Campaign feedback

[Jive]

 

I had such a good time with this campaign that I really felt I should pass on my thoughts.

 

Firstly, and possible most importantly, I really appreciate how you respect the player's time. I was delighted that missions get going quickly with minimal dead time. When that one mission did come around with some extended patrol time it made sense in context and it felt like it really added to the tension because of how it stood out from the others. 

 

I'm super impressed with the scenarios you pulled off. Not only were they varied and engaging but the twists to my expecations were a real treat. At times it was genuinely exciting to react to the unfolding events and others that realistic sigh of relief when events have cooled off. I fly for a living and at times it reminded me of the kinds of simulator profiles we run which are designed to exercise decision making and preparation under changing conditions.

 

I got a few laughs out of some of the cheesy dialogue, I wasn't sure how I felt about it in the beginning especially after coming from Zone 5 but it was fun and never detracted from the experience, so you walked a good line there imo. 

 

I had no technical issues the whole way through, despite DCS being DCS all the complexities seemed to trigger beautifully.

 

Lastly, some real nice variation with times and weathers for the missions. Some masterful pairings creating some amazing conditions:

 

 

This was hands down the best single player experience I've had in a flight sim. I'm very excited for your next campaign! Thanks for going to all the effort.

[Jayhawk1971]

+1

 

The only negative I could point out is that the campaign is too short (a very selfish and subjective personal opinion  ), even though it's quite long compared to other campaigns. Still, I wouldn't have been all too sad to have a couple more missions: maybe a longer buildup to the start of hostilities, and a couple more wartime missions (escort, fighter sweep, an attempt to take out a Soviet Mainstay).

 

@Reflected Should you ever consider to release an "extended director's cut" of this campaign, I'll gladly buy it

Edited October 5, 2021 by Jayhawk1971

[Reflected]

Thank you both for the kind words. This kind of feedback is the best reward a campaign maker can wish for, it means that all my efforts were worth it. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Keep an eye on my Fb/YT/ Insta, a third Tomcat campaign is already in the making

[Kuna]

Just finished it. Brilliant work. Love the scenarios, overal mood and voiceovers - it's over the top.

One flaw for me - it was too short - so it's a praise anyway

Last mission made my day

I finished also Zone V (great time playing it also) - looking for more of your work! Great job you are doing!

 

 

Edited October 21, 2021 by Kuna

[alfpope]

I created an account here just to say that I also just finished this campaign and it was fantastic.  Thanks so much for your work and I'm looking forward to more.

[Reflected]

1 hour ago, alfpope said:

I created an account here just to say that I also just finished this campaign and it was fantastic.  Thanks so much for your work and I'm looking forward to more.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and let me know. I'm happy you enjoyed it. If you feel ready for a bigger challenge, go try 'Zone 5' for an 80s Topgun experience

[VladimirSputnik]

Great campaign, thanks a million

Found some typos in the briefings FYI

Fear the Bones! - 5 - Bad Moon Rising

OBJECTIVE Start your engines, taxi to the catapult and launch. Fly on BRC and maintain 300 KIAS at 500' MSL until you're outside 7 miles DME,   then (3 spaces) go button 2 and check in with Wizard. Ask Jester to select steer point 1, follow the bug, and climb to 21,000 feet. Orbit above the USS Valley Forge, and monitor the frequency for updates from the Hawkeye.

 

Fear the Bones! - 9 - Killer Instinct

BRIEFING Now I have some bad news and good news.  The bad news first: our C-2 Greyhound carrying AIM-54 Phoenix missiles was shot at this morning and had to RTB, so you guys are going up with Sparrows only. We’re expecting another COD with Phoenixes at 1500h, callsign Springfield.  Springfield will remain on deck in Turkey until you arrive onstation (on station – 2 words), then head out to the boat.  The good news: the USS Ranger entered the Black Sea through the strait of Bosporus this morning at 0830h, so we’ll have some reinforcements shortly! Now grab your gear, get to the roof and start’em (start ‘em - space needed) up.

 

Fear the Bones! - 13 - Suicide Run

BRIEFING Jaws, Jester, you are to launch, top-off with Texaco, then head toward waypoint 2. VFA-87 took out the SAM site at Sukhumi an hour ago, so that’s where you ‘re (you’re – space between you &’re) gonna go feet dry. Remain below 1000 feet AGL to avoid detection, sneak through the valleys to get to your IP at WP3. They will use that old runway for the parade. Now understand: we cannot condone political assasination (assassination – 1 missing ‘s’), so your target is the General Secretary’s podium at the eastern end of the runway. It’s stored in your INS as your surface target.  Take it out with your cannon. Time on Target is anytime between 1150 and 1205 local.  Be careful though - there is an SA10 (SA-10) site to the South, and God knows how many machine gun nests. Caveman and Grip are going to escort you to the coastline. If you need to punch out, avoid capture at all costs. OBJECTIVE Start your engines, taxi to the catapult and launch. Go button 3 to contact Texaco. Refuel and (at?) WP1, then switch to the Hawkeye’s frequency, descend below 1000 feet AGL and proceed to waypoint 2. Ask Jester to switch to the next steer point. Sneak through the valleys to reach your IP, remaining below 1000' (1000 feet for consistency – everywhere else in the narrative it says 1000 feet) AGL.

 No biggie, just for completeness

Really enjoyed the campaign

 

[Reflected]

Thanks a lot, I’ll correct these!

[JGS]

Great campaign! Loved the detail put into the radio messages (takeoff checks etc). The final mission was fun. Textures and audio loaded quite slowly for me on mission start, so I usually didn't hear the briefing messages. But that's probably due to my hardware. My only critique would be that the environment sometimes felt quiet for a war situation, but on the other hand adding too many assets can have adverse effects on performance.

[Reflected]

12 hours ago, JGS said:

Great campaign! Loved the detail put into the radio messages (takeoff checks etc). The final mission was fun. Textures and audio loaded quite slowly for me on mission start, so I usually didn't hear the briefing messages. But that's probably due to my hardware. My only critique would be that the environment sometimes felt quiet for a war situation, but on the other hand adding too many assets can have adverse effects on performance.

It helps if you pause the game until all textures have loaded.