S~ All,
Ok Col. Hogan and Jack, sounds good, I'll get started.
I've actually got a head start and have updated / completed two missions so far. So, say the word when you'd like to start flying this campaign.
Also, I'll need some help with tracking the stats - I'm no good at that sort of thing so any help there is "GREATLY" appreciated :)
Jack ... As with the Coop missions, I'll be sending you the campaign missions (in blocks of three). I'm normally good for 3 missions a week :)
S~ All,
I've completed the 1st three missions for the campaign. During these early missions, the mission length is 30-45 mins, less if we are good shots :) However, as the campaign advances, so will the mission length as we begin to island hop through the Slot. Eventually, the missions will run 60-90 mins.
QuoteI'll need some help with tracking the stats - I'm no good at that sort of thing so any help there is "GREATLY" appreciated :)
I can help with Stats when the new campaign starts.
My schedule might change so hopefully I can make 6:00PM PDT
Wood
Will we be returning to flying as squadrons for this campaign?
DW
Quote from: _AH_DarkWolf on March 13, 2017, 09:48:52 PM
Will we be returning to flying as squadrons for this campaign?
DW
S~ DW
Initially no, however, we can split on comms with fighter and bomber groups. Also we can divi-up comms when we are flying different fighter types. As the campaign progresses we'll be able to work as squadrons. :)
Quote from: _AH_Hollywood on March 13, 2017, 09:26:30 PM
I can help with Stats when the new campaign starts.
My schedule might change so hopefully I can make 6:00PM PDT
Wood
Thanks Wood ... much appreciated !!!
If we go over 70min, we may loose some pilots.
S!
Quote from: _AH_Col._Hogan on March 14, 2017, 01:01:57 AM
If we go over 70min, we may loose some pilots.
S!
Roger that, will make sure missions will not be longer than 45 to 60 mins (max).
Quote from: AH_DealnDave on March 13, 2017, 11:07:36 PM
Quote from: _AH_DarkWolf on March 13, 2017, 09:48:52 PM
Will we be returning to flying as squadrons for this campaign?
DW
S~ DW
Initially no, however, we can split on comms with fighter and bomber groups. Also we can divi-up comms when we are flying different fighter types. As the campaign progresses we'll be able to work as squadrons. :)
I did'nt mean dividing comms, thats not something we've done for ages. Normally campaigns is where we operate with our squadron structure with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd guys flying together and led by their squadron leaders. Campaigns is really the only place we make use of that, if we stop the S/L positions become kinda redundant. Which is a pity when we have 3 guys willing to lead and work together to plan and strategize and what not.
DW
Quote from: _AH_DarkWolf on March 14, 2017, 10:01:59 PM
I did'nt mean dividing comms, thats not something we've done for ages. Normally campaigns is where we operate with our squadron structure with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd guys flying together and led by their squadron leaders. Campaigns is really the only place we make use of that, if we stop the S/L positions become kinda redundant. Which is a pity when we have 3 guys willing to lead and work together to plan and strategize and what not.
DW
Hey DW,
I understand the squadron concept and yes it can be done, pretty easily I believe. I don't know though if I'm the person to assign the individual squadron tasks. What I can do though, very similar to what Bear did in his campaign, is post the basic mission brief, then let the squad leaders select their portion of the mission. If that sounds agreeable.
This is why I'm trying to figure out how to post a pic within a forum post :)
Also, the 1st six campaign missions have been completed and have been sent to Jack :)
Yeah, the two mains methods are:
You could assign the squadrons to a specific group of aircraft ahead of time. Its not a big deal to do it, the only consideration would probobly be to balance things when some of the groups are bombers so everyone gets their turn in fighters and bombers over the course of the campaign. This does have the advantage of letting guys plan more ahead of time
The other way would be like Jack did during the TF-58 campaign and provide the 3 groups of aircraft and let the squadrons pick on mission night, with who gets to pick first rotating each week.
