DYNAMIC BFM CAMPAIGN

[Avalanche110]

Hello everyone.

 

One of the projects I am working on is a Dynamic (SP) BFM campaign.

The campaign is set on the NTTR Map and features all (Fighter) modules with the exception of WW2 aircraft. War-birds will have their own campaign on "The Channel" map.

The campaign is targeted at players learning a new module or brushing up on an old one.

 

CAMPAIGN FEATURES:

Dynamic airbase:

Airbases are populated with dynamically spawned static aircraft to make the airbase feel alive. Random events will occur at each airbase to make the experience different every time you fly it.

 

Dynamic Adversaries:

The player can select his opponent’s skill level using the f-10 menu. Opponents will be intelligently generated based on your chosen aircraft's capabilities.

 

Intelligent coordinate system:

The campaign encourages players to learn the navigation systems of their chosen aircraft.

Co-ordinates will be provided in a format to suit each aircraft. Their is a modified LUA file available for the ARC radio system in the MIG-21 (See next post in thread for instructions).

 

Follow me vehicle:

Ever gotten lost on a taxi way? A follow me vehicle will escort you to the runway.

 

Intelligent wingmen:

Allied flights will operate independently of the player and execute their mission independently.

Intelligent tankers:

A Tanker will always be in a convenient location should you need one.

 

 

 

So far the campaign engine has over 150 triggers and an unimaginable amount of variability.

 

I have come to a point where I require player feedback in order to continue developing the campaign “engine”

The campaign is far from complete, but I really want to nail down the basics before continuing.

I would like a couple of experienced DCS users to test it and provide feedback.

 

The campaign will be available in 2 versions. one with MODS and one without.

 

I have set up a discord channel, if your interested please follow the link bellow.

https://discord.gg/yYtvjy

 

I would really appreciate any tacview, Track files, comments, questions and feedback

NTTR_BFM_CAMPAIGN_v7.0.miz

R_NAV_data_Nevada.lua

NTTR_BFM_CAMPAIGN_w-o_MODS_v7.1.miz

Edited June 27, 2020 by Avalanche110

[Avalanche110]

Bellow is a list of the mods required for this campaign.

 

A-4E-C ( https://heclak.github.io/community-a4e-c/ )

Grinelli F-22A (https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1uAOlRlYVEBUmIghIuY4slKUoZBscj5iU&export=download)

Cubanace SU-57 (https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/2539621/)

VSN_Eurofighter

VSN_F-35

VSN_F/A-18F

VSN mods available here. (https://filehorst.de/folder.php?key=b6O86Ll4)

Rafale mod 2.0 (https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3309258/)

 

MIG-21BIS navigation rely's on use of the ARC radio compass.

to use this, download the R_NAV_data_Nevada LUA file in the first post.

Go to your DCS install directory

C: ProgramFiles\EagleDynamics\DCSWorld\Mods\aircraft\MIG-21bis\Cockpit\Systems\

 

Replace the R_NAV_data_Nevada.lua file with the modified file.

 

You will now be able to use the ARC navigation system in the mission.

Edited June 25, 2020 by Avalanche110

[omskTransmash]

Thanks! I needed a modern testing ground, looks very promising!

[Avalanche110]

Thanks! I needed a modern testing ground, looks very promising!

 

Your welcome!

please feel free to post tacview or track files, leave a comment or suggestion.

I really want to see how other people fly the mission and what potential problems arise.

 

I spent the weekend updating it, making changes and adding some voice overs.

Many more good things to come!

[apollon01]

Hello Avalanche110,

 

thanks for posting the missions!

 

I tried to run the one without the mods but got an error message (see attachment).

 

Can I somehow edit the mission file to get over it? (not much experience with the ME here).

 

Thanks,

 

Milan

[Avalanche110]

Hello Milan.

 

The mission uses the WW2 asset pack. (Which I don’t think you have)

The WW2 asset pack is used for the “follow me” vehicles.

This is because path tracing is a problem in DCS at the moment and the only vehicle capable of accurate path tracing is in the WW2 asset pack.

 

I have updated both of the Miz files attached to the first post in the thread.

