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Red Flag Mirage campaign impressive work!


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So, after the flight in to Nellis and the first mission completed, introduction to the range, here's my first impressions.

 

 

Its a brilliant!

 

 

The only thing I noted was, after landing (tour of Red Flag area) I received a radio message from AWACs about the Aggressors, who came up for a play. Apparently, when I was showboating with an Aggressor Tiger, there was some AWACs message that wasn't played right away. It got played after I landed. But that's the only minor glitch! There are so many messages, its totally compelling and makes the campaign come alive.

 

 

The first flight over the range really put me there. I especially enjoyed the banter about area 51 and the way the Eagle driver didn't want to talk much about it, especially when the French leader got cocky and mentioned "conspiracy theories!...LOL!!

 

 

Well done Baltic Dragon.

 

 

Now I'm off to do mission 2. Lets see if I can protect those chaps in the Dambuster squadron from Lossiemouth!

 

 

Tally Ho!

 

 

Regards

David

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Mission #2 was a botch. Had to re start the campaign.

 

 

After missing a radio call, a space bar hit, during the wp#4 to wp#5 patrol. Nothing happened for 35 minutes. The Monsters, Tornado's, flew their pattern and RTB. However after hitting the space bar, after 35 minutes, the Tornados suddenly began reporting all their targets, trouble was, they were back at Nellis?

 

 

Seems like, after hitting space bar late, the mission kept running its program, from where it thought the mission was, but the aircraft were all out of place?

 

 

By this time I was Bingo so had to RTB. Then all hell broke loose over the FEBA. The F15 and F16 mopped up the Phantoms and Migs. I crashed after running out of fuel! LOL

 

 

The moral of the tale is, don't miss a space bar hit, keep on the correct freq. The mission seems to run on a time from space bar hit, clock. Get that wrong and your sunk!

 

 

I will try again tomorrow.

 

 

Regards

David

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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Mission 2 = third mission, the first "combat" one with ELINT?

 

Yeah, there you need to do a recon and try to find and identify the ground forces, if you don't the triggers for you won't work properly, but the rest will play out normally. My one advice is to really carefully read all the briefing materials and study the kneeboard with notes and frequencies before each take off. Radio discipline is one of the hardest aspects of this campaign, and even I - testing each mission many times over - did some mistakes there, so no worries.

Let me know how it plays out on the second try!

 

One question - was the turning sequence at waypoints OK or did the lead in F-15 commence turns after / before the countdown? It tends to change every other update :D


Edited by baltic_dragon
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Hi, the Eagles seemed to turn OK.

 

 

I missed just the one "reply", the press space bar.....?

 

 

I didn't realise I had missed it until I saw the Tornados leaving the area without any ID of any targets?

 

 

I finally hit space bar after 30 minutes and down to 1800 lbs fuel. Then the Tornados began reporting the enemy ID's? By that time they were back at Nellis. I figured that perhaps the missing space bar acknowledgement, messed up all the mission timings? The whole area then went active with bogeys and all sorts of positions!

 

 

After crashing, I re started the whole campaign. Enjoyed the fly in again and the recce of the Red Flag area. I heard some more speech that I'd missed the first time!!

 

 

However, after two perfect first missions, I got a score of 85? Previously it was 100!

 

 

Also noticed after landing after the recce, I couldn't select Tower and space bar wasn't giving me the acknowledgement! Maybe that's why I only got 85?

 

 

I am sure I was on the correct freqs but just missed the vital acknowledgement to activate the Tornado's on their ELINT!

 

 

All great fun!

 

 

Cheers.

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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Confirm easy comms are off.

 

After landing, the mission requested I tune to tower and gave the frequency. So I saw it was channel 3 frequency. Tuned to 3 and hit space bar. No result. I tried manually tuning the freq. Selected manual mode on tuner, still no response. Info message stayed on across the screen, like it had stuck or something?

 

So I taxied to parking, shut down and exited mission. Mission was shown completed, but only got 85 score.

 

Cheers

 

David

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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Hello again.

 

 

Mission 3, ELINT, completed. Here's the review.

 

 

BTW I am not moaning here. I think the Campaign is superb! But there are funny things that you may be able to fix? Please tell me if these reports are no use to you, and I will shut up!

