PWCG Normandy Beta 2 Released

[PatrickAWlson]

 

Beta 2 is up. 

 

Download PWCG here

 

Please post error reports in this thread.

 

Beta 2 Fixed
Added Newspapers
Added Normandy iconic missions as single fly missions (Main Menu->Iconic Missions)
Added new 5.002 blank skins
Lots of work in code and configs on tactical codes
Played with the algorithm to try to keep airfield objects away from any area usable by real planes.
Normandy invasion obstacles appear on May 1 1944
Normandy mulberrys appear on June 15 1944
III./ZG 26 flying ME410s out of Dieppe Saint Aubin do not have enough runway.
Eliminated Ju88 North Africa skin
Fixed issue that could prevent AAR from completing.
Fixed issue of Allied AA in the water during landings

 

One of the config changes is not backwards compatible.  Delete PWCG and do a fresh install (i recommend this every time anyway).  Your campaigns ARE backwards compatible.  Just do not delete the User directory. 

 

Beta 1 Fixes

Skins - in game skins for every plane corrected.
Some Typhoon mods availability pushed to mid 1944
Gap in 56 squadron assigned planes
Do not put troops and ground units in place for iconic anti shipping missions
- Mostly impacts Dunkirk 
Added code to not kill pilots who bail out
- Used to avoid killing everybody that bails out over the channel
- If you are going down over water, don't ditch.  PWCG can't pick that up.  Bail out.

 

Alpha 2 Fixes
Russian skins on British planes
Inappropriate smoke
Inappropriate damage to radar towers
All radio call signs not enabled before August 1941
P-51D introduction too late.  Moved it up to April 1944.
Sometimes unit codes are not used (when a squadron has more than one name over time).
Winter track marks and other winter stuff on Normandy map
Airfield "Plane" is now "Maupertus"
 

Edited October 17, 2022 by PatrickAWlson

[Mtnbiker1998]

Can't wait!! Been having fun in the vanilla career and EMG, but I expect your campaign really is gonna be the definitive Channel experience

[Ala13_UnopaUno_VR]

How long do you think all this titanic piece of work can take you? thank you so much for your hard work

[Ala13_UnopaUno_VR]

Suggestion for the normandy map and the rest of the maps, comparing the pwcg career mode, I feel that I don't know where the squads are located, in the official career mode, the map appears with the squads on the map and the aerodromes where they are located, this would be nice to show it in the PWCG in some way when creating a new example campaign:

 

[2nd_TAF/602Sqn_Puff]

On 9/15/2022 at 3:23 AM, PatrickAWlson said:

I was out on holiday and just got back.  I will be starting Normandy development soon.  

Would you please add 602 Sqn RAuxAF as a flyable option ...I can give you the ORB if you need it...was hoping that the Dev's would have it in there but although I can see the squadron, its AI only

 

[PatrickAWlson]

Not saying no, but it will have to wait until the core of Normandy is done.  A quick explanation as to why adding a squadron, especially a fighter squadron, is not quick and easy.  PWCG maintains staffing and equipment.  Every  plane and pilot is tracked.  AI pilots not in the mission fly virtual missions and kill each other. This impacts availability of men and equipment which in turn necessitates tweaking resupply rates.  

 

Adding a fighter squadron introduces more planes, more men, and more casualties to the enemy.  Bomber and attack squadrons do not impact enemy aircraft and crews as they do not score offline air to air kills.  When you add a fighter squadron you have introduced more wolves into the ecosystem.  Now you have to add more deer to keep the balance.  

 

Every service has a resupply rate for men and machines.  If more men and machines are being destroyed then the resupply rate has to be increased to compensate, so adding British fighter squadrons should probably come with an increase in German resupply.  

 

I have a simulation that I run that allows me to see the impact of out of mission losses over the course of the war.  I run it, tweak the resupply numbers, run it again, etc. until a balance seems to have been achieved.  It is never precise because there is a degree of randomization to losses, so the war never comes close to playing out the same way twice.  Still, I can get to "close enough".

