Ability to set planes waypoints in game

[sylkhan]

while the mission is running, possibility to add, edit, delete waypoints.

 

Thanks

[Kayos]

On the F-10 Map? Would be nice for multiplayer servers.

[sylkhan]

On the F-10 Map?

 

Not necessarily, it can be done on a vitrtual kneeboard or just add a function to add these waypoints

 

Would be nice for multiplayer servers.

 

Yes, fundamental !

But for SP, it is important too, for dynamic missions

Edited May 11, 2017 by sylkhan

[MikeMikeJuliet]

Very important, as mentioned.

[NeilWillis]

You can add waypoints in-game - the hard way - by programming CDUs etc.

 

Anything that provides an abstract method would amount to a cheat, and as such, if added, should also come with penalties.

 

I'm not against the idea, but I am against the indiscriminate use of any artificial aids when it comes to multiplayer situations.

 

Perhaps in addition to realistic, and arcade settings, a third one could be added to encompass all these artifical aids and yet maintain realistic flight and weapons parameters maybe? I don't see why anyone should be deprived of the kind of experience they seek, but it ought to be compartmentalized to allow realism as well as simplicity.

[WRAITH]

while the mission is running, possibility to add, edit, delete waypoints.

 

Thanks

 

 

+1 :thumbup:

 

Its critical to have these features as a combat sim to plan before flight and in flight corrections as alternatives.

 

In any mission created in Briefing Room as Tactical Engagements created in the Mission Builder for SP or MP allowing for possibilities change predefined plans and conditions.

 

So to be able to set your way-points and or adjust them adding or calling in to nearest tanker for example or combine joint operations that are within range near the bulls eye area.

 

I'm thinking..........

 

 

• Air Tasking Orders
  
• Order of Battle
  
• Flight Plan making and adjusting
  
• Load-out stores/ weapons available
  
• Mission Conditions
  
• Asset's airborne and load-out weaponry
  
• Link 16 to other packages networking or sharing tasking duties
  

All by which affects the pre-flight briefing and actual mission contingency planning allowing way-points to provide some dynamic situations when in state of flux, as you are going to need to think fast and have options, hence changing way-points.

 

So yep needed and would be great for multi-platform aircraft in squadrons as DCS WORLD Sim grows with larger maps and more aircraft modules.

 

Just more in-depth and choices. :smilewink: :thumbup:

 

Especially successfully completing the mission and RTB safely.

 

If this makes any sense at all.

Edited May 12, 2017 by WRAITH

[sylkhan]

You can add waypoints in-game - the hard way - by programming CDUs etc..

 

Mmmmhh, how do you do with fc3 planes :music_whistling:

[Eddie]

You can add waypoints in-game - the hard way - by programming CDUs etc.

 

Anything that provides an abstract method would amount to a cheat, and as such, if added, should also come with penalties.

 

I'm not against the idea, but I am against the indiscriminate use of any artificial aids when it comes to multiplayer situations.

 

Perhaps in addition to realistic, and arcade settings, a third one could be added to encompass all these artifical aids and yet maintain realistic flight and weapons parameters maybe? I don't see why anyone should be deprived of the kind of experience they seek, but it ought to be compartmentalized to allow realism as well as simplicity.

 

Being able to set waypoints and other aircraft data prior to flight via a planning tool is far more realistic than entering each waypoint in the cockpit on the ground, and for many aircraft entering such data isn't even possible in the cockpit (or at the least you are limited in what parameters you can enter).

 

A feature such as this is vital to provide a realistic mission planning function in multiplayer.

[Mars Exulte]

A lot of the aircraft ingame don't have that capability in real life, and should not in the game either. You can set waypoints during mission planning, but once in game, you gotta do it the old fashioned way - looking at the map and planning a route yourself.

[sylkhan]

A lot of the aircraft ingame don't have that capability in real life, and should not in the game either.

??????

This feature is useful only for modern aircrafts (FC3 planes)and they all have This capability.

[Mars Exulte]

No, they do not "all" have this capability. Waypoints, yes. In-flight reprogramming? Not necessarily. Most of the stuff in the game at present has its roots in the 70s and 80s, and some of that stuff still required the ground crew to insert the data manually before flight.

 

I could do some research and bring up the specific aircraft, but it's easy enough to deduce : Look around the cockpit. Do you see any controls that would be suitable for altering the nav system? Except in ones with fully digital systems, like the A-10C, most of them do NOT have anything to punch in coordinates or any "complex" information. The F-15C almost certainly does, so it could benefit from your suggestion. Most of the Russian aircraft don't look like they have any controls for that sort of thing, and I know for a certainty none of the Su-25 variants in the game can alter waypoints in mid-air.

Edited May 13, 2017 by zhukov032186

[Kayos]

For multiplayer they could have a way to add/change waypoints in the briefing screens so it would be more realistic (like pre-planning in the squadron room)

[WRAITH]

Tactical Engagement Mission Editor Pre-flight Briefing and Planning

 

Pre-flight Mission Briefing and Planning

 

 

The way it works in real life is like this...............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Single-Player

 

So for correct mission planning it should be done in the Tactical Engagement Mission Editor and use other screens and menus in game to plot the mission way-points with mouse clicks and adjust them accordingly to F.L.O.T / CAP/ LZ and Threat areas including the necessary ammunition for targets covered in intel reports and the fuel requirements in stored tanks or ordering in a Fuel Tanker for safe return and loitering time on station or extending time on station if necessary.

 

There are other sims that devs could learn from and develop better solutions and improved user friendly GUI format. A realistic and detailed system in game is needed for sure a missing feature as a sim.

 

Multi-player

 

Similar to above using the the actual mission created but you can discuss matters as a squadron online via Teamspeak for example.

 

The cockpit CDU or systems are mainly for corrections or deviations not intended for actual Pre-flight Mission Planning requirements.

 

 

So there is a lot missing in the game but that's it in a nut shell! :thumbup:

Edited May 13, 2017 by WRAITH

[Lixma 06]

+100 for this in multiplayer (surprised it isn't there already).

 

Plot your own waypoints prior to jumping into the cockpit then during the flight you can take a peek at them on your kneeboard.

[Northstar98]

+100 simply have the ability to plot waypoints while the aircraft is cold. Say press a key binding, a GUI pops up (similar to the rearm and refuel window) with a map and we define waypoints like we can in the editor, very useful for multi-player.

Edited November 10, 2017 by Northstar98

[Frederf]

Multiplayer needs to have the mission planner same as single player. Not just waypoints but:

 

Radio frequencies

Cargo lift rope length

Bomb laser code

MW-50 tank contents

IFR hood mount

 

Anything you can do in the editor.

[Jarlerus]

At least make a framework for module developers to use for pre-flight/on-the-ground mission planning for modules where it's relevant.

 

For example, the Viggen had a computerized planning tool for waypoints/mission planning. (Data goes into cartridge, cartridge goes into plane ;) )

 

So make it accessible wherever it would be relevant. So for Viggen it would be once on the ground, at an airfield.

 

//Jarl.

[Nealius]

Considering the Viggen, now the Harrier, and the F/A-18 when it comes out, not having a pre-flight planning tool for multiplayer makes the concept of realistic multiplayer impossible.

[Dutch Baron]

I'd love to see this feature for many years now, weird it's not here yet.

As for realism, I agree that you should only be able to do this when landed at an airbase/carrier.

 

+1 From me!!

[Home Fries]

I think showing waypoints in F10 and allowing their manipulation while on the deck is a fair compromise between preflight planning, and being at the mercy of the mission builder (or nothing in the case of some multiplayer servers). I think as long as the plane is on the deck and not moving, updating of waypoints on F10 should translate to the cockpit avionics and kneeboard as well.

 

The other thing is that showing the waypoints (at least while on the deck) is good for people to review the route, which cannot otherwise be done in multiplayer. Little things such as knowing which waypoint numbers correspond to which phases of the mission are critical, and even with the Mirage knowing which waypoints are set to bullseye and homeplate are necessary for full functionality of the avionics.

 

The way I would set it up is:

1. Allow flight plan viewing and modification while the plane is on the deck and stationary.
   
2. For ASM modules, reload the flightplan using the avionics after making modifications on the F10 view. Exception: Mirage, which would update waypoints upon NAV mode selection.
   
3. For FC3 modules, reload the flightplan by cycling electrical power with engines off.
   
4. Reloading the flightplan updates the kneeboard (if possible).
   
5. No updates to the F10 map are permitted if the aircraft is moving (but ASM can still reload the flightplan).
   
6. Optional: no flight plan markers on F10 while airborne.
   
7. On respawn, the modified flight plan remains in effect as long as the same slot is occupied.
   
8. Add a "default" button to reset the flightplan to its original state.
   

Edited November 8, 2017 by Home Fries

[Northstar98]

Yep, perfect Home Fries, only thing I'd say out of personal preference is to have the planner a separate window (like rearm and refuel) which AFAIK is only available with the aircraft's engine(s) stopped anyway. Then just leave it for aircraft where waypoints can be programmed separately from the mission editor (such as the AJS-37). Mind you though such a window could allow for maybe multiple data-cartridges available from the mission without needing separate files (I think the Viggen has something relating to multiple data cartridges, but I have no idea how the system works).

 

EDIT: Like this https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=195685

Edited November 10, 2017 by Northstar98

[Viper39]

Let me bring your attention to this thread:

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=195724

 

That's something I've been working on.

[Northstar98]

Let me bring your attention to this thread:

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=195724

 

That's something I've been working on.

 

Yes Viper39! :thumbup:

 

That's it exactly! Now if we can get this into the base DCS installation, make it work with things like data catridges and have it so it can be opened from DCS (like a ground crew option, similar to the window that opens for rearming and refuelling) and job done perfect.

[Durham]

Maybe you would like to help me finish off my DCSFlightPlanner application, which is designed for pvp mission planning.

 

The squadron that did not create the mission - the aggressors - write their own mission in the mission editor using TeamViewer, Zoom or some other conferencing screen sharing software. That creates a .miz file.

 

The application reads the mission and dictionary files within the .miz file to extract the units and routes of a given side, red or blue. It is a lua parser written in C# that unzips the .miz file and then reads the relevant files, puts the units and their routes into classes and then writes them back to the api language.

 

That is then converted into a Lua file that will create the units and waypoints on mission start.

 

Send the Lua file to the other squadron and have them add a trigger to DOSCRIPTFILE xxx.lua at mission start, and there you go.

 

As long as there is very little lag between giving the other squadron your file and starting the mission, there should be only a small window for viewing and deconstructing the lua file.

 

Anyway, if you don't trust your opponents not to cheat, then why are you playing with them in the first place?

[gospadin]

Folks who play on MP servers have a point. As it stands, the mission designer has to do all the planning, which doesn't really account for the evolution of the battlefield over a few hours of multiplayer activity.

 

Being able to meet up in the lobby of a server with reserved slots and do some flight planning would be quite useful.

 

Shouldn't work in the air or when already taxiing (at those times you'd need to use the onboard capabilities) but prior to taxi, makes sense to me.

 

--gos