A NEW DLC CAMPAIGN FOR THE Mi-8?

[CHPL]

Our new UH-1 campaign will be released soon, and we already have plans for another one.

Nevertheless, the question of a new challenge arises.
The Mi-8, as another highlight in DCS, is on top of our list.

The question arises.

Is there interest in a realistic campaign?
and if yes,
On which map should the campaign be set?

I would be very happy to receive your feedback. 

[Hunter Joker]

A new realistic campaign will be very appreciated. For my Caucaso in winter with bad weather and snow or Syria.

Inviato dal mio BLA-L09 utilizzando Tapatalk

[CHPL]

@Hunter Joker

Ciao 

That was fast 

[algherghezghez]

Yes Yes Yes Please.

Something in Sinai would be awesome, or maybe a civil campaign in South Atlantic.

[CHPL]

@algherghezghez

Thanks for your feedback.
Unfortunately, both maps are still in beta and relatively new. The number of those who fly helicopter campaigns at all is already very small, so we also have to make sure to reach as many as possible.
The Syria map, however, has been around for some time and is widely used. It is also still being improved.
Syria would, therefore, be a definitive yes from our side.

[Boosterdog]

Id be happy for anything Hip. Never fully enjoyed Helos in Syria due to the awful LODS on some map structures and some common trees though. Dunno if that has improved of late

[Snappy]

Caucasus  or marianas islands. The less entry barriers the better in my opinion.

Preferably the latter , as the desert, rocky ,middle east/persian gulf scenarios become a bit monotonous by now.

Again , just my personal opinion.

Edited October 27, 2023 by Snappy

[frumpy]

I'd appreciate a completly civilian campaign with challenging flying in high winds, delivering and picking up stuff, SAR and landing on small platforms.

[CHPL]

@frumpy
Hello
I understand the need for a pure civilian campaign without this constant shooting, but DCS is, after all, a military simulation. If you know our UH-1 campaign Worlds Apart Spring2025, then you know it is relatively balanced, about 50-50.
In the upcoming STORMFRONT, there will be even less shooting. STEAL RAIN, our next UH-1 project? Well, the name will be the program.
Let's be honest: the Mi-8 can carry a lot of missiles, but actually, its tasks are more in transport and thus also in camouflage colors, more civilian nature.

[LuseKofte]

I like a campaign for Syria. MI 8 is best ever module. All its campaign tsake place in -caucasus map, so I like another map this time

[Iron Sights]

Yeah, I would like a mix of combat and maybe some rescue and general tasks. Maybe Syria or the Sinai, to make it more interesting.

[CHPL]

Thank you!

Thanks for your quick feedback; to be honest, I didn't expect to get some feedback so quickly.
The group of helicopter enthusiasts in DCS and in general is not particularly large. I don't count the many Apache and KA-50 pilots who are mainly concerned with the use of weapons.

In any case, I will start with information gathering and story development. Even if I tend to the Caucasus map for economic reasons, I have initially decided on Syria; there are also many very nice places.
This is not a final decision for a Mi-8 campaign but a first step. A final decision will probably be made in December.
I would be very happy to receive further feedback, wishes, and suggestions.
For all who don't know, our official DISCORD https://discord.gg/CXCA7rf yet. With a possible GO, we will keep you there and a bit more detailed up to date.

[kotor633]

I am pleased with this announcement.

[YoYo]

+ 1 for Mi-8, good idea! 

[SPAS79]

Caucasus. The only one where it makes sense. 

PG (in Iran) and Syria a second close/third.

Realistic, yes.
Boring, no.

Make it interesting, no 45 minutes of eventless flying ferrying equipment from point A to point B. I can do that all the time in online server resupplying FOBs and the like.

Make it so while doing that, 5 minutes in you get rerouted to pick up a fubar'd LRRP team being chased by angry villagers with small arms and you have to fly in, pick em up and fly back home overweight (and in bad weather). 

show of force with helos

Convoy support operations / escort

(Minor) equipment failures that will annoy the pilot without not royally fu the airframe but force the player to think out of the box to solve the situation. (think the damper system failing, for example, or the electrics for the doppler so you have to dead reckon the whole route IDK. )

Radio chatter with choices

Meaningful interaction with ground units. Not the type "do this or the mission fails" but "do this and the results are so much better" (like reward the player with "fireworks", grunts calling in happy and thankful IDK, this is game design stuff)

that type of stuff. 
 

[MAXsenna]

Hard YES! And I'm happy you've landed on Syria.
One small wish please strive to have relevant accents. I'm sure the community will be a happy to help. So many campaigns are ruined by ATC/Pilots with American accents.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[jetsimace]

MI-8, really? Why not Apache?

[MAXsenna]

MI-8, really? Why not Apache?

