F-14 A/B feature follow-up, wish list and beyond

[cesarferrolho]

I would add to do /repair:

- Exhaust not making the grass move like other aircraft do in DCS.

- Altimeter: the left "1000ft" number, should have a "zebra" instead of a zero, i believe. (the same goes for the F-4 aircraft)

 

    ...sorry if anyone already mentioned these, but i didn't see them on the list

[draconus]

16 minutes ago, cesarferrolho said:

Altimeter: the left "1000ft" number, should have a "zebra" instead of a zero, i believe.

You're right! No one mentioned it before. You should report it first though here:

https://forum.dcs.world/forum/535-bugs-and-problems/

since this is the user's driven post, not official HB reporting thread.

They could fix it along with bigger more white numbers in the same place.

Edited April 3 by draconus

[scommander2]

3 hours ago, cesarferrolho said:

- Altimeter: the left "1000ft" number, should have a "zebra" instead of a zero, i believe. (the same goes for the F-4 aircraft)

Added into the "To Fix" section:

- [ADDED]Barometric Altimeter: the left "1000ft" number, should have a "zebra" instead of a zero {https://forum.dcs.world/topic/371526-altimeter-zebra-instead-of-zero/}

 

[scommander2]

- Exhaust not making the grass move like other aircraft do in DCS.

Added into the "To fix" section also:

- [ADDED]Exhaust not making the grass move like other aircraft do in DCS {https://forum.dcs.world/topic/349953-f-14-ab-feature-follow-up-wish-list-and-beyond/page/13/#findComment-5626792 https://forum.dcs.world/topic/371530-f-14-engine-exhaust-does-not-have-the-environment-effects/}

I guess that both are the artwork related.

[draconus]

3 hours ago, scommander2 said:

I guess that both are the artwork related

Jet wash is physics.

[scommander2]

Just saw the YouTube and learned about the 14B(U) update from HB.

Hope it is true and coming soon  

[Szprynmann]

I would add to the wish list:
- Jester capability to set up IP bearing / range / altitude diff from the IP point

- The possibility to use F10 marks to either set up the actual target used for IP or to specify bearing / range / altitude next to the IP marker.
 

[scommander2]

- [ADDED]Jester capability to set up IP bearing / range / altitude diff from the IP point {https://forum.dcs.world/topic/349953-f-14-ab-feature-follow-up-wish-list-and-beyond/page/13/#findComment-5630607}
- [ADDED]to use F10 marks to either set up the actual target used for IP or to specify bearing / range / altitude next to the IP marker {https://forum.dcs.world/topic/349953-f-14-ab-feature-follow-up-wish-list-and-beyond/page/13/#findComment-5630607}

Added the above two entries into the wish list section.

Yes, setup IP is kind of processes.  

Enjoy saving Maverick and Charlie from the following Jabbers's video. 

 

Edited April 11 by scommander2

[scommander2]

Just intercepted the message from the HB discord channel:

[JupiterJoe]

That's great news, but when HB say it's 'done', do they include all the bug fixes listed above?  Hell, even if it's just a fix for ACLS not working with FFB sticks, it would help.

Edited April 13 by JupiterJoe

[scommander2]

58 minutes ago, JupiterJoe said:

do they include all the bug fixes listed above?

I am afraid that it is not.  But, let's see... 

[Ghost7]

For what it's worth, I would like to see the ECM fairings finally appear below the air inlets, this is such a basic part of late A and B Tomcats. Is it that hard to model? I would also like to see the tape, cord and plates on the ACM panel be optional because I find them annoying; I know the response will be realism, if so then why does it take so long to model the ECM fairings? All late and B had those fairings, not all planes had those items all the time! Just my two cents, ready for the blow back!

[draconus]

On 4/11/2025 at 11:24 PM, scommander2 said:

A few years ago it was also about "some art additions" and RWR so it means they already have ALR-45 at least.

On 4/13/2025 at 1:23 PM, JupiterJoe said:

...do they include all the bug fixes listed above?

No, let's get real.

They even had the cockpit in a workshop but still ignored small thousands digits and zebra on the altimeter:

[broda]

Seeing the altitude when using the Jester wheel to lock a specific target.

