IronMike

Here's the updated version without the WWII Assets (apologies for that!), and also the tankers fixed. I simply replaced them entirely, it seems updating the tacan adv wp option didnt help previously. They should work now. Note: you have to be in T/R for tankers, not A/A. All fixes will be included in the coming patch. F-14A_IA_Caucasus_Training Day.miz

Oh lordy, I found the culprit. It was the haystack, lol. Bye haystack.

Easy fix, and sometimes the most obvious elludes us: simply hit pause after spawning in, hehe. You can btw also set that in the options, before launching your server, you can select whether the mission unpauses on load, on player spawn or on actively hitting pause. I prefer the latter, because sometimes you dont want things to start moving before you are fully loaded in, set things up etc. For example: you can go to F2 and set your cam position before you even hit start, etc. Turning off Jester via the wheel will already break the mission. The wheel is simply something the track input recording was not designed for, that kind of stuff just wasn't a thing back then, so this is not meant in a blaming way, btw, it is simply a natural consequence of the time. You can turn off Jester in the Mission editor before spawn, which should help. But still only for short tracks. If you really want to record the landing say from external view, use server tracks, they will be much more reliable, if you do not have too many moving parts in the mission. To turn off Jester in the mission editor, set trigger type "Mission start" -> no condition -> action: x:set command with value SET COMMAND WITH VALUE 10011 <value> value = 1 disables Jester value = 0 reactivates Jester (default) Note that this will basically act as if Jester did not exist, so all backseat functionality will be gone, unless you occupy it yourself (which will likely also break the track). You also have to turn him back on, and can use any trigger type and condition for that, if you like. Server tracks usually deteriorate after running for a while, with many players and many units etc. But for simple stuff like doing a simple landing and recording it, they are great. Oh, btw I completely forgot: I recommend also using Shadowplay, if you have Nvidia, because it has a record reply function, which you can set as long as you want, depending on your available disk space. This is great because some great moments happen on the fly, pun intended, and you think afterwards: man I wish I would have recorded that! With the replay function in Shadowplay, you can then just hit alt F10 (or whatever you set), and it will record the last 5 minutes, 10 minutes or how long you set after the fact of something happening. It is a really neat feature, and I use it a lot for myself. Ofc, it is a pure recording of what you were viewing at the time, that is you cannot change any camera settings etc, it basically records your screen and that is it. But sometimes the best moments are captured like that anyway, because planning for them is tough, hehe. That is just as a sidenote, but I hope it helps. OBS may offer something similar, but I haven't used it in years and honestly can't remember now. It may be preferable if you attempt more professional vids (or other programs even), but for my personal use I find Shadowplay more than enough.

Hi BlackReef, our apologies that you are experiencing difficulties with the tracks. The reason for that is quite in the name: they are not replays as such, and were not really developed with that in mind. Unlike a replay that simply records the action, tracks do track every input you make, and replicate it. This process has initially been developed when there were not only no fully clickable modules around, but most certainly no multicrew and backseater AI, and was developed more like a debugging tool than a replay function. Both multicrew and Jester AI are the breaking points in Singleplayer tracks. And unless we get a proper replay/recording system at one point, this also likely will not change - there is unfortunately nothing we can do about it on our side. The moment you open for example the Jester menu, or have a human backseater, it breaks input tracking which results in the off-the-mark replays you experience. There are a few ways to work around it: 1. Very short singleplayer tracks work, however, a few things to keep in mind: 1.1 With very short I mean very short, maybe up to a few minutes max, the fewer, the better. 1.2 You must not use Jester (which naturally is a limiting factor). 1.3 If possible engage AP (ATT Hold) within 10 seconds after spawn, to avoid control input desyncing. ^^ This is not a very encompassing extend of usability, but serves to record short scenes, snippets, a short finals from the cockpit, etc etc. 2. Host a server instead of flying singleplayer, and use the server track. 2.1 Ideally you do this with a third party server (which can be your own separate or dedicated server, even from the own machine), but just joining your server as the host works as well. The important bit is: use the server track, not the client track. 2.2 While this gives a solid external and internal view replay, it does not record your inputs, where you were looking, etc. But a very good option for most that you need. You can even enable external views when having flown on a server with them off initially, etc etc. To do that simply: Open your trk file with 7zip or Winrar Drag drop options file to notepad++ Set setting as you wish such as: ["spectatorExternalViews"] = true, ["externalViews"] = true, 2.3 Make sure your normal default options have external views enabled as well. Specifically when having "use these options in all missions" selected, your normal settings trump the mission settings. 3. Avoid fast forward in both the mission and tracks, no matter the module, more than 2x speeds (and sometimes 2x speed as well), will eventually break the track. I hope the above helps a bit, it is somewhat of a hassle but not at all too much, if you are seriously into video making.

