Jester - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

[450Devil]

I love the F-4 and, in my opinion, the F-4's Jester seems to be an improvement on the F-14's Jester - so, well done Heatblur.

The Good - Jester is very helpful with Startup / Shutdown procedures, takeoff and landing calls and, particularly, when doing air to air refueling. 

The Bad - Jester often calls bogeys that are not there. He also calls bogeys on friendlies even though he has (very) recently identified them as friendlies (this is a particular nuisance/distraction when flying in a loose formation - combat spread with friendlies). Jester's assessment of a bogey's altitude (when it is there) is very hit or miss, often missing the altitude by thousands of feet. 

The Ugly - there appears to be no way to refine/limit/define what Jester calls out - for example, limiting his bogey calls to aircraft that come within 25 miles or some other limiters / limiting his calls to confirmed bandits / limiting his Mud/Dirt calls to only enemy radars - in a known operational area, the WSO would have intelligence regarding the location of friendly radars and be able to geo-locate them is relation to the flight plan. 

Yesterday, I participated in a 20 player mission. At time the volume of Jester calls were overwhelming as he was calling out repeat contacts (particularly friendlies in the formation whenever the formation altered course), non existent contacts and missile launches from friendly SAMS.

Overall, Jester is a plus that adds to the F-4 module. However, he does need to become more discriminatory and selective in what he calls out. 

Just my observations and thoughts and in no way intended to diminish or criticize the terrific work Heatblur has put into developing the F-4 module.

[Zabuzard]

Yes, your observations pretty much line up with our plans on improving Jester further during Early Access

2 hours ago, 450Devil said:

Jester's assessment of a bogey's altitude (when it is there) is very hit or miss, often missing the altitude by thousands of feet. 

That is actually intentional as Jester estimates it based on the current altitude + radar antenna position with the rule-of-thumb used by real WSO. The part that needs to be changed still is making his callout sound less specific/confident, so its clear that its an estimate only.

Edited September 23, 2024 by Zabuzard

[450Devil]

Thanks for the reply.

Another improvement would be for Jester's tone to be less "panicky". At the moment he sounds more "Hollywood" and less like an experienced, trained WSO.

[Zabuzard]

 

2 hours ago, 450Devil said:

Another improvement would be for Jester's tone to be less "panicky". At the moment he sounds more "Hollywood" and less like an experienced, trained WSO.

That is intentional and to some extend also realistic (but I dont want to start this discussion again right now). It was talked about in and out for the Tomcat.

Whats on the plan currently in that regard is to:
* offer an option that would swap him against a more "by the book professional/calm" Jester
* an entry in Jester Wheel to not only mute him completely, but so that he reduces his comms to the necessary only and leaves away the chatter.

Edited September 24, 2024 by Zabuzard

[Bazz_Mulder]

8 hours ago, Zabuzard said:

 Whats on the plan currently in that regard is to:
* offer an option that would swap him against a more "by the book professional/calm" Jester
* an entry in Jester Wheel to not only mute him completely, but so that he reduces his comms to the necessary only and leaves away the chatter.

 

These two options would be great!
I've truly enjoyed WSO from Reflected MiG Killers Campaign as he made that PRO vibe in the cockpit + vocal checklist was great idea. 
It would be spectacular to have an “Instructor” like PRO Jester going through checklists in the same way!

Having an option to mute just part of comms would be very helpful. Generally, Jester atm is a bit heavy on comms.

Especially, as mentioned above - bogey calls and long statements after friendly IFF check are getting into the way of normal admin comms when in group on SRS very often.

[=475FG= Dawger]

25 minutes ago, Bazz_Mulder said:

These two options would be great!
I've truly enjoyed WSO from Reflected MiG Killers Campaign as he made that PRO vibe in the cockpit + vocal checklist was great idea. 
It would be spectacular to have an “Instructor” like PRO Jester going through checklists in the same way!

Having an option to mute just part of comms would be very helpful. Generally, Jester atm is a bit heavy on comms.

