DCS: Black Shark - Q&A **READ FIRST!**

[amalahama]

It would be great a Ka-50 operator's manual ready for download like a chrismas present, isn't it? :music_whistling::D

 

Regards!!

[192nd_Erdem]

Will we get a printed manual with the CD-DVD version?

[Alain-James]

Hello all

 

First of all, sorry if this question was already asked before, I didn't see something that looked like that.

 

Beyond my activity as a common player, I am primarily a mission-builder - or rather should I say a campaign builder :)

Ive been designing campaign scenarios in M1 Tank Platoon 2, The Operational Art of War and Il-2, among others (maybe my Star of Crimea campaign is known by a few people over there, but well that's 6 years ago already...).

As such, I have very precise and nitpicking questions about DCS/BS, hope you don't mind :)

 

- I am thrilled by the announcements made about the possible advanced scripting we may be able to use in the new editor. I sincerely hope there will be basic functionalities as possibility for triggered custom radio messages, events, and all sorts of condition triggers, particularly regarding targets. I hope to hear more from that very soon.

 

- A real question now: I wondered if there were any plan for allowing mission designers to include interlude videos (probably primarly Divx AVI or WMV) in-between campaign missions. I would definitely love to use them for plot and briefing purpose, knowing how much a campaign is not about missions only, but primarily about the player's sensation of immersion. Note I didn't follow the latest LOMAC development on that point, so maybe it's available already - but if not, and if you consider it not to be too complicated to set up, you can bet you've got a future user right here.

 

Thanks in advance

 

AJ

[Alain-James]

Another MB question, but not related to scripting: is there any way we may hope for somekind of generic blue/red "countries" with all available materials from either "side"? Right now, as I remember well, Lock-on setting were rather limited, as you had to actually include the right countries in each coalitions if you wanted a certain unit to show up in the roster - and if I understand well, such a system will make things like Ka-50 vs Ka-50 situations impossible if the Sharks are limited to the Russian "country" for instance in the MB...

 

Do you think that would be possible? It would ease the mission builders job very much whenever we need to think about atypical scenarios (against traitors or rebels for instance...)

 

thanks in advance

 

AJ

[The_GOZR]

I see this shot in DSC screen for BS ? could you comment?

 

Thx

 

[The_GOZR]

Also do you have any details of Number of polygons requiered for BS, for the planes?

Also for ground tank units?

 

Where is it possible to find BS specifications?

 

Thx

[Weta43]

Alain-James:

I wondered if there were any plan for allowing mission designers to include interlude videos (probably primarly Divx AVI or WMV) in-between campaign missions. I would definitely love to use them for plot and briefing purpose, knowing how much a campaign is not about missions only, but primarily about the player's sensation of immersion. Note I didn't follow the latest LOMAC development on that point, so maybe it's available already

 

I'm not a tester and so can't say whether that function it is still there in DCS, but this was possible with LO (& LO:FC)

 

 

GOZR:

I see this shot in DSC screen for BS ? could you comment?

 

Me? or Alain ?

 

I'd say it's a screenshot from before they decided to publish BS as a stand alone product that's never been culled from the folder.

 

(Sort of like this one:

)

[MBot]

I see this shot in DSC screen for BS ? could you comment?

 

Thx

 

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/img/products/large/d409fec531e4b1bd44e6745c1fab2853.jpg

 

 

Hihi, that is actualy one from a batch of screenshots about the AIM-9P model I submitted 2.5 years ago. As it seems I now wont be able to shoot that missile myselfe for some time to come :)

[pappavis]

Steam for digital distributions?

 

Digital distribution method. Have ED considred using Steam? It should provide some copy protexion whereby we wont have any Starforce hassles.

In addition, the exposure to Steam-users could boost populairty and address a new market.

[EvilBivol-1]

I wondered if there were any plan for allowing mission designers to include interlude videos (probably primarly Divx AVI or WMV) in-between campaign missions. I would definitely love to use them for plot and briefing purpose, knowing how much a campaign is not about missions only, but primarily about the player's sensation of immersion. Note I didn't follow the latest LOMAC development on that point, so maybe it's available already - but if not, and if you consider it not to be too complicated to set up, you can bet you've got a future user right here.

The new ME already supports image attachments to the briefing. ED does plan on implementing audio and video attachments, but this hasn't happened yet and may or may not make it into the Black Shark release.

Another MB question, but not related to scripting: is there any way we may hope for somekind of generic blue/red "countries" with all available materials from either "side"? Right now, as I remember well, Lock-on setting were rather limited, as you had to actually include the right countries in each coalitions if you wanted a certain unit to show up in the roster - and if I understand well, such a system will make things like Ka-50 vs Ka-50 situations impossible if the Sharks are limited to the Russian "country" for instance in the MB...

Not in Black Shark. Perhaps this will be possible with the new engine, but I don't know definitively.

