metzger

How they have the big picture and AI is still in that state ? Hard to believe for so many years ED didn't prioritize to adjust AI mig-15 or 21 parameters to fly a bit less like space ships. Or 'two, bingo fuel' or ai wingman fly over enemies and get obliterated by small arms . Like those are discussed to dead in forums for years.. not one or two years, I am sure I will find those topics regularly discussed 8 or some even more years ago. Hard to understand what kind of big picture they have if this wasn't prioritized years ago. AI is not like some small issue that just a few people care about. And before someone say they are working on it, adjusting the simple flight model for some units shouldn't need 10 years work.. or tunning the 'breakaway' state of the AI wingman. At least some workaround was added for the bingo fuel bug altho for the years this issue existed, it's hard to believe so many years of work is required for a proper fix. Sent from my SM-G985F using Tapatalk

What is unknown or randomly placed in liberation missions ? Everything is precisely marked on the map and sits statically there until you go kill it. Sent from my SM-G985F using Tapatalk

I was just playing some RW mission on Caucasus and also noticed how huge the trees are. Then found this thread. I don't really think this is even debatable, from a RW, you can barely even see buildings or populated areas, it's just huge trees everywhere that hide everything. I live not very far from Georgia, just on the opposite side of black sea and while there are trees in the Cities, they are much smaller and much less. SOME forests may have 80meter trees but wow those are very very rare. 10-15-20m should be ok but trees in DCS caucasus are 60-70m mostly. Some are also not just tall but very wide as well, it is clearly scaling most likely intentional. Now, why ED have them like this and is it fixable or would ED even consider is different story and the only think debatable here.

Right now, it is (almost) possible to fly a full mission from CPG seat, however there is too much george pilot micromanagement required. Some additional functionalities that will be very very useful in my opinion: - george takeoff and dir-to/follow flight plan -> george will taxi, takeoff and follow dir-to or flight plan. just as AI flight would do. - George RTB - > george will head back to base, land and taxi to parking, just like AI would do - George land at nearest farp/base -> he will land and nearest friendly farp or base. This in case you want him to land but not back to base e.g. for farp rearm - George orbit at WP - > ideally with selectable orbit radius, or at least a mile or so. So you can orbit POI and observe, talk to jtac or whatever reason you need to hold - George racetrack pattern -> ideally selectable legs length - George to call out and autmatically brake turn based on incoming tracers or ENEMY missile launch. Also react on tracers and lunches while hovering. - George to automatically call out contacts and targets (as far as I know this will come later)

Yea, sometimes ED priorities seems really strange. Slower min speed would be great addition indeed.

Yea, AI WM is a mess now.. it's not just ka50, I experience similar issues with Ah64 and Mi24. Sent from my SM-G985F using Tapatalk

I wish if there were triggers for mission abort. E.g I had to depart AO due to bingo+Winchester without completing the ongoing task. There were no triggers or messages I just RTBed. May be an F-10 menu to report bingo or winchester or damage and be released to rtb. Give lower result but a mission pass since you returned alive to fight another day. EDIT: or may be I could just rearm/refuel and return ? Didn't think about this option but not sure how it would have worked with the AI wingman. Sent from my SM-G985F using Tapatalk

Caucasus Nttr Syria PG I have high hopes for Afghanistan. The rest I don't own or use at all. Caucasus remains the most versatile terrain with fields, forrests, mountains, 4 seasons, populated and not populated areas and also have this soviet vibes. Sent from my SM-G985F using Tapatalk

Thank you for the great campaign! It disserves to be paid one, more than most of the paid ones! If you have patreon for it, let me know. It also deserves to be re-made on the Afghanistan map, but I imagine that will mean re-doing it from scratch.

Great campaign so far. Reached mission 8 - start of the offensive. Having a lot of fun with it, on spot difficulty and challenge, missions feel very suitable for the hind and the hind ability to absorb small arms helps the AI wingman going a bit too close sometimes. I personally don't mind the long ones, exactly the opposite. I enjoy the cruising part just as much. It also provides some other challenges like fuel management. Challenge is exactly as I imagine it should be in a campaign, so anyone fairly competent with the HIND can complete the missions from first attempt without needing to replay them, unless screw up something big time. I have been close to fail only due to AI stupidity going suicide on top of enemies, but managed to keep him alive so far. Only lost #3 in the camp attack mission. So far everything worked fine, but unfortunately mission 8 - start of the offensive is broken and I couldn't finish it. It's due to the bellow ED bug, convoy stuck after the last ambush as "GROP ALIVE LESS THAN" does not set the flags as needed: I will not continue the campaign until this ED bug fix is released so I don't ruin the experience as more missions might be affected.

