Community Scripted Campaigns - what would you like to see added to the game?

[AEthelraedUnraed]

8 minutes ago, Jaegermeister said:

I have been informed that there is no built in functionality for the campaigns to reference more than one texture file for a given map. Using a separate texture file would be considered a mod.

Well, yes, obviously you can only reference a single texture file. That's the way the mission file format is designed.

 

I see how a separate texture file is considered a mod (since it deviates from the default game files), but I still cannot see why this couldn't be included with a campaign. It doesn't overwrite anything or influence other missions/files in any way, so can be considered as not very different from adding 3d models to a mission, but instead with textures. Furthermore, the .dat format is surprisingly well-designed which should make it rather future-proof; I don't see any update breaking existing Surface.dat files. @BlackSix, what are your thoughts on this?

[BlackSix]

I don't make any decisions so it doesn't matter what I think

[86Cheese]

As far as existing campaigns added, I'd love to see Jaegermeisters updated Actung! Jabo! Campaign finished and added. Also The Fall of Veliki Luki is one of my favorites.

 

As for suggestions you didn't ask for, any air campaign for Prohorvka, but I'd love to see a Stuka campaign for that map.

Edited July 11, 2023 by 86Cheese

[Jaegermeister]

On 7/11/2023 at 5:43 PM, 86Cheese said:

As far as existing campaigns added, I'd love to see Jaegermeisters updated Actung! Jabo! Campaign finished and added...

 

That campaign was made on a stand-in map before Battle of Bodenplatte was released with the Rhineland map. Since @AEthelraedUnraed's Battle of the Hurtgen Forest was released, there is no point in remaking it since it is the same aircraft and the same battles. He did a fine job with it, my version would not be any better. Apparently all we need to do is get a finalized ground texture file to submit for a map update and perhaps that can be added to the official game.

 

 

[Sandmarken]

3 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

 

That campaign was made on a stand-in map before Battle of Bodenplatte was released with the Rhineland map. Since @AEthelraedUnraed's Battle of the Hurtgen Forest was released, there is no point in remaking it since it is the same aircraft and the same battles. He did a fine job with it, my version would not be any better. Apparently all we need to do is get a finalized ground texture file to submit for a map update and perhaps that can be added to the official game.

 

 

As much as I like the Hürtgen forest from AEthelaredUnraed your version was also great and very different from his. The stand in map is a great one also. Maybe the only that dont need comunity ground texture help. ? I always wanted to fly it again but I dont have the file anymore. Nothing wrong with two p47 campaigns  ?

[86Cheese]

19 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

 

That campaign was made on a stand-in map before Battle of Bodenplatte was released with the Rhineland map. Since @AEthelraedUnraed's Battle of the Hurtgen Forest was released, there is no point in remaking it since it is the same aircraft and the same battles. He did a fine job with it, my version would not be any better. Apparently all we need to do is get a finalized ground texture file to submit for a map update and perhaps that can be added to the official game.

 

 

Ah okay, I didn't realize that. I just found your campaign after it had been pulled, I never had the opportunity to play the original version. In that case, we just need more P-47 campaigns then!

[Hamaha15]

On 7/13/2023 at 7:28 PM, Jaegermeister said:

Apparently all we need to do is get a finalized ground texture file to submit for a map update and perhaps that can be added to the official game.

Evening,

 

This thread may not be the proper place to discuss but since the topic has been raised here I want to add a remark:

 

At the end of last year, I suggested an incremental approach to Han which would allow for filling the gaps step-by-step and integrating 3rd party content from different sources. If we wanted to wait for the one finalised texture file e.g. of only the Rheinland map the update of the official game would never happen - too big the task for interested individuals alone. All the devs would have to do is to establish a kind of quality check and to import the additional .DAT files into the map.

 

Han was open to this proposal and in one if the following blogs the devs actually announced that they were going to communicate some instructions how to update the map files 'professionally' and to avoid mistakes in doing so. Unfortunately I never heard of this approach any more ever since.

 

Imho, @AEthelraedUnraed's campaign would lose considerably if it were made official without the ground texture updates in the target area and around the homebase. In this case a forum-shared version appears to be the better solution to me.

Edited July 16, 2023 by Hamaha15

[Avimimus]

I definitely like the idea of more single missions and campaigns being bundled into the base game.

 

If I may make a suggestion - a thread on what single missions to add might be good as well! Certainly the firing range missions people have created (e.g. to help learn to range in Tank Crew, or to learn how to attack tanks) would be useful! It might also be good to have practice missions for bombing, photo-reconnaissance, and artillery spotting (not sure if someone has already created them - but they are a must for training...).

