Developer blog #354: R.E.8, Flying Circus Volume III updates, IAR 80 progress report

[LukeFF]

Developer blog #354 is now live: https://il2sturmovik.com/news/830/dev-blog-354/

 

[Voyager]

Was the B.E.2 on the list of future planes, or is this going to be the general start of the British 2 seaters? 

 

Thinking it might be cool to do a start to finish playthrough. 

[Blitzen]

Any approximate ETA on the new aircraft?

[LuftManu]

Looks like there are a many Xmas gifts!

[LukeFF]

Just now, Blitzen said:

Any approximate ETA on the new aircraft?

 

Sometime next month. ?

[Blitzen]

7 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

 

Sometime next month. ?

I guess I'll stop holding my breath...

[LukeFF]

42 minutes ago, Voyager said:

Was the B.E.2 on the list of future planes, or is this going to be the general start of the British 2 seaters? 

 

Thinking it might be cool to do a start to finish playthrough. 

 

I don't think the B.E.2 was ever seriously planned.

[Nickkyboy99]

33 minutes ago, Blitzen said:

Any approximate ETA on the new aircraft?

My money is on either Dec 12 or 13

Edited November 30, 2023 by Nickkyboy99

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

51 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

 

I don't think the B.E.2 was ever seriously planned.

So many early planes to sell and engine variants to existing ones in FC. 
Money to make devs!
Let alone B.E.2c were  ~3,500 build.

[JG4_Moltke1871]

With the RE8 the next weaker entente two seater in game ?

really necessary because the powerhorses like DH4, Breg14 in game so far was a bit too much on the online servers for early planesets. Every new plane is a pice of the puzzle for a more round experience. I have my eyes already on the Strutters for next year because their design sounds very interesting. But not too quick, first enjoy the improved map with the full frontline and all the seasons ?

[IckyATLAS]

IAR coming excellent. I have already the missions that I can update with it.

Regarding the new map I hope they have improved the map visual quality on the trenches, craters, and no man's land part. ?

 

[S10JlAbraxis]

44 minutes ago, IckyATLAS said:

IAR coming excellent. I have already the missions that I can update with it.

Regarding the new map I hope they have improved the map visual quality on the trenches, craters, and no man's land part. ?

 

 

I hope you are right about the map.  In addition to no man's land the overall ground textures are very low rez when flying near the ground.  Normandy ground texture looks far better.  Just up the texture resloution and it solve the issue.  Also more farms need to be added.  Can never have too many farms.  Normandy has lots of farms near the channel but inland nothing - bummer.  Afterall who cares about AI if there arn't enough farms and cows... and chickens 

 

THe RE8 looks very nice, looking foward to that.

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

1 hour ago, IckyATLAS said:

 

Regarding the new map I hope they have improved the map visual quality on the trenches, craters, and no man's land part. ?

 

Not really.

Edited November 30, 2023 by 1PL-Husar-1Esk

[Mtnbiker1998]

Will the finished Western Front map be accessible to people who only own FC1, like we have been able to use the "FC2" map?

 

Looking forward to hearing more about the IAR-80 aswell, looks like it'll be a pretty unique fighter to fly

[Jaegermeister]

6 hours ago, JG4_Moltke1871 said:

I have my eyes already on the Strutters for next year because their design sounds very interesting. But not too quick, first enjoy the improved map with the full frontline and all the seasons ?

 

Besides the FE2b, there is really no Entente 2 seater to use during April 1917 or before so the 1 1/2 Strutter is needed there. Right now, Bloody April only has Single seat fighters and the FE2b. The next set of planes will make early scenarios before June 1917 more well rounded with more accurate tactics and balance. The whole reason the scouts were on patrol was to protect the Artillery Spotters that aren't there now, unless you put the FE2b in that spot. That also leaves out the short and medium range day bomber missions.  

 

19 minutes ago, Mtnbiker1998 said:

Will the finished Western Front map be accessible to people who only own FC1, like we have been able to use the "FC2" map?

 

It's all 1 map, so I would go with yes.

 

5 hours ago, IckyATLAS said:

Regarding the new map I hope they have improved the map visual quality on the trenches, craters, and no man's land part. ?

 

It's impossible to tell since it's not done yet.

[IckyATLAS]

8 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

 

It's impossible to tell since it's not done yet.

