Friday 2010-12-03 Dev. update and Discussion

[bw_wolverine]

Airfields are listed as objects?

Does this mean we can turn on or off airfields and if so, what is added/removed?

IL-2 all airfields were always on the map, but objects not so (to be added in editor).

Does turning on/off airfields remove the actual airfield or just make it easier to add/remove the airfield objects (hangars, anti-air guns, lights, control towers, etc.)?

Also, assigning callsigns is great change. Will it be easy to add our own selectable ones? (record file, add to directory, upload on mission join, etc.)

[Hunden]

I just want to know one thing. With the weather slider will it be possible to set up a class 5 hurricane in the channel maybe a couple of tornados on the side.

[ATAG_Dutch]

Originally Posted by Hunden

I just want to know one thing. With the weather slider will it be possible to set up a class 5 hurricane in the channel maybe a couple of tornados on the side.

I think you're referring to the 'weathering' slider, which isn't to do with weather, but connected to the amount of 'wear and tear' on the aircraft.

If you meant this as a joke, I apologise!

[baronWastelan]

Here's my ingenious idea: a "Mission Randomizer", nothing too complicated, just enough to give the player a little surprize. It would take an existing single-player mission, and moves parameters automatically, so enemy waypoints, height and direction are changed slightly. Also optionally changes enemy formation size bigger or smaller by user selected percentage amount.

Copyright 2010 BaronWastelan, no rights reserved

[buz13]

Well, I figure after a few months I will perhaps know what I'm doing....
Na...that's dreaming.
Extensive settings!......good thing I have been saving up for all these years for a new computer.

[Seeker]

Dissapointed.

Sure, there's lot's of great new functionality that those that mastered the current FMB will love.

I'm sure it'll produce great missions. But it's still the FMB! It's just been modded a bit.

And that's the problem, while being undoubtedably powerfull, the IL-2 FMB is a sucky program with a horrible interface and lousy documentation.

Yes, dedicated users can do wonders with it, just as they can in Unix apps.

But if that was enough in the 21 century there'd be no ipad.

I hope the rest of the game interface is better than this.

Nothing in this week's update makes the mission building functions more accessable or welcoming.

That, coupled with rumours of static campaigns only; will severely limit SOW's replayability in my view.

A modern game should be able to generate it's own content (dynamic campaigns!), and content generation should not be this complex at the lower levels.

It seems DCG will still be the way to go, which is sad after so much time in development.

[nearmiss]

I have built missions and campaigns for close to 10 years and helped develop mission builder tools/programs.

The FMB is improved a great deal from what I see. The sort functions alone will save hours of time building missions.

I suggest you take your negative banter to another forums. I doubt seriously it will be any better accepted elsewhere.

[Fafnir_6]

Originally Posted by nearmiss

I have built missions and campaigns for close to 10 years and helped develop mission builder tools/programs.

The FMB is improved a great deal from what I see. The sort functions alone will save hours of time building missions.

I suggest you take your negative banter to another forums. I doubt seriously it will be any better accepted elsewhere.

This is the problem exactly, you (and Nausicaa) are experienced mission builders and no doubt this update is like early Xmas for you. For those of us who are just getting into mission building or who have only dabbled, the FMB of IL-2 (let alone this new mission builder with all the added functionality) has a very steep learning curve. I look at this update and see the power of this new mission builder as added potential so far on the horizon for me that I doubt I'll ever really get there. We haven't actually seen Battle of Britain yet so I can't comment on what sort of tutorials or documentation will be present but I will say that Seeker is spot on about the quality of the interface and documentation of the current IL-2 mission builder. Quite plainly, it stinks for first-timers.

I haven't seen the rumors about the lack of dynamic campaigns in BoB but the existence of the dynamic campaigns has helped mitigate the FMB learning curve in IL-2 for many of us. The efforts of community members such as yourselves also helps with this. Thanks . Seeker raises a valid concern about BoB's replayability for mission building newbs, should the rumors prove accurate. Perhaps 1C should hire Lowengrin if there is a problem. If the rumor is true, it could turn off a large and potentially lucrative gamer segment that is needed to generate the revenue for all the expansions you and I wish for in BoB's engine.

It was not negative banter but concerns raised in good faith ( I'd be lying if I said I didn't share them).

Cheers,

Fafnir_6

[KOM.Nausicaa]

Originally Posted by Seeker

Dissapointed.

Sure, there's lot's of great new functionality that those that mastered the current FMB will love.

I'm sure it'll produce great missions. But it's still the FMB! It's just been modded a bit.

And that's the problem, while being undoubtedably powerfull, the IL-2 FMB is a sucky program with a horrible interface and lousy documentation.

Yes, dedicated users can do wonders with it, just as they can in Unix apps.

But if that was enough in the 21 century there'd be no ipad.

I hope the rest of the game interface is better than this.

Nothing in this week's update makes the mission building functions more accessable or welcoming.

That, coupled with rumours of static campaigns only; will severely limit SOW's replayability in my view.

A modern game should be able to generate it's own content (dynamic campaigns!), and content generation should not be this complex at the lower levels.

It seems DCG will still be the way to go, which is sad after so much time in development.

I have build countless complex missions for my squad over 7 years. The IL2 FMB is one of the best mission builders I have found in any game and very easy to use once you get the hang of it. I am excited about all the new possibilities and I am happy everything what was good in it stays.

[Former_Older]

Looks like a fairly good selection of options so far

I know this is WIP.

Will we have option to set damage on aircraft?