Diversity in the missions. He did write it above.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[CHPL]

Am 30.10.2023 um 19:47 schrieb jetsimace:

MI-8, really? Why not Apache?

@jetsimace
 

I don't want to offend anyone, and it's just my personal opinion about the Apache.
The brutal truth. I do not like the Apache.

I'm an old fart, and I became a pilot a long time ago because of flying. 

The uniqueness in movement and freedom that a helicopter gives me. And right now, when I think of my old Bell 47, which I guarantee is not a rocket, I get pee-pee in my eyes.

Slower than 50 knots and, if possible, below 100 feet, that's my world. 

The Apache, despite incremental improvements, is a pain in the ass for me. I also don't like the undynamic operation on two screens.

Notwithstanding this, I regularly sit in the Apache cockpit, and only yesterday, I was astonished to discover that the thing can be autorotated in the meantime. 

When I no longer have the feeling that the Apache itself is more dangerous for me in the missions than the enemy and I don't lose 300 feet of altitude at the slightest evasive maneuver in 50 feet, I'll think about it again. 
For now, I prefer the Moohrhun https://moorhuhn.en.softonic.com/ on my PC when it comes to the mass destruction of defenseless opponents.  

I know. Sometimes, I am an A....    but keep in mind I am older than the Internet.  

[faille]

As for the map, I think Caucasus would be a good choice. This is a large and varied map
 

[WildBillKelsoe]

I think Sinai is best considering Egypt has alot of assets modeled.

[frumpy]

On 10/27/2023 at 9:27 PM, CHPL said:

@frumpy
I understand the need for a pure civilian campaign without this constant shooting, but DCS is, after all, a military simulation.

I've heard this argument before. As I am unable to fly myself, I care most about flightmodeling and immersion in a flightsim. Besides a few exceptions (109, 190...) I feel the DCS flight model is the best one can get for home PCs. I feel it's a shame this "military sim"-argument hinders people to fly civilian aircraft in this sim. We have VORs, NDBs, ILSs, wind and visibility challenges - all there at high fps and high system depth.

I've not flown Worlds Apart due to having to shoot at some point. I don't even know how to operate weapons in most modules. There is just so much unreflected hatred and suffering out there, I don't need to simulate this in my sparetime.

[CHPL]

vor 16 Stunden schrieb frumpy:

I've heard this argument before. As I am unable to fly myself, I care most about flightmodeling and immersion in a flightsim. Besides a few exceptions (109, 190...) I feel the DCS flight model is the best one can get for home PCs. I feel it's a shame this "military sim"-argument hinders people to fly civilian aircraft in this sim. We have VORs, NDBs, ILSs, wind and visibility challenges - all there at high fps and high system depth.

I've not flown Worlds Apart due to having to shoot at some point. I don't even know how to operate weapons in most modules. There is just so much unreflected hatred and suffering out there, I don't need to simulate this in my sparetime.

Accepted. And as I said, I can understand that well. I have a civilian campaign for the Uh-1 in the drawer. For me to be able to implement this credibly, I am unfortunately missing some civilian objects in DCS. There are several reasons why I don't want to and can't use MOD for a campaign.
Unfortunately, my first attempt to create my own civilian vehicle was too difficult.

Unfortunately, it does not work without compromises. Currently, with all the military objects and vehicles, a sole environment is best implemented.
Out of self-interest, I try to avoid the use of my own weapons as much as possible.

In Stormfront, the gunners act independently, the pilot does not have to intervene, and for the UH-1, it is best to keep as much distance as possible anyway. From memory, active combat is used in 2 out of 15 missions.  For a possible Mi-8 campaign, the same conditions apply. Too much shooting is a sign of too few helicopter-specific tasks.
 

[LuseKofte]

On 10/30/2023 at 7:47 PM, jetsimace said:

MI-8, really? Why not Apache?

Apache will get its campaign soon enough. 

On 10/31/2023 at 10:55 AM, CHPL said:

The brutal truth. I do not like the Apache.

I am probably an old fart too. I do like to know all choppers in DCs so I learned the AH 64 pilot procedures. But I find it teadious and my main interest is flying choppers not handeling computer in a computer. 
I also do not find the US system very intuitive. 
when it comes to type of missions in a MI 8. I prefer transport, slingloading, medevac. Use of weapons I like to keep that to the door gunners. 
Reason for that is the MI 24. It is simply a better weapon platform. And a joy to fly. 
I like to do those in the Hind. 

Edited November 5, 2023 by LuseKofte

[Waffle 1-1]

Definitely excited for this!

The Hip has quickly become my favorite helicopter in the game even though I only bought it so I could have an alternative to the attack helicopters, thinking I would not fly it much.

Whichever map you choose, I’m happy to see more content for this amazing aircraft!