 

 

First, the enemy AI Phantoms launched a barrage attack, 4 in all, of Sparrows, I died.

 

 

Re did mission. LOL.

 

 

This time Super A.I. Eagles mopped up all enemy aircraft with their Amrams. I got one Magic off, only to miss as it was spoofed by flares! LOL!

 

 

Monster flight survived, but only because of super AI Eagles.

 

 

Tried to direct my wingman on to tanker. He just says "negative". I think maybe you have to put something in the campaign to get the wingmen to obey refuelling order? Or maybe not, since they are difficult. Anyway, he made it back to Nellis and landed!

 

 

After landing at Nellis, I got the "hit spacebar and tune to ground for taxi". The space bar did not trigger any message to or from ground. So I taxied in, shut down, and mission was complete. Looks like that last flag is missing?

 

 

I then noticed Monster 1 was circling at the west side of Nellis. They continued to circle for 15 minutes, then they collided with each other and ejected. The mission result was unchanged. I guess they didn't want to land since they were enjoying the view so much...LOL!

 

 

Anyway, on to the night mission.

 

 

Regards

David

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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Thanks! Feedback like this is always useful!

 

So: I have very little control over AI. Most of the times they are doing OK, but they do stupid things every now and then - something you have to get used to and ignore. Like what Monster did at the end... or wingmen who will run out of fuel and crash. Until ED addresses that there is not much I can do.

 

For Ground you sure it wasn’t in reverse order? First tune to Ground then press space bar + I think it only works when you are clear of the active runway. I will check that.

 

Sorry about the trouble with AI, hope it will be better later on!

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That's OK Baltic, so long as you don't mind my feedback!

 

 

Just did the follow on mission, night mission, number #4.

 

 

Did better here, strangely?

 

 

Noticed again after landing, selecting ground on channel 3, space bar didn't trigger anything. You could be right, it may be me that's not selecting ground and then pressing space bar? Anyway, doesn't affect mission if its successful.

 

 

Re A.I. They acted stupid on return to base on this mission. Two Mirages ejected, almost home!! Annoyingly we were loss free up to that point!

 

 

The most important report, is the self destructing Mig 29's?

 

 

I crossed FEBA, with permission, engaged the Mig 29's, killed a clever arse Mig doing a climb up and zero speed tail slide??? However, then the 3 remaining Migs flew away a couple of clicks and then self destructed?

 

 

I only saw what they did on TACVIEW replay. Otherwise I wouldn't have known where they went!

 

 

I don't know if you intended them to self destruct, but that's what happened. They didn't crash into the ground, they just blew up! Then the Tigers joined the melee and were mopped up by the F15's who had dropped their bombs.

 

 

Seemingly, the A.I. is the PITA for designers like you. You try to crate a balanced mission, but are up against all odds with A.I who are super human killers one minute and dumb arsed idiots the next!

 

 

Anyway, enjoying the Campaign greatly.

 

 

Regards

David

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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Is mission #6 designed to be a failure?

 

 

I am defeated every time by the enemy A.I. They are simple too strong in this mission. The 530's and Magics are woefully under par. It shows here! Even the F16's are no match for the enemy.

 

 

Unless there is a trick...LOL!

 

 

Cheers

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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Happened to me only a few times, in most cases the AI was doing OK - though I never went in the first line, send the other guys ahead of you. IIRC the Blue side has higher skills than the Red, so it should be fine. Of course sometimes the AI does stupid things, but most of the times it was OK... guess you have a lot of weird adventures with this campaign...at least M05 played OK?

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Unbelievable! I spent all afternoon on this one mission. Died 6 times!

 

 

Finally held back in 25k high altitude position. I sent in the F16's, tasked against the F-14's...All died! Sent in the M2k's, tasked against the Phantoms, all died. I even deployed my wingman into the fray..he died as well!!!

 

 

LOL...No one left to talk to on way home?

 

 

Interesting how you have the chit chat on the way, about the M2k and the 530's being out of date! Against the A.I. I think they are. You cant get a semi active lock for long enough, before some wise ass A.I. is on your tail!

