Campaign feedback

[v81]

Negatives first...

First major hurdle was probably the fog.
I don't know if this was created before the new weather engine or not, but there are a few missions where we have to follow rivers and so on and it gets really difficult, unreasonably so.

I like a challenge, but this was too much... maybe dial back the fog a bit.
Have attached a screen cap, river is between mirror and cockpit window, max speed was ~ 80kM/h.

Some triggers are difficult to find.
The one where the player uses direction finding to search for a radio signal can be difficult to trigger.
The mission where bombs are used, it's not stated so, but all bombs need to be expended off the helo to progress the mission.
I did the bombs one several times killing the required targets with spare bombs left over and it would not progress.

Sling loading (not a fault of the mission creator)
Seems be difficult to find out what parameters are needed to be met, not a lot of documentation on this.

Some long waits for loading
Leaves you wondering if something isn't triggering right.
Maybe shorten loading times a little or include some dialogue to inform the player that things are progressing.
Something like "Almost loaded" or "Not long to wait" or something.

Weak engines in some missions
I heard that engine wear / engine de-rating might have changed in a patch.
There are 2 or 3 missions where it is extremely difficult to get of the pad.
If there have been changes then it might be more difficult than it was originally designed to be.
Not impossible, but very much a challenge.

 

Positives!

Wide and varied tasks!
There are so many different things to do, and different skills and systems to master in this.
You make use of...
Doppler nav
ARK-UD nav
R-863 VHF / UHF for comms
R-828 Low VHF for comms and navigation
ARK-9 ADF for nav
--almost forgot to add -- Nigh operations with the old NVG's

You literally get a chance to try every possible type of nav the Mi8 has to offer, and it feels practical
Excellent work i think.

Weapons, some missions will call on rockets, some missions cannon, some will use bombs and even door gunners get a go.

Plenty of ferrying, pickup, put down in tight and sometimes interesting place.

Many missions include accompanying AI, in one case you need to signal them with your signal flares... another feature of the Mi8 put to work.

 

 

All in all well crafted, and an opportunity to truly master every part of the helo.

Have done about 5 campaigns, maybe not a lot, but this one does stand out as being great, especially for covering many systems and tasks.

Thanks!

Edited September 30, 2022 by v81
Adden mention of night ops

[=RAF=Armen]

Thanks for the feedback.  There shouldn't be this fog.  Perhaps in one of the updates the weather presets have changed.

[v81]

5 hours ago, =RAF=Armen said:

Thanks for the feedback.  There shouldn't be this fog.  Perhaps in one of the updates the weather presets have changed.

Figured that might be the case.

Given how many changes by ED affect missions it must be hard work keeping them in a state that you intend them to be played in.

In some missions are the engines also supposed to be worn to the point that taking off is a significant challenge or is the suggestion elsewhere i read that the wear factor might have been amplified by a patch possibly accurate?

I'm split on the idea, i do like the challenge of operating an airframe that shows the characteristics of age, and also the challenge of weight and high altitude operation.
Just seemed a little tricky.

I'm turning over the idea of writing a guide for this campaign, not spoilers, but rather a written tutorial on how to use the different navigation and weapons features of the Mi8.
How to use the 828 for navigation is not covered in English documentation (or i could have missed it), as well as bombing, also not documented well.
I didn't realize that bombs had their own separate weapon release to all of the other weapons... that caught me for half an hour.

I don't know if i mentioned it, but i don't think there has been a campaign I've enjoyed more than this yet. It's been great.
Also, forgot to mention... night missions are great too.