Open Conflict - Server Information

[PeroperoDokkiri]

Don't worry about him Mirknir ;) Your server is awesome, if I am flying, I am flying DCS. If I am flying DCS, I am flying on Open Conflict. Great job, lot's of fun. I like all the changes you're making!

[Mirknir]

Don't worry about him Mirknir ;) Your server is awesome, if I am flying, I am flying DCS. If I am flying DCS, I am flying on Open Conflict. Great job, lot's of fun. I like all the changes you're making!

 

I don't worry :)

 

Hosting a server for so many different kind of aircrafts, kind of players and play styles is a challenge I like.

 

Thing is, 99% of the time, I pilot su27 and try to kill F15c.

That's why I listen a lot to feedback, suggestions and different opinions that I then weight against common sense, fun and my design philosophies.

 

Since I developed and released Skynet 2.0, I am pretty quick to add or tweak features so that's a plus for flexibility.

[doodenkoff]

Great server. Although, the content for L-39 is a little thin; unless I care to try and sneak deep into the conflict zone. And I do from time to time. The stuff at Koboleti Abandoned Airport can be destroyed, but it's so static and ho hum. Maybe a task with some light arms capable of firing back? In single player I build missions with a couple of light armor vehicles that can inflict a little damage. Gives it some spice without being overwhelming.

[Yuya6104]

I don't worry :)

 

Hosting a server for so many different kind of aircrafts, kind of players and play styles is a challenge I like.

 

Thing is, 99% of the time, I pilot su27 and try to kill F15c.

That's why I listen a lot to feedback, suggestions and different opinions that I then weight against common sense, fun and my design philosophies.

 

Since I developed and released Skynet 2.0, I am pretty quick to add or tweak features so that's a plus for flexibility.

 

Great hear have someone listens feedback from others shows style and a great person.

 

Oh noo not Skynet that went badly for John Conner and the Termanatior haha

[Mirknir]

Great server. Although, the content for L-39 is a little thin; unless I care to try and sneak deep into the conflict zone. And I do from time to time. The stuff at Koboleti Abandoned Airport can be destroyed, but it's so static and ho hum. Maybe a task with some light arms capable of firing back? In single player I build missions with a couple of light armor vehicles that can inflict a little damage. Gives it some spice without being overwhelming.

 

Each side have a undefended and a lightly defended objective in their protected zone to practice one, for blue it's Kobuleti and Lanchutti.

Then, you can go in the conflict zone and attack the infantries or supply base objectives. A lot of aircrafts do without more protection than a L39 have.

You can also go bombs bridges, in or outside the protected zone.

Or attack convoy (I managed to do them with just rockets/dumb bombs)

Or go kill the enemy bombers/recons...

 

All trainers are also part of the rescue/transport system so you can go deliver some stuff or rescue some pilots provided you choose objectives near a road (there are some)

 

Then, of course, you can also ask for CAS or CAP for more complex objectives, a lot of A10c or su25t will be delighted to kill some defenses for you and join your flight.

 

DCS net code sadly doesn't allow me to add as many objectives I would like but I think there are still a lot to do, even for a L39.

 

I hope this will give you some ideas of stuff to do :)

[doodenkoff]

I'll try those suggestions.

 

I'll start sneaking into the conflict zone more often. I flew around the "Chim(somethingsomething) Infiltration" objective the other day but had trouble spotting targets. Are ground units firing flares in that area? Is that a clue to location?

 

I probably just need more time to learn what all you're offering. And it occurs to me to watch the friendly fighters and try and stay under their CAP.

 

I'm having fun there regardless.

[Mirknir]

I'll try those suggestions.

 

I'll start sneaking into the conflict zone more often. I flew around the "Chim(somethingsomething) Infiltration" objective the other day but had trouble spotting targets. Are ground units firing flares in that area? Is that a clue to location?

 

I probably just need more time to learn what all you're offering. And it occurs to me to watch the friendly fighters and try and stay under their CAP.

 

I'm having fun there regardless.

 

Yea infiltrations are a more search than destroy mission.

You have to find hidden targets and sometimes, recon units are popinp flare on them to help you.

It's been designed for helis to fly around a city but I've seen some attackers also complete these objectives.

[decipher]

warning system sounds great, hope that doesn't put too much strain on the server scripts?

 

i see it as a representation of your HQ/base warning you over radio, that they picked up enemy fighters on the radar, which seems pretty realistic.

[Mirknir]

warning system sounds great, hope that doesn't put too much strain on the server scripts?

