Channel WW2 Sandbox

[Nealius]

User Files: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3332823/

 

Simple sandbox using Channel and WW2 Assets pack. I used a lot of Reflected's liveries for the Mustangs, Jugs, K-4s, and Antons so I recommend getting those if you're into the "unit cohesion" thing. I've play-tested about half of it and needs some further tweaking but otherwise is good enough for an initial release. Uploading to User Files as well, pending approval.

Purpose

This is for low-intensity PvE practice or fun-flying, maybe even some light PvP. AI have been nerfed so they won’t beat the snot out of you unless you let them: flak will not engage below 5,000ft AGL and AAA will not engage below 200ft AGL, some units are set to hold fire or return fire only, etc.

Features Overview

Client slots for Mosquitos, Spitfires, P-51D-25, P-47 (all variants), Fw190 A-8, D-9, Bf109 K-4
Allied and Axis flak batteries and AAA emplacements
Points of interest for ground attack: rail yards, V-1 sites, Chain Home sites, Wurzburg sites, ships, trains, vehicles, parked aircraft
On-demand tasking with AI assets for Allied and Axis factions via F10 menu
Solo tasking not listed in the F10 menu
When a task is started via the F10 menu, a message will appear with some more details, i.e. “Follow FF-Y” or “OCA St. Omer, Mossies from Manston and Jugs from High Halden.” From there follow the AI, which will have a short holding pattern somewhere near their home base for you to catch up. Their engines warm up instantly, so I recommend being warmed and ready–or even airborne above the field–when you trigger the task. Some tasks have air-spawn AI, in which case the message will tell you to fly to an RV point (also marked on the map) where the AI assets will then spawn. The tasks are tailored to specific modules, but most are possible in any module.

Here's a (jerky VR) fly-along of one of the tasks:

 

Sandbox Afternoon-v1.0.miz

Edited September 4, 2023 by Nealius

[Cool-Hand]

Hey thanks for the mission, I'll try it out when I get back!

[Viceman]

Looks like exactly what was I looking for! Thank you.

[wak04131]

Can't wait to try this later! Thanks for your hard work.

[Bucic]

I tried running the mission without the assets pack installed. DCS simply stopped loading. Shouldn't there be a nice prompt in such cases?

[Nealius]

Other than it being in the first sentence of the post, usually when I select missions in-game there's a note saying "requires <name of mod>."

[Bucic]

1 hour ago, Nealius said:

Other than it being in the first sentence of the post, usually when I select missions in-game there's a note saying "requires <name of mod>."

No, no, I meant missing asset handling by DCS core. I tried loading the mission without the WW2 assets on purpose. The mission loading simply hangs with no error messages. I'm asking whether anyone knows if it's a standard behaviour in DCS.

[Nealius]

That's strange. In the past if I had a mod that was required, the mission would either kick me back to the mission editor/selection, or the mission would simply load without that asset. But those were all unofficial mods.

[Bucic]

5 hours ago, Nealius said:

That's strange. In the past if I had a mod that was required, the mission would either kick me back to the mission editor/selection, or the mission would simply load without that asset. But those were all unofficial mods.

I'll put it on my low priority bug reporting queue. In the meantime, thank you for the contribution! I can't get enough of the Channel sightseeing in F-5E and I'm going to try to turn one of the units into an F-5E and take advantage of the ambience. Too bad there's no INVISIBLE check mark in the mission editor.

[Art-J]

New Channel map customer here as well.

What a cool little sandbox mission this is. Loads allright with Assets Pack in latest OB. I think it will help me getting familiar with the map and practicing before trying Reflected's Wolfpack campaign for the first time. Thanks!

 

Edited September 25, 2023 by Art-J

[Nealius]

Glad you guys enjoy it!

16 hours ago, Art-J said:

I think it will help me getting familiar with the map and practicing before trying Reflected's Wolfpack campaign for the first time.

That's basically the initial purpose I had when I started this project. Well that and ability to run potato machine VR and get good screenshots/videos.