I thought this new improved/finalized map was coming maybe today. Maybe I was wrong.

[Jaegermeister]

1 hour ago, IckyATLAS said:

I thought this new improved/finalized map was coming maybe today. Maybe I was wrong.

 

Nope, I think that's a new Beta with the IAR 80 and the Harry Tate. 

[PatrickAWlson]

11 hours ago, Jaegermeister said:

 

Besides the FE2b, there is really no Entente 2 seater to use during April 1917 or before so the 1 1/2 Strutter is needed there. Right now, Bloody April only has Single seat fighters and the FE2b. The next set of planes will make early scenarios before June 1917 more well rounded with more accurate tactics and balance.

 

With the arrival of FC2 I am going to push career starts back to July 1916.  Just as with RoF, the FE2b will stand in for all French pusher aircraft and the RE8 will stand in for the Dorand AR (that seems to be a pattern going all the way back to Red Baron 3D  ). The DFW will come online several months early to cover July-Nov 1916 for the Germans  

 

When we get the complete plane set with the DH2 and Eindecker I will push back to January 1 1916.  I will use the FE2b as a German two seater as well (Albatros C.II).  Yes, it's very alternate universe kind of stuff, but I need the DH2 to be able to catch something.  For those that don't like it, start your careers in August 1916.

 

IMHO there is no need to talk about more two seaters.  Been 14 years.  Hasn't happened yet.  Not going to happen in the foreseeable future. Until that day one makes do with what one has.

 

 

 

 

 

[Lusekofte]

Is there anyone who can tell me their honest opinion about FE2B. Does it work with the gunner 

Can it make a difference? I do not own this myself but considering it

[Blitzen]

It is definitely fun, although I might quibble with it's flight modeling  in IL-2 GB combat it can do things the real FE-2B could not possibly do. In real flight in is a rather dull plodding performer, not at all maneuverable, good for bombing missions ( esp. night missions,) but not at all useful in fighter vs. fighter encounters. Having said that I think it's well worth getting and some fun too esp. in VR!

( BTW Can someone tell which key stroke will allow me to fire the gun(s) ? I'm finding none of my usual keystrokes for turret guns seem to work..)

 

[RNAS10_Mitchell]

Really need the Nieuport 24..

 

[PatrickAWlson]

33 minutes ago, Lusekofte said:

Is there anyone who can tell me their honest opinion about FE2B. Does it work with the gunner 

Can it make a difference? I do not own this myself but considering it

 

I think it's a lot of fun flying it and chasing fighters around while my gunner blasts away.  It's pretty maneuverable for such a big plane and easy to fly.  Also pretty rugged.  It's something that is totally different.  It is NOT fast so keep that in mind.  While it could hold its own it did take heavy losses at the hands of the Albatros.

 

As for owning the plane, it comes with FC3, so you either own all of FC3 or not.

[LukeFF]

50 minutes ago, Blitzen said:

BTW Can someone tell which key stroke will allow me to fire the gun(s) ? I'm finding none of my usual keystrokes for turret guns seem to work.

 

It uses the same gun turret commands as all the other turret-armed planes. 

[Blitzen]

15 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

 

It uses the same gun turret commands as all the other turret-armed planes. 

Roger Wilco.

[Noisemaker]

When are we getting the ship detecting radar, or is that for the next, as of yet unknown release?

[Lusekofte]

5 hours ago, PatrickAWlson said:

for owning the plane, it comes with FC3, so you either own all of FC3 or not

After the gunner ai became totally useless and ai wingmen still not up for ww1 manoeuvring I was reluctant to buy FC 3. 
FC in general are best for online single seat fights

[ST_Catchov]

45 minutes ago, Lusekofte said:

I was reluctant to buy FC 3 blah blah blah etc etc ....

 

Look, just stop procrastinating and looking for excuses Luse. When you acquire FC3, you'll get the Fe2b AND THE RE8! The AI will be just as bad with either.

[Lusekofte]

36 minutes ago, ST_Catchov said:

RE8

yeah the RE8 is sexy

[Gambit21]

WWI aircraft are just cool in a way nothing else is.

I really hope this team sinks their teeth into it and fleshes it out. Asset's, float planes, 2 seaters, maps and map improvements.

This is a niche that can essentially be theirs alone. 