test1 - Target in the open 12 o'clock #2 commanded 'engage ground targets' 2 yaws right briefly then aligns with the target and begins attack run test2 - Target in the open 12 o'clock #3 commanded 'engage ground targets' 3 acknowledges and turns right almost crashing into #4 then flies like this for some time before eventually almost hovering turns towards the target and starts the attack run. This is not situational as it repeats absolutely every time even if I change the scenario slightly e.g. move target or try different formation. And I noticed it in a normal mission that #2 was a lot more effective. #3 will just acknowledge and and turn away... Both are Veteran, Ace was the same. In more complex scenario, this makes #3 pretty useless. Tracks. WM3_doing_strange_stuff.trk WM2_still_bad_but_better_than_3.trk

test 1 - hover low level, target behind building no los. Give engage ground targets command to WM, he starts moving around and hits a tree test 2 - same but from higher altitude, same result, WM hits a tree and crashes test 3 - same as test2 but target in the open with LOS, WM still drops altitude and starts moving around barely avoiding trees but at least hits the target. He still ignore the trees and was very lucky not to hit one. test 4 - target in the open but lower alt than test3, WM hits a tree and crashes. All tracks attached. EDIT: just to mention sending AI WM to reccon mode from low alt leads to the same result - he hits a tree and crashes. AI_crash_LOS_only_HF_higher_alt_hits_the_target_barely_avoid_trees.trk AI_crash_LOS_only_HF_low_Alt_WM_crash.trk AI_crash_no_LOS_onlyHF.trk AI_crash_no_LOS_onlyHF_higher_alt_still hits_tree.trk

Great work! thanks! It's so sad that CF went abandonware

I agree. Tho it doesn't mean it can't be improved as it also dates from 2010. If you ask me, I'd start with AI wingman for all modules as flying as singleton feels stupid. But any AI improvement at this point is welcomed.

+1

+1 as well as implement a 5-line for helicopters. point E - the other sim already do it.

- clear mission objectives and well defined briefings - in cockpit kneeboards and useful MDC - Utilize more DCS build in functions and rely less on scripting and artificial stuff. - less unnecessary unrealistic chit-chat during missions, radio silence is realistic and help to prepare and think about the mission execution. - Don't fly singleton, utilize AI wingman, design missions to workaround it's weaknesses. - Utilize DCS native jtac, when set correctly, it can be fun. - make voice over clear and easy to understand. Don't try to make them sound realistic with too much radio effects and accents. In real life you can ask for clarification, repeating etc.. - Don't set traps, create logical placements of units, like it would be in real life. Not to spawn AAA or manpad just on the planned route because you planned it. Put it where it is logical to be if ENY have no clue about you coming - don't try to increase challenge by just adding unreal amount of AD. Challenge should come from proper and concealed units placements, hitting the correct targets, correct timings, coordination, etc..it doesn't need to be very difficult, just has to be immersive and fun. - Use 'hidden on map function' therefore mission planner can be used for map and flight plan study without spoiling the targets. Show only what should be known per intel and briefing - Leave some room for player to adjust planning. Player is the flight lead responsible for tactical decisions, ingress/egress/fuel/ordnance. Give the player sitrep, intel, objectives, requirements, ordnance, create some example flight plan (so he has waypoints and target points to play with in flight planner) and let player FL to decide how to execute. - If mission is time sensitive, leave enough time for proper start-up procedure. Not everyone likes to scramble start or use auto-start - In this matter, I like how bunyap(now ED) made the F-16 red-flag campaign for example. Although he has simplified MDCs and some other stuff which could be done a bit better. - I like a lot Maple flag A-10C campaigns, I miss more training excercise focused campaign and missions.

That would be really good feature. Right now when you have to use the apache or kiowa keyboard, my neck hurts from trying to keep my head steady while clicking the tiny buttons.