Thank you for the great submission, it is both our pleasure and honor. Congratulations again!

Hmmm, thanks, it seems some of the statics may be a WWII asset I used to build the new outpost. Wonder which one though, I'll check. Thanks!

The winners have been announced! Thank you again and congratulations to everyone. For the announcement, please go here:

Try opening it in the mission editor and resaving it please. I am pretty sure no ww2 assets were used anywhere in the mission.

We are currently working towards the unveiling, which will be soon - but I cannot say how soon, to not set wrong expectations. I'm not sure who made the June statement, if anything we are currently not trying to make predictions, because, as you see, like with my statement from October/early November that we are "still pushing for 2022", it does little good. My apologies for that. Our goal remains: asap, but quality first, as always. We of course hope to bring it to you rather sooner than later. Development is progressing steadily atm, as most of you may have also seen in the 2023 and beyond video. We are very excited for the unveil, and hope you grant us a little more of your kind patience until then. Thank you all for your kind support and excitment! Rest assured, we can't wait to get it into your hands!

The virtual USS Forrestal's log entry on January 1st, 2023, reads - as is tradition in verse: "We send our thanks to the kind DCS crew, we're now sailing due south 180°, Would it have not been for you to help see us through, We would have been lost in deep waters with freezing degrees. We're set south now, on a warm course to sunnier shores, We no longer dread the upcoming tasks, duties and chores. We sail with a heart full of courage and love, occasionally waving off players, And cheering at 3-wires, as we follow you all beyond, up and above." To state the obvious first: it was incredibly tough choosing a winner. Each team member chose his personal top three, and from this we get the winners, by points. We also selected a 4th and 5th place for honorable mentions, plus one special mention we simply could not pass on. To all of you: thank you! Christmas/ Holiday season is an awesome time, and your screenshots made it even better. The creativity in this community has always amazed us and it is great to see that it is running strong as ever. All of you, who participated, cheered up the Forrestal's crew (and us), and we would like to thank you all for taking the time and submitting your stunning takes on a Festive Forrestal. Those of you who did not make the top 3 this time - it was a close call for sure, all your submissions were great, and we hope you have more luck next time. Thank you! Top honorable mention: YaeSakura - "A Strange Parody of Frosty the Snowman." Without a doubt a labor of love, sprinkled with a pinch of snow, ehem, and certainly sailing in as a top mention higher than a kite. Yae however is part of our team and inner circle and thus he wasn't eligible for points, but ofc couldn't go without mention. The effort and amount of time it must have taken to arrange the crew alone, the angle, the composition, the mood set with the snow, the carrier steaming through the sea like a snow plow, Santa ready to start up - it is simply perfect in many ways and a classic already, one might dare to say. We'd also like to take this opportunity and thank Yae for the many great and remarkable skins he made for us and all the effort he puts into making the Tomcat and thus DCS a bit more visually appealing. Thank you for everything, Yae! Forrestal Crew Remarks: "The Crew assembles on deck for a photo op, while Santa is smoking a last cigar with the plane captain, before firing up Rudolph, the rednosed engine. Two Tomcats fly an overhead pass, capturing the scene. Shortly after the crew breaks up and disperses again, kicking off Holiday Season with loud cheers and returning to their duties, dedicated to help Santa deliver his gifts. A welcome moment of fresh air on deck passes in a whiff, like the last year, and we sail off to new shores. In other news beloved holiday icon Frosty the Snowman was arrested on drug charges and may be facing a court martial. He was caught together with his mate Jim 'Polar' Bear snorting black lines of gun powder in the armory." 1st Place Winner: _BringTheReign_ - "Home - For The Holidays" A true masterpiece in composition, lighting and effect and a powerful display of the beautiful capabilities of DCS. Not much is needed to add the festive touch here. Taken from a clever angle, the lights and waving Santa set us into a Christmas mood at a glimpse. We find ourselves on the carrier in first person view from the pilot's position right away, almost like stumbling into a scene. Yet when viewing it from a distance, we find ourselves as if we're looking through a small window filled with toys, with one of those scenes so often found in toy shops around Christmas, like a kid marvelling at all the trucks and buggies, ships and planes neatly set up around a fictional winter landscape among Christmas trees. And no matter how we look at it, we are and just want to be there at the same time, both in the sim and in the real world. It is a picture that is both simple and multi-layered and one never grows old from looking at it. Better than our words ever could, this picture speaks for itself in a both quiet and welcoming voice. Thank you and Congratulations! Forrestal Crew Remarks: "Victory205 is sitting in the cockpit, prepping the jet for startup, ready to go through the checklists with JESTER. But just before all the action starts and 205 takes off for his Christmas Cap Duty, the CAG stumbles out on Vulture's Row in a Santa costume and waves the crew good-bye! Being away from home during Holidays is hard for everyone, but it needs not much for us to get that Christmas feeling, and everyone is happy to add a bit to it, to change some light bulbs, to put on a costume and to set up a tree in the mess... We sail, so others can enjoy their gifts, this is our gift to them. In our thoughts, we are home, and Santa sails with us." 2nd Place Winner: DonJosh - "Armed Rudolph as Wingman for Santa" Another true masterpiece, this image stands out in many ways that continue to impress us, and would deserve a 1st place, if not coming in 2nd in a run-off after a tie, unfortunately, and only for the reason that there can only be one 1st place. But a true winner it is nonetheless, though