 

I did look at 602.  The participated in BoB, some of the rodeos, and Normandy.  After Normandy they were stationed back in England for V1 defense.  That does make them an interesting addition but out of scope for the initial Normandy release, where I am doing June 1941 (with a fake 1941 BoB) to Sept 1944.  At some point I will add V1 missions and extend the Normandy map to the end of the war, but that is a whole different project.  

[TacticalOni]

Really looking forward to doing some Rhubarbs as part of 486 Sqn flying the Typhoon! 

[2nd_TAF/602Sqn_Puff]

On 9/21/2022 at 2:49 PM, PatrickAWlson said:

Not saying no, but it will have to wait until the core of Normandy is done.  A quick explanation as to why adding a squadron, especially a fighter squadron, is not quick and easy.  PWCG maintains staffing and equipment.  Every  plane and pilot is tracked.  AI pilots not in the mission fly virtual missions and kill each other. This impacts availability of men and equipment which in turn necessitates tweaking resupply rates.  

 

Adding a fighter squadron introduces more planes, more men, and more casualties to the enemy.  Bomber and attack squadrons do not impact enemy aircraft and crews as they do not score offline air to air kills.  When you add a fighter squadron you have introduced more wolves into the ecosystem.  Now you have to add more deer to keep the balance.  

 

Every service has a resupply rate for men and machines.  If more men and machines are being destroyed then the resupply rate has to be increased to compensate, so adding British fighter squadrons should probably come with an increase in German resupply.  

 

I have a simulation that I run that allows me to see the impact of out of mission losses over the course of the war.  I run it, tweak the resupply numbers, run it again, etc. until a balance seems to have been achieved.  It is never precise because there is a degree of randomization to losses, so the war never comes close to playing out the same way twice.  Still, I can get to "close enough".

 

I did look at 602.  The participated in BoB, some of the rodeos, and Normandy.  After Normandy they were stationed back in England for V1 defense.  That does make them an interesting addition but out of scope for the initial Normandy release, where I am doing June 1941 (with a fake 1941 BoB) to Sept 1944.  At some point I will add V1 missions and extend the Normandy map to the end of the war, but that is a whole different project.  

Many thanks for taking the time to fill in all the information about whats running in the background, really appreciated. I'll await the future with a little bit of hope and look forward to you managing to get Normandy into the system.....cheers

[easterling77]

I saw this thread only today and it instantly put a big smile on my face and liftetd the day.

 

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to the project from wich we all get so much.

 

Best wishes from here and keep it up?

 

 

[PatrickAWlson]

Quick update.  I have the maps, front lines, squadron airfield assignments, special events, landings, target preferences by date, and a bunch of other stuff done.  Running tests right now to work out the kinks.  Example: there are no British Dunkirk era tanks in the game, so I am using the BT-7 to stand in as a cruiser.  I switch to the Sherman in mid 1942 for Dieppe. 

 

There are lots of other details to be done and even more basic testing before I release an Alpha.   I have to add the new vehicles.  I have to switch between the Normandy pre and post invasion maps.  I need to incorporate Normandy testing deeper into my test suite.  I need some manual testing.  It's going to take awhile, but progress is being made.  

 

Events that are modeled are:

Dunkirk

BoB anti shipping phase

BoB airfield phase

BoB city phase

Dieppe

Start of American bombing

Normandy landings

Carentan

Cobra

Goodwood

Mortain

Falaise

And then a couple of weeks of semi static before moving to the Rhein map.

 

No V1s at this point.  Probably a later add on.

[Robi89]

3 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

Quick update.  I have the maps, front lines, squadron airfield assignments, special events, landings, target preferences by date, and a bunch of other stuff done.  Running tests right now to work out the kinks.  Example: there are no British Dunkirk era tanks in the game, so I am using the BT-7 to stand in as a cruiser.  I switch to the Sherman in mid 1942 for Dieppe. 

 

There are lots of other details to be done and even more basic testing before I release an Alpha.   I have to add the new vehicles.  I have to switch between the Normandy pre and post invasion maps.  I need to incorporate Normandy testing deeper into my test suite.  I need some manual testing.  It's going to take awhile, but progress is being made.  