 

 

If I could modify this mission (I know you have locked them) I would add an extra flight of F-16's with Amrams. Seemingly, the odds are too great for the Blue force.

 

 

Its great fun, but I think you have to expect to loose a few against those super human enemy A.I.

 

 

Cheers.

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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I will have to give it a whirl and check what is going on, it shouldn't be like this! Either you have extremely bad luck or something has changed with regard to the AI or missiles with one of the last updates...

EDIT: if you really can't beat it (and who can blame you for having enough after 5-6 times) set yourself as invincible and destroy at least some airplanes, then RTB, it should progress... I know it doesn't sound too good, but I've never had trouble during the tests and I flew it many times. Anyone else experiencing this?


Edited by baltic_dragon
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I reflew again, with invulnerable on, as you suggested.

 

This was #7 try.

 

I flew orbit at 25000. Stood back, ordered F16's in with Amraams, priority F-14's. Then the M2k with orders to wait until no escape zone established. Priority F4's.

 

Amrams had some success but Tomcats got the upper hand. Over the F16's.

 

M2k's rapidly got into trouble and after the call "need some help", I engaged with my wingman (radar on engage bandits). Wingman went down to F4 AIM7's. I ended up alone with two Tomcats, an F4 and two Tigers.

 

I had a nice dogfight with the remaining fighters. Scored two kills, one with 530"s one with guns. I would have been shot to pieces without immortal on. I got a couple of Sidewinders up my tailpipe and about a thousand rounds of 20mm.

 

I would be interested in any feedback from others too!

 

Seemingly, the F-14's may have been "beefed up", perhaps prior to the impending new release?

 

In the missions I have done, the enemy AI were always superhuman. Especially with a full compliment of missiles. I tended to give the enemy AI a reduced armament to try to compensate?

 

The friendly AI were never as good as enemy AI. The number of times my flight has flown into a mountain, or refused to obey orders, used to put me off making missions. Even as mission designer, I saw how unbalanced things could get when I relied on the AI to "behave" realistically.

 

Anyhow I'm on to mission #7 now. It's a great campaign.

 

Cheers

 

David

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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I’ll put up a post on M6 to ask others about their experience and may just decrease the Red Force skills and maybe also reduce number of missiles. If I find some time I will also play the mission AI only from the moment when the fight is on and see what happens. I really appreciate your feedback and resolve to play one mission so many times (I’ve done the same with all of them, but I had different reasons). Looking forward to any more findings!

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I tried to upload the Zip ACMI file, but DCS forum says it exceeds the limit 10.22 mb over 9.77...????? Very annoying. I don't know how to compress it smaller?

 

 

I can email it to you?

 

 

See Dropbox link in the next post.

 

 

The thing that's revealed is the Aggressor Tigers are firing Matra R550 Magics. Is that correct? They account for a lot of downed blue jets.

 

 

Regards

David


Edited by Accipiter

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

Search User Files for "herky" for my uploaded missions. My flight sim videos on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/user/David Herky

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Baltic Dragon.

 

 

Here is the TACVIEW file I uploaded to Dropbox. FF to the action and you will see what I mean I am on "invulnerable" here!

 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/67v4z6y0xf2s82q/Tacview-20181013-201548-DCS-M2000%20NTTR%20M06.zip.acmi?dl=0

 

 

Cheers

David

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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I tried to upload the Zip ACMI file, but DCS forum says it exceeds the limit 10.22 mb over 9.77...????? Very annoying. I don't know how to compress it smaller?

 

 

I can email it to you?

 

 

See Dropbox link in the next post.

 

 

The thing that's revealed is the Aggressor Tigers are firing Matra R550 Magics. Is that correct? They account for a lot of downed blue jets.

 

 

Regards

David[/quote

 

Thanks will have a look. They have standard AIM-9s, it either is a tacview artifact or a bug. I will have a look!

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The AGR Tigers should have 9p Sidewinders. Rear aspect only. So I'm guessing it's the all aspect Magics that may be upping their score? However, I surmise that the Iranians may have upped the spec and purchased Magics for their tigers. So it's probably correct after all.

