SP Campaign: Operation Earnest Will

[SpikeGondorff]

Good afternoon, Tomcat pilots! I wanted to post about a new campaign I just (finally) finished for the F-14B. It's a story based campaign that takes place in 1987-1988 during Operation Earnest Will. My understanding is that the F-14 had a minimal role during the operation, so I've taken great liberties with history to give the Tomcat (and the player, specifically) a greater role. There will be some intercepts, A-A combat, A-G bombing, and AI that constantly run out of fuel, but hopefully it will entertain as well.

 

Originally it only had the old Stennis, but it has been updated to include a second campaign for people with the Super Carrier.

 

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3310481/

 

One thing I wanted to highlight and hopefully clarify is that I attempted to create a basic single checkpoint system. Here is the description straight from the user files section:

 

I have attempted to create a very basic save system for the campaign. I haven't seen this done before, but if it has, I apologize for the incoming lengthy description of how it works.

 

For those of you not aware how the DCS campaign builder works, the Results (not Score) at the summary screen after a mission determines what happens next. If the Results are between 0-49, you move back. If it's 51-100, you move forward. If it's an even 50, you remain in the same stage and (generally) replay the same mission.

 

What I've done is create 2 missions per stage. The first is the cold start, have-to-do-everything mission. The second is a variation of that same mission that starts you airborne and closer to the action. The first time you start a new mission, your Results will be 0. As you fly the mission, your Results will move up to 50. Completing the mission (objectives completed and landed) will net you Results of 100. If you die, wingman shoots you down, wife/kids scream at you in exasperation of your simming hobby, you can continue from a specific checkpoint in the mission provided your Results = 50.

 

For example, in the 3rd mission of the campaign, you are required to defend a ship. Flying there with afterburners will drain your fuel, and you are required to AAR from a nearby tanker. Getting close to the tanker will trigger the Results = 50, so if you hate refueling, or just need to quit, you can exit the mission. When you play the “next” mission in the campaign, you will be flying close to the tanker with full fuel, ready to complete the rest of the mission.

 

The caveat to this is that you can move back in the campaign. Which means if you crash, die, girlfriend screams at you, etc. before you trigger the Results = 50, then your Results will be 0. If this happens and you don't want to replay the previous mission, you MUST click “Close” on the summary screen (button in the bottom left). If you click the green “End Mission” button on the bottom right, you will fail the mission and move back in the campaign.

 

Using the example from the 3rd mission above, if you die before getting close to the tanker, your Results = 0 and you will move back to the previous mission in the campaign if you hit the “End Mission” button in the summary screen. So, please, only hit the “End Mission” button when your Results are 50 – 100. Otherwise, hit “Close.”

 

Hopefully that makes sense. If not, please let me know.

 

This is my first campaign, so if anything is amiss, or you have any tips, recommendations, critiques, etc. please share.

 

Thanks!

Edited June 16, 2020 by SpikeGondorff
Updated to include the Super Carrier

[RaisedByWolves]

Look forward to SC version.

 

FYI I tried mission one. The player F-14 and wingman had in proper load out of Phoenix pallets forward and two Sparrows in the tunnel.

[SpikeGondorff]

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't realize you could have an improper set up. That is the loadout for the first few missions, I think. I'll change it once I get some more feedback on anything else that's borked.

 

 

Thanks!

[eatthis]

sry if this is off topic, if you hosted a single player single aircraft mission on a server would that allow a rio to join you?

[SpikeGondorff]

sry if this is off topic, if you hosted a single player single aircraft mission on a server would that allow a rio to join you?

 

 

My understanding is that you'd need to go into the Mission Editor and change the Skill level from "Player" to "Client." I think that's all that is needed to make it MP and allow you to fly with a human RIO.

[kengou]

I will eagerly await the Supercarrier version to try it out.

[SpikeGondorff]

I will eagerly await the Supercarrier version to try it out.

 

Working on it, slowly but surely. Hopefully sometime this week, assuming life doesn't get in the way.

[SpikeGondorff]

Updated the campaign with the Super Carrier. There are now 2 campaigns in the zipped file: "SC" and "NonSC." Descriptive, if unoriginal. I also tweaked the loadouts in the early missions based on RaisedByWolves' observation.

 

 

Thanks all!

[Gibo]

Thanks a lot for the campaign; I'll give it a try as soon as I can and let you know if I'll find any problem.

I was really looking forward for a F14's campaign to be played solo; great work!!!!

Gibo

[todd022]

Thanks!

 

First mission down...just very grateful for a new Tomcat campaign rooted in realism, but keeping in mind the player's realistic limitations. Thanks so much!

[IronMike]

Thank you, great job!

 

I've added the thread to the stickied campaign list.

 

Well done!

[SpikeGondorff]

Thank you, great job!

 

I've added the thread to the stickied campaign list.

 

Well done!

 

Thanks, IronMike!

 

First mission down...just very grateful for a new Tomcat campaign rooted in realism, but keeping in mind the player's realistic limitations. Thanks so much!

 

It's annoying how often real life interferes with my hobbies. :) Hopefully the checkpoint system helps people enjoy the sim more. It's not perfect, and there are a few missions where it's still a long sortie even when starting in mid air. Maybe one day we'll get a save system for us poor single players.

 

Thanks a lot for the campaign; I'll give it a try as soon as I can and let you know if I'll find any problem.