 

Events that are modeled are:

Dunkirk

BoB anti shipping phase

BoB airfield phase

BoB city phase

Dieppe

Start of American bombing

Normandy landings

Carentan

Cobra

Goodwood

Mortain

Falaise

And then a couple of weeks of semi static before moving to the Rhein map.

 

No V1s at this point.  Probably a later add on.

 

Absolutely awesome! Thank you for all the hard work you're putting in!

Speaking of V1s, can we expect to see them on the BoBP map targeting Antwerp?

[TheSNAFU]

Wow the addition of not only Normandy but basically everything noteworthy from Dunkirk onward is amazing. I don’t know how you do it but I’m damned glad you are. Can’t wait to see it. 

Thanks Pat!! 

[PatrickAWlson]

19 minutes ago, TheSNAFU said:

 I don’t know how you do it but I’m damned glad you are. 

 

I'm willing to cheat.  No Hurri Mk I or Spitfire Mk I.  No Ju87 B?  Dunkirk and BoB really happened in 1940?

 

No problem.  BoB now happened in 1941 and we have Hurri IIs and Spitfire vs 109Fs trying to defend Ju87 Ds.

[TheSNAFU]

The BOB is quite important to me and many others from a sim perspective. Since CLOD still lacks vr and has no sp campaign such as pwcg the work your doing will help quench that thirst be it 1940 or 1941.
 

That said, Normandy is the big prize for me in terms of pwcg. 

[PatrickAWlson]

It's was pretty interesting in that I have configs to make special events happen - things like Market Garden and Bodenplatte.  Normandy is almost all special events.  It goes from the landings to  Carentan to Goodwood to the only German assault, Mortain, to Falaise, which is what happens when you make a disastrous assault on an already superior force.

[Varibraun]

8 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

Normandy is almost all special events.  It goes from the landings to  Carentan to Goodwood to the only German assault, Mortain, to Falaise, which is what happens when you make a disastrous assault on an already superior force.

 

Can't wait to give this a try Pat...thank you for all of your work!

 

On 9/21/2022 at 9:49 AM, PatrickAWlson said:

PWCG maintains staffing and equipment.  Every  plane and pilot is tracked.  AI pilots not in the mission fly virtual missions and kill each other. This impacts availability of men and equipment which in turn necessitates tweaking resupply rates.  

 

I have said this many times before, but it never hurts to say it again - This dynamic nature of PWCG is what keeps me consistently in IL-2 vs the other sims.  Add to that the ability to have multiple pilots flying in the same "War" and the ability to keep flying with a new pilot in the same squadron after the loss of an Ironman pilot, it gives me a "reason" to fly.  The variety and dynamic nature gives personality to the campaign, and I never face getting bored with a certain aircraft or nationality as time moves on.

 

I am thrilled that Pat is now bringing this PWCG experience with the final added bonus of historical events for the majority of the war on the western front.   

[TheSNAFU]

I agree with all of that. Also the freedom/flexibility that pwcg offers is why it’s the only way I play this sim. It lets us play the game the way we want to and that means a lot to me. 

[Harlequin]

Hi. Really looking forward to pwcg Normandy :). I'd had a few thoughts about day and when you were talking about the special events I thought I'd mention it.   In pwcg is there a way to have multiple missions per day?  I've never really thought about it before but it might be more applicable to the "events".  Reflecting the strain of squadrons flying multiple sorties per day perhaps in BoB or close to/on  D-day, as opposed to the eastern front.  Might make things feel more special too as your flying more sorties over these particular places.

Just a thought.

 

Thanks for all the incredible work on pwcg pat.  It's so much fun playing it :)

[Deicide]

I just saw this thread, please ignore my question in the other post asking about an est timeline for release. Great work and very much look forward to the update

[PatrickAWlson]

13 hours ago, Deicide said:

I just saw this thread, please ignore my question in the other post asking about an est timeline for release. Great work and very much look forward to the update

 

Too late  

[PatrickAWlson]

On 9/25/2022 at 10:34 AM, cosg_Paul said:

Hi. Really looking forward to pwcg Normandy :). I'd had a few thoughts about day and when you were talking about the special events I thought I'd mention it.   In pwcg is there a way to have multiple missions per day?  I've never really thought about it before but it might be more applicable to the "events".  Reflecting the strain of squadrons flying multiple sorties per day perhaps in BoB or close to/on  D-day, as opposed to the eastern front.  Might make things feel more special too as your flying more sorties over these particular places.