not un-ironically leaving the lead to Santa and taking the position as number two, as it suggests itself. What greater honor than to fly wing off of Santa could there be though? Its carefully set tone of colors, its focus, naughty and shiny at the same time, its clarity, its neverending sky losing itself to infinity, the palpable cold air and wet deck and the clear sense of a mission to deliver the most joyful gifts of the year - it all drags us into the scene. It is skillfully balanced between the melancholy and monotony of a cold winter day on deck and the warm and fuzzy feeling of a patch of light blue sky breaking through the clouds and the dark and wet grey giving way to bright and cozy red colors. Like Santa bringing joy into our lives with his gifts, this image is a gift to celebrate Holiday Season and the Forrestal's Crew just could not pass on having it as a wallpaper for all Holidays to come. Thank you and Congratulations! Forrestal Crew Remarks: "On the flight deck, temperature is 24, altimeter is 2424. Clear the port catwalks, now launching aircraft on the waist, stand clear, we got 24 knots, shoot em!" 3rd Place Winner: DonRudi - "Christmas Tree with Candles and Balls" "Oh Forrestal, oh Forrestal, how mighty is your air-wing With Tomcats, Hawkeyes and Vikings, but also Corsairs, Prowlers and Sea Kings Oh Forrestal, oh Forrestal, unleash your mighty air wing" Coming in at a strong 3rd place, this image is a masterful representation of creative deck arrangements, and the Forrestal's Crew absolutely loved the mood it set for them! While we loved all the other great attempts at beautiful deck arrangements, this Christmas Tree stands out in its liveliness, using a historic representation of an air wing while carefully setting mood and tone with a selection of Christmas colors and fitting equipment and personnel. It misses nothing, from balls to candles to fir needles to a strong stem made out of Tomcats and branches of the remaining airwing. Well, it maybe misses one thing: the presents. But that is alright, because this constellation is a gift in itself, and the crew absolutely appreciated the festive distraction from their day to day duties during the Holidays. And if one looks closely, Felix is bringing gifts anyway, so no one has to miss out... Thank you and Congratulations! Forrestal Crew Remarks: "Oh DonRudi, oh DonRudi, You showed our mighty air-wing, With Corsairs, Prowlers and Sea Kings, But also Tomcats, Hawkeyes and Vikings, Oh DonRudi, oh DonRudi, We find your image is striking!" 4th place honorable mention: Tomcatter87 - "Felix 200, sporting a special christmas paintjob, lighting the candles we all love the most to welcome a most distinguished visitor." "Fly, fly Tomcat Out of all the fighters you know you are the mastermind Fly, fly Tomcat, Hornet ain't too far behind Fly, fly Tomcat, Snort's gotta make it to town Snort, make him hurry, tell him he can take the runway down Fly, fly Tomcat 'cause I'm reelin' like a merry-go-round." In a very close 4th place, we would still like to mention this picture. Flying through snow, escorting a most distinguished visitor, the wind whipping down the deck, the freezing grasp of winter in northern waters, the crew assembles on deck to pay their respects to the most senior pilot around. We absolutely love this picture and so does the Forrestal's crew, giving it a distinguished position on the wall of the ready room. The hurling snow, the cold waters and the harsh conditions we do not mind when looking at it, as they bring back those memories of white Christmas days, with a snow blanket covering earth for a short time in the year. To mention is that here, too, a historic deck composition is to be seen and Felix is carrying gifts for everyone. Thank you! Forrestal Crew Remarks: "To serve it takes a Tomcatter's guts! Even for Christmas we stand, what the heck, Our watch on an icy and snowy deck, Literally freezing off our butts!" 5th place honorable mention: RevampedGrunt - "Joy Bringer 1-1 set for launch" Last but not least we would also like to mention Operation Joy Bringer coming in at 5th place. We could not see past the effort put into the image, from the lights decorating the Island, the shooter wearing a Christmas hat, to Santa's catapult being operated in ice-sled mode to the charming, slightly glowing Christmas Tree, the forest in the back and the snow falling all around, just like we'd all hope for for Christmas! It is almost like a painting and spreads that warm Christmas mood that by now has left us already again. But we like to preserve it a bit longer, and looking at this picture certainly helps us to stay in it just a little longer still. Thank you! Forrestal Crew Remarks: "It was our busiest Christmas yet. The deck was completely packed, but there he was, pilot of all pilots, a shining beacon of light, a source of warmth and coziness, lining up on Cat 1 with his magnificient slay. Operation Joy Bringer kept us from home, yet we take pride in delivering the joy year after year. May it reach you all, in your homes, with your loved ones, now and forever." ---------- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners please expect a PM from me beginning of next week. Congratulations again! ---------- Winner gets: 1. Place: A lifetime supply of free Heatblur DCS modules, past, present and future. You get two copies of each module we release as long as you (and us and DCS) live, including existing and future modules, by Heatblur Simulations for DCS. 2. Place: Two copies of the upcoming DCS: F-4 Phantom by Heatblur Simulations (or two existing modules by Heatblur Simulations of your choice). 3. Place: One copy of your choice between the DCS: Viggen, DCS: Tomcat and DCS: Phantom by Heatblur Simulations. Everybody else: a place in our hearts and a warm thank you from the Forrestal's crew. --------- Congratulations and a big thank you also to everyone who participated. Believe us if we say: not choosing you was incredibly tough. We absolutely loved all your entries and could not be more proud to witness your creativity and efforts. You absolutely made our Christmas a lot more festive! Thank you! We also wish you more luck next time, and hope to have you all again for the next one! The Heatblur Team To check out all original entries please visit this thread: https://forum.dcs.world/topic/315412-the-2022-festive-forrestal-screenshot-competition-deadline-extended-till-jan-8th-2400zulu/