 

But as you say, there are some strange artifacts that sometimes present in Tacview? Anyway, the proof of my ineptitude is there in the file.:lol:

 

One thing we all know, is that that AI in DCS needs attention.

 

Anecdotally, the Mirage is a real handful to dogfight, these missions prove this. There is massive bleed off of airspeed with any big g turns. With only 2 Semi Acive radar missiles and two heat seakers, you gotta use them wisely!:joystick:

 

I am looking forward to you doing a Persian Gulf campaign with the Hornet, when it's finished that is.

 

Regards.

 

David

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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I hope you will finish this campaign first!

 

You bet! By the time I do, the Hornet will probably be completed as well..well...maybe not!:lol:

 

Just did #9. But that took a few attempts. Seems like what you answer over the radio alters the AI behaviour? Clever and cunning! I was holding back defending the Bone, after the cleared to engage order. So I missed out on any kills. I ordered my wingman to go radar hot and engage bandits. To my surprise he did, but in a duel with a Falcon, his SAR 530 lost to the Amraam and he died! Must confess I lost situational awareness there and without the Tacview, I wouldn't have known where Anvil was? I thought Anvil was to my west but they were behind me. Superbly realistic!

 

I would have preferred less chit chat at #3 during orbit. Perhaps more on the way back and since it was Friday, Max offering to buy drinks in the o club....only fair since he bagged 2 Tigers. I loved the opening banter about the ATIS girl....Max getting excited about a robot!:lol:

 

I still don't get any response from ground after landing and going to channel 3?

 

Regards.

 

David

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

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Hey, glad you're having fun!

 

As for chatter, I am considering and will probably implement in the future campaigns a "radio silence" order at the beginnig, so player can issue it and be free of chatter, especially if he flies the mission for the second or third time :)

 

Yeah, in some missions what you choose over F-10 menu does change how the AI behaves, at least in theory, as in practice they still are the DCS AI.. but sometimes it works pretty well.

 

With Max just wait to M12, I think that is where he shines the most!

 

Now thinking about why you don't get ground response - I don't know. Perhaps you use the wrong taxiway? It will normally only work on the last taxiway to the right (alpha I believe).. so you should exit, wait for the pop-up to show about ground, switch to CH3 and then press SP BAR..

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Hey, glad you're having fun!

 

As for chatter, I am considering and will probably implement in the future campaigns a "radio silence" order at the beginnig, so player can issue it and be free of chatter, especially if he flies the mission for the second or third time :)

 

Yeah, in some missions what you choose over F-10 menu does change how the AI behaves, at least in theory, as in practice they still are the DCS AI.. but sometimes it works pretty well.

 

With Max just wait to M12, I think that is where he shines the most!

 

Now thinking about why you don't get ground response - I don't know. Perhaps you use the wrong taxiway? It will normally only work on the last taxiway to the right (alpha I believe).. so you should exit, wait for the pop-up to show about ground, switch to CH3 and then press SP BAR..

 

I believe you are correct re the response from ground after landing. I was using the first exit from the runway, about half way along! When I used the exit at the end of the runway and used Alpha, I got the trigger! My fault for landing and stopping so short! Your trigger zone is obviously at the end of the runway.

 

In #10 the Roland SAM do not engage any of my flight. We were all around 10000' chasing the bandits and the Roland's ignored us! Thankfully and just maybe the French built Roland's don't like shooting at French Mirages!!Lol!

 

However, seriously, if the Roland's had been active, we all would have died, since ignoring the briefing and not remaining above 25k would have been fatal That missionon was an exercise in getting the flights radars on and ordering them to engage! My two pathetic 530 shots missed! But my French flight fought superbly.

 

I am more of a Mud Mover pilot, so I am looking at those Tornados with envious eyes! If anyone got around to doing a Tornado module, I'd be first in the queue.:D

 

Yes I am enjoying your Red Flag in the Mirage.:thumbup: You are a very talented chap sir!

 

Regards

 

David

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]i7 Haswell @ 4.6Ghz, Z97p, GTX1080, 32GB DDR3, x3SSD, Win7/64, professional. 32" BenQ, TIR 5, Saitek x55 HOTAS.

Search User Files for "herky" for my uploaded missions. My flight sim videos on You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/user/David Herky

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