Just a thought.

 

Thanks for all the incredible work on pwcg pat.  It's so much fun playing it

 

One mission per day is a PWCG limitation. I  would have to change a lot of code to eliminate it.

[jollyjack]

On 9/24/2022 at 6:05 AM, PatrickAWlson said:

..... the only German assault, Mortain, to Falaise, which is what happens when you make a disastrous assault on an already superior force.

 

Looks like a nice situation for ye' historical mission or campaign makers:

 

https://www.historynet.com/danger-zone-battle-of-mortain/

[BladeMeister]

3 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 

One mission per day is a PWCG limitation. I  would have to change a lot of code to eliminate it.

Better get to work Pat, time ia a wasting! I am reading Hellhawks and they are running 4-6 sorties per day on the 6th and the 7th so far.

 

S!Blade<><

[Stonehouse]

@PatrickAWlson

Hi Pat - just pointing this out for your info. You are probably already aware of it but in case you aren't. Seems like there are some MCU bugs for Normandy.

 

 

[PhilthySpud]

Hi Pat, love PWCG and really looking forward to the Normandy update.

 

I am curious though as to why you’re planning to run the Battle of Britain in 1941? (Apart from the ahistorical aircraft models, of course.) Is this some sort of PWCG constraint?

[PatrickAWlson]

4 hours ago, PhilthySpud said:

Hi Pat, love PWCG and really looking forward to the Normandy update.

 

I am curious though as to why you’re planning to run the Battle of Britain in 1941? (Apart from the ahistorical aircraft models, of course.) Is this some sort of PWCG constraint?

 

Pretty much that reason. Even with BoB in 1941 there is all of 1942 for rodeos and then 18 months of US involvement pre Normandy.  So June 1941 to June 1944 for pre invasion western front.  

15 hours ago, Stonehouse said:

@PatrickAWlson

Hi Pat - just pointing this out for your info. You are probably already aware of it but in case you aren't. Seems like there are some MCU bugs for Normandy.

 

Thanks.  Not sure what to do about it, but thanks  

[Harlequin]

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question about multiple missions per day.  I don't think it'll be that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.  

I had thought too that rearm/ refuel mid mission might be cool too but (not that this is a pwcg problem/issue) with a lack of ai flight commands to tell them to do this. Plus ai struggles to take off on snow, can't taxi etc.  It would likely be impossible too.

 

Looking forward to a Mossie campaign when it's ready

 

Thanks 

[PatrickAWlson]

5 hours ago, cosg_Paul said:

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question about multiple missions per day.  I don't think it'll be that big a deal in the grand scheme of things.  

I had thought too that rearm/ refuel mid mission might be cool too but (not that this is a pwcg problem/issue) with a lack of ai flight commands to tell them to do this. Plus ai struggles to take off on snow, can't taxi etc.  It would likely be impossible too.

 

Looking forward to a Mossie campaign when it's ready

 

Thanks 

 

You can fly the Mossie right now in Bodenplatte.  

[Harlequin]

Thanks.  I was aware of that but wanted to start in Normandy and take the career through to bodenplatte.  Haven't played much of bodenplatte campaign before but like how it links so well with Normandy in the timeline.

[Patricks]

This is fantastic news, BoB lives!!

[RNAS10_Oliver]

Question for you Pat, are you intending on providing careers for the Fleet Air Arm (and I guess the USN) squadrons that were part of the Air Spotting Pool? I'm sure I can tweak the files myself to achieve it in PWCG but just wondering if it's going to be possible as standard.

[PatrickAWlson]

1 hour ago, RNAS10_Oliver said:

Question for you Pat, are you intending on providing careers for the Fleet Air Arm (and I guess the USN) squadrons that were part of the Air Spotting Pool? I'm sure I can tweak the files myself to achieve it in PWCG but just wondering if it's going to be possible as standard.

