Developer Diary #318 - Discussion

[CountZero]

1 hour ago, 6./ZG26_Loke said:

Don't expect to see it much online. I'm sure it will get same treatment as the 262.

it should be even less of arados then 262s, they are SP airplanes have no place in MP enviroment where both sides can have same number of players on late war maps, just asking for historical airplane types is pure "fantasy ww2" when they are placed in mp world where LW have same amount or more airplanes/pilots/recources in air in 45 as allieds.

[-332FG-Zephyr096]

5 minutes ago, CountZero said:

it should be even less of arados then 262s, they are SP airplanes have no place in MP enviroment where both sides can have same number of players on late war maps, just asking for historical airplane types is pure "fantasy ww2" when they are placed in mp world where LW have same amount or more airplanes/pilots/recources in air in 45 as allieds.

Yes, considering that the AR-234 saw very limited usage, I would not expect it to be in any MP server outside of a very specific historical mission that involved it.

That being said, as a mostly-allies flyer, the 234 is an incredibly cool aircraft and I definitely hope to have the opportunity to try it out in some high-speed strike missions based around its actual historical usage. I can certainly imagine an MP reconstruction of the Battle of the Bulge/Ardennes with AR-234s in limited supply as bombers vs. the P-51s, 47s, and Tempests of the USAAF and RAF.

"Only one Luftwaffe unit, KG 76 (Kampfgeschwader or Bomber Wing 76), was equipped with Ar 234 bombers before Germany's surrender. As the production of the Ar 234 B-2 increased in tempo during fall 1944, the unit received its first aircraft and began training at Burg bei Magdeburg. The unit flew its first operations during December 1944 in support of the Ardennes Offensive. Typical missions consisted of pinprick attacks conducted by less than 20 aircraft, each carrying a single 500 kg (1,100 lb.) bomb. The unit participated in the desperate attacks against the Allied bridgehead over the Rhine at Remagen during mid-March 1945, but failed to drop the Ludendorff railway bridge and suffered a number of losses to anti-aircraft fire. The deteriorating war situation, coupled with shortages of fuel and spare parts, prevented KG 76 from flying more than a handful of sorties from late March to the end of the war"

From the Smithsonian website.

Edited May 20, 2022 by -332FG-Zephyr096
had more to say

[Jaws2002]

Very cool update! Arado is sleek and awesome. Cool balloons to train the gunners on.?

 

Oh and the IAR cockpit looks gorgeous. Looking at the gauges layout that looks like a IAR-80A/B.

The headrest armor/gasket looks a bit too wide. I think the head cushion is not modelled yet. That wide gasket showed up starting with late IAR-80B's, but those planes already had the spade grip. Maybe the images have a combination of more arming options.

 The early IAR-80 headrest had no armor or gasket at all, just a cushion.

The armor and wide gasket was not present in earlier models, but the head cushion was present in all of them. In the later models, that cushion filled most of that gap inside the armor. 

 

 

 This is probably going to be sorted out with the arming screen.

 

Anyway. Really nice work. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 20, 2022 by Jaws2002

[cardboard_killer]

3 hours ago, AtomicP said:

Suspect that might be a compromise to keep the simulation running well, especially if there are loads like in the screenshots.

 

I'm not really a "realism guy", but I'd rather just see balloon over stationary targets only than perpendicular to moving targets.

[YoYo]

Is this BoN map? We see cliffs ....

 

[PatrickAWlson]

2 hours ago, Noisemaker said:

Aren't there barrage balloons already available from the FC, and BOM?

 

Don't know about BoM but the FC balloons are WWI observation balloons.  They don't look anything like the WWII barrage balloons.  What is new in this DD is that the balloons can be tethered to ships and will move with them.  As far back as RoF balloons could be winched down.

 

[ScotsmanFlyingscotsman]

The Arado looks so cool! I'd like to get a proper control column, have a HOTAS and use it for everthing....other games 737's etc, but the Arado...I'd like the correct thing...and a forward firing gun, I need to bribe my ground crew!

I know the Luftwaffe were mainly missing on D-Day, but there must've been some nibbling at the edges. 

Dad went into Ouisterham  in the first wave, No 6 Commando, alongside the French Commando Contingent, he recalled that everyone who got on deck on the way over was amazed at the sheer number of ships, planes. He had to get off the boat into a landing craft, and they happened to pass round the back of one of the American Battleships, and as they did so, it let loose, no one had a problem with the landings after that....they could'nt hear a damn thing until much later in the day, so they stuck to their briefing, their maps and cracked on....the greatest generation.