 

This also will mean more texture real estate (multiple 4K textures) and PBR textures eventually.

They won't be competitive forever in any venue if they don't catch up in this department.

 

 

I wish them the best though.

[Mtnbiker1998]

57 minutes ago, Gambit21 said:

This also will mean more texture real estate (multiple 4K textures) and PBR textures eventually.

They won't be competitive forever in any venue if they don't catch up in this department.

 

100% agree, textures textures textures. The current lighting engine is pretty damn good but suffers because of the quality of the textures in there. PBR would go a LONG way in modernizing the looks of IL-2

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

6 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

This also will mean more texture real estate (multiple 4K textures) and PBR textures eventually.

They won't be competitive forever in any venue if they don't catch up in this department.

Plus support for new technologies for upscaling,  downscaling, antyaliasing , VR .

Time to catch up , hope the  new project would support that out of the box. 

[EAF19_Marsh]

Because I am a total masochist, the RE-8 for me is a great thrill. It was the Corp aircraft that did much of the important work and they should be thick over the front.

 

Great job, team! Really looking fwd to this (and I would pre-order a BE in a second) ?

[EAF19_Marsh]

Also, was there a Map ETA? It being Winter here in Europe, a cold map would be apposite.

[Avimimus]

On 11/30/2023 at 6:13 PM, 1PL-Husar-1Esk said:

So many early planes to sell and engine variants to existing ones in FC. 
Money to make devs!
Let alone B.E.2c were  ~3,500 build.

 

My thoughts are well known:

 

Hopefully sales will be enough to eventually give us early-war two seaters.

 

 

5 hours ago, EAF19_Marsh said:

Because I am a total masochist, the RE-8 for me is a great thrill. It was the Corp aircraft that did much of the important work and they should be thick over the front.

 

Yes, I love it!

[RNAS10_Mitchell]

On 11/30/2023 at 3:09 PM, Bussard* said:

I thought you had already made it clear that you weren't buying RoF a "third time". That's why I mentioned also new, younger players possibly buying the third port the first time. ?

 

15 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

WWI aircraft are just cool in a way nothing else is.

I really hope this team sinks their teeth into it and fleshes it out. Asset's, float planes, 2 seaters, maps and map improvements.

This is a niche that can essentially be theirs alone. 

 

This also will mean more texture real estate (multiple 4K textures) and PBR textures eventually.

They won't be competitive forever in any venue if they don't catch up in this department.

 

 

I wish them the best though.

Could not agree more.   WW1 Aviation rocks, and there is so much potential.   Very dedicated players, and they own the market.   Hope they continue to support and develop additional content.

[PatrickAWlson]

4 hours ago, EAF19_Marsh said:

Also, was there a Map ETA? It being Winter here in Europe, a cold map would be apposite.

 

The map ETA is later this month along with the the complete FC3 delivery.

[Jaws2002]

The IAR comes to the internal BETA, right?

My heart just skipped a beat when I read that. ?

 

 

 

[ST_Catchov]

10 hours ago, EAF19_Marsh said:

Because I am a total masochist, the RE-8 for me is a great thrill. It was the Corp aircraft that did much of the important work and they should be thick over the front.

 

Great job, team! Really looking fwd to this (and I would pre-order a BE in a second) ?

 

@Lusekofte says the RE8 is sexy. And good on him for being so forthright in his views. Not sure what he thinks about the BE2 but I think it is far sexier than the RE8. Not that that takes away anything from the RE8 of course. She is iconic and of shapely form. But I also think the FE2B is sexy. So in conclusion, I would say, there is nothing quite like a WW1 crate. Not even close.

 

21 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

WWI aircraft are just cool in a way nothing else is.

 

I think Gambit sums it up quite nicely. Although I would use the adjective "way" to describe "cool" to add more emphasis to the statement.

[sevenless]

3 hours ago, Jaws2002 said:

The IAR comes to the internal BETA, right?

My heart just skipped a beat when I read that. ?

 

 

 

Yep. Last important one for WW2. Lets see how it turns out. Next ones for 24 are only minors (Spit IXc and Ta 152) and then its over.

[LukeFF]

3 hours ago, sevenless said:

Yep. Last important one for WW2. Lets see how it turns out. Next ones for 24 are only minors (Spit IXc and Ta 152) and then its over.

 

...and the I-153 ?