 

I was not.  USAAF and RAF (RCAF and Free French as well) only.  No Navy.

[Lupus]

@PatrickAWlsonThank you very much for all the hard work you put into PWCG.  I really appreciate what you have built for us.  It takes an already good game and makes it truly great.  Thank you.  I am really looking forward to seeing what you do with the Battle of Normandy.

 

Hearing about you creating the BoB with PWCG (even if it is 'cheating') gives me hope that someday, someday we will be able to fly the war from beginning to end in any theater.  Just as we could do when many of us flew IL-2 1946 using DCG.  For helping to keep that dream alive and for all the work you do, I give my my sincere thanks and grateful appreciation.

[PatrickAWlson]

Quick update.  I just flew my first few missions.  Got shot down immediately flying cover at Dunkirk.  Got back in August to fly a mission during BoB.  Realized at once how off it was without radar so I'm going to work that in.  Still, getting good looking missions is a big deal.

 

I did a lot of work with skins to get the early to mid to Normandy to post Normandy allied transitions done.  Using game provided skins. This eliminates some of the color as they are currently generic skins, but I can work over time to transition them to squadron colors.  

 

So getting close to alpha.  When I can get radars done I will release an alpha.  Anybody downloading the alpha needs to understand what it  is.  EXPECT PROBLEMS.  My code has a pretty good automation suite so there will not be too many code issues.  Data issues OTOH are a different story.  People in the water because battle placement is off, airfield locations off, etc.  

[Lupus]

1 hour ago, PatrickAWlson said:

Quick update.  I just flew my first few missions.  Got shot down immediately flying cover at Dunkirk.  Got back in August to fly a mission during BoB.  Realized at once how off it was without radar so I'm going to work that in.  Still, getting good looking missions is a big deal.

 

I did a lot of work with skins to get the early to mid to Normandy to post Normandy allied transitions done.  Using game provided skins. This eliminates some of the color as they are currently generic skins, but I can work over time to transition them to squadron colors.  

 

So getting close to alpha.  When I can get radars done I will release an alpha.  Anybody downloading the alpha needs to understand what it  is.  EXPECT PROBLEMS.  My code has a pretty good automation suite so there will not be too many code issues.  Data issues OTOH are a different story.  People in the water because battle placement is off, airfield locations off, etc.  

 

Fantastic! I look forward to helping test it and posting all the little bugs I can find.

[Mtnbiker1998]

1 hour ago, PatrickAWlson said:

 

I did a lot of work with skins to get the early to mid to Normandy to post Normandy allied transitions done.  Using game provided skins. This eliminates some of the color as they are currently generic skins, but I can work over time to transition them to squadron colors.  

 

I know @migmadmarine and @Skycat1969 have been doing a lot of work with Career mode squadron skins, perhaps a lot of their stuff would also work well with PWCG? the old Skin packs on the website could probably use an update, maybe even an HSD pack.

 

 

[Dusty926]

I don't have the disk space for many custom skins, so if this skin transition functionality is going to work using the new defaults I would be very appreciative to say the least!

[Skycat1969]

I've put my efforts on hold until the release of 5.002 so I know what changes are being made to the default career mechanics. 

[PatrickAWlson]

2 hours ago, Skycat1969 said:

I've put my efforts on hold until the release of 5.002 so I know what changes are being made to the default career mechanics. 

 

IMHO wise move.  The consistent availability of dynamic markings is a potential game changer.  One squadron skin now really works and user created skins can still be peppered in.  

 

For Normandy I made use of the existing skins to show the allied transition before, during, and after Normandy.  It means a little less color for now but I'm working on that.  With planes that accept dynamic markings I only have to overly squadron markings with t\he series of base planes and I get planes with appropriate date based markings that also have squadron markings.  

[PatrickAWlson]

Alpha 1 is up. 

 

Download PWCG here

 

Please post error reports in this thread.

 

Please consider a donation using the link in the upper right of the PWCG download page.

Edited October 3, 2022 by PatrickAWlson