[357th_KW]

38 minutes ago, YoYo said:

Is this BoN map? We see cliffs ....

 

Kuban apparently.

[IckyATLAS]

Jason says that if you cut the wire then the balloon flies away. Nice.

But I hope that if a plane hits the cable he will also sustain damage. Hitting a strong steel cable at 300 plus km/hr could cut into your wing and damage your propeller.

[[JGzbV]Phenom]

Great stuff, on another front, Hows the 410 coming?

 

[Rjel]

56 minutes ago, IckyATLAS said:

Jason says that if you cut the wire then the balloon flies away. Nice.

But I hope that if a plane hits the cable he will also sustain damage. Hitting a strong steel cable at 300 plus km/hr could cut into your wing and damage your propeller.

It could but I’ve also seen pictures of fighters that made it home with high tension wires wrapped around the wing and tail. Probably luck of the draw. 

[Jade_Monkey]

2 hours ago, YoYo said:

Is this BoN map? We see cliffs ....

 

 

 

Anapa area in Kuban map most likely

[Asgar]

1 hour ago, [JG2]Phenom said:

Great stuff, on another front, Hows the 410 coming?

 

THAT is the real question ? 

[Noisemaker]

2 hours ago, IckyATLAS said:

Jason says that if you cut the wire then the balloon flies away. Nice.

But I hope that if a plane hits the cable he will also sustain damage. Hitting a strong steel cable at 300 plus km/hr could cut into your wing and damage your propeller.

It is the entire purpose of them!

[Freycinet]

Thanks for the update, Jason, and indeed the Arado looks beautiful!

 

- I think the barrage balloons will enable a lot of fun gameplay. Maps where you have to run a balloon gauntlet, for instance, a bit like slalom skiing or Red Bull air races. So many possibilities!  

[pilotpierre]

Muchos grassy arse for yet another Friday update. They are like the air we breath, sweet and a reason for living a bit longer.

Vive Le team.

[Ala13_UnopaUno_VR]

Does the wind or the speed of the boat affect the drag of the balloon or will it always be stiff vertically at 90 degrees??? 

[ROCKET_KNUT]

2 hours ago, [JG2]Phenom said:

Great stuff, on another front, Hows the 410 coming?

While evading some two engined insects, it crashed into a cliff... 

[Praetorious]

Awesome,ready to fly these 2 beauts, the Germans had a handy dandy device called a KUTONASE, to deal with those pesky ballons cables, it was installed in the leading edge of the wing and hopefully they would engage the cable if such a need called for it  and it would cut the cable,believe all the bombers had them.

[Avimimus]

So... what is the pale coloured bomb under the Arado?

[=KG76=flyus747]

Is the bombsight not going to be on the Ar234?

 

Noticed it was present in earlier stages of development, but has since been absent from many photos.

Maybe the bombsight is an optional modification that was not included in these photos?

 

Interior shots.

Bombsight in DD297 (29 Oct 21)

 

No bombsight in DD309 (25 Feb 22)

 

 

Exterior shots.

No bombsight in DD298 (5 Nov 21)

 

No bombsight in DD318 (20 May 22)

 

 

 

 

 

[migmadmarine]

May be a selectable mod

[LukeFF]

6 hours ago, Avimimus said:

So... what is the pale coloured bomb under the Arado?

 

SC 500

[6./ZG26_Loke]

14 hours ago, CountZero said:

it should be even less of arados then 262s, they are SP airplanes have no place in MP enviroment where both sides can have same number of players on late war maps, just asking for historical airplane types is pure "fantasy ww2" when they are placed in mp world where LW have same amount or more airplanes/pilots/recources in air in 45 as allieds.

There is absolutly nothing historical about the MP servers. 

[firdimigdi]

17 hours ago, Jason_Williams said:

Barrage balloons

 

Sounds great, is there any noticeable performance hit by their presence? Currently moving AI, especially ground targets incur quite a hit. Also, are they affected by the wind?

[CountZero]

1 hour ago, 6./ZG26_Loke said:

There is absolutly nothing historical about the MP servers. 

Totaly agree, you can have historical missions on some event depicting single battle but in normal MP its imposible if you dont wont empty server, so then in MP you have to make balanced planset, and 262 or 234 cant be balanced by anything on other side, so they end up limited in numbers.

