Official Historical Campaign "Sky Nomads"

[Gambit21]

On 7/10/2023 at 6:51 AM, BlackSix said:

There's a mix of high and normal AI and only one ace, I'll think about how to do it))

Sometimes I use “bug out” logic, whereby if a certain number of enemy planes are killed (or the leader) - the remaining ones run for home. You can use counters and random outputs to make it play out differently each time of course.

 

Then you need “re-engage” logic for when/if the player chases them.

 

Congrats on the release - great job my friend. ??
 

 

[BlackSix]

14 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

I often put in the option to get a successful landing if you put down at an alternate airfield closer to the front. In the FCII single missions, this is an option in several of them.

 

In a mission I am currently working on, there is an alternate airfield you can land at on the Normandy Beachhead if you cannot fly back across the Channel after completing the mission objectives. I think it is a good idea and does not detract from the historical realities in any way. Pilots frequently landed at alternate airfields and returned to their home airfield after repairs or improvement in the weather.

 

A simple set of logic activated on landing and confirming a successful landing as a secondary goal is easy to do and place at whatever airfields you like.

Thanks for your opinion!

2 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

Sometimes I use “bug out” logic, whereby if a certain number of enemy planes are killed (or the leader) - the remaining ones run for home. You can use counters and random outputs to make it play out differently each time of course.

 

Then you need “re-engage” logic for when/if the player chases them.

 

Congrats on the release - great job my friend. ??

Perhaps the counters are still more reliable.

Thanks!

[ShamrockOneFive]

Nearly at the end. Just a few missions away now! It's a fun ride with some dramatic moments.

 

I'd probably be done by now but I got greedy attacking some Ju52s on one mission and messed that up. Twice!

[BlackSix]

2 hours ago, ShamrockOneFive said:

Nearly at the end. Just a few missions away now! It's a fun ride with some dramatic moments.

 

I'd probably be done by now but I got greedy attacking some Ju52s on one mission and messed that up. Twice!

Thank you and looking forward to your full campaign review on the blog)

[ShamrockOneFive]

@BlackSix One of the missions I flew today was Mission 10, the Pe-2 escort mission. I ran into a flight of Bf109s, probably veteran or ace going by their aim accuracy, that were extremely target fixated on me. Even when my wingmen were shooting them. Not sure if that's a mission parameter or if you can adjust that a bit but might be worth it.

[spreckair]

@ShamrockOneFive  Funny thing, but I have noticed this happening throughout my career modes.  If I am the first aircraft that AI detects, they will fixate on me regardless of what else is going on.  I have dragged whole AI flights directly head on through my flight of 7 AI aircraft and  6 ground attackers only to have them continue to follow me to the ends of the map.  My only solution is to always hang back until the enemy AI detect my AI flight first, and only then to go in for the fight.

 

On the other hand, I have also used this to drag the enemy AI away from the bombers/attackers that I am escorting, thus saving the mission; but, this does not make for very fun gameplay.

[BlackSix]

17 hours ago, ShamrockOneFive said:

@BlackSix One of the missions I flew today was Mission 10, the Pe-2 escort mission. I ran into a flight of Bf109s, probably veteran or ace going by their aim accuracy, that were extremely target fixated on me. Even when my wingmen were shooting them. Not sure if that's a mission parameter or if you can adjust that a bit but might be worth it.

Yes, indeed, the entire flight covering the He 111 group has a high level. But they don't have the task of attacking you specifically, they must attack any air targets they meet. Here the big question is whether it is worth lowering their level, because before that, I spoke in a briefing about very heavy fighting and losses during this period.

[BlackSix]

Some good news:

 

1) I rechecked the 10th mission and decided to reduce the difficulty there a bit, the He 111 cover flight will now have a level of high - medium - high - medium instead high only.

 

2) the global reworking of the Ten Days of Autumn campaign for Battle of Moscow has been completed. I hope it will appear in an updated form in the next patch and will be released on Steam also.

 

3) a full-fledged work on the next campaign has begun. It will be dedicated to the Soviet La-5 collector fighter during the summer-autumn battle of Stalingrad.

[354thFG_Leifr]

So, the new project will be able to use your next campaign BlackSix? ?

[BlackSix]

To this question I have to give the most formal answer))

You'll need to have IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad - Premium Edition or IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad and La-5 series 8 Collector Plane to play my new campaign. And nothing more)

[BlackSix]

Large and detailed campaign review from @ShamrockOneFive:

https://stormbirds.blog/2023/08/22/flying-nomads-il-2-campaign-review/

[ShamrockOneFive]

Really great campaign to play through! The ending was suitably epic in a very fun sort of way. There are explosions.... hopefully that is enticement enough ? I really did enjoy the play through and now I need to get cracking with some more Scripted Campaigns!

[Varibraun]

On 8/24/2023 at 1:24 PM, ShamrockOneFive said:

Really great campaign to play through! The ending was suitably epic in a very fun sort of way. There are explosions.... hopefully that is enticement enough ? I really did enjoy the play through and now I need to get cracking with some more Scripted Campaigns!

 

Very nice write up on Stormbirds Shamrock 

[BlackSix]

Small campaign update in version 5.106:

- slightly reduced the difficulty of the 10th mission;

- changed the briefing of the 15th mission.