[Jaegermeister]

4 hours ago, Hamaha15 said:

Evening,

 

This thread may not be the proper place to discuss but since the topic has been raised here I want to add a remark:

 

At the end of last year, I suggested an incremental approach to Han which would allow for filling the gaps step-by-step and integrating 3rd party content from different sources. If we wanted to wait for the one finalised texture file e.g. of only the Rheinland map the update of the official game would never happen - too big the task for interested individuals alone. All the devs would have to do is to establish a kind of quality check and to import the additional .DAT files into the map.

 

Han was open to this proposal and in one if the following blogs the devs actually announced that they were going to communicate some instructions how to update the map files 'professionally' and to avoid mistakes in doing so. Unfortunately I never heard of this approach any more ever since.

 

Imho, @AEthelraedUnraed's campaign would lose considerably if it were made official without the ground texture updates in the target area and around the homebase. In this case a forum-shared version appears to be the better solution to me.

 

If you guys can figure out how to combine your texture files that you have now, we can submit that as a starting point. Additional updates could be made at later dates if the process is accepted by the map department.

[FeuerFliegen]

Here are my votes:

 

Taman Bridgehead

Kerch-Eltigen Operation

The Fall of Velikie Luki

Fire and Ice

Night fighters over the Kuban

Red Tide

Silent Movie

Cold Winter

Allmost

[KoreyPong]

Invasion Watch : because of the very special atmosphere of this small series of recon missions

 

Kerch-Eltigen Operation : for the exact opposite reason ! It is action packed !

[SARFlytitus]

“ Lullaby for a Dream “  is my vote.  

Definately a must have masterpiece !

[Calos_01]

I would welcome "War in the channel", "Invasion watch" and "Hurtgen forest" to name just three. I really like many others as well.

[LukeFF]

Thanks for all the input, guys. ? Nothing is firm right now, but we now have a couple of campaigns that are in the running to be added in an official update.

[ThunderBat]

On 7/9/2023 at 12:23 AM, Sandmarken said:

Agree, this is also a time when forces was more balanced. Im looking forward to @ThunderBatreleasing his spitfire mkv campaign ? you can also check out my Hurricane campaign it takes place in 1941. Hope someone do a good axis campaign aswel. The closest is the photo recon from @Juri_JS witch is very good and has some interesting mechanics like actually taking pictures! ?

I don't think I can make the anniversary of operation Jubilee with the release of the campaign, but I still hope to have it finished by the end of this year. I've found way less time for myself to make missions and videos since May with work and school, and I'm really trying to make sure each and every setpiece is tight and tested before I commit to the final missions, script voice lines and ask for people to record.

[Sandmarken]

15 minutes ago, ThunderBat said:

I don't think I can make the anniversary of operation Jubilee with the release of the campaign, but I still hope to have it finished by the end of this year. I've found way less time for myself to make missions and videos since May with work and school, and I'm really trying to make sure each and every setpiece is tight and tested before I commit to the final missions, script voice lines and ask for people to record.

Making campaigns is alot of work! Im happy people takes the time to make them anyway ?

[Spidey002]

Playing The Night Witches by Utopioneer

 

This should be an official campaign! It got me to purchase the U-2VS—a plane I had heretofore no interest in.

 

It’s innovative and lots of fun! 

[Sandmarken]

29 minutes ago, Spidey002 said:

Playing The Night Witches by Utopioneer

 

This should be an official campaign! It got me to purchase the U-2VS—a plane I had heretofore no interest in.

 

It’s innovative and lots of fun! 

I also like what iv played from this campaign. Have you tried silent movie also for the u2vs? Try some bomb runs online in it. Once i had to land in a village to shake a 109 then take off again and go home. ?

[Jaegermeister]

On 7/24/2023 at 2:10 AM, Sandmarken said:

Making campaigns is alot of work! Im happy people takes the time to make them anyway ?

Yes, it is. In my experience a 12 mission campaign would require over 300 hours of work, but of course that has many variables.
 

It is great that so many people are willing to spend their time working on them.

?

[Mysticpuma]

On 7/11/2023 at 5:41 PM, BlackSix said:

I don't make any decisions so it doesn't matter what I think

Happy wife, happy life ?

[1111mark*norma*]

What i would like to see is Little fix"s on Hell Hawks . I'm sitting in a P-47-28 ready for T.O. and the captain calls "ready to go. You just sit there   forever.    I've checked on myself and it looks O.K Can you help me on this issue. Thankyou for your help. 