I see this shot in DSC screen for BS ? could you comment?

As mentioned, this is simply an outdated screen from before DCS was born.

Also do you have any details of Number of polygons requiered for BS, for the planes?

Also for ground tank units?

There is no specific numerical requirement, but the latest aircraft (helicopter) models have clocked in at 80K+ polys and the ground vehicles at 30K+.

[Alain-James]

The new ME already supports image attachments to the briefing. ED does plan on implementing audio and video attachments, but this hasn't happened yet and may or may not make it into the Black Shark release.

EvilBivol, just as a sidenote, can you please just happen to confirm if the Lomac feature allowing videos between missions in a campaign, as Weta described, is still available? Im looking very much forward this stuff...

 

thanks in advance :)

[Glowing_Amraam]

EvilBivol, just as a sidenote, can you please just happen to confirm if the Lomac feature allowing videos between missions in a campaign, as Weta described, is still available? Im looking very much forward this stuff...

 

thanks in advance :)

 

I believe this is something they want to include, but i can't say for sure yet.

But i hope they include it though.... I'm sure they'd want some pretty sweet campaign and cutscenes in there..... :D ;)

 

as do i.. ;)

[VMFA117_Poko]

I have question about night missions in DCS. I know Ka-50 in BlackShark isn't a truely night attack helicopter but pilot can operate using NVG gogles. How AI units behave at night? Does combat capability decrease then (shooting accuracy, reaction, etc.)? I don't mean units that are prepare for such missions ofcourse. More likely infantry, light armor units or Mi-24s in.e. i have in mind.

 

Second question about ME. I've just read this thread where a member explains annoying issue with changing positions of units in group. Will this be fixed in DCS?

 

Can it be possible in DCS to see units already when placing in ME? It will be very helpfull feature. When plane's set to "start from parking" it would be nice to see on what parking it will show. IMHO there should be an option to set "start from shelter" separately. Shelter should be used just one time in a mission. Not like now when many planes after landing taxi to and dissapear in the same shelter!

[EvilBivol-1]

How AI units behave at night? Does combat capability decrease then (shooting accuracy, reaction, etc.)? I don't mean units that are prepare for such missions ofcourse. More likely infantry, light armor units or Mi-24s in.e. i have in mind.

Very poignant question - attack aircraft are currently undergoing some interesting developments in this very area. No definite word on ground units, but most likely not in the first release.

Second question about ME. I've just read this thread where a member explains annoying issue with changing positions of units in group. Will this be fixed in DCS?

Yes, this has been fixed in the new editor.

Can it be possible in DCS to see units already when placing in ME?

Unfortunately, no. Valery had described the problem on the Russian forum as not so much in the editor, but the game/graphics engine, which is why we are likely to see this much requested feature implemented only in the new engine.

IMHO there should be an option to set "start from shelter" separately.

Currently, the standard runway or parking starts are the only options available.

 

As the ME and AI are being finalized, we will be in a better position to provide detailed descriptions of their features, as we did with radio systems modeling. I've already started drafting some of these up, but we still have some development time ahead, so I don't expect to be able to post them until at least a few weeks down the line. For now, enjoy the holidays and the presents they may bring... ;)

[VMFA117_Poko]

Thank You for answer EvilBivol-1. I had some worries I ask too early about those things.

About night combat capability again. It's not so easy to make IMHO. Capability should start to slightly decrease about a dusk, then increase just before a dawn.

 

Could You or anyone give a link later to that russian thread explaining why the units can not be shown in ME? I'd like to translate it. It has interested me.

 

Thanks again and Merry Xmas!

[VS461]

General q

 

Hi evyone!

In the future, me and some of my friends want to play BS in multiplayer with airborne forward air controller support. I think a Ka-50 could be an AFAC plane. I got two questions:

Is it possible to get the designated target's co-ordinates and send via data link (we have our own position, the direction and the range of the target - why not)?

Is third-party (another Ka-50) laser designation possible with Vikhr ATGMs? BTW, Vikhrs are laser beam riders or semi-actives like Hellfires?

THX for your help!

[Force_Feedback]

Vikhrs are meant to be cheap, and immune to jamming, so they're beam riders, guess buddy lasing is possible, but I have no idea wether it's possible due to the beam gating issues, even if it's possible it would be only useful within a certain narrow angle, from behind the launching aircraft.

The Ka-50 does have data linking, 4 Ka-50s max IIRC. And if that's not enough, just let the 5th member use signalling flares :P

[VMFA117_Poko]

Vikhrs are laser beam riders

 

The automatic sight is provided with TV and IR channels of target sighting, a laser beam channel of missile control, a laser rangefinder, an automatic target tracking unit, a digital computer and a system of stabilization and aiming of sighting and beam channels. The automatic sight provides for target detection and identification both day and night, automatic target tracking and missile guidance, and generates exact information for gun and rocket firing. The guided missile is kept in a sealed launching transporting container and consists of a HEAT fragmentation warhead fitted with a contact and a proximity fuze, an air-dynamic control actuator, control electronics, a motor and laser detector.