Especially, as mentioned above - bogey calls and long statements after friendly IFF check are getting into the way of normal admin comms when in group on SRS very often.

Yes. Quite often I have to ask "Say again, the idiot was blabbering " on comms.

[Q3ark]

Jester is great, in both the tomcat and the f4. I’d rather have him than not have him. It’s helpful to turn down the ICS a little so you can still hear jester but also hear a radio call if one comes in while he’s talking. 

[=475FG= Dawger]

35 minutes ago, Q3ark said:

Jester is great, in both the tomcat and the f4. I’d rather have him than not have him. It’s helpful to turn down the ICS a little so you can still hear jester but also hear a radio call if one comes in while he’s talking. 

He would be great if he wasn't such a blathering idiot, you mean.

[=475FG= Dawger]

10 hours ago, Zabuzard said:

 

That is intentional and to some extend also realistic (but I dont want to start this discussion again right now). It was talked about in and out for the Tomcat.

Whats on the plan currently in that regard is to:
* offer an option that would swap him against a more "by the book professional/calm" Jester
* an entry in Jester Wheel to not only mute him completely, but so that he reduces his comms to the necessary only and leaves away the chatter.

 

Hopefully, option one is a completely professional/calm/terse Jester and not just an increment in that general direction.

[Q3ark]

1 hour ago, =475FG= Dawger said:

He would be great if he wasn't such a blathering idiot, you mean.

No dude, I don’t mean that.

[=475FG= Dawger]

1 hour ago, Q3ark said:

No dude, I don’t mean that.

I just found it funny that you think he is great while recommending lowering his volume because he is a hazard to communication.

In the real world, you would want what the WSO has to say to override exterior sources because a trained professional would be providing critical information in a timely fashion and not speaking any more than necessary.

[Zabuzard]

I think by now its pretty clear that you dont like your virtual WSO and prefer the options to deactivate him and control both pits by urself - which is fair, that is your opinion after all.

But please let others who have a different opinion enjoy their time with Jester, thanks :)

(Jester has feelings as well, no need to call him bad words all the time, your feedback reaches us without that as well.)

[=475FG= Dawger]

2 hours ago, Zabuzard said:

I think by now its pretty clear that you dont like your virtual WSO and prefer the options to deactivate him and control both pits by urself - which is fair, that is your opinion after all.

But please let others who have a different opinion enjoy their time with Jester, thanks

(Jester has feelings as well, no need to call him bad words all the time, your feedback reaches us without that as well.)






 

Actually, this is completely incorrect.
 

I have never turned off the clown. The Phantom is supposed to have two crewmen

I fly the jet with the idiot on. He does some of his job well. 
 

The problem is he was intentionally programmed to be a caricature.

Intensely annoying and until HB gives us the option to choose a “personality” befitting the brave souls who did it for real, I feel perfectly entitled to remind our dear readers that he is a clown. 

 

 

[IronMike]

1 hour ago, =475FG= Dawger said:

The problem is he was intentionally programmed to be a caricature.

Intensely annoying and until HB gives us the option to choose a “personality” befitting the brave souls who did it for real, I feel perfectly entitled to remind our dear readers that he is a clown. 

 

 

He wasn't "intentionally programmed to be a caricature" - he has condensed caricature like traits to press something resembling a personality - that is fun to the majority, and not just stome stiff and dry hardcore functionality - into twenty different situations you encounter repeatedly. We get it, you don't like it. We're sorry to hear that, but please understand that we cannot please everybody, even though we try.

And sorry, no you are not entitled to repeatedly beat a topic with name calling, rude language and negativity, because it sours the experience for everyone else. We couldn't care less about us or our work getting ridiculed, but please consider that there are other users on this forum who enjoy him as is. You're indirectly ridiculing their approval or disagreement with the way you choose to express your opinion. So please go and read the forum rules again and in the future please deliver your feedback or opinion in a more respectful manner - if not towards us, then to your fellow forum members at least. Thank you for your kind understanding. 