[6./ZG26_Loke]

30 minutes ago, CountZero said:

Totaly agree, you can have historical missions on some event depicting single battle but in normal MP its imposible if you dont wont empty server, so then in MP you have to make balanced planset, and 262 or 234 cant be balanced by anything on other side, so they end up limited in numbers.

Well, you have plenty of aircraft which now outbalance in favor of the Allied side and more will come.

[Luftschiff]

Balance-wise what are people afraid of with the Arado, it's not armed and can only carry heavy bombs so it won't be able to actually destroy any ground targets in MP.
 

[CountZero]

32 minutes ago, 6./ZG26_Loke said:

Well, you have plenty of aircraft which now outbalance in favor of the Allied side and more will come.

not a single one that would outperform enemy best airplane by so mtch as 262 or 234 do. Comparing advantage 262 vs any allied airplane gives, is like axis being forced to fly 109F2 vs Tempest.

 

26 minutes ago, Luftschiff said:

Balance-wise what are people afraid of with the Arado, it's not armed and can only carry heavy bombs so it won't be able to actually destroy any ground targets in MP.
 

Thats not problem for attacking players on spawn bases, for what they will be mostly used as there is no realistic defences for bases posible, 262, arado, tiger, perfect for that when other side have nothing equal. 

If i remenber there was wip pictures that it will be able to carry prototype gunpod, so it will be of use for fast strafe runs on players who just spawned in and are starting their engines.

[Blitzen]

New option available for the He-111 too???

[1/JSpan_Wind75]

Everything the development team produces is fantastic!

 

Although my personal opinion would invest the work in planes that are really going to be used later.

 

For example: Within the Luftwaffe side I would have thought of further developing a Dornier Do 17, which is not there right now and had a strong presence on several fronts, or a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress on the Allied side to represent the defense of Germany and put the Me 262 to use.

 

But going into very late times doesn't make much sense, just as it didn't when they developed, in the old IL2Sturmovik 1946, futuristic planes with more than one SIM from space than the 262.

 

In fact I don't remember flying or a mission where the 262 had a presence.

 

If we want collector planes, I think it is better to think of planes or devices that were used in their day and that today can be included in a mission, even if it is a "Scripted Campaign"

 

So from quick memory I can think of several planes that I and many of the fans of this Fantastic SIM would buy:

 

Dornie Sun 17,
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (Fundamental in Bonderplate and in Normandy)
Douglas A-26 Invader (Fundamental in Bonderplate and in Normandy)
Consolidated PBY Catalina (To pick up the fallen pilots in the "English Channel"
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 (Dora) | Focke-Wulf Ta 152
Arado Ar 196 for coastal and reconnaissance missions
Even the Fieseler Fi 156 or Focke-Wulf Fw 189

 

But it's just a personal opinion.

[Marcio]

Awesome Ar 234!
However, the diversity of aircraft and MBT's with such diverse physical and mechanization characteristics calls for the urgent customization of the key mapping and joystick according to the aircraft and vehicle to be piloted, as promised in Dev Blog #313 of 04/01/2022!
Having to change the key mapping and joystick customization every time I change aircraft has become tedious! There are aircraft that I haven't even flown because of that. The Tank Crew I didn't even buy because of that factor either!
On a day-to-day basis, I just don't have time to customize an aircraft or MBT every time I use it.
When will key mapping and joystick customization be implemented?

[Livai]

Quote

"If the wire is hit hard enough and severed the balloon will fly away"

 

-> Did someone hit hard enough successfully these wires what you see many on these WW1 planes to cut some off just to stop them from holding the wings together??? I wonder how hard enough I need to hit the wire I want that the wings from the enemy planes fall apart but somehow these wires are pretty tough, any idea?.......................

[RNAS10_Mitchell]

I thought the purpose of those ballons and thier wires was to deter fighter planes from strafing the beach? ?

Edited May 22, 2022 by RNAS10_Mitchell

[Avimimus]

On 5/20/2022 at 1:21 PM, -332FG-Zephyr096 said:

"Typical missions consisted of pinprick attacks conducted by less than 20 aircraft, each carrying a single 500 kg (1,100 lb.) bomb."