Thanks again, everyone! The virtual Forrestal's crew is sending their warmest regards, they said your efforts made their Christmas aboard a good time and they hate to see the season end. As is tradition in the virtual Navy, their virtual logbook entry on January 1st, was written in verse, with a passage commemorating your galant efforts: "We send our thanks to the kind DCS crew, we're now sailing due south 180°, Would it have not been for you to help see us through, We would have been lost in deep waters with freezing degrees. We're set south now, on a warm course to sunnier shores, We no longer dread the upcoming tasks, duties and chores. We sail with a heart full of courage and love, occasionally waving off players, And cheering at 3-wires, as we follow you all beyond, up and above." Winners will be announced shortly.

You misspelled Two Weeks.

Dear all, thank you for your many great contributions! Because it is running so well, we decided to extend the deadline till Sunday, Jan 8th, 2400Zulu. You can still submit until then or edit existing submissions!

It’s all good with me bud, no need to apologize. I’m just trying to explain why some folks react like they do. And as you’ve read, I told them to be nice to you in the same breath, we should all be nice to each other here, bottom line. As for Christmas time, I happily interrupt it for you guys, anytime. Just the drama I can do a bit without this time of the year, which is not a remark to you, but everybody. Afterall, it’s supposed to be a time where we all try and share in love and peace and come together, hehe. In that sense, you all are sitting with me around our Christmas tree in my thoughts.