 

Right now it’s only azimuth and distance. Sometimes it gets crowded and you have different friendlies right next to the enemy at an different altitude and you select them by mistake. Seeing the altitudes of the contacts on the wheel would help a lot selecting the correct target.

[draconus]

2 hours ago, broda said:

Seeing the altitude when using the Jester wheel to lock a specific target.

 

Right now it’s only azimuth and distance. Sometimes it gets crowded and you have different friendlies right next to the enemy at an different altitude and you select them by mistake. Seeing the altitudes of the contacts on the wheel would help a lot selecting the correct target.

It's not realistic atm and adding altitude would be even less realistic. RIO would have to "click" on each and every of the contacts to get the altitude read out.

[Dragon1-1]

We should have a "prioritize higher/lower" choice, where we'd just brief Jester to bias his search (and Phoenix tracking) towards a specific type of targets. Just like with a human, if there's any ambiguity, you can tell a human backseater to rank targets in a specific way.

[JupiterJoe]

[Sigh]Must be nice :

 

Edited April 14 by JupiterJoe

[scommander2]

Yes, I do have it:

- external equipment and crew when starting {https://discordapp.com/channels/1071433028045377637/1261903871937220720}

Let me update it with the above suggestion:

- [UPDATED]external equipment and crew when starting {https://forum.dcs.world/topic/349953-f-14-ab-feature-follow-up-wish-list-and-beyond/page/13/#findComment-5631796 https://discordapp.com/channels/1071433028045377637/1261903871937220720}

Thanks....

Edited April 14 by scommander2

[RustBelt]

4 hours ago, JupiterJoe said:

[Sigh]Must be nice :

 

Sure, if you think anyone ever looks at your videos and screen shots.

It’s just eye candy. 

[broda]

8 hours ago, draconus said:

It's not realistic atm and adding altitude would be even less realistic. RIO would have to "click" on each and every of the contacts to get the altitude read out.

Doesn’t our screen just repeat the RIOs TID screen? So shouldn’t he see datalink and radar contacts with the approx. altitude on his screen without clicking on something as well?

It is not unrealistic to tell him via the Wheel “Hey Jester, you see that datalink target at 20-25k ft, 5 degrees to the left at around 20 nm? STT him please”

Edited April 15 by broda

[draconus]

5 hours ago, broda said:

Doesn’t our screen just repeat the RIOs TID screen? So shouldn’t he see datalink and radar contacts with the approx. altitude on his screen without clicking on something as well?

It is not unrealistic to tell him via the Wheel “Hey Jester, you see that datalink target at 20-25k ft, 5 degrees to the left at around 20 nm? STT him please”

Fair enough, but it would be 15-25k ft range for that "2" mark. That info is there indeed.

7 hours ago, RustBelt said:

Sure, if you think anyone ever looks at your videos and screen shots.

It’s just eye candy.

You should see the cart and crew from the cockpit. Yes, anything graphical is eye candy - that's what we need that $1k cards for.

[JupiterJoe]

I would argue that some of the little touches the F4 has are more immersive and helps give life to the virtual environment.  Some player's even like to to walk out to their jets and simulate a walk-around.  It all helps with immersion:

 

15 hours ago, scommander2 said:

Yes, I do have it:

- [UPDATED]external equipment and crew when starting {https://forum.dcs.world/topic/349953-f-14-ab-feature-follow-up-wish-list-and-beyond/page/13/#findComment-5631796 https://discordapp.com/channels/1071433028045377637/1261903871937220720}

Thanks @scommander2

Edited April 15 by JupiterJoe

[scommander2]

 

On 4/14/2025 at 10:35 AM, broda said:

Seeing the altitude when using the Jester wheel to lock a specific target.

 

Right now it’s only azimuth and distance. Sometimes it gets crowded and you have different friendlies right next to the enemy at an different altitude and you select them by mistake. Seeing the altitudes of the contacts on the wheel would help a lot selecting the correct target.