 

A lot of people may look at this relatively small bomb-load and be unimpressed. But one thing I can say (from modding a similar bomb load in Il-2 1946) is that the Ar-234 is capable of surprising accuracy at times - and the sense of satisfaction from putting a single bomb on a target is immense. It certainly feels different from putting a 'stick of bombs' along a target.

 

 So expect this plain to be surprisingly satisfying - even if you only get one trigger pull.

 

 

On 5/21/2022 at 3:31 PM, 1/JSpan_Guerrero said:

Arado Ar 196 for coastal and reconnaissance missions
Even the Fieseler Fi 156 or Focke-Wulf Fw 189

 

Hmm... Arado Ar-196 crews were trained for artillery spotting (i.e. spotting the fall of shot for warships against other ships or against shore targets and providing corrections). I don't know if they were ever used this way to support land based artillery - but it is certainly within the capabilities of the planes and crew. So, I could definitely see including all three aircraft in an artillery spotting DLC.

 

P.S. Would also jive with radio equipped scout-tanks or armoured cars for TC which could be equipped to control AI artillery units. True combined arms

 

 

 

On 5/20/2022 at 9:44 PM, Heilenbecker said:

Is the bombsight not going to be on the Ar234?

 

Noticed it was present in earlier stages of development, but has since been absent from many photos.

Maybe the bombsight is an optional modification that was not included in these photos?

 

The dev's last statement was that we were going to get it (the Lofte) - I don't know if this has changed.

 

The Lofte was apparently almost unused in service though - with most attacks using the BZA sight. I really like that they are letting us remove it - as it is a cluttered cockpit, and visibility (as well as ease of use of the BZA) will be noticeably increased by not installing it.

Edited May 22, 2022 by Avimimus

[AtomicP]

On 5/20/2022 at 7:52 PM, cardboard_killer said:

 

I'm not really a "realism guy", but I'd rather just see balloon over stationary targets only than perpendicular to moving targets.

Ya, it does look a bit odd going straight up. Quite jarring having so many vertical lines in a scene otherwise made up of non-linear shapes.

[357th_Dog]

On 5/21/2022 at 2:56 AM, 6./ZG26_Loke said:

Well, you have plenty of aircraft which now outbalance in favor of the Allied side and more will come.

 What exactly is it you want?  Birds of Paradise for the Luftwaffe? 

The majority of the Axis planeset was already populated in earlier titles, unless you're wanting fantasy planes, it's the simple reality that by 1944 there wasn't much left in terms of new technology for the Luftwaffe beyond what is already in game. 

[Noisemaker]

10 minutes ago, 357th_Dog said:

 What exactly is it you want?  Birds of Paradise for the Luftwaffe? 

The majority of the Axis planeset was already populated in earlier titles, unless you're wanting fantasy planes, it's the simple reality that by 1944 there wasn't much left in terms of new technology for the Luftwaffe beyond what is already in game. 

I'd hazard a guess that as multiplayer focused players, they want "balance", which by 1944 no longer existed.  This is the schism between the people who want a true simulation, and those who want a better experience than what they get with W**th**der.  As a single player, I'm actually annoyed by the fact that in 7hrs flight time over 20 missions, I can rack up 49 kills on Bodenplatte.  I'd honestly prefer to have more missions where there is no opposition, which would realistically be the case, than to have the entire Luftwaffe (or what remained of it) show up when fly a troop support mission, but that's another topic.

How we can heal this schism, bring new blood in, and keep them engaged, well there, I'm out of ideas at the moment.

[Asgar]

18 hours ago, Noisemaker said:

I'd hazard a guess that as multiplayer focused players, they want "balance", which by 1944 no longer existed.  This is the schism between the people who want a true simulation, and those who want a better experience than what they get with W**th**der.  As a single player, I'm actually annoyed by the fact that in 7hrs flight time over 20 missions, I can rack up 49 kills on Bodenplatte.  I'd honestly prefer to have more missions where there is no opposition, which would realistically be the case, than to have the entire Luftwaffe (or what remained of it) show up when fly a troop support mission, but that's another topic.

How we can heal this schism, bring new blood in, and keep them engaged, well there, I'm out of ideas at the moment.

I guess you’re talking about the people asking for the Meteor to engage in aerial combat in this sim? ?

[RNAS10_Mitchell]

On 5/20/2022 at 3:02 PM, YoYo said:

Is this BoN map? We see cliffs ....

 

Indeed.   Looking good.  Lots of ships too.  Although apparently headed wrong direction.  LoL

A+