Keep them coming guys!

A bit of both I would say. it’s noticeable in the transonic region and in terms of reaching certain mach speeds with external stores drag (as in how long it takes you to reach them), but as mentioned not significant enough that it would make or break your game.

Only that we have given you this answer dozens of times over @maxsin72 - and you keep coming back for it, regurgitating long known facts to us, posting long known videos, trying to judge who is right and who is wrong, when it doesn’t fit your narrative, because you are impatient, and can’t accept that folks give you some backlash over it, because it’s blatantly obvious. I get it, it’s hard to wait. And we’d wish to get to it faster as well. But calling folks useless and antagonizing them, over their calling you out over the redundancy of your comments, is not ok, since in fact it’s precisely your attempt of beating a dead horse over and over which is fairly useless at this point. And I mean that in the kindest way possible. Everyone else here is patient, except you. And if you feel that the hornet does this or that in comparison, again, none of our business. Go see on the F18 forums if it overperforms or not. The graph you posted was not even remotely related to your encounter. No circumstances were given for your encounter, at least not enough to make it relevant within the discussion of the F14’s performance. You know I like you, and I admire your passion, I understand where you are coming from. But in all fairness, this time, they are right and you are wrong. Which btw is nothing more than a very childish notion and completely irrelevant to us as well. This is what folks have been trying to tell you. And what I am telling you now as well. Most likely the hornet pulling away from you wasn’t even performance related but circumstantial. It’s simply a matter of how to go about it. Asking: hey, is this hornet pulling away from me due to a performance deficit of the Tomcat? - would have certainly gained you more support from your peers and more interest in the matter from our side. There is nothing unknown to us regarding performance at this time. And maybe we missed something, but you know both our position and upcoming course of action. So be patient please and stop beating a dead horse, because all it does is cost me time, which in this case was me interrupting Christmas family time for you on top of it. And I am happy to do that for you, but I kindly ask you to keep a positive attitude with your fellow forum members in return. Likewise, everybody else: please stay kind to each other, I know that Maxsin means well in general, please keep that in mind. Be nice to each other please, everyone, and rest assured that we will fix remaining issues as soon as we get to it as we promised. Likewise rest assured that the current performance deficit, fixed or not, is not significant enough to make or break your game. And even more importantly: enjoy the Holiday season and enjoy flying and have fun.

We know the transsonic drag issues. We said we’ll fix it. And it’s still within completely acceptable limits and won’t break or make your game, which you finally need to accept @maxsin72. How it compares to other modules is utterly irrelevant to us. Please be so kind and be patient until we get around to fixing it like we promised. Beating a dead horse until then, won’t make us fix it faster. Thank you.

That sounds like a question for the F18 forums.

It absolutely did and we are most grateful for your purchase and support and very happy to hear that you enjoy it! Merry Christmas and plenty of fun holiday hours (and beyond) in the F14 from all of us at Heatblur!

Then there is nothing here for you anyway and we can close the thread. Enjoy your holidays and good bye. Fair warning: please do not reopen threads on this topic. Thank you.

And nobody owes you one either, especially with that attitude of yours, and especially not our SMEs, who have nothing better to do than to ponder to your not at all exaggerated complaints, backed up by actual proof and no hurt feelings at all. sarcasm over. I hate to break it to you, but after just smacking down everyone’s well meant advice and your unwillingness to start looking at what maybe went wrong on your end, no one will be very motivated to help you any further. You squandered that pretty nicely. And I also hate to break it to you, but whether you win or lose in the F14 is really none of our business, as much as we wish you to be successful. This thread is leading nowhere like this. I suggest you take a step back, enjoy Christmas a bit and come back when you cooled off and when you are actually willing to talk with us and members of this forum in a normal and courteous manner. If you continue with such an attitude we’ll close the thread. Happy Holidays.

Ok, that means it still did not get pulled unfortunately and will be in, in the January patch. Our apologies for the wait everyone.

Thank you, Spice!

The wheelchock fix should be in. It's not really changelog item though, as it basically belongs to the previous changelog entry, hence we have no changelog today.