 Added the following into the wish list section with the @Dragon1-1's suggestion (it is a specific area to search for I think):

- [ADDED]Seeing the altitude when using the Jester wheel to lock a specific target with "prioritize higher/lower" choices {https://forum.dcs.world/topic/349953-f-14-ab-feature-follow-up-wish-list-and-beyond/page/13/#findComment-5631736 https://forum.dcs.world/topic/349953-f-14-ab-feature-follow-up-wish-list-and-beyond/page/13/#findComment-5631790 https://forum.dcs.world/topic/349953-f-14-ab-feature-follow-up-wish-list-and-beyond/page/13/#findComment-5631790}

Please let me know that it makes sense or not.  Thanks.

[Rhrich]

I would like a more knowledgeable Jester. 
While I understand Jester can’t have «god mode», he should be more knowledgeable than he currently is. 
For example: When I get data feed from awacs jester should be able to see that feed and point his radar towards the hostiles. I shouldnt need to tell him where to look when it’s so obvious. 
 

I guess some will defend this by saying that jester is a glorified way to control the radar, and that I should expect to control it. but the same people often defends the strange ideas of creators by saying they’re making as authentic experience as possible. Well, an unthinking and stupid jester isn’t a tomcat experience. 
 

so at least give jester access to and knowledge about the data feed. 
 

Also, having nevner flown a two seater I can’t be sure, but I guess the Rio will despense chaff or flare when asked to do so by the pilot (in addition to when he judge it necessary). Give the pilot a way to tell him to dispense it. 
I’ve said this before, and then someone showed me some PC script that allowed the pilot to press the rios buttons. But that’s not what I’m asking for, and it would be unrealistic since it’s instant. 
make a key press possible to tell jester drop chaff and drop flare. Ideally leave a unknown time gap between say 0,2-0,9 seconds to simulate reaction time. 

[draconus]

8 hours ago, Rhrich said:

I guess some will defend this by saying that jester is a glorified way to control the radar, and that I should expect to control it. but the same people often defends the strange ideas of creators by saying they’re making as authentic experience as possible. Well, an unthinking and stupid jester isn’t a tomcat experience. 

Have a link? Never heard of someone defending Jester as fully authentic or very realistic. He does have limitations and was never meant as a full human RIO experience, just believable and helpful one. From FAQ:

Q: What is a RIO? Do I need a RIO to fly the Tomcat?
A: The RIO is the Radar Intercept Officer, in other aircraft sometimes also referred to as WSO or Weapon Systems Officer (in the Strike Eagle for example) or NFO, Naval Flight Officer (which are all not pilots, contrary to Naval Aviators). He sits in the backseat in the Tomcat. He does all the radio communications and also manages flight lead, he manages the radar, the systems, he runs the intercepts and missions and is responsible for navigation and much much more. He is generally considered the "boss" in the aircraft. He takes a backrole in BFM however or during maneuvers, that require a lot of input by the pilot (landings, take offs, AAR, etc), but is else often in charge of the aircraft. You do not need a human RIO to fly our Tomcat, we created "JESTER", a RIO-AI for this very purpose (see next Q/A). But do not worry, Jester is still a young and inexperienced RIO and will follow and require your orders, 100% of the time. Of course, we do recommend to try Multicrew, as the shared experience in the Tomcat, between a human pilot and RIO, is something special indeed.

Q: Who and what is "JESTER"?
A: JESTER is our RIO-AI. He is not an AI in the classic sense, but provides functionality that a human RIO would provide to the pilot, such as spotting, radar management, systems management, startup and shutdown, checklists, situational awareness calls, etc... He can be interacted with through a command rose, but can also be used with 3rd party software such as voice attack, etc... Not only is Jester meant to provide functionality for the Singleplayer environment for an else 2-seater aircraft, but also immersion and fun - we recorded over eleven thousand (!) voice lines for him, to provide many variations in his calls. Jester has human limitations (he can only see, where he looks at, can only do 1 task at a time in general, he needs to look at the appropriate panel to service it, he pushes the correct buttons, etc.), makes mistakes and even comments on your flying, as well as being aware of what situation the player is in, be it BFM, BVR, WVR, Air to Ground, Landing, Take Off, etc... and will act and behave accordingly.

So he's not smart but not stupid either.

Edited April 17 by draconus