Thoughts on tactical codes for FC (PWCG)

[PatrickAWlson]

British: The squadron codes (white circle, triangle, etc.) are best done with skins and not using the symbols available in the codes.  Once the squadron marked skins are in place the codes can be used to assign a letter.  

 

German.  Similar to British.  Squadron markings were usually a color.  Once that is in place I can use a letter for fighters or a number for 2 seaters.  Germans did not have standardized "tactical codes" and generally did not use them.  If they did a simple marking then it seemed to usually be a letter for fighters and a number for bombers, but this was not a system.  Just what I have seen in a random sampling of photos.

 

French/American: these are the easiest.  Once again, squadron specific markings need to be done at the skin level.  From there a two digit code can be assigned.  Use of a numeric code was standard practice so the French and American codes are the most straight forward to use.

[TG-55Panthercules]

Yeah - that matches what I have seen so far in my project to add squadron default skins to the new career mode.  I've completed all the flyable French units, and their unit markings coexist just fine with the tactical codes/decals system.  I have noted that for some reason they tried to do the unit markings for the British units using the tactical codes - unfortunate and would probably have been better handled by skins as you say, but I'm hopeful of getting at least some of them working for the British units.  If they wanted to adopt that approach, however, they would have to relocate the position of the tactical code/decals, as they are currently so close to the roundels that they conflict with unit markings done on skins.  I'm not sure if that's something they can or are willing to do, but I'm hoping to explore that concept with them when I get a little farther along in my project.

 

So far, German units are working fine coexisting with the tactical decals.  Although that whole concept is rather a-historical, it's probably a reasonable compromise to get some easily-generated variety for skins within a unit.  The American units should also work fine, but I haven't gotten around to testing them thoroughly yet.

 

 

Edited April 6, 2023 by TG-55Panthercules