 

The multi-purpose warhead (two-stage HEAT and an additional fragmentation belt) allows the missile to be used against armoured, airborne and area targets alike. This is an asset compared to the three different missiles required in the 9M120 Ataka-V complex. The use of the proximity fuze allows a near miss of up to 5 m and makes it possible to engage an air target at speeds of 500m/s.

 

The Vikhr missile laser beam control system provides for its precise guidance owing to data transmission to the missile in the course of its launch, which is excluded in homing systems. The Vikhr missile control system has high jamming immunity because its receiver faces the carrier, thereby protecting it from jamming signals.

 

The high pinpoint target hit probability (reported 0.95 against stationary targets) is provided by the automatic target tracking system and highly accurate missile control system that makes allowance for changes in the parameters of the carrier and the target in the course of firing.

 

The missiles can be fired singly or in pairs (at the same target to increase lethality).

 

The missiles high-speed flight allows it to engage targets rapidly. The system is capable of launching Vikhr missiles against two to four targets during a 30 second period and starting at a range of 10 km, which increases its fire power potential three to four times or earlier systems.

[Weta43]

I'm pretty sure I remember reading that the AI Ka-50 can hand targets around the 4 aircraft flight.

I also remember reading that the Ka-52 would get this job in preferred Russian military practice.

Can the AI Ka-52 be assigned to a flight in BS to carry out this role, or only the Ka-50?

[EvilBivol-1]

Is it possible to get the designated target's co-ordinates and send via data link (we have our own position, the direction and the range of the target - why not)?

Yes, a flight of up to 4 Ka-50s can use the datalink system to exchange targeting information and aircraft positions. This works in single player with your wingmen or in multiplayer with any four Ka-50s using the same radio frequency. Aircraft and target positions are displayed on the ABRIS moving map.

Is third-party (another Ka-50) laser designation possible with Vikhr ATGMs? BTW, Vikhrs are laser beam riders or semi-actives like Hellfires?

Vikhrs are beam riders and it is not possible to buddy lase for them, because the Shkval system produces a narrow laser "grid" along the aircraft-target LOS, which the missile must be inside of to guide onto the target.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading that the AI Ka-50 can hand targets around the 4 aircraft flight. I also remember reading that the Ka-52 would get this job in preferred Russian military practice.

Can the AI Ka-52 be assigned to a flight in BS to carry out this role, or only the Ka-50?

Wingman Ka-50s can be radioed to conduct "reconnaissance" ahead of the flight or to a specific coordinate, during which they radio and datalink any targets they find. The Ka-52 will not be present in DCS:BS. Not only is it not in service, it's not even clear what equipment it would have if it was.

[Weta43]

The Ka-52 will not be present in DCS:BS. Not only is it not in service, it's not even clear what equipment it would have if it was.

 

Hmmm ... I thought I'd read that it had been used in this role in the field already (even if not officially 'in service'). Still - I guess it would be stretching things a bit.

 

 

Oh well - if it's not there, it's not there, & it can't do recky flights.

Thanks for the information.

[EvilBivol-1]

Hmmm ... I thought I'd read that it had been used in this role in the field already (even if not officially 'in service'). Still - I guess it would be stretching things a bit.

Not the Ka-52, but a specifically made one-off Ka-29VPNTsU (Airborne Station for Control and Targeting). It isn't in the game.

[Weta43]

Ahh !

[Trident]

Wingman Ka-50s can be radioed to conduct "reconnaissance" ahead of the flight or to a specific coordinate, during which they radio and datalink any targets they find. The Ka-52 will not be present in DCS:BS. Not only is it not in service, it's not even clear what equipment it would have if it was.

 

That's pretty cool! An old idea of mine is this: lead your wingie to a safe (masked) position within engagement range of the enemy, tell him to hold position, seek an attack position of your own and once established there tell him to pop-up and fire for a coordinated attack. He should then remask (!) rather than continuing to attack. This tactic requires only two simple commands ('hold position' and 'pop-up'), yet can be used to devastating effect on stationary targets in EECH.

 

Is this being considered for DCS:BS?

[EvilBivol-1]

Is this being considered for DCS:BS?

Yes, but not quite as simple. There will be a 'position hold' command, but then it gets complicated with different options. After repositioning yourself, you can send a "continue mission" command like in LO or you can lock up the target and use the rather unrealistic "attack my target" command or you can go hardcore and use the datalink to send out the targets. In any case, it won't be quite as clean as pop-up, shoot, and pop back down (:huh:) again and especially for the last, most complex and interesting approach, will require quite a bit of planning and cockpit magic.