[LukeFF]

3 hours ago, 1111mark*norma* said:

What i would like to see is Little fix"s on Hell Hawks . I'm sitting in a P-47-28 ready for T.O. and the captain calls "ready to go. You just sit there   forever.    I've checked on myself and it looks O.K Can you help me on this issue. Thankyou for your help. 

 

You need to ask about that in the discussion topic about the campaign:

 

 

[jeanba]

I think Saldy's campaign "Blitz" would fit very well as an official campaign:

 

[Mysticpuma]

Something based on the Korean War ???

[1/JSpan_Wind75]

On 7/23/2023 at 3:20 AM, LukeFF said:

Thanks for all the input, guys. ? Nothing is firm right now, but we now have a couple of campaigns that are in the running to be added in an official update.

 

Thanks to the developers for all the work done.

Now I have a couple of thoughts:

1) Why not make more scripted campaigns, give authorization to free developers so that they can run campaigns even when this means they charge something. Something like what happened with DESARTER SOFT, where you could download and buy complete campaigns. This would be very good for those of us who fly Off-line.

 

2) There should also be a development group where pilots are good with the application interface to do On-line missions and Off-Line Cooperative missions. This would enrich the SIM for everyone.

 

3) Within the community there are people trained to have collector airplanes built, and all within the SIM and its forums where 1C imposes its criteria and the quality level of the simulator.

 

4) And finally, there are also client-persons with the ability to make sample maps, such as making a map of the Pacific, a small map.
In short, there are many things that can be done for the benefit of everyone, both for the development team and for the clients who have opted for this simulator.

 

PS: One thing I would like to see is the Battle of Britain map without having to install different software, that is, joining the BoB to the IL-2 engine.

 

Underneath an ALUMINUM SPITFIRE

[Hamaha15]

1 hour ago, 1/JSpan_Guerrero said:

Underneath an ALUMINUM SPITFIRE

Fantastic model...

[EAF19_Marsh]

486 Squadron “Hiwa hau Maka”

 

Channel operations to the Rhein: Hurri 2, Typhoon early, late,Tempest 9lb, 11lb

 

Requires a degree of creative license but basically use Sheddan’s book and go from there with the Shores 2TAF trilogy as the academic reference.

 

Consider it an Odyssey over the current Caen brief stroll.

[Gambit21]

On 10/15/2023 at 11:11 PM, 1/JSpan_Guerrero said:

 

Thanks to the developers for all the work done.

Now I have a couple of thoughts:

1) Why not make more scripted campaigns, give authorization to free developers so that they can run campaigns even when this means they charge something. Something like what happened with DESARTER SOFT, where you could download and buy complete campaigns. This would be very good for those of us who fly Off-line.

 

2) There should also be a development group where pilots are good with the application interface to do On-line missions and Off-Line Cooperative missions. This would enrich the SIM for everyone.

 

3) Within the community there are people trained to have collector airplanes built, and all within the SIM and its forums where 1C imposes its criteria and the quality level of the simulator.

 

4) And finally, there are also client-persons with the ability to make sample maps, such as making a map of the Pacific, a small map.
In short, there are many things that can be done…

This all essentially already happens to one degree or another.

[AEthelraedUnraed]

On 10/16/2023 at 8:11 AM, 1/JSpan_Guerrero said:

1) Why not make more scripted campaigns, give authorization to free developers so that they can run campaigns even when this means they charge something. Something like what happened with DESARTER SOFT, where you could download and buy complete campaigns. This would be very good for those of us who fly Off-line.

 

2) There should also be a development group where pilots are good with the application interface to do On-line missions and Off-Line Cooperative missions. This would enrich the SIM for everyone.

 

3) Within the community there are people trained to have collector airplanes built, and all within the SIM and its forums where 1C imposes its criteria and the quality level of the simulator.

 

4) And finally, there are also client-persons with the ability to make sample maps, such as making a map of the Pacific, a small map.
In short, there are many things that can be done for the benefit of everyone, both for the development team and for the clients who have opted for this simulator.

All of those are already possible, like Gambit21 says, and all of those are already being done to some extent:

1) There's a whole forum for scripted campaigns as well as several 3rd party campaigns for sale in the store.

2) There are several different servers creating and hosting some pretty cool online campaigns.

3) Collector aircraft are already being built by 3rd party devs; see the IAR 80.

4) It's already possible to make maps; apparently there's a Finnish team working on a Karelia map.