This bug also breaks the Apache hunting ground mission: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3321127/ Very good apache sandbox with available versions for the hind. EDIT: If this will help, it is very likely broken with this update: DCS 2.9.3.51704 - 22.02.2024

I think it is mainly because FC3 was a standalone game, sequel to lomac and FC2, titles released at times when released internet was not such a big think and studios couldn't get away with just drop patches every week. Most of what we have as DCS AI and ATC especially, is this same AI in Lomac and flaming cliffs dating more than 15 years now. Black shark was also initially a stand alone game, so a lot of the KA-50 single player mechanics was designed for this full game only. It was released with a lot of additional functionalities than just the module itself: """Improvements over the original "DCS: Black Shark" include: • Updated Mission Editor with many new features • New air, land, and sea AI units at incredible levels of detail • Improved AI for a smarter, more realistic behavior""" Similar is true for the A-10C, the jtac was one of the listed features for the A-10 release: Fully interactive Forward Air Controller (FAC) that helps you find targets. Check the features here: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/news/dcs_a_10c_warthog_released/#:~:text=DUXFORD%2C UK%2C February 21%2C,a digital download for %2459.99.&text="DCS%3A A-10C Warthog" is a PC simulation,Close Air Support attack aircraft. Since then, I can't recall ED dropping a module with some sweet additions like this, besides the AI crew for Hind and AH64 but I suppose they had no other way to make them remotely usable otherwise. It's just a single module, many of which totally out of place, in early access for 6-7 years. Also those were never really taken and improved since then, jtac can be used with other modules but it's logic dates to 2011 and it has a lot of potential, it still can only give mgrs and not LL without a mod. While there were some minor improvements in AI units, and some attempts in the BFM arena, most of the work on AI is a cycle of introduce bugs then fix them and introduce more new ones. Playing DCS in single player or even MP for the most of the people is flying as singleton because the AI wingman is most of the time a burden then a help, don't even try to attempt 4 ship.. Anyway, I spent too much time writing this instead of playing the campaign I recently started on the other sim.. bingo fuel.. ejecting.

I actually find the map pretty good so far, not sure what people are complaining. And I fly down low with a rw. There are some imperfections with textures I only saw this once and all the maps have them. Overall I find the map amazing and looking forward for ED having it polished.

I'd also would like my co-pilot to look out while I fly and vice versa. It doesn't need to be cheat mode, but if I fly and tracers come from his side he can call them and spot who is shooting and return fire with the m4 for example if applicable. Also when I am cpg heads down on the mms, and AI piloting, I want someone to look out for tracers and shots and react to them. Now he can hover you (hover tactic is very uncommon for kiowa as far as I am aware) or fly but if you receive fire, you either crash while trying to take controls quickly due to controls mismatch or die while trying to sync controls to quickly evade. Or will not see it coming at all while heads down. It's a two pilot bird for a reason and to employ it at least somewhat realistically without human multicrew, more advanced AI would absolutely be great. AI pilot bigger orbit pattern and figure 8 pattern will be great addition too.

F-16 also missing some functionality for SP gameplay, which were back in the day a standard part of the other modules. - A-10C which I believe is the best overall product which ED delivered, was not only delivered with almost no bugs, better simulated systems and more depth. It also got AI jtac modeled for it and it actually worked really well (for an AI jtac). Your A-10 AI wingman was given some functionalities to make it more useful, commands for weapon selection and attack direction to name a few, datalink which also worked with the jtac etc.. F-16 AI wing is bare bones, completely useless, you can't even tell him a specific ground target to attack let alone direction or weapon. - Ka-50 which is the second best after A-10 imho, also had some interresting AI functionalities which other helicopters does not. Like AI reckon and DL you targets, or sending AI to attack a specific target from a specific location using the DL sent to him and so on.. Those were actually kind a working if used correctly and were part of the package delivered with the modules, with the addition of some good default free campaings as well. ED completely threw that out the window and almost any module released afterwards was just 'lonely' and mostly only usable in MP or with heavy scripting from mission designers.

I think I face the same issue. On missions starting on an airbase with multiple other AI aircraft and ground units, first the mission when you have the window to press 'fly' loads the textures very slowly, like 10 minutes or so it can't load the cockpit textures. If I alt+tab I can see 100% ram is used. Once the textrures and objects are finally loaded, click fly and it is a slide show, sometimes it might get smooth for 10 seconds and starts stuttering heavily again with single core CPU loaded and all the ram utilized. My system: Ryzen 7 5800X3D 32GB ram RTX4080 Win 10 Quest3

ED where are you ? AI wing still useless...goes overhead to shoot a vikhr..