 

i see it as a representation of your HQ/base warning you over radio, that they picked up enemy fighters on the radar, which seems pretty realistic.

 

No strain, the performance profiles are unchanged.

 

I don't post all optimization in release notes but I have actually worked on some optimization for the features that takes the most time.

It's pretty geeky so I usually don't post about it.

 

The warning system actually works on a emitter/receiver principle so since not all the players emits the 'enemy fighter signal' and not all players receives it, it's not as costly as a all players versus all players situation.

[SFJackBauer]

I have to say you are doing one of the most unique things I have seen in the DCS scene since... ever.

 

One question, does the state of the mission persists between restarts?

[Mirknir]

I have to say you are doing one of the most unique things I have seen in the DCS scene since... ever.

 

Thanks ;)

The masterscript Skynet is starting to be big!

15k lines of code and growing hehe

 

One question, does the state of the mission persists between restarts?

 

One of the many reasons I reset the mission is to respawn content or else the map will go dry fast.

I can have some object statuses saved from one reset to another but I am yet to find a cool application to this in the context of my current mission.

 

Looking at the Straits of Hormuz map, I had ideas around being able to capture the island airports and the capture status will remain from one reset to another.

 

So many ideas :lol:

[acdelta57]

Don't worry about him Mirknir ;) Your server is awesome, if I am flying, I am flying DCS. If I am flying DCS, I am flying on Open Conflict. Great job, lot's of fun. I like all the changes you're making!

 

lol I don't know why everyone is hating on me, just because my personal preference isn't what you prefer doesn't make you right and me wrong, or vice versa Samek. And I have special interest in this topic because I believe I did bring the idea of a pilot eject rescue system up to Mirknir in the first place, of course he took a simple idea and turned it into the wonderful awesome crazy complex idea that is the best thing that happened to DCS since the dawn of DCS. The only reason I was against a warning system is that I felt it takes away form the "thrill of the mission." Example, when flying in the conflict zone you are constantly under the assumption you can be blasted out of the sky at any second, and the longer you are in the zone the greater this tension builds. Case in point, when CEPGA and I went on a rescue (to save Mirk actually :thumbup: )we flew over an hour into enemy territory and by the time we were evacuating the area heading home, my palms were sweating because you have that much MORE time invested in the specific rescue. This of course is ALL due to the fact that all the conditions overhead are "unknown." And if you really have to look, you can request conflict status to see how many enemy fighters in the zone. With a warning system nearby that just means you can fly straight, high, and fast until someone is "near" then hit the deck and try to hide, as opposed to constantly flying the right way, avoiding open areas, staying low, etc etc. That is all I was trying to convey in my disagreement. :smilewink:

[Mirknir]

lol I don't know why everyone is hating on me, just because my personal preference isn't what you prefer doesn't make you right and me wrong, or vice versa Samek. And I have special interest in this topic because I believe I did bring the idea of a pilot eject rescue system up to Mirknir in the first place, of course he took a simple idea and turned it into the wonderful awesome crazy complex idea that is the best thing that happened to DCS since the dawn of DCS. The only reason I was against a warning system is that I felt it takes away form the "thrill of the mission." Example, when flying in the conflict zone you are constantly under the assumption you can be blasted out of the sky at any second, and the longer you are in the zone the greater this tension builds. Case in point, when CEPGA and I went on a rescue (to save Mirk actually :thumbup: )we flew over an hour into enemy territory and by the time we were evacuating the area heading home, my palms were sweating because you have that much MORE time invested in the specific rescue. This of course is ALL due to the fact that all the conditions overhead are "unknown." And if you really have to look, you can request conflict status to see how many enemy fighters in the zone. With a warning system nearby that just means you can fly straight, high, and fast until someone is "near" then hit the deck and try to hide, as opposed to constantly flying the right way, avoiding open areas, staying low, etc etc. That is all I was trying to convey in my disagreement. :smilewink:

 

I never hate, I try to understand and then communicate better :)

That's why I prefer a wall of text because now, I can address your concern because a lot of thought went into this feature to make it a balance tool.

 

First, worst case scenario, I can always make it an option to turn on.

 

Now that's out of the way, I tried to design the warning with these constraints in mind.

Maybe I should have posted these before to ease minds :)

 

• If it was not bugged and spammy, the AWACS would have the same information and could issue the same warning
  
• If you don't fly covertly, you are screwed, with or without the warning. (The range should be small enough versus killing range of fighters)
  
• If the fighter detects you from afar and he is not a noob, the warning will not make a difference, you will die before even hearing it. (The range is too small)
  
• If an unsuspecting enemy fighter happens to be nearby or fight nearby and you are close to ground, the warning will you a bit more time to land/fly to shelter
  
• RWR was my example. It can save your life but if you have no awareness of where you are going or where you can escape, you will still die.
  
