DoubleTap

HELP! Yes, I do have some experience in doing this stuff, and luckily it seems some ability, but as you said it IS very labor intensive. If FMB acted just a little more like graphic program (being able to grab/delete/rotate/group objects as one), it would be a hell of alot easier. So, any templates you have would help. What I did with the SSS map was built off my original Tobruk template and created a larger template for North Africa with Sardinia, Benghazi, etc. That was the canvas. I then altered the location of the units on the map which was VERY time consuming. Anything with preplaced objects is great.

Folks, Without getting into details and verbose as I tend to do, let me lay it on the line. I would like to run at least Sand Sea and Steel again, at least map 1, and do so with little or no changes. The reason is to see how it plays out now that people know the basic layout, with the mission objectives made a little more reasonable, and perhaps with people switching sides. This can be done at any time when we can get good number of people (I am thinking a MINIUM of 16, 8 on a side) together for an hour. What I propose is this: 1) Map set-up and plane set-up stays the same. Some minor tweaks on the map (objects added). 2) The mission objective goals are reduced by around 5 per catagory (the exception being pilots, which are raised to 35, and vehicles, which will likely stay the same). 3) The members of Blue team get their choice: Play blue again, or switch to Brit. Majority vote wins. I am willing to run this on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday evening, weekend day, whatever. Sunflower says more of the HH would be interested on joining. Again, the only criteria is that we need a large number of players for it to work. I would not be able to do it this weekend, but perhaps this Wednesday (when I will doing coops this week), or some time after that. This partly for fun, and partly for playtest purposes. Let me know what you think.

They actually did do very well. I think the mission objective totals were set too high. From what I could see of the percentages, they were decimating Allied ground forces.

Actually, what I will in addition to screen grabs is try to isolate the ending stats for each mission, including each players, and put that into a separate file which would be much easier to send out. Can't promise to get it out by today, though.

This is an excellent idea, Pooka, and easily done. I can create dummy maps with the briefing message relayed, but without spawn points to allow people to read the briefing and discuss. Hell, I would be happy if people read the briefing... Please make sure to remind me of this for next time.

M8's, I located the log file for the server and tracked down the record from that night. Unfortunately, its a huge #^$ file because, as I wrote before, its a continual data stream. However, I found that when you opened it in Wordpad, it does format itself nicely. Perusing it is still a bit tedious. If anyone wants me to send the whole file to them, let me know and I will pass it along. For the time being, I will post selected stat lists here as I am able to grab them. (One odd thing I discovered is that even though my PC clock is accurate, the server seems to have time stamped everything back one hour). I have to post these as screen shot grabs because the formatting is too garbled when I try to post. The first grab is the stats at the end of Mission 1: I will post more as I get a chance. S!

Okay, couple of notes. I have gotten good feedback as far as the missions went, and I will use put that to good use after evaluating it. I think the Pe-2 was definitely a bit of a mismatch on the first map based on the opposing plane sets. I am going to try and come up with a solution for that, and I have a couple of ideas. I found the log from the server which seems to have a whole ton of info in it relating the battle, but its a steady data stream so its hard to read. I am going to see if I can organize it in any way. If so, I'll put it out for everyone to peruse. In regards to doing the next campaign, I have a couple of scenarios I want to work on, one of which is Battle of Britain which was an inspired suggestion by Guitarman. I also wanted to do a Pacific one, or Russian, to vary it up. Nomatter what I decide to go with, they will take me some time to do. So, in regards to some suggestions along lines of reflying the previous two campaigns, I offer the following suggestions: 1) We can refly D-Day. Despite some minor tweaks needed, these are ready to run again. I will fix some small issues and do what I can to spare frame rates, but otherwise they are good to go. 2) We can redo Sand, Sea and Steel with no revisions, but with each team being reversed. I would be game for that just to see how the campaign plays out from the other side. 3) We can redo Sand, Sea and Steel with revisions, with teams either reversed, or not. The revisions I have in mind are tweaking the first mission to balance it out a bit, altering the objective quotas a bit to make them more achievable, and some other smaller things. Sunflower sent me a very insightful email in regards to the dynamics of the scenario as he saw them. (Thanks Clarke!) Let me know what you guys think. Oh, and also. A while back, a couple of guys asked about running these campaigns on weekends some time. I know in some ways this would be easier, and in some ways harder, depending. What is the general take on that idea?

M8's, Thank you for the kind words. You don't really know how much I appreciate them because one gets worried with all the anticipation that when the evening comes, people will be underwhelmed or outright bored. I want to say a few words more, but I am being summoned. Let me just say that all your gents are great sports with these missions as I know there are always a few glitches and there can be some unbalance. Thanks to Dave, BTW, for his input on the plane set. His knowledge and experience really helped make the contest a good one. It turns out the one piece of advice he gave me that I did not take regarding the strength of the Pe-2 in mission 1 was pretty spot on. It seemed both sides agreed that the plane was the best of the lot in that map. Gotta go. Will write more later. Glenn

Gents, I did not have stats running (I believe) and the reason I am not sure is I have yet to look into it. I will see if there was any sort of log that ran and I could at least forward that info. I really regret that I did not run a track. It seemed I could have done so without degrading performance but in the excitement I neglected to do so. If anyone else has track, pass it around.

Very interesing, Dave. We need to keep an eye on this.

Well, if you had bothered to read further down in the description, you would have seen that the book comes with a fold-out map which is a 1:2 scale representation of the entire eastern front (minus Finland). Seems like a pretty sweet deal, now, does it not?