The important thing would be to ensure enough aircraft are available in each group to accomodate a squadron with a large turnout so they don't run out of kites.
HQ can either be provided with a 3 a/c flight for their use or used as a reserve to reinforce squadrons who are short on a given night.
DW
What is the time frame of this campaign? Are we starting as early as the invasion of Guadalcanal or later? Or is it one specific offensive that it covers?
DW
Quote from: _AH_DarkWolf on March 18, 2017, 10:02:46 PM
What is the time frame of this campaign? Are we starting as early as the invasion of Guadalcanal or later? Or is it one specific offensive that it covers?
DW
S~ All,
DW, we will be starting the campaign with Tulagi, then to Guadalcanal, then off island hopping through the Solomon's. Starting date is August 1942. The campaign length is 25-30 missions. The first 6 missions have been sent to Jack, and I've just today, completed mission #10.
Up to 60 minutes is OK Dave.
Quote from: _AH_Col._Hogan on March 19, 2017, 01:02:22 AM
Up to 60 minutes is OK Dave.
S~ All,
I've been trying to keep the mission length to 30-50 mins. Shorter mission lengths are Scrambles only. :)
S~ All,
I've completed Part 3 of the Solomon Islands Campaign, missions 13-18. They've been sent to Jack. :)
If you'd like Dave I could help you make some larger target area images or maps. Like this one based on your Mission 1 image.
(https://s18.postimg.org/ykj26rvc9/M1_Map.jpg)
With this link you can right click and open in a new window to see it full screen.
https://s18.postimg.org/ykj26rvc9/M1_Map.jpg (https://s18.postimg.org/ykj26rvc9/M1_Map.jpg)
Another idea would be to make waypoint maps. You could launch the game offline then select a group of aircraft, adjust the map zoom so it nicely fits the area covered by the waypoints and crop that area out of a screenshot. So you end up with something like this :
(https://s15.postimg.org/5pc098hh7/WPMap_Example.jpg)
Which is kinda nice to have since it has not only the paths but the grids as well. You could create one for each group if they are coming/going from different places.
DW
Very kool DW ... I'll make a way point map as well and attach to the mission thread. Much appreciated !!!
S~ All,
I've completed Part 4 (missions 18-24) to the campaign. I've sent them to Jack. :)
S~ DW,
If possible could you enlarge the maps I've posted in the mission thread? If so, that would be awesome !!! :) Thanks :)
Quote from: AH_DealnDave on April 03, 2017, 10:04:33 PM
S~ DW,
If possible could you enlarge the maps I've posted in the mission thread? If so, that would be awesome !!! :) Thanks :)
If you left click on them they become a little bigger. The forum automatically resizes large images but if you left click it shows you the full size.
I think as they are they are a good size, even when made larger by left clicking they are not too big and are easily readable.
DW
S~ All,
Hey DW, starting with mission #2, the group will also be flying P-400's of the 69th FS / 347th FG. The 67th will flying for at 15+ missions. So, if possible could you do a skin for the P-400's as well. Thanks, and very much appreciated !!!
Ok, I moved your last post into this general thread to keep the request threads topical, Dave. Yes I can do P-400s, the only one I've ever skinned is a 67th FS one for Guadalcanal. When new types are coming I'll take all the advanced warning I can get.
I also changed the title of the thread where you are posting the briefs to "Solomon Campaign Briefs". On the main page this thread and that one appeared to be the same due to the cut-off titles.
DW
S~ All,
Thanks much DW for all your help ... it's very much appreciated !!!
Also, thanks for doing the 67th skin :)
The only other plane in the "near" future will be the early TBF-1, that should be arriving during mission - 03.
For those that aren't familiar with the history of our current campaign -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOSyAlaeES4
~S
Won't make the mission tonight...
Something silly like being a responsible father or some other what not.
S!
~S~
If that you tube video is true then our game is no where close to reality!!!
