New map idea: open water

I'm conscious that we have carrier's already, more on the way, and 3 new carrier borne aircraft that we're about to get (Harrier, F14 and F18). Additionally, we have several helis.

So how about a map with nothing but water?

I can't help but think that the technology for the weather exists, so wouldn't it be virtually free to do?

Sure, might be nice to have some islands, but if we keep it ultra simple, then it should require virtually no effort at all. Would certainly be a nice freebie to include with any of the new aircraft.

Linked to the simplicity of the map, I would expect the graphics requirements to be pretty low (no buildings, trees etc). So could it also be pretty damn big, e.g. 500*500km, thus allowing some genuine cat and mouse between fleets.

Great idea! Another advantage of such a map would be that it could be used for all time periods equally. No anachronisms if one day (hopefully) WW2 carrier aircraft and aircraft carriers will arrive in DCS.

Wasn't Leatherneck/Heatblur already working on this at one point? It's still in the list of stuff to be included with the F-14. And from one of the Q&A's with Cobra

Q: Which theatre will be included with the F-14?

A: Very oceany. Very cold.

The F-14 Campaign will take place in this theatre.

Agree. Ocean with great weather and new clouds. And as bonus a superb framerate for VR! VERY WELCOME! Could it be free? Cause, content like carriers and other things are already priced. The servers can host the map for free. This was already a great discussion several community's after release of Nevada and Normandy. It's a big push for bying F-18 and carriers. From the perspective view from customers and from the view from the developer it's a win / win situation. The place can be picked by ED. :D

Customers can only start/land on carriers! Immersive demanding of skills!!! :D

at first i was like "wtf with this?" and then... this has a lot of sense, just water... a free piece of water, how much effort could it cost to do it??? its just water and water. Optional download like a free module and thats all. i look foward to this.

Wasn't Leatherneck/Heatblur already working on this at one point? It's still in the list of stuff to be included with the F-14. And from one of the Q&A's with Cobra

I was just about to say the same: Heatblur is already working on such a map for their F-14.

There was such a map in Il2 1946, it was a lot of fun to fly carrier ops!

LOL your F-18 was changed to the sunglasses emoticon. Very appropriate!!!

nice idea... also it would make it mandatory (if you want to come back in one piece) to be REALLY careful with fuel and distances as well as the fear of being fatigated and start failing landings after several attemps... very inmersive and with some new clouds and weather fx it would be AMAZING!

I like the idea as well.

But I would just add one tiny island in the middle of the map. A simple, generic volcano island with one landing strip, maybe 3x5 km or so. That would multiply the possibilities imo, while only requiring a very small amount of work. Just think about "Capture the Flag" type of events which could allow even for non-fighter type aircraft some viable roles. And if you don't want that - well, just ignore that little speck of dirt ...

I like the idea as well.

 

But I would just add one tiny island in the middle of the map. A simple, generic volcano island with one landing strip, maybe 3x5 km or so. That would multiply the possibilities imo, while only requiring a very small amount of work. Just think about "Capture the Flag" type of events which could allow even for non-fighter type aircraft some viable roles. And if you don't want that - well, just ignore that little speck of dirt ...

My thoughts exactly. This would allow scenarios that include non-carrier aircraft as well. If the island is generic, costs to implement should remain small.

I like the idea as well.

 

But I would just add one tiny island in the middle of the map. A simple, generic volcano island with one landing strip, maybe 3x5 km or so. That would multiply the possibilities imo, while only requiring a very small amount of work. Just think about "Capture the Flag" type of events which could allow even for non-fighter type aircraft some viable roles. And if you don't want that - well, just ignore that little speck of dirt ...

Or have several island models in mission editor, ranging from sand bars to "airstrip + small harbor" size...speed 0 and alt 0, of course. This could be individual islands, or overlays showing accurate representations of several island chains.

<3 ocean idea!

The single island sounds appealing, but once you start, where to stop.

Let's keep the initial request extremely simple, just water. Should be dead easy to make, so hopefully both fast and free.

Maybe there can be a payable DLC to cover say the falklands and a little bit of Argentina.

Now that is a very good idea, and efficient.

If a single island, then what better than Midway :)

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=11n5YSmLmk8CprYl8wF8sELRwPIY&hl=en_US&ll=28.239749352783203%2C-177.3496210037689&z=13

Search the wishlist. This is, by far, not the first time this idea has come up.

I doubt this is even technically feasible, if you look at the Normandy map there is terrain all around the edges of the map - even the english channel where it should be water to the edge.

An added benefit would be ED could claim to have modelled 70% of the earths surface.:D

South China Sea, Spratly Islands, future scenario:music_whistling:

Coral Sea!!!!, like il2!!!!!!

+1 on this idea. Must be done.

It concerns me sometimes when I realize that DCS hasn't done this... meaning the map concept is not what we think it is and its not trivial or it would already exist.

I like the idea as well.

 

But I would just add one tiny island in the middle of the map. A simple, generic volcano island with one landing strip, maybe 3x5 km or so. That would multiply the possibilities imo, while only requiring a very small amount of work. Just think about "Capture the Flag" type of events which could allow even for non-fighter type aircraft some viable roles. And if you don't want that - well, just ignore that little speck of dirt ...

Now that is a very good idea, and efficient.

If a single island, then what better than Midway :)

 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=11n5YSmLmk8CprYl8wF8sELRwPIY&hl=en_US&ll=28.239749352783203%2C-177.3496210037689&z=13

Midway would be good, along Wake Island and Johnston Atoll

The images below have the same scale:

Love the sea:D

I suggested this to Matt and Leatherneck last year and heard nothing... I said some where around a 1000 mile by 1000mile:smilewink:.

+1 for Wake Island ... for the true Battlefield feeling! %-D

An open Water Map would be great, maybe with little atoll in the mid!

Another reason why there should be terrain mods allowed. Any decent modder could knock this out of the park. Worried about map sales? Attach the mod kit to a map so you have to purchase the map to have it modded. Similar to how modders have made the f18 flyable with the flaming cliffs avionics. Imagine an NTTR modded to include a rough coast line with Southern California water. Would probably double map sales.