - just the trees / roads.

Same with S-Hertogenbosch.

Oss was populated with buildings though

After a moment I realized that cities outside of the yellow combat zone seemed to not be populated while those within the box were.

 

I also noted that some M4s were present at Arnhem in the after action report. I don't think they were able to drop those by glider though. (I'm just being nitpicky)

 

Otherwise - excellent first mission!

 

Thanks Pat!

 

 

 

 

[PatrickAWlson]

20 minutes ago, justin_z3r0 said:

Fir

From this flight.

Couple notes:

Tilburg was not populated when I flew over it - just the trees / roads.

Same with S-Hertogenbosch.

Oss was populated with buildings though

After a moment I realized that cities outside of the yellow combat zone seemed to not be populated while those within the box were.

 

I also noted that some M4s were present at Arnhem in the after action report. I don't think they were able to drop those by glider though. (I'm just being nitpicky)

 

Otherwise - excellent first mission!

 

Thanks Pat!

 

 

 

 

 

Go to simple config and set structures to medium or high to get more buildings.

 

I have to reverse things and make the allies the defender and the Germans the aggressor on the para drops.  That will result in Germans attacking into the allied drop zones.  

[Varibraun]

3 hours ago, 216th_Nocke said:

For me they do show, but only zoomed out.

Yes, can confirm they do show zoomed all the way out for me too, thanks for that tip.  Odd how it only happens on certain missions.

 

I have now flown 2 missions during Ardennes:

-German Attack - Lot's of ground and air activity, German armor was on the move, really nice work seeing that unfold.

-Bastogne - I didn't see much ground activity around Bastogne for either side.  I was flying German I didn't see any targets in the town (but realistically not sure the hunkered down 101st would have presented obvious air targets, but they did have arty).  The C-47s had evidently completed their drop by the time I finally got past all the Spitfires and P-47s on the way there in a Dora.  I saw 2 C-47s being nicely escorted home by 2 Mustangs, but I still managed to bag one before scooting out with a shattered canopy.  

 

Really great fun around these events!  I am looking forward to seeing New Years Day in some testing tomorrow. 

[justin_z3r0]

9 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 

Go to simple config and set structures to medium or high to get more buildings.

 

I have to reverse things and make the allies the defender and the Germans the aggressor on the para drops.  That will result in Germans attacking into the allied drop zones.  

ok - thanks!

[Varibraun]

Finished 2 more in Ardennes:

 

-Allied Counter Attack - Flew 190-D9, good action in air and on the ground, A-20s and P-47s acting properly, German tanks and U.S. artillery scattered throughout the front lines.  Very nice!

 

-Bodenplatte - Flew Spitfire out of Vokel.  I was a little disappointed we were not under attack on the runway.  My 2 man flight was at the second patrol point when the AF attack started and we caught a survivor headed home.  However, from the AAR it seems that only 4 FW-190s were involved in the attack at Vokel.  There was plenty of allied opposition that quickly dispatched the first 3 before we caught the last one (they did get good hits on the A/F targets though). 

 

I was expecting more LW a/c.  I don't know if maybe the main force went south (which may be historical, I didn't check) based on the yellow operations box below.  I also realize these are generated missions, so it could be different the next time, but I saved an error report I can post if you think it is something worth checking.

 

 

[Varibraun]

Finished up the Rhine Events, last 2:

 

- Plunder Rhine Crossing - Awesome action!  Flying P-51 into the melee all happening under low cloud cover.  110s had taken out some landing craft, but were already under attack by P-47s when we arrived.  Shermans were rolling forward against AT guns.  Then 190Ds dropped in.  Only oddity was that the landing craft were flying German flags (not a PWCG issue, I know - I only know it because I had time to look around at ground targets while my P-51 jockey was floating gentle to earth after being victimized by a 190).

 

- Varsity Air Drop - Flying P-51 again, and hate to admit it, but this was actually the first airdrop I have witnessed in BoX.  I was so busy watching all the pretty parachutes, that a 190 punched me right in the nose, head on with cannon - Ouch!  Nice prep by P-47s and A-20s prior to the 2 C-47s sneaking in, plenty of action on the ground around the drop zone.  

 

I will try to head to the Soviet Union tomorrow night, but I haven't had any real problem issues with the Beta in the Rhine missions.  This was a great idea, these events are another nice immersion builder and feel a lot like some of the scripted campaign missions.  Thank you!

[PatrickAWlson]

Bodenplatte:

PWCG put the activity box at another airfield and your patrol route did not extend to that area.   Your squadron is at a target airfield but PWCG chose a different one anyway.

Have to work on that.

 

[PatrickAWlson]

Going to release tonight.  I have made the following changes:

In general, when more than one event is happening at the same time I choose a random one within range.  I changed this for Bodenplatte, where I choose the closest one.  This means that for Bodenplatte, as an allied pilot, either your base or the closest target base to it will be under attack.  I suspect that Bodenplatte will continue to need more work as it is such a unique case.

 

I added the distinction between attacker in the air and attacker on the ground.  This will offer more realistic parachute scenarios where the allies are the aggressor in the air but defending in the encircled parachute drop zones.

 

I will also include the Spitfire MK XIV and the Nieuport 28.  

 

In the coming days I will add more iconic events for WWI and WWII.  These events will honestly not be much different from what you have today, but they will represent ground battles at the right time and right place for the day in history.