Friar

Erm, bit embarrassing chaps, we are not quite out of the woods after all. When I did my test I did not make much of the convoy that attacks Alpha FOB (the one with helicopter escort) starting up, but thinking about it, this is another problem. It means the mechanic I have used (a module called "convoy") which I have discovered is not compliant with Persistence, so they are started fresh each mission, units killed in one session will re-start in the next session. This is obviously a problem. I will now go through the mission and remove the convoy module and use a different method to trigger convoys. What this does mean, unfortunately, that we will need another re-start. I propose to do this Monday evening.

Hey chaps, I have just loaded up the mission as if we were going to run week 2. I am pleased to report that the mission loaded, took a while but it loaded all ok. Alpha FOB is still showing blue as it Abu Talhur, the JTAC is showing as being located there as well (I moved him to the FOB right at the end of the mission). and... The planes that were ferried from Incirlik to Hatay are showing as in stock. I also kicked off the enemy AI and planes started spawning in So... Based on this quick test, I am prepared to say that I think we are now in business to run the Campaign as I had hoped, at last! Many thanks once again for all your trust and patience to get this working.

Ok chaps, I am hoping I have resolved the AI spawn, so,....... I am going to have one last go tomorrow (Thursday) with the mission. (starting from fresh). The score module has been updated so I am afraid you will loose any score that is not banked if you are killed. I will save at the end of the night and then re-load it before the next session to see if it works, rather than save during the first session and then perhaps waster your time if it does not load. Fingers crossed. Hope to see you all in the next session. Friar

@FoolTrottel I did think of something sort of similar, I thought about a menu option for selection the current mission number, that would then be perhaps used against a flag so that number sequence AI would be used, early days on the thought process that one. @Everyone 1. Would it matter if AI flights were air started? Might be easier for me replicate the flights? 2. Do you want constant enemy AI in the air or should we be able to eliminate the air threat each mission?

So, this is where I am at with the Campaign. It really is funny how the mind works. I have been asking questions of Cfrag (coder of DML) just recently about generated units being killed and then not re-spawned when the next mission is loaded using the rolling persistence saved data. My sole focus was making sure that any ground units we take out that are protecting towns and airfields would not come back when the next mission is loaded. Mind Blown this morning, out of no where came the realisation that I believe that this will apply to AI flights as well so if we take out the flights that are put up against us in one mission they will not reappear in the next nor for the rest of the campaign. At the moment I have a pulse that is set for every 5-10 minutes which goes to a randomizer that picks an airfield from one of six available. That airfield then picks a flight from maybe 5 or 6 flights. I am now faced with having to come up with a solution that will provide enough air interest to keep the air to air jockeys happy over what could be a 6-10 session campaign. I get there is the argument that a side needs to gain air superiority before a ground war can commence but for game-play I need stuff in the air each mission. Gulp! I now need to think up a way of being to provide continuous air activity so will have to pause the Campaign until I get a spark of inspiration. Happy to listen to any ideas / suggestions BTW.

I have more replies to a post that does not exist than I get for my real ones!

@FoolTrottel, I am really sorry about hat FT. As I said, I think I am clutching at straws a bit but I am trying to make the mission as vanilla as possible to see what the problem is. I have added some tanks if you want to take one of them in to battle. I would come with you if you wanted. I have also worked out now how to ride and drive as the Commander like in IL2. Once near the enemy you could then also act as a JTAC and laze targets.

Bad news I am afraid chaps. Following tests over the weekend I have encountered more issues with running the next chapter in the campaign. The mission is failing to load and causes the game to hang. After making some changes, I have removed the Hercules and placed NASAMS at Hatay so they do not have to be brought in, clutching at straws really, but these are the only two things which are non standard. I would like to try on Monday and run a session like we did last week, save it and then restore it to see what happens. The issue of player scores being retained when killed should also now be fixed (sorry!). I have added the logic to the Persian Gulf map which is live on the server and just needs to be confirmed it is ok. I am really sorry for these issues guys, I know how much we were looking forward to this concept, but if it fails again I am not sure what to do with it as I do not want to waste any more of your time.

Removed

I have made the decision to make some environment changes. I have now added some wind at 4m/s blowing to heading 259 in order to give the sea a little bit of definition. This happens to match the airfields of Incirlik and Hatay. I have also removed the new carrier crew direction feature. With the possibility of more people using carrier based planes I thought it make it easier to get off the deck quicker.

I have this morning resolved the issue of AI spawning after another quiet night on the air to air front (still at least it gave Blubear time to play with his new toy )

@Jag i have changed your status and sent a pm. you should now have full access to the site

Welcome Jag - I will update your status to full member so that you can access the discord invite link from the banner and also see all the forum (we keep the best bits for our "special people") Salute and thank you for reaching out to the Dogz.