I was really looking forward for a F14's campaign to be played solo; great work!!!!

Gibo

 

Great! Let me know if you have any issues and I hope you enjoy.

Edited June 18, 2020 by SpikeGondorff

[Black Assassin]

Thanks for this - so far it's terrific! We really needed another good PG campaign, especially for SP.

[GunSlingerAUS]

Quick question - is Jester's dialogue voiced, or just text as I'm seeing at the moment?

[SpikeGondorff]

Thanks for this - so far it's terrific! We really needed another good PG campaign, especially for SP.

 

 

Thanks for the kind words! Let me know if anything doesn't work or anything like that. It's tough to test how clear the directions are when I already know what I'm supposed to do. :)

 

 

Quick question - is Jester's dialogue voiced, or just text as I'm seeing at the moment?

 

 

Just text, unfortunately. I don't know how to record voice overs, so it's all just strictly text. If HB want to lend me Jester's voice and their recording equipment, I'll gladly insert the files into the campaign. :thumbup:

[GunSlingerAUS]

No complaint at all, so far I'm loving it! Just wasn't sure if I'd stuffed the install. If you need a sexy Aussie voice however...

[SpikeGondorff]

No complaint at all, so far I'm loving it! Just wasn't sure if I'd stuffed the install. If you need a sexy Aussie voice however...

 

 

Hah, if you have the recording software and skills, I can send you the dialogue. Try not to be too sexy, though, we need the pilots concentrating on the missions.

[Scotch75]

Hey Spike,

 

 

I'm having as blast playing your campaign, it flows well, is well researched and scripted, and I love Jester's and GasCan's quips (especially about USS Forrestal :megalol:). Well done!

 

 

 

I just completed the "Boring CAP" mission, the one with the singleton escort (trying not to spoil), what a cool mission!! I copped an AIM9 in the face which knocked out Jester, electronics, radios, nav, radar and hydraulics, but managed to limp back, land at the alternate, and complete the mission. I have attached a couple of screenshots (I changed the Player livery: Livery by 59th_Jack).

 

 

Cheers!

Scotch

[SpikeGondorff]

Hey Spike,

 

I'm having as blast playing your campaign, it flows well, is well researched and scripted, and I love Jester's and GasCan's quips (especially about USS Forrestal :megalol:). Well done!

 

I just completed the "Boring CAP" mission, the one with the singleton escort (trying not to spoil), what a cool mission!! I copped an AIM9 in the face which knocked out Jester, electronics, radios, nav, radar and hydraulics, but managed to limp back, land at the alternate, and complete the mission. I have attached a couple of screenshots (I changed the Player livery: Livery by 59th_Jack).

 

Cheers!

Scotch

 

Hah, that's great. I don't think I planned for a contingency where Jester died but you lived. I don't even know if you can check for Jester being dead.

 

I ran out of fuel one time when testing that mission (I'm so embarrassed). Managed to coast to the divert airfield and do a belly landing (couldn't drop the gear). It's much cooler to say you took a missile to the face instead of running out of gas, though. :)

 

I'm glad you're enjoying the campaign. Thanks for the kind words!

[draconus]

Hah, that's great. I don't think I planned for a contingency where Jester died but you lived. I don't even know if you can check for Jester being dead.

You can assume you got another RIO assigned after the mission.

To check go to Jester Menu and it says "incapacitated".

 

Managed to coast to the divert airfield and do a belly landing (couldn't drop the gear).

Twist the handle for emergency drop or it didn't work too?

[SpikeGondorff]

You can assume you got another RIO assigned after the mission.

To check go to Jester Menu and it says "incapacitated".

 

Twist the handle for emergency drop or it didn't work too?

 

Yeah, I was thinking more how to check for Jester being dead as a Mission Trigger. He does a lot of talking on the return flight, and if he's dead, that would be weird. Unless the player is doing a seance, which I'm not going to deny would be very cool. :)

 

I tried to activate the Emergency Gear drop but it didn't work. I will admit to never practicing emergency procedures, so I assumed I was doing something wrong. The belly landing was nice, though. Empty drop tanks were a nice cushion.

[gcrimmins]

Best campaign for the F14 to date, thanks!

[SpikeGondorff]

Best campaign for the F14 to date, thanks!

 

 

Glad you liked it! :thumbup:

[feipan]

For mission 3 the mission suddenly exits after I arrive at the tanker after a while. The score is 0 and I cannot advance. Is there any solution to that?

[SpikeGondorff]

For mission 3 the mission suddenly exits after I arrive at the tanker after a while. The score is 0 and I cannot advance. Is there any solution to that?

 

That's weird (and annoying). I've never seen that. A bunch of questions incoming:

 

Does the mission/game crash, or are you getting the End Mission results screen? How close to the tanker are you? Did you get the reminder about calling Overlord when you're done refuelling? Just to make sure we're on the same page, I think there's 2 tankers in the mission. Are you going to the tanker near Waypoint 3?

 

And final question...are you on Stable or OB? I've never seen that issue in Stable, but I've never tested it in OB.

 

If you don't want to mess with it and don't mind a little mission editing, you can create a trigger at Mission Start to turn on Flag 50, then start the mission, ensure the results are 50, and exit the mission. That should start your "next" mission next to the tanker with full tanks.