The W/O Mod version no longer uses any WW2 assets.

 

I appreciate you testing the mission out and really hope you enjoy it.

Edited June 18, 2020 by Avalanche110

[apollon01]

Oh, I have missed the part where you say you uploaded new miz versions :doh:

 

I will test it soon and then will edit this post adding my comments, OK?

 

Thanks!

 

 

EDIT: Here we go

 

I started to look for community made "auto-generated" missions such as this one since similar content out of the box is quite painfully missing in DCS. Therefore, I appreciate your work and work of other freeware DCS contributors who manage to fill in this gap!

 

1. It is actually fun :-)

 

2. I tried with MiG-29, Su-33 and F-15C - all these were in the list. How is the list of slots available made? Is it fixed or it can be modified to suit the user's aircraft collection?

 

3. Does the list contain also airborne positions for getting faster to engagement area?

 

4. In Russian planes, the altitude is given in ft even though they fly in meters. Found it in settings.

 

5. What is the altitude used for? (25k ft in all three sorties) I got reminded by the instructor for breaching / loosing the altitude even when in actual BFM.

 

6. I think in the briefing the instructor mentions that he will evaluate me - is there any evaluation in the end? Sorry to ask as I never got back to the base :-)

 

7. In the first sortie I crashed into the opponent rendering himself and myself dead. I then picked another slot but the original mission kinda continued and the instructor wanted me to fly to an engagement zone. In such cases, it should terminate automatically.

 

8. In another sortie I shot the two opponents and while waiting for further instructions (instructor called end of engagement and knock it off) I was listing through the waypoint list (F-15C) and got an error message and DCS crashed.

 

9. Waypoints... I understand the system of opponents randomly spawning around and the player being assigned a waypoint, but... the waypoint numbering does not work in MiG-29 (I think it is the same in Su-27 and -33 but those can use "top down" projection on their head down displays to get oriented somehow) - in MiG-29 you can cycle through the waypoints without knowing their ID such as number. But then you get BRA anyway so then the user does not have to use the waypoints anyway.

 

10. The voice overs are good!

 

11. How about 1v2 or 2v2 or 4v4? Just an idea :-)

 

12. In all three sorties, it took a while to get close to the opponents - maybe shorten the distance to say 30-40nm? It is about guns anyway...

 

13. Would it be possible to vary also time of day (during the early morning to late evening, for instance) and weather?

 

Once I test more, I am happy to come back with more feedback if you want

 

All in all: :thumbup:

Edited June 22, 2020 by apollon01

[Avalanche110]

Hello Apollon01.

 

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to test the mission out and provide feed back. It really is invaluable to see how others fly the mission and how everything works for them.

 

OK, to answer some of your Questions.....

1. I'm glad you had fun, that's all that really matters

 

2. The aircraft available are preset in the mission, all Flyable (fighter) aircraft are available with exclusion of war birds, as they will get their own campaign.

 

3. All the aircraft are cold and dark at either Nellis (for BlueFor) or Tonopah (for RedFor )

 

4 & 5. The altitude advisory is to encourage good airman ship. Your instructor will advise you if you overshoot your altitude or if you are loosing altitude. This feature is very much WIP , its "calibrated" for the F-5 which is what I do most testing in. this is something that will require more attention to make it relevant for all aircraft.

I.e Some voice overs at the start of the mission to set a standardised QFE.

OR

additional triggers to give the values in meters or feet to suit the Players chosen aircraft.

 

6. After you complete Both engagements, the Instructor will rejoin on you and provide feed back on your performance. this is also tied into the scoring for the campaign.

 

7. I too have crashed into my opponent. It is very important however, that only 1 aircraft is selected at mission start. if you were to select an aircraft, then change your mind and want to fly something else. Re-start the mission.

 

8. I have never had the Mission crash while testing. This might be a DCS bug.

 

9. Navigation for the mission is customised to each aircraft. A full fidelity Module (like F/A-18C)

will be given a Lat/Long co-ordinate to enter. The F-5 uses ADF and a Beacon will be activated for you to home in on. FC-3 use way points, I have only flown the F-15C and based the navigation for FC-3 around that. SU-27 Does have INS navigation so you should be able to navigate to each way-point without to much trouble. Bellow is a GrimReapers Tutorial on how to use the INS in the Russian FC-3 aircraft.