[alpenspion]

Can you change the C-47 in the first mission in to a Li-2 please? 

[BlackSix]

Soviet transport regiments have always had a small number of lend-lease C-47s in 1943-45, so I've no plans to change anything.

Maybe I'll add Li-2s to old Stalingrad campaigns and they will definitely appear in the new campaign for La-5.

[alpenspion]

O.K. Thank you. 

[spreckair]

So far loving this set of scripted missions.

 

Quick question on the last mission.  I downed four JU-87s and landed at a satellite field only to find that I failed the mission.  What is the mission objective exactly?

 

Thank you.

[BlackSix]

5 hours ago, spreckair said:

Quick question on the last mission.  I downed four JU-87s and landed at a satellite field only to find that I failed the mission.  What is the mission objective exactly?

You need to land at Abinskaya or Gelendzhik-1 or Slavyanskaya to complete the mission. This is all always indicated at the end of the briefing.

I guess you could land at Krymskaya or Akhtyrskaya, these are empty and unoccupied airfields.

[spreckair]

@BlackSix  Thank you!  I probably landed at the wrong airfield.  I will give it another try.

 

Update:  ...and it worked on the second attempt.  Really enjoyed this campaign--looking forward to more.

Edited September 25, 2023 by spreckair
Update

[CzechTexan]

On 7/24/2023 at 2:54 PM, BlackSix said:

Reasonable and timely cowardice is your salvation in some missions))

I am a little late on trying this campaign.  This is the first time reading through this forum topic and I noticed several comments about mission #1.

I surprised myself by actually surviving #1 on the first attempt!  I ended up getting on the tail of one of the last remaining 109s which was chasing after a friendly.  This 109 must have been an ACE because he was bobbing and weaving etc. and I could not get a good bead on him.  I used up almost all my ammunition and then took an opportunity to dive away from him to escape and land at the airfield.  I might be called a coward but I also saved this precious Yak-7 to fight another day for the Motherland, on better terms.

Great Mission!

[BlackSix]

12 hours ago, CzechTexan said:

Great Mission!

Thanks!

 

In the meantime, I finally finished the new campaign (La-5/Battle of Stalingrad) and I hope it will be available in the first quarter of next year (waiting for the cover and translation of the briefings).

[Jaegermeister]

17 hours ago, BlackSix said:

Thanks!

 

In the meantime, I finally finished the new campaign (La-5/Battle of Stalingrad) and I hope it will be available in the first quarter of next year (waiting for the cover and translation of the briefings).

 

Congratulations, looking forward to it!

[Alan_Grey]

I finished it yesterday. I really enjoyed the campaign. Good job BlackSix! I'm already looking forward to your next work. The review in Czech only is here:
https://www.alan-grey-page.cz/recenze-sky-nomads-alexander-blacksix-timoshkov/

[BlackSix]

17 hours ago, Alan_Grey said:

I finished it yesterday. I really enjoyed the campaign. Good job BlackSix! I'm already looking forward to your next work. The review in Czech only is here:

Thank you very much for the review, I was even able to understand some parts without translation from Czech))

 

In the meantime I've slightly reworked this campaign for the current game version (mostly quality of life improvements) and added the Li-2s. Hopefully this will make it into the next big update. 

Iron Wind will also be slightly adjusted (difficulty level slightly reduced), and early Yak-1s and I-153s will be added.

[Alan_Grey]

2 hours ago, BlackSix said:

Iron Wind will also be slightly adjusted (difficulty level slightly reduced), and early Yak-1s and I-153s will be added.

 

I'll definitely wait, even though I already bought Iron Wind. 👍

 

[BlackSix]

Campaign update in version 6.001:

- campaign reworked for the current version of the game; 

- small issues fixed; 

- Li-2 transports added.

[marcost]

6.001 can't start the campaign - trying to load first mission it says 'unavailable for your account' ? Bought it last year but never tried it.

 

Thanks

Edited June 2 by marcost

[BlackSix]

1 hour ago, marcost said:

6.001 can't start the campaign - trying to load first mission it says 'unavailable for your account' ? Bought it last year but never tried it.

Thanks

I recommend contacting technical support https://il2sturmovik.com/support/

[marcost]

Thanks will do

[Bemused]

Just a note of thanks BlackSix. I'm largely giving up on multiplayer in this game and the scripted campaigns are very enjoyable alternatives, Sky Nomads in particular. I enjoy the detailed briefings which are very immersive and actually like the challenge of many of the missions. It's a very well done single player experience when you have a sense of achievement for getting home in one piece! Great to see so many aircraft in the skies and to have to think carefully about when/if to commit.

 

Thoroughly well done! 

[BlackSix]

15 hours ago, Bemused said:

Just a note of thanks BlackSix. I'm largely giving up on multiplayer in this game and the scripted campaigns are very enjoyable alternatives, Sky Nomads in particular. I enjoy the detailed briefings which are very immersive and actually like the challenge of many of the missions. It's a very well done single player experience when you have a sense of achievement for getting home in one piece! Great to see so many aircraft in the skies and to have to think carefully about when/if to commit.

 

Thoroughly well done! 

 Thank you!