• Plus, when it triggers, it increases your adrenaline :)
  
• Another example I checked was the tracers, seeing them is a warning someone is shooting at you but it's often too late
  

 

Also, every feature might be tweaked along the way, here is some of my test server and live server observation results:

 

• On live servers, most of the helicopters that got the warning still got shot
  
• I've played with this warning on my su27 tonight and it never triggered
  
  • Meaning, in all my A2A fights, I always got the kill from further away than the warning range and I am not really a BVR kind of guys
    
  • Meaning the killing range of a fighter is greater than the warning distance
    

   

 

 

Try it out!!

To sum-up, not being detected should still be the best defense to survive, with or without the warning :thumbup:

And I am just talking about enemy fighters here, so many threats can be avoided by staying low.

Edited May 24, 2016 by Mirknir

[tangoGSC]

Suggestion relating to the Gazelle in the mission

 

I am very excited for the early access release of the SA342; but since it is early access, there is not a lot of content, mission-wise. I was thinking that it would drastically improve mine, and many others' time in the open conflict server if there were more objectives near the valley of Kutaisi, Senaki, and Kobuleti. Even with the KA-50, sometimes there isn't a huge amount to do in a slow helicopter with limited travel range. I hope you take my opinion into consideration! Thanks.

[Mirknir]

I am very excited for the early access release of the SA342; but since it is early access, there is not a lot of content, mission-wise. I was thinking that it would drastically improve mine, and many others' time in the open conflict server if there were more objectives near the valley of Kutaisi, Senaki, and Kobuleti. Even with the KA-50, sometimes there isn't a huge amount to do in a slow helicopter with limited travel range. I hope you take my opinion into consideration! Thanks.

 

The area you are talking about is the protected/training zone so it has 2 main ground objective + 1 bridge objective which is already not bad.

 

And because I am limited in the number of objectives I can do for performance reasons and because I want people to leave the comfort of the training zones, I chose to develop the conflict zone over the protected zones.

 

Try to venture there, take a Gazelle @ Zestafoni forward FARP and taste the excitement of danger!

I've seen gazelle attacking convoys, infantry objective, supply base... even the most difficult objectives.

 

The gazelle can also do transport/rescue missions.

 

On another note, I am also considering moving the forward FARP if I find a good spot to put it.

Edited May 24, 2016 by Mirknir

[acdelta57]

I am very excited for the early access release of the SA342; but since it is early access, there is not a lot of content, mission-wise. I was thinking that it would drastically improve mine, and many others' time in the open conflict server if there were more objectives near the valley of Kutaisi, Senaki, and Kobuleti. Even with the KA-50, sometimes there isn't a huge amount to do in a slow helicopter with limited travel range. I hope you take my opinion into consideration! Thanks.

 

Have you tried taking out the artillery convoy? its very very challenging and its pretty close to the FARP where gaz spawns. But its perfect terrain to try and set up sneak attack. There is good ambush spots on the route of the convoy too. However I still am not 100% successful yet. Matter of fact after a half dozen tries I think I only got 1 or 2 vehicles and that was after a shark took out the tanks lol

[doodenkoff]

Example, when flying in the conflict zone you are constantly under the assumption you can be blasted out of the sky at any second, and the longer you are in the zone the greater this tension builds.

 

This is true. Yesterday I flew an L-39ZA to the Sachere Supply Base. After just a couple of rocket passes I was ready to RTB. Every time I gained some altitude to setup a rocket run, I felt like I was totally exposed above the hills.

 

Of course, I got back to base and despite my lights, my announcement in chat, and the F10 map, there was a pilot on the runway. I'm picky about that because on my first visit to that server, I royally screwed up and destroyed my own and another player's plane on the runway. One of the guides of the server is to "fly like a gentleman".

[PeroperoDokkiri]

@acdelta57

I was not hating at all, but after you called idea of randomized pilot rescue missions "lame", and commented a changelog with a " :( " I just pointed out that there is no reason to take your feedback seriously. Your last comment was actually really nice, you explained what and why, and that's what critical feedback should look like, that's it.

