Most wanted mission editor features

[Hairdo1-1]

Trying to hone in on key features for the community to ask for to get implemented into the editor 

On 10/30/2022 at 6:31 AM, cfrag said:

Although that would be helpful in some cases, it could wreak havoc if the map is to serve multiple time eras - or where the shift of borders itself is the casus belli (Cyprus and Caucasus anyone?). I'd love it though, if ED provided a 'border map overlay' made with the draw tool that we could enable to optionally show the default borders. 

 

Yes, it would be a draw a border feature. 

[Rudel_chw]

From that list, drag to select would be my most needed.

Not on the list, but I would love to have:

- Extend Static Templates to include weather, trigger zones, triggers and draw objects.

- Allow sub-folders on /StaticTemplate/

- Add comments fields on triggers, for documentation.

- Allow selection of a block of triggers, to copy onto another mission, or to place on other position of the triggers list.

- Allow changing the Map the mission is built on, automatically adjusting all objects positions so that they fall within the visible and editable area of the target map.

- Allow a graphic thumbnail for the mission, to show on the Missions List of the Main DCS menu.

- A function to place on a Flag the duration of a sound file, plus a TIME SINCE FLAG where the duration is given by a flag value rather than a numeric constant.

[gmangnall]

Bomb in Zone

Group and Coalition higher/lower then an altitude

a brand new 3d editor with easy to add modules like ARMAs eden editor (at least so we dont place units on the side of a hill)

set units to disperse/find cover at a waypoint

advanced WP action to pause a unit for a period of time.

Troops to surrender.

Troops that can flee

Troops which if engaged by an enemy but are out of range - can move forward to attack rather than just sit and die

 

 

Edited November 2, 2022 by gmangnall
x

[Tom P]

Using just the DCS mission editor to make things work. Who thought it was a good idea to have to do a script for 90% of the stuff Mission editor should be able to do.

[Rudel_chw]

11 minutes ago, 162nd Pete said:

Using just the DCS mission editor to make things work. Who thought it was a good idea to have to do a script for 90% of the stuff Mission editor should be able to do.

Off-topic 

[Exorcet]

For me some of the big items:

Triggers and trigger conditions:

Detection triggers (Unit/Group/Country/Coalition detected and Unit/Group/Country/Coalition detected in Zone and Unit/Group/Country/Coalition detected by Unit/Group/Country/Coalition)

Add generic classes to missile/bomb in zone (ie ANY MISSILE, ANY AAM, ANY BOMB, ANY GUIDED BOMB, ANY BLUE MISSILE, etc, also allow ANY for quantity of bomb/missile/etc)

Task ended trigger (ie trigger activates when a specific AI task is complete, so if AI is set to orbit for 10 minutes, this trigger would go off after 10 minutes)

New random trigger variant that rolls just once, not once per second (I don't want one to replace the other, having both is best)

Flag between values (example ONCE > Flag value between 6 and 10 > AI Task push...)

Disable civilian traffic in zone

Switch waypoint on group alive less than and RTB on group alive less than (So if a group takes a certain amount of losses, they can be commanded to RTB or change route)

Add a delay option to all triggers, where it makes sense (example delay 20 seconds to RTB on group alive less than 50%, group will only RTB 20 seconds after they take 50% losses)

More detailed trigger event checks (currently triggers can be evaluated on events like SHOT, EJECT, etc. This could be expanded to include SHOT by BLUE SIDE or SHOT by Group X, etc)

Losses and kills trigger (simply count the losses to or kills made by a given group/country/coalition)

Outside of triggers, some new features would be really nice

User placed airfields

Wingmen obeying tasking set in the ME (when you order them to engage mission in flight)

Control over individual active runways without needing to edit wind

Neutral Coalition treated as neutral, right now AWACS will declare it hostile which is not right

SAM improvements - ideally this means IADS but some quick simple things can be added if that is too complex a goal, namely SAM radar flashing on/off with the ability to set timings and tying SAM to EWR/AWACS so they only use radar for attack (like fighters) until the EWR or AWACS they are linked to are destroyed. Also the capability for SAM's to detect, hopefully realistically and not just by missile in zone, SEAD launches and shut down to try to prevent their destruction. Realistic detection is key here for two reasons: reaction time and the SAM should sometimes fail to detect the incoming missile and be destroyed.

Greater Command and Control elements, especially from AWACS and GCI

Some more ground unit automation, give them a goal in the ME but make them a little smarter than just rushing to a waypoint no matter the threat

New RoE option, Visual ID

New minimum range before extend option for fighters (ie if set to 20 nmi, AI will try to extend when less than 20 nmi from enemy, instead of flying into WVR)

Change Air to Air missile range option for fighters to be a slider

Tweak airbase capture settings - Force airbase to remain with a given coalition even if enemy ground units enter the base, also have the ability to close a base off to specific coalitions (so for example neutral bases can be set so as not to be valid for Blue or Red fighters to land at)

Automated airbase defense task - Similar to GCI task from LOMAC, place fighters at a base and when given this task they will automatically takeoff an intercept enemy aircraft at a specified distance in the ME. Also consider having two specified distances, one that will trigger takeoff and then orbit around the airbase and a second distance that will trigger engaging enemies, this may be needed because of the time it takes to get fighters off the ground.

Common radio frequencies - currently AI only use one freq at a time, but something like AWACS should be on a common freq and the AI should switch channels as appropriate to communicate with desired parties. This would also allow things like groups calling for help (example Strike group is attacked by fighters, it would call for help on the common AWACS frequency)

 

 

Edited November 18, 2022 by Exorcet