PS: I am not sure you realize it, but very often I find that this kind of behavior and language, which we almost exclusively see from folks who ask for a more professional Jester no less, is a little bit ironic, and, I dare say, kind of validates us in our choices in regards to Jester, professionalism and human nature...

Edited September 25, 2024 by IronMike

[Grundar]

For what it's worth, I enjoy Jester as is, I appreciate the more human touch he has and the fact he is imperfect.  It gives the player more feedback with his commentary, even if it's not always right and Jester does a fine job in combat with what you give him.  Give him a bad angle? be positioned poorly? don't be surprised that he can't lock up a target or has some trouble tracking - those things aren't singularly Jesters fault.  

The OP, 450 there has listed what they like/dislike and it's all reasonable constructive feedback.  Heatblur have commented with a plan that appears to be suitable solution for all concerns - more comm brevity and the option of a more AI ("professional") like callout system.   I would also add that managing cockpit radio volumes is something that is done IRL as well to allow you clarity for specific information when you have multiple sources of communication. 

It can be a real chore sometimes to come to the forums to have a read and see what people are up to when the same horse is being flogged to death again in multiple threads.

[Q3ark]

5 hours ago, =475FG= Dawger said:

I have never turned off the clown.

I fly the jet with the idiot on

he is a clown. 

There’s only one clown around here, I assume you’re an adult, time to act like one.

[Kalasnkova74]

I’m in the camp who likes Jester as is and looks forward to some of the performance enhancements down the road. The modules only been around four months. If he’s not doing something right, it is probably a sign us nose gunners need to do some homework to fix matters. 

Further, Jester’s another incentive for me to fly “civilized”, because its his virtual backside on the line too if I screw up. 

[carbolicus]

The Heatblur Phantom is absolutely fantastic and is now more or less the only DCS plane I fly.  And Jester adds so much to the to the experience; I’m all for him.

Gotta love a guy who said my last landing was smoother than Meg Ryan’s bottom… (or maybe I mis-heard that…)

[IronMike]

3 hours ago, carbolicus said:

The Heatblur Phantom is absolutely fantastic and is now more or less the only DCS plane I fly.  And Jester adds so much to the to the experience; I’m all for him.

Gotta love a guy who said my last landing was smoother than Meg Ryan’s bottom… (or maybe I mis-heard that…)

Off topic: In MSFS, if you fly over Meg's birthplace, he completely loses it.

[Drakeshoot]

Really can’t wait for Professional Jester. It seems to be that people either love the “personality” side of him or find him incredibly irritating. 

The programming of a RIO/WSO AI is a magnificent achievement either way, makes two-seater jets viable for solo players and adding the accurate inaccuracies as HB have done is a masterstroke.

 

After a long day at work though, I really just want him to shut up and do his job. Props to HB for working to provide this as an option. 

Keep it up, guys. 

[Spirale]

You have a disc option which makes Jester silent

[Drakeshoot]

Silent is useless. Jester is a key part of the crew and his call-outs are essential. 
 

The issue is with the “extras” which serve no purpose and start to irritate after a few repetitions. 
 

[CIWS]

Sorry, but I'm one of the ones that would prefer to be able to "disable" this jester. Please work something out even if it's just to turn off his intercom/mute. I do not find it helpful.

 

Edit- it's why I came here looking for a solution.

Edited January 24 by CIWS

[Zabuzard]

Sorry, but I'm one of the ones that would prefer to be able to "disable" this jester. Please work something out even if it's just to turn off his intercom/mute. I do not find it helpful.
 
Edit- it's why I came here looking for a solution.

You can already mute and also fully disable Jester. Jester Menu > Crew Contract and then Presence to disable him fully and the Silence option for him to not talk anymore.

Moving your Intercom Volume knob down works as well ofc.

[CIWS]

Thank you sir. I read through one of the online manuals but didn't see anywhere to disable it.