 

10. I'm glad you like the voice overs, Text to speech has come along way.

They are only temporary, I will most likely re-write several of them.

I would LOVE to use actual Voice actors, hopefully I can find some volunteers.

 

11. I have already made 2v1 and 2v2 missions. They make for a very different experience and THEY ARE SO MUCH FUN....!

 

12. I am aiming to keep the mission time to around 60min, so I will likely keep the distances around 80nm

 

13. Time of day is not something that can be randomised for an individual mission, However as the campaign progresses the time of day and the weather will vary.

 

Once again, thanks for the feed back and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Please feel free to post TRACK or TACVIEW files. That would be a huge help in seeing how the mission behaves for different users.

[apollon01]

Hi and thanks for your replies.

 

3. The reason behind this feature is the (lack of) time. I got a busy family and professional life and am happy if I grab up to one hour for simming every other day. Therefore, I would appreciate a possibility to skip the start-up, taxi, take-off and cruise in exchange for quicker action. Though feel free to keep it as it is. It works OK.

 

6. OK, I need to get to that stage first :)

 

8. Possibly. It happened to me on more occasions doing something different.

 

9. Right. That's why I got a different set of instructions when testing in MiG-15 :thumbup:

 

10. Is this really Text to speech? It is actually really good. Which software are you using?

 

I will come back once I have another chance to give it a try :pilotfly:

[Scotch75]

@Avalanche110 Hey mate, really enjoying this mission and the immersion is great. I have one query - running the with-out mods version on latest open beta - What triggers the commencement of the fight? I start up, fly with the instructor to the rally point, find the adversaries, but nothing happens from then on. We just orbit around each other. If I then shoot one down anyway, it triggers the second half of the fight ok.

 

Cheers!

 

 

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Avalanche110]

Hello Scotch75

 

The Engagements are triggered when a players aircraft enters a trigger zone with a Radius of 5Nm. Can I ask what aircraft you were flying and how did you navigate to the Engagement area?

It is important to be fairly precise when navigating to the engagement area.

(Maybe a little too precise)

[Scotch75]

Hey Avalanche,

 

I was in the F-14, so I was given ADF 355° on 355.525, which I got Jester to plug into his radio in DF mode, but nothing showed on the HSI. Looking at that frequency now though it could be a typo as a previous engagement had 355.250 for the frequency.

 

Anyhoo, I looked on the map and saw two bandits roughly 70nm north of Nellis so flew up there with the instructor and joined them orbiting around each other at 25k. After the pop up text "Ensure you are fenced in and ready to fight" (or similar), nothing further triggered. As you say, I probably didn't hit the correct trigger zone.

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Avalanche110]

Thank you Scotch75

 

Yes that was a Bug. their was no radio transmission broadcast on

ADF - 355.525Mhz AM

 

I found a few other missing radio transmissions for BlueFor.

Oddly enough, its only in the W/O Mod version. they are all present in the MOD version.

 

I have Updated the first post in this thread with the latest versions.

You will probably notice a few changes to the voice overs and I believe theirs updated Logic for the AI Aggressors.

 

This is great feedback, I appreciate you taking the time to let me know.

[Scotch75]

Thanks Avalanche, no problems at all mate, glad to help. The dynamic component in this mission is fantastic, well done .

 

I'll try the new version tonight.

 

Cheers!

 

 

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[sc_neo]

I just downloaded the w_o V7 version and i too got the ww2 asset pack/technics error message. You sure you uploaded the correct mission files in the OP? This mission looks intriguing, maybe you forgot something from the WW2 asset pack when you removed the other mods?

Edited June 27, 2020 by sc_neo

[Avalanche110]

Hello SC_neo.

Correct, I missed one of the WW2 assets in the W-O MOD version.

I have updated the file in the first post.

 

Thanks for pointing this out.

[sc_neo]

Thx, i'll give it a quick go.

[skunk160]

discord link comes back as invalid just fyi