Optional Cosmetic Items

[Tank50us]

So, before I start, I need to state that it is 100% Optional. The items in question serve no purpose other than for cosmetic purposes. The bits that I'll provide as examples, are just that: Examples.

With all that said, I'll begin.

The idea is based on something that RazBam stated about the upcoming F-15E, in that you'll be able to fly either an USAF E, or an IAF I. However, the bits they're adding from the I are purely cosmetic, and serve no other purpose other than to make the F-15E look like an F-15I, both in and out of the pit. Ever since, I'd been kinda mulling over what it would be like if applied to other aircraft. And just like what RB is doing, the idea is to make the planes look different, as well as have certain cosmetic features that make it look a bit different. Examples include:

The F-14Ds IRST/ Camera Pod:

The test F-35 intake tested on an F-16:

Family photo in the cockpit:

(From TopGun)

and more.

If implemented, the way I'd set it up is two fold...

1. On the player side, when you contact the ground crew (like you would for rearming/refueling), you'd get some options specific to your aircraft, you can then add or remove as you see fit, and then go.

2. On the mission design side, if a designer wants to either limit the kinds of cosmetics a player can add or remove, they can do that, or disable the ability to choose entirely.

This could also be applied to ground units, wherein each one has a chance to spawn with bits the crew could use or want (giving them a bit of a "lived in" appearance)

Another option would be for cockpits to have different levels of dirt and grime (something HB is already doing with the F-14), so you could go with a cockpit that looks almost factory fresh, or one that looks like you're the 5th pilot this aircraft has had in its lifetime.

There's probably more examples, but what do you guys think?

Edited October 13, 2022 by Tank50us

[SkateZilla]

F-15I is pretty much an Export F-15E, so there's parity,

F-14A-9x-GR will be around soon enough for F-14A Persian Cats.

Adding the Chinpod is not parity, F14A/B -> is pretty much a generation leap from Analog to Digital.

The Air intake was only tested on the F-16, but never deployed to fleet.

[Tank50us]

1 hour ago, SkateZilla said:

Adding the Chinpod is not parity, F14A/B -> is pretty much a generation leap from Analog to Digital.

The Air intake was only tested on the F-16, but never deployed to fleet.

Like I said, these are examples, and in terms of practical game purpose, they serve none other than looks. These are also just examples of what I'm getting at.

[Exorcet]

This basically exists already. The Land Rover ground vehicles have options for open/closed tops and cargo. JF-17 has some removable parts like fuel probe.

The thing is, like so many DCS features the implementation is all over the place. It would be nice if ED would go over some of these neat features and finished/standardized them.

[draconus]

9 hours ago, Tank50us said:

Another option would be for cockpits to have different levels of dirt and grime (something HB is already doing with the F-14)...

No, they're not. You might be mentioning HB Forge which only moves the panels around in the cockpit and maybe change a bit seat cushions. They added an option to remove refueling probe door though.

I remember some module (was it A-10C or Apache?) [will] have an option to choose one of the 2 the cockpit wear levels.