Quote from: _AH_gatlingun on July 25, 2017, 10:43:37 PM
~S~
If that you tube video is true then our game is no where close to reality!!!
S~ All,
Gatlingun is correct that the campaign is different from the reality of the war. However, we are flying in the spirit of what actually occurred. Gatlingun, the primary reason that the missions are not exactly like what happened is because I have to allow for the amount of people that are going to fly the mission. I have to set up each mission with a possible 28 active players.
Those History Channel episodes show most times that our men were flying 4-6 planes against large enemy numbers. The battles are often very short, no more 10-15 minute engagements, sometimes less and sometimes more. With this in mind I also have to consider the AI planes. During actual combat of those times, the enemy would turn and run due to our pilots training and tenacity. If I were to put in the amount of AI planes that were in the actual battle, our simulation would be unwinnable . The AI do not turn and run as was the case in the war.
But, the missions I recreated are based on actual events and facts that I've been able to research. So, I think it's a bit unfair to say that the campaign is "no where close to reality."
~S~ Dave
You have misunderstood,I was not talking about your missions,there is absolutely nothing wrong with campaign,I was talking about the actions and reactions of the aircraft in the game itself. Sorry you misunderstood,I have no complaints about your campaign or missions!!!!
S~ Gatlingun ...
No worries, no harm done ... "AND", I agree with you very much on how the planes, especially the AI, react in this game. The AI give me fits at times when they act correctly the first time only to go completely off in another direction the next. But, that's what we have to deal with. :)
If I remember, before the japanese built more airfields in the Solomons they were flying down from Rabaul which meant the fighters were did'nt have alot of fuel to mess about over Guadalcanal. Something makes me think I read somewhere they had drop tanks but could not drop them, they either needed the fuel still in them to get home or could'nt replace them. So they had that handicap as well.
Quote from: AH_DealnDave on July 29, 2017, 07:00:51 AM
The AI do not turn and run as was the case in the war.
Speaking of fuel, that is actually one way in which you can enforce a finite engagement to a degree. The AI will break off and RTB once they are bingo fuel. So if you tune their fuel levels you can nix their propensity to fight forever.
DW
Quote from: _AH_DarkWolf on July 30, 2017, 06:47:59 PM
If I remember, before the japanese built more airfields in the Solomons they were flying down from Rabaul which meant the fighters were did'nt have alot of fuel to mess about over Guadalcanal. Something makes me think I read somewhere they had drop tanks but could not drop them, they either needed the fuel still in them to get home or could'nt replace them. So they had that handicap as well.
Quote from: AH_DealnDave on July 29, 2017, 07:00:51 AM
The AI do not turn and run as was the case in the war.
Speaking of fuel, that is actually one way in which you can enforce a finite engagement to a degree. The AI will break off and RTB once they are bingo fuel. So if you tune their fuel levels you can nix their propensity to fight forever.
DW
How low of fuel do you think works best .?? or it depends on there return distance?
Quote from: _AH_DarkWolf on July 30, 2017, 06:47:59 PM
Speaking of fuel, that is actually one way in which you can enforce a finite engagement to a degree. The AI will break off and RTB once they are bingo fuel. So if you tune their fuel levels you can nix their propensity to fight forever.
DW
S~ All,
I should have thought about restricting the AI fuel levels, it just never occurred to me. :) I'll look at this going forward for sure. Thanks much DW !!!
Bear, in the current campaign I'm thinking 60% fuel would be enough to give the AI about 10 mins worth of fight before turning for home. But, and there always seems to be a, but" it would also depend on when our group meets the point I set up for the designated engagement. Sometimes we get there sooner and sometimes later. I think 60% should be a good fuel load.
Quote from: _AH_Bear on July 30, 2017, 07:05:49 PM
How low of fuel do you think works best .?? or it depends on there return distance?
I think it would depend on the aircraft type in conjuction with the distance. Zekes for example have really long legs, so I bet you could cut them down quite a bit.
DW