Salute Chaps I am afraid I have had to do a bit of a "re-set" on the Campaign. Due to some issues I was having with the saved data being reloaded after I had made some changes to the mission file (adding planes and clearing the carrier decks). Last night (Monday) we started the mission again and re-saved after about a 2 hours of play. We can pick this up on Thursday. It does mean that the scores started again. Sorry about that. We still have captured Gazintep so that airfield could be used for rearm and refuel (no spawn). Some of the towns will need to be attacked again. On the plus side, it did give the opportunity to change the way the enemy AI is generated. Hopefully now the air to air element should be constant through out the duration of the mission.

only the herc is actually specified but due to dynamic spawns if you only had the a4 you could use it i believe

@Squee7e Although we sometimes fly WWII stuff, I would actually say that the majority of our DCS time is in jets and helicopters, on either the Persian Gulf Map, Caucuses or Syria. We are actually about to do week 2 on a Syria Campaign on Thursday evening. I have built the mission using dynamic spawns so I think you could join with one of your jets.

I will update as soon I can get on my other computer and give full permissions. UPDATE: I have updated you to full DangerDog. You may now add DD_ to your username, please wear it with pride!

@Squee7e Welcome Sir, Thank you for coming to find the DangerDogz. We play both IL2 and DCS. We fly IL2 on Sundays and Tuesdays from around 20:00 UK time. We play a mix of dogfight maps, co-op maps and are currently running a special event with another group taking part. For Comms the group still use Teamspeak. We fly DCS on Monday and Thursdays from around 20:00 UK time as well. For comms we use Discord. If you would like to fly DCS with us, please let me know which modules and maps you have. We are a friendly bunch and make no demands on how much you fly with us, we all have Real Life V1.0 to contend with! We also do not expect you to attend training sessions before you can fly. We do have another member from Germany that flies with us, his name is @Mosquito or "Mossie"

135 euros or hit Q 3 times? I think I will pass on this one....

So following a last little test last night of mission saving and restoring, thanks @fruitbat Syria Mission Control, we are confirming go-live at 20:15 on Thursday. It will start with a small scenario and game play brief. The actual mission will then start at 20:30 for this first mission. Following missions will start probably around the same time, maybe 20:00 but obviously it will live action from the start. I will not be running through the brief again if people join later, which there is absolutely no problem with you doing so. If you need to leave before the end, no problem, just bank your scores. I will NOT be doing the brief multiple times as people join. Happy to answer the odd question when applicable, but that should not be a problem as there will have been lots of people attend the brief so we all know what is going on. I will NOT be acting as a General for this campaign so will not be making tactical decisions. I will advise on potential next objectives but that is all. So please do not ask me "what should I do next Friar?" I have built quite a bit of randomisation into the campaign so even I know may not know what is going to happen next. The mission will also be run with "FOG OF WAR" settings. Icons in game but limited information on the F10 map.

"Somebody call General Custer, the Apaches are commin'..." (Myself and two from Fruitbat, Wingflyr and Zukker) A potential load-out of 48 hellfire missiles and 3900 rounds of 30 mike mike!

With the missions I am building now with the tools provided by the DML Toolbox, DCS is becoming so much more than just BVR, see a blimp on the radar and fire a missile. We are being to enable the use of ground troops, providing CAS, deploying JTACs via helicopter, dropping off troops to capture towns and picking them up again, Hercules or Chinook having to fly in supplies to keep an airfield operational etc. Currently DCS on a Monday tends to be just myself and Fruitbat, others do drop in from time to time. We will use it as testing session for new stuff I am working on or perhaps fly a mission on the Afghanistan map. Moving to a Tuesday would enable us to pick-up a few extra players that have that day free and show them how exciting DCS can be! And also as I build the missions I would try to incorporate scenarios and planes that cover a wide range of preferences.

Hi Crash, that is my intention, unless once it is released to the Dogz it collapses! Would be great if you could join us. There are roles for all sorts. We will even have the option for a player to act as JTAC. He will be helicoptered near the front line and then position himself in line of sight to the targets and then lase for bombers / attack helicopters to use. Any player could do this and would not even need to have flight controls set up, just as long as they have Combined Arms.

UPDATE 7TH JANUARY 2025 Changed JTAC unit to Soldier stinger Added 2 deployed JTACS (one overlooking the hostage town, the other, the enemy positions just north of the base) that can be occupied by a player who has Combined Arms. Just select the Tactical Commander slot and position, go to F10 map and take control. You can then re position them (W=forward/A=Left/D=Right/S=Back) and using the binocular function (B) you can lase targets for other players. I am hoping to have functionality where the AI JTAC which is picked up from the base and then deployed (which is still available) may eventually be also able to be occupied by a player after being dropped off by a helicopter. This is DML functionality which CFRAG is currently looking into.

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