Fear the Bones! - Campaign Info

[Jayhawk1971]

I think once you get the "mission accomplished" message you can progress to the next one, regardless of what you do afterwards.

[CheckGear]

I haven't even played this campaign and I can already tell - THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE A CAMPAIGN!!!

 

Total authenticity - real ships accurate to the moment, accurate air wings and liveries, THIS IS THE WAY IT'S DONE! Everyone needs to take note, but we know they won't, because [insert lame reason here].

 

I wonder what the real pilots of CVW-8 who deployed aboard "Big Stick" on its maiden deployment would say about this campaign. Imagine if the AI A-6 was already available!!!

 

More campaigns like this, please!

[Lt_Jaeger]

I played Mission 3 today and had some issues with the TACAN. After Startup the Pilot TACAN was set for 74y I believe while it has to be X for the Tanker (or the other way around, can't remember) Same happened with Jester, after I told him to select Washington TACAN...he had x and y also switched. Is this an issue only I experience or did something get messed up ?

 

[ClydeBigBird]

Completed the first 9 missions and so far this might be my favorite DCS campaign.

 

The campaign really succeeds in its goal of walking the line between realism and fun.  On one hand the take off checklists and procedures provide a nice level of authenticity.  On the other, the missions do a good job getting you into the action fairly quickly, and have some genuinely entertaining/funny dialog.  I also like how most of them don't require you to land to finish, but if you choose to, you're treated to some cool period-correct radio excerpts on your way back to the ship.

[Jayhawk1971]

Finished it! What a ride! Great campaign, and together with Zone 5 the best campaigns in DCS that I have played so far (IMHO).

 

Here follow spoilers, so don't read if you haven't at least finished mission 11:

 

Spoiler

The toughest mission for me was mission 11. Very long, and due to a combination of some "DCS-ism" and my own mistakes had to try it 4 times. 

• first time, I made the mistake to send Elvis to the tanker first....which somehow made the tanker menu disappear from the comms menu. Also, I ran headfirst into an R-27.
• second time, I opted to skip AAR, which froze the game, so I had to start over.
• third time, I was shot down again by a "silent" R-27 (silent as in, I thought I had successfully dodged it since the RWR tone stopped after my evasive maneuvers)
• fourth time, I managed to shoot down both MiG's (first MiG fell to my Phoenix, but the second MiG managed to dodge both mine and Elvis' Sparrows).  So I had to chase down the transport to get into Sidewinder range, which had already survived Elvis' AIM-9, to shoot it down. But that dragged me way into enemy territory. On my race back to the coast a SA-11 got me. In hindsight, I probably should have used the "bug out" option in the comms menu.  
  On my race back to the coast a SA-11 got me.
• On the start of the fifth attempt, I simply skipped the mission 

 

I'll get it on my second, more thorough, playthrough.

 

The dialogue had me laughing out loud, especially the Top Gun reference. Also nice nod towards Flight of the Intruder.

Thinking about playing Zone 5 and Fear the Bones back to back and treat it as one story.

 

Edited June 27, 2021 by Jayhawk1971
editing

[Reflected]

@Jayhawk1971 I understand there are some current missile issues which can heavily impact the missions. While testing the campaign it was one of the easier missions. 

 

Spoiler

Yeah, you don't necessarily have to chase the transport too far, otherwise you'll pay the price. Glad you recognized the Flight of the Intruder reference

 

Very curious what you'll think about the ending

Edited June 27, 2021 by Reflected

[Jayhawk1971]

vor 9 Stunden schrieb Reflected:

@Jayhawk1971 I understand there are some current missile issues which can heavily impact the missions. While testing the campaign it was one of the easier missions. 

 

  Versteckten Inhalt anzeigen

Yeah, you don't necessarily have to chase the transport too far, otherwise you'll pay the price. Glad you recognized the Flight of the Intruder reference

 

Very curious what you'll think about the ending

 

I quite liked the ending, it kinda reminded me of one mission from "Operation Flashpoint" (long before it became ARMA).

 

Spoiler

Even though I did have to first set up all the controls for the SU-25, because I've never bothered with this module, ever. Which was a bit anti-climatic with regards to the urgency of the situation.  But I did make it, got intercepted by Elvis who escorted me back to mother, where I punched out.

Possible spoiler (= educated guess) not directly related to the campaign, but to upcoming "flying film", so double spoiler warning:

Spoiler

You just might have referenced the main plot of the upcoming Top Gun Maverick: I suspect Goose's son will be shot down over enemy territory, and Maverick either punches out or get's shot down as well, rescues Goose's son and they both steal a Tomcat to escape.

 

Edited June 27, 2021 by Jayhawk1971

[Reflected]

Wow I had no idea. How do you know this about the plot?

[Jayhawk1971]

vor 34 Minuten schrieb Reflected:

Wow I had no idea. How do you know this about the plot?

Just a guess from the trailer(s) and behind the scenes footage (on YouTube).

 

Spoiler

There are set pictures showing Cruise and the actor playing Goose's son in a Tomcat with "islamic markings" in a hangar; looks like the enemy in this picture is some generic stand-in for "almost but not quite Iran".

 

Edited June 27, 2021 by Jayhawk1971

[ClydeBigBird]

Pro tip for any other lazy people who usually do quick and dirty startups - if you're having trouble with the gun not working, make sure to set the counter and turn on the engine air supply.

[Vino]

On 6/21/2021 at 1:36 PM, Reflected said:

 

Why are you stuck? Which part can't you complete? There are helper messages all along the way. Let me know what gives you a headache and I can perhaps offer further help. BTW there's a skip mission option in the F10 radio menu.

 

Finally made it! But night trap in the first mission? Seriously?

[Reflected]

5 hours ago, Vino said:

Finally made it! But night trap in the first mission? Seriously?

welcome to the Navy!  

[Vino]

Just finished the mission 5. I can not get the ICLS to work. Has heat blur changed it some how?

[Reflected]

No change, it should work as long as you have your switchology done right.

 

Spoiler

Keep in mind that you got a HUD failure, so don't expect that one to work.

 

[Vino]

I used to had it work. Now I got the elevation and the other line in my hud, but they don’t move… very strange.

[Lt_Jaeger]

ICLS channel change with every mission, iirr.

ACLS needs the data link to be tuned to the carrier. You can check if you see the lit labels below the hud, starting with voice something. 

Make sure switches on the Display control panel are set in accordance. 

 

Edited July 15, 2021 by Lt_Jaeger

[Vino]

I think this is supposed to be in HeatBlurs page, but I took couple of shots. Is there something wrong with my switchology?

[Lt_Jaeger]

Did you check the Briefing for the ICLS Channel?  Since the switch Position not always hit the mark, count the clicks while turning

[Vino]

Yes I did

[Reflected]

It all looks good, now you have to ask JEster to set the Data link to the carrier.

 

You want ICLS or ACLS to work?

 

If the former, you need to set flip the HUD and VDI switches to ACL. (up). No data link is necessary then.

[Vino]

I need ICLS to work.

[Reflected]

OK, then flip those 2 AWL switches up to ACL.

[cobrabase]

Will this campaign be coming to steam?????

 

[Reflected]

2 hours ago, cobrabase said:

Will this campaign be coming to steam?????

 

 

Yes it will ,but it's entirely in ED's hands, I have no idea when.

[sigfan86]

21 hours ago, Reflected said:

 

Yes it will ,but it's entirely in ED's hands, I have no idea when.

It released today! But currently having issues with it appearing to be recognized by DCS as a valid download. It shows as unrecognized. Ive sent log files to ED and am waiting for a reply back

Edited July 17, 2021 by sigfan86