Congrats, Pooka.

I think we've all been there, mate. Have a supercalagfragalisticexpealladocious holiday!

Wow. Freakin' Wow. That is some AMAZING camera work. Beautiful job. This guy invested alot of work in this thing and it shows. Truly amazing.

Ouch, that hurt, but thanks for the sentiment...

No, I don't, which I both regret and I don't. Anyone else? I think it was only 3-4 pilots by that time. ERRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!

Alright, I'll admit it. Psycho is my nemesis. You know how in comic books, every superhero has his arch-nemesis? The one with whom the hero has some sort of metaphysical karmic co-dependency. He is Green Goblin to my Spiderman. Lex Luthor to my Superman. Joker to my Batman. Darth Vader to my Luke. Sybil Fawlty to my Basil. Psycho is Ying to my Yang, and I want to blow his goddam Ying off. We are flying last night, and I endure being shot down by Psycho several times. Hohkay, no prob. Finally, last mission of the night and we square off; I in a Mig 3, Psycho in his typical fascist mobile, the 109. Well, we merge, and Psycho tries his typical "Snap shoot you on the fly at a ridiculous angle and blow your face off" and for a change, it does not work. HAH! Well, then begins a beautiful dance on wing-tips and the edge of stall speed as we circle and turn and viciously claw at one another, trying to get the angle. We turn, then dive, then roll and its a near thing for several minutes. Is he getting the angle? SHit, yes! No, No. He's trying the over and under, but oh, two can play that game. I can see the white streams pour from his wings even as I hear the wind buffeting my own. Who will break first? We are both near blacking out as we continue to chase each other, but a bit of flap on my part and the deadlock breaks. He's got nothing left on the turn and I see him break away. Finally, FINALLY! You are mine. I chase him down, and I fire off my weapons in short bursts. He dances around them, but although the cannon fails to connect much, I do score hits. He starts to stream fuel but the more encouraging sign is his inability to get out from under me. He doesn't have the energy anymore. Now all I need to do is not f*** up. I nearly do several times as he tries to evade, and even get around on me, but oh no, NOT today. I go vertical when needed to keep behind, and dive down for another attack. My firing needs goddamn work because otherwise he would be freakin' dead by now, but its only a matter of time. Keep cool, keep cool. I move in for the kill as he tries to run again and this time I will make sure the cannon- BOOOM!!!! I explode in a huge fireball as an AI snaps shots me into oblivion. I did not even hear the guns or bullets. :shock: Wha- WTF?!? WTF!?! NO! AAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!! "I'm choking on my own rage, here..." - Moe the Bartender Until we meet again, Psycho, you fascist bastich! *$&*^$#!!!

I don't know. I am not nearly as pessimistic, but maybe its because I want it to be good. It could indeed stink, but I am hopeful. Why? One, Ben Affleck is nowhere to be seen. Good start. Two, the Producers and Director are not from Pearl Harbor. Nice follow-up. I know, thin reeds, but I'll take them. Maybe I am feeling good about it not because of this film itself, but the fact that they even made any film on the subject at all. Think about it. When was the last time a film based on bi-plane combat was made at all, let alone a big-budget one? Perhaps I am hopeful not about this particular film itself, but at the prospect that more like it might be made. Even if it is only a thrill ride I'll take it for now, unless I hear it is absolutely awful. I think that the capabilites of modern CGI combined with the inherent excitement of aerial combat should be a no brainer for film makers. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Make a big budget, 3 hour film of the Battle of Britain with a decent script, and it would be a huge success. Make one with a GREAT script which shows the stakes and the sacrifice involved and it should be a smash. I don't know; as strange as it seems, I somehow find Flyboys a heartening sign that such a film, and more like it, will be made. Anyone hear anything more about the Dam Busters movie?

I picked up the whole six volume set years ago for 25 cents a BOOK! My college library was selling them (the fools!). Sweet deal, but I have to tell you they are a tough read. I read a decent amount of history, but these books are not easy going, even though I am a big admirer of his. As I recall, Churchill mentions alot of names and incidental occurences and it was easy to get bogged down. As an American, perhaps by not being as familar with the names and places, maybe its a bit tougher to wade through. Perhaps I should try again soon.

If answered that, I would have to kill you...

When I was on holiday the last 2 weeks, most of it was onboard this ship. I guess my timing is pretty good... http://www.nbc10.com/news/9537665/detail.html Crown Princess Rolls Heavily; Passengers Injured

EEEEEEWWWWWWWWoooooooooooo! Come to think of it, Miss Japan is looking pretty damn cute.

I'm partial to the ones with breasts...

I was shocked, SHOCKED as well, particularly as a propaganda officer. What Bush should have said was: "The irony of it is Syria needs to get Hezbollah to stop doing this f***ing shit, or we'll tell the f***ing Israelies its open f***ing season on you f***ing fuzzy terrorist f***s!" :twisted:

Yea, me too. Second one I will be missing also. Sucks! But there was mention of "MAYBE" having to move it to the 4th. If that happens, then I will definately be there. Quazi and Sged, Your wish is granted. I just realized two things. 1) I am going to be busy all this coming weekend so will not be able to work on the maps. 2) With the Israel-Lebanon-Hezzbollah thing going on, I am very likely to be working some overtime the next couple of weeks, which will cut into that time as well. I think I am really putting myself under the gun by sticking to the 28th, so I will have to push it back to the 4th. I apologize to anyone for whom this creates an issue, but I don't see as I have a choice. Doubletap