 

The reason there aren't much more 3rd party developers making stuff is more related to the ginormous amount of work needed to meet IL2's quality standards than to anything else, really.

[1/JSpan_Wind75]

On 25/10/2023 at 17:03, AEthelraedUnraed said:

Todo eso ya es posible, como dice Gambit21, y todo eso ya se está haciendo hasta cierto punto:

1) Hay un foro completo para campañas escritas, así como varias campañas de terceros a la venta en la tienda.

2) Hay varios servidores diferentes que crean y alojan algunas campañas en línea bastante interesantes.

3) Desarrolladores externos ya están construyendo aviones de colección; ver el IAR 80.

4) Ya es posible hacer mapas; Al parecer hay un equipo finlandés trabajando en un mapa de Karelia.

 

La razón por la que no hay muchos más desarrolladores externos que creen cosas está más relacionada con la enorme cantidad de trabajo necesaria para cumplir con los estándares de calidad de IL2 que con cualquier otra cosa, en realidad.

 

Something similar to "DISASTERSOFT" could be done with the IL-2 Sturmovik to have air combat campaigns with the SIM www.il2sturmovik.com

They would be paid campaigns but somewhat longer than the current ones, they would always be an incentive for fans of air battles in IL-2.

[jeanba]

On 10/25/2023 at 6:03 PM, AEthelraedUnraed said:

 

 

The reason there aren't much more 3rd party developers making stuff is more related to the ginormous amount of work needed to meet IL2's quality standards than to anything else, really.

It is also the difficulty of the mission editor compared from 1946, for instance.

[AEthelraedUnraed]

1 hour ago, 1/JSpan_Guerrero said:

Something similar to "DISASTERSOFT" could be done with the IL-2 Sturmovik to have air combat campaigns with the SIM www.il2sturmovik.com

They would be paid campaigns but somewhat longer than the current ones, they would always be an incentive for fans of air battles in IL-2.

That's not allowed according to the EULA:

"1. THE SERVICE RULES
1.1. Any paid Services in the Game shall only be provided by the Operator. "

 

Probably because 1) they want to earn some proportion of all profit made from 3rd party resources, and 2) they want to have some quality control to guarantee that users get a good experience and the campaign keeps working after game updates.

 

But still, 3rd party campaigns already exist, both paid (e.g. those by Gambit or Jaegermeister) and free (e.g. my Hürtgenwald campaign). I don't see the advantage of allowing 3rd parties to regulate their own payment and distribution.

 

1 hour ago, jeanba said:

It is also the difficulty of the mission editor compared from 1946, for instance.

Absolutely. In that way, the Mission Editor is a bit of a two-edged sword. It's much more powerful, but also less easy to use.

[jeanba]

1 hour ago, AEthelraedUnraed said:

 

 

Absolutely. In that way, the Mission Editor is a bit of a two-edged sword. It's much more powerful, but also less easy to use.

There are a lot of very high quality campaigns for 1946, even though the editor is not as powerfull.

Moreover, there are at least 3 campaign designers who transited from 1946 to BoX and they seem to struggle to reach the same level of quality they had in 1946

[Gambit21]

On 11/6/2023 at 7:43 AM, jeanba said:

There are a lot of very high quality campaigns for 1946, even though the editor is not as powerfull.

Moreover, there are at least 3 campaign designers who transited from 1946 to BoX and they seem to struggle to reach the same level of quality they had in 1946

You are somewhat correct as far as the difficulty of the mission editor having something to do with it. However mostly it’s the dedication or lack thereof of the designer in question if he can’t surpass his 46 work by a wide margin.

 

Having built campaigns in both 46 and BoX, I can tell you that the potential quality in BoX is much higher. I simply didn’t have the tools that I needed in BoX to build to my vision. I have far more of those tools in BoX (and more still in DCS).

Bottom line, the same level of quality is not possible in 46. I maxed out the potential of that editor very quickly.

 

On the other hand I built a functional ground radar in BoX complete with static over the radio receiver when the beam sweeps your aircraft.
 

The ease if use of the 46 editor is also a double edged sword. More people work with it, but most of the work is mediocre. BoX editor is more difficult to learn, so for the most part, only the more skilled/dedicated mission designers use it…therefore most of the campaigns are higher quality. 
 

I wouldn’t trade this editor for the easy to learn but more limited 46 editor.

It’s biggest weakness is failure by 1C (and its a huge failure) to properly develop it further. The DCS editor is constantly getting improvements/new features. (While some things remain inexcusably broken), life isn’t perfect there)