 

As for a warning system- it's down to personal preference. I like the idea a lot, because it is realistic IMHO, and at the same time while it is not an equalizer in any way, it helps a bit otherwise helpless slicks. You still have so many things to worry about on the ground, and navigating the damn thing (in RL your copilot would help with both flying and navigating, not to mention working systems for you) that having radar service letting you know that there is a fighter you can do nothing about seems fair. I personally am flying NOE profile pretty much 100% of the time I enter CZ, and I won't suddenly start landing my helicopter in there to wait for enemy fighter to leave.

 

@tangoGSC

Try talking to pilots on server chat, I've seen Gazelle flying difficult rescue mission together with couple Hueys, they seemed to have lot's of fun together. I believe Gazelle ran out of fuel and had to RTB, not sure what happened to those brave Huey pilots.

Edited May 24, 2016 by Samek

[Mirknir]

As for a warning system- it's down to personal preference.

 

I've been wanting to do an option system in Open Conflict for so long because of this. A lot of personal preference, starting with the unit system.

 

The first option I wanted to do for a long time is the unit system you want for your objective information popup instead of displaying both system.

I might do the system and this one option first and then build on this.

 

I still encourage everyone to test the feature and see how it goes.

It's not that crazy of an advantage, don't forget it's a 25km detection range while a lot of fighter missile have an operational range more than three time that.

[PeroperoDokkiri]

@Mirknir

 

I personally wouldn't worry about unit system. It is not such a problem for me at least, and also if I decide to switch from let's say Huey to Mi-8 for a session, I can do it without looking into preferences and such. And I say that as Huey pilot, and this helicopter can be really overwhelming for single person trying to fly, navigate, use radio and pay attention to surroundings, pop-ups etc. Let's see what other people say, but once again- unit system works fine IMHO.

[acdelta57]

@acdelta57

I was not hating at all, but after you called idea of randomized pilot rescue missions "lame", and commented a changelog with a " :( " I just pointed out that there is no reason to take your feedback seriously. Your last comment was actually really nice, you explained what and why, and that's what critical feedback should look like, that's it.

 

As for a warning system- it's down to personal preference. I like the idea a lot, because it is realistic IMHO, and at the same time while it is not an equalizer in any way, it helps a bit otherwise helpless slicks. You still have so many things to worry about on the ground, and navigating the damn thing (in RL your copilot would help with both flying and navigating, not to mention working systems for you) that having radar service letting you know that there is a fighter you can do nothing about seems fair. I personally am flying NOE profile pretty much 100% of the time I enter CZ, and I won't suddenly start landing my helicopter in there to wait for enemy fighter to leave.

 

 

Haha I'm sorry my "comments" offended you, I just like the "realism" factor of going after the actual pilots. But I stand totally corrected on AI ejection, the way Mirknir has presented the system it is actually quite great! No surprise there, anything he does has only been a wonderful addition to an existing awesome server. And as far as I know, the only thing Mirknir worries about are those F15s!! :smilewink:

 

Also @Samek, with over 3000 hours in RW helicopters and an additional 6000 in fixed wing aircraft I am fully aware of how flight crews work together :thumbup: I just felt it would be something that takes away form the "immersion" of the sim. But we agree to disagree so lets just leave it at that.

[Mirknir]

But I stand totally corrected on AI ejection, the way Mirknir has presented the system it is actually quite great!

 

The AI naming system is opened to suggestion.

I am trying to have name as diverse / crazy / ridiculous as some players so that players but it's not easy.

 

So far, I have (vodka was involved in the finding of thesenames):

 

'AIMinator120'

'LOLipus Prime'

'Unicron'

'Code Red'

'Conficker'

'Jerrycan Bruckheimer'

'Seven of Twelve Pack'

'Captain Napalm'

'Vodka Sunrise'

'Motherland-ing Strip'

'Runway Bride'

'Sgt SPAMRAAM!!1!'

'GAU-8 Makeup Remover'

'Loosecannon'

'Drowsee'

'Master Chips Mayo'

'Afterburner Frittata'

'Morning Afterburner'

'Ebola Gay'

'Major FABulous500'

 

 

And as far as I know, the only thing Mirknir worries about are those F15s!!.

 

They try to be cute and innocent but silently they plot for server domination :helpsmilie:

 

[acdelta57]

:rotflmao: I literally LOLd at that names list. That is fantastic!

[PeroperoDokkiri]

@Mirknir

[Martillo1]

Yesterday I was gratefully surprised by the warning telling me I was swimming with sharks (for a rotorhead any fighter is a shark). Gratefully and frighteningly! It is not easy to stop and hug the ground with an Mi-8! :joystick:

 

I guess she prefers been kissed than hugged :inv: