Band of BuDs - Single or Multiplayer Series - Persian Gulf

[GTFreeFlyer]

I'm pleased to share the first episode of what will be a series of missions that tell a story about a group of soldiers trying to make their way home. The latest versions are in the User Files section of DCS's website (links below).

 

***Subscribe to this thread for any future updates and to be notified when Episode 2 becomes available.***

 

Please enjoy, share with friends, host on your multiplayer servers, and feel free to drop me a line, provide feedback or suggestions.

 

Episode 1: Another Day in Paradise

 

A great mission packed with voiceovers that is different each time you play it.  Play it single player or multiplayer co-op.  It is primarily a CAS and EVAC mission, but you have the option to spawn bandits. All the popular planes along with Hueys and Apaches in the Persian Gulf.  When playing single player, you can control the other aircraft via the F10 comm menu and tell them what to do in order to help you complete the mission.  You can also choose different aircraft each time you play so that the game play is fr om a different perspective for endless replay-ability.  There are many ways to complete the objectives and I'm very curious to hear how you go about doing it!  Mission time is limited to 2.5 hours, otherwise the enemy moves in under the cover of darkness and things won't go so well.

It is set up as a "Tower Defense" type game wh ere you have enemies spawning around a central location (all randomized), and they make their way towards a central location which you must protect

 

One hour ago, Hercules 1 was en route with 22 souls on board traveling home for the holidays.  Radar contact was lost shortly after an emergency was declared 60 miles north of Bandar Abbas.  The nature of the emergency is unknown. No communications have been received ever since.  A combat search and rescue effort is now underway to locate possible wreckage and look for survivors.  Hercules 2 has been dispatched with airdrop reinforcements as a precaution in case there are survivors.  If a rescue is required, you are to assist in the effort.  There is no time for a formal briefing.  Bullseye, waypoint 2, is the search area.  Move out!

Designer notes:
1. If you hear a loud siren going off when you start the mission, this is an ELT transmitting on the guard channel.  Currently, DCS will play this audio file even when the aircraft is cold on the startup.  To work around this bug, start up the aircraft and then toggle the guard channel on and then back off.
2. You will receive radio calls fr om the survivors that have dispersed from the crash site.  They provide valuable intel on wh ere the enemy is.  You'll have to rescue all these survivors, and when you do, they won't be able to continue alerting when enemies are approaching.  Choose wisely the order in which you rescue the different groups so that you can maintain the intel picture.

 

Credits (in alphabetical order):

Apache600 as South Watch

Baltic Dragon as Hercules 2

Boddman as Overlord

Cleric as Bravo Lead (East)

Gunfighter as Hercules 1

Pinball as West Watch

PXRanger as Bravo West

Stingray as North Watch

Vandal as East Watch

 

Written and Directed by GTFreeFlyer

 

All voice actors are BuDs. For more information please visit https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=237481

Edited October 26, 2024 by GTFreeFlyer

[GTFreeFlyer]

Change Log:

Episode 1: Another Day In Paradise

V1.0: Initial Release Aug. 1, 2019

 

V1.1: Released Oct. 6, 2019

---Tents moved off of FARP Moscow due to DCS bug where they would disappear into ground if you were not the mission host.

---Slightly repositioned FARP Moscow for aesthetics

---Added 2 more of each, AI Hogs, Hueys and Hornets, to assist with single player play.

---You will now get messages when an AI unit crashes

---Added a client L-39 per request

---Fixed AI Hueys 6, 7, and 8 all landing on the same spot when returning back to the FARP

---When AI Hueys load and extract troops, their names will appear in the message instead of "UH-1H"

---Added warning message for AAA and ManPAD spawns

---Added windsocks around the map

---Added more client Hornets and Tomcats for large MP coop missions

---All Stennis aircraft are set to takeoff from parking hot

---Added Client F-16's

---Text warning about MANPAD in town now comes 1 minute after group spawns to prevent interfering with other messages on screen at the time

---All moving columns: Now added advance waypoint action, disperse under fire = off. This no longer seems to be default after latest DCS update.

---Shuffled around positions of AAA and ManPADs

---Updated kneeboard with AI UHF 253 frequency

---Added two Frogfoots for those that have not yet purchased any modules

---Added AWACS for datalinkGroups will now report they are back at the FARP and F10 list will update even if event occurs after time expires.

---All AI Hornets now set to CAS with proper loadouts.

---All AI Hogs and Hornets maximized number of flares.

Edited October 7, 2019 by GTFreeFlyer

[feefifofum]

Thanks for sharing!

[GTFreeFlyer]

Thanks for sharing!

 

Sure thing! Let me know what you think of it when you have a go at it.

[feefifofum]

Will do! I know we have some crossover between our groups so I'm optimistic this will be something I can use for our weekly op. :thumbup:

[GTFreeFlyer]

Will do! I know we have some crossover between our groups so I'm optimistic this will be something I can use for our weekly op. :thumbup:

 

 

Oh nice. Which group? I’ll be glad to join you when you play it if I’m free. Usually M, W, or F nights are best for me.

[feefifofum]

PM incoming.

[CL30]

Way to go, GT! Glad you were able to get it finished up and out there!

 

Guys, I believe this is GT's first mission...ever, and he did an amazing job with it. He worked really hard and put A LOT of time into it.

 

Looking forward to playing it with you again, bud.

 

- BuDs Vandal

[HellsBells]

Thanks for the hard work

[GTFreeFlyer]

@CL (Vandal), thanks for all the Huey testing! All Huey related bugs shall be redirected your way

 

@HellsBells, my pleasure. It is a lot of fun to make these missions. Please send over some feedback once you try it out. Thanks.

[GTFreeFlyer]

Version 1.1 coming soon. Added two more (each) AI Hogs, Hornets and Hueys to assist with single player or small co-op groups. The two new AI Hornets are loaded with Air to Ground weapons.

 

Looks like 60 downloads now. Anyone have any other feedback or suggestions before I push the new version in the next week or so?

[GTFreeFlyer]

I just got word that a squad of nine was able to save all 8 groups :) Anyone else?

[GTFreeFlyer]

I’m aware of a “bug” since one of the newer DCS updates where the moving columns are now dispersing under fire when they used to not do that. I’m testing the fix and will post an updated version shortly. Thanks.

[GTFreeFlyer]

New update (V1.1) available. First and second posts in this thread updated.

[GTFreeFlyer]

Ep. 2 teaser:

[GTFreeFlyer]

Please note that due to the current bug with the Stennis, you should use land-based planes until DCS fixes the bug.

[GTFreeFlyer]

Brand new version 2.2 just uploaded. A massive list of changes since the original V1.1 released many months ago. Mainly, added SAMs around the area if you stray too far off-path. Also added OPTIONAL enemy bandits.

 

 

 

Episode 1: Another Day in Paradise

 

 

Full change list:

-Added two KA-50's per request. Also added more Hogs and another L-39ZA.

-Changed enemy spawning from 66% chance each 3 minutes to 75% chance.

-Slight rewording of briefing.

-Removed Viper 6. Added Jeff 1 and Jeff 2 (JF-17's)

-Tomcats: Stored ref alignment and set default TACAN and ICLS.

-Added Shell and Texaco tankers

-Deleted all client Hogs and re-added due to bug where their DSMS wouldn't load. Thought to be from bug related to using Prepare Mission.

-Shuffled around positions of AAA and ManPADs

-Added SA-10 to Shiraz, Kerman and Lar. All SA-10's set to AUTO alarm state.

-Changed direction, altitude and speed of tankers

-Added two Mig-21 bandits to Lar. They start when any AAA in the south part of town has been killed.

-Added two Mig-29 bandits to Kerman. They start at mission time = 30 minutes

-Added two Phantoms bandits to Kerman. They start at mission time = 45 minutes

-Added Red AWACS, takes off from Shiraz 15 minutes into the mission.

-Added Red "kill team" of Mig 29's (qty. 8 that arrive at end of mission to engage anyone in the air.

-Added 3 ships off shore Bandar for G2A support.

-Preloaded Harriers with NVGs

-Hawgs 9 and 10 changed from A-10C to A-10A

-Cleared out junk files in the .miz that prevented A-10C DSMS from loading.

-Texaco tanker: Changed callsign to Texaco (was Shell). Also increased speed and changed from KC-130 to 135MPRS

-Both tankers: Previously they would orbit waypoint 1 instead of flying a racetrack. Fixed.

-Red fighter kill time: Changed thier arrival time to earlier

-Moved Lar SA-10 closer in

-Changed 1 L39 spot to a 3rd Jeff.

-Deleted the auto-restart triggers, and the restart mission option from the F10 menu

-Added option to enable enemy bandits to the F10 menu. Kill team out of Shiraz remains active for end of mission.

-Changed AI Hornets to CAP

Edited May 12, 2020 by GTFreeFlyer

[GTFreeFlyer]

Version 2.3 uploaded. Added A-10C II.

[GTFreeFlyer]

Version 2.5 now includes Apaches.

[BigMac.no]

On 4/23/2022 at 10:01 PM, GTFreeFlyer said:

Version 2.5 now includes Apaches.

Great mission for both single and multi, great fun. Thanks for sharing.

I do however seem to have an issue:

- The AI A10s (Hawg 5,6,7,8) seems to have a mind of their own. When scrambled they are heading over to the western SA10 site, approx 20nm from SA10 site they crash into a mountain - regardless of task they were given. Hawg 7 and 8 sometimes fly without weapons.

-Otherwise the mission is running rather smooth.

 

I've only flown it with DCS 2.7.14.23966 Open Beta, dated 18 may 2022.

Edited May 22, 2022 by BigMac.no

[GTFreeFlyer]

On 5/22/2022 at 4:32 AM, BigMac.no said:

Great mission for both single and multi, great fun. Thanks for sharing.

I do however seem to have an issue:

- The AI A10s (Hawg 5,6,7,8) seems to have a mind of their own. When scrambled they are heading over to the western SA10 site, approx 20nm from SA10 site they crash into a mountain - regardless of task they were given. Hawg 7 and 8 sometimes fly without weapons.

-Otherwise the mission is running rather smooth.

 

I've only flown it with DCS 2.7.14.23966 Open Beta, dated 18 may 2022.

 

I have not experienced this, but thanks for sharing.  I'll keep an eye on them.  After getting the AI units started up, they will go to a location and wait, unless you give them tasking.  After their 4-5 minute startup, and once you see the message that they are ready, new F10 menu options will be available, so make sure you select one of them before the AI units fly too far off.

[GTFreeFlyer]

I've been away for a while and now that I'm back, I see things got broken with all the DCS updates   I've gone in and fixed up this mission.  As always, it's still a bit tough to get AI units to do exactly what you want them to, but they get enough of the job done to make themselves useful, if you need them

[GTFreeFlyer]

New update today.  Version 2.7.  Fixed a lot of the little things that annoyed me.  This mission is running great now after a lot of SP and MP testing.  I hope you all enjoy.  Leave some feedback here if you have a chance to fly the updated mission.  And of course, contact me if you want to arrange to fly it with me

Main updates: 

• Better SA now with squelch sound that plays with text messages. 
• New sound queuing system prevents voiceovers/sounds from interrupting and stopping other voiceovers which may be playing.
• AI behavior is much much much better, but it is still DCS AI, so there's that.
• Added some Predators and ground convoy to help out and provide more to do.
• ...and more.  See details on the download page.

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3305871/