DCS Campaign IS COMING!!! Dynamic Campaign what do you want to see in it?

[bb5000]

Good immersive campaigns should contain things like:

Career:

• Squadrons with named AI members + statistics (kills, #mission, rank etc). They get shot down, get transferred, new ones arrive and so on
• Pilot photos
• Promotions + medals
• News bulletins about the war on a daily or weekly basis
• Transfer possibilities to other squadrons
• Continue career in a new campaign / map 

Dynamic campaign

• Frontline movement based on mission results
• Logistics / supply affected by mission results

The "Career" part is most important imo and could be used in historical campaigns with more static frontlines.

[OmasRachE]

Sounds interessting. Didn´t consider that as important before. I would be very pleased if the following would be achieved:

1. Logical and realistic tasking with appropriate packages

2. Challenging AI which applies real life procedures to counter the players actions like proper BVR tactics, sambushs and the ability to attac the players fraction were they are weak.

3. Consistant and usefull AI comms.

4. The ability for the player to set own packages and flights with their own tasks within the limmits of supplies and resoures.

5. The ability to switch between modules, so u can choose those sorties you want to fly at any given moment. Like flying a weasel mission in the F16 on one day and doing some supplie transports in the chinhook the other day.

6. A good intel function where you can build your gameplan on.

7. The ability to preplan threads and secondary targets as well as divert fields and so on.

8. The ability to quickly generate your own kneeboard for the sortie.  

9. A easy way to load your plan into the DTC.

10. Maybe the most important thing would be reasonable AI wingmans which behave like a real one would. Therefore a better command system is needed. Maybe something like the Jester wheel. Just like other sim 4.38 did.

 

But yes, some sort of rank system, espacially for the AI would be great.

[Dario92ck]

Only for caucasus map and not for MP 

[OmasRachE]

vor einer Stunde schrieb Dario92ck:

Only for caucasus map and not for MP 

Yeah, sounds like the most boring and redundant thing they could have come up with. Hopfully there is a plan to develope this for all maps and different timeframes as well as MP.

[Mistermann]

On 9/22/2025 at 7:28 AM, Dario92ck said:

Only for caucasus map and not for MP 

And modern jets only.  No cold war, no WW2.  

[MVS-Viper]

I understand the need to initially develop the DC on one map and later port it to other maps.  Some things that need to be included:

The ability to advance the clock as necessary.

AI units need to do their job and not get shot down or crash on every mission.

Needs to be  multiplayer only in initial release.  There are a lot of content creators who make awesome single player scripted campaigns ATM.

There needs to be a detailed debrief upon return from a mission, and the campaign status should be accessible on demand.

A working ATC would be nice to compliment the campaign.

 

Just some initial thoughts 

 

[Silver_Dragon]

Remember, on 2025 and beyond, was a "teaser" of the Dynamic Campaign

 

[OmasRachE]

One thing I absolutely don´t get is the focus on single player. This makes no sence at all. Especially considering the shortcommings of the AI as a wingman. So we get a dynamic battlefield with by nature generic missions. No handcraftet voiceovers or scripted events that give you a sence of immersion. This would be like playing randomly generated quick mission editor missions. It coul´d work, when you plan and excecute your flight in a team with other players but surrounded by AI wingmans that are dumb as hell this doesn´t sound like fun for me in any way. The only way this could work would be by a complete and drastic overhaul of the AI and a totally new and immersive comms system. Maybe they are working on this and I get suprised, but given everything you hear about ED and their prioritys I doubt it. Someday we will see, I hope.

[draconus]

25 minutes ago, OmasRachE said:

One thing I absolutely don´t get is the focus on single player. This makes no sence at all. Especially considering the shortcommings of the AI as a wingman.

DC is all about AI doing their missions generated by simulated "command". It is mostly about moving the frontline by using the available resources - attack, defense, recon, support, hence the cargo/warehouse system has to work - to win the war. The player(s) can be part of this.

I don't know where people get the idea that DC will overhaul the AI, comms or whatever. It's a wishlist thread though and I support of course any move on that front

Edited yesterday at 07:02 AM by draconus

[OmasRachE]

vor 5 Minuten schrieb draconus:

DC is all about AI doing their missions generated by simulated "command". It is mostly about moving the frontline by using the available resources - attack, defense, recon, support, hence the cargo/warehouse system has to work - to win the war. The player(s) can be part of this.

I don't know where people get the idea that DC will overhaul the AI, comms or whatever. It's a wishlist thread though and I support of course any move on that front

Correct, and I said I doubt that they will overhaul this systems. But as player I have to ask the question what it will add to my experience. The Campaign AI is the system, they have to develope to make a dynamic war setting and will be the big challange I think, but still the question is, what is it for. To just fly around with AI wingmans that don´t realy have the ability to fight as a team with you against other AI bandits that cannot perform any realistic manouvers? To hear those terrible ATC? I can imagine the awacs making an hours long monoloqe on bogey calls while enemy flights are jumping blindy on everthing that moves because they are unable to make tactic decisions that make any sence.

My imagination is not great enough to see the benefit. Without a new bandit AI it would be hard to go on meanigfull sorties with some friends but alone? Only to put things in perspective, in other sims the AI can give you a real challange by applying game plans that force you to go cold before your missile is pitbull and even crossing sides before engangement to distract your flights sorting. They notch and evade missiles and coordinate their attacks. They react on threats by scrambling aditional forces or trick you into sambushes. AI escorts ignore enemy flights that would be in range but don´t threat the flight they are escorting. 

In the handcraftet campaign the campaign creator sets up the threat picture with tons of triggers and manages the AI behavior as far as possible to make it at least look like a somehow realistic or logic behavior but who will do this in a dynamic campaign?

[draconus]

14 minutes ago, OmasRachE said:

In the handcraftet campaign the campaign creator sets up the threat picture with tons of triggers and manages the AI behavior as far as possible to make it at least look like a somehow realistic or logic behavior but who will do this in a dynamic campaign?

AI commander will create a mission for every AI unit but it simply is not up to your expectations. Independently of DC, AI is not as advanced as you want it to be and I can't agree with "AI bandits that cannot perform any realistic manouvers".

[OmasRachE]

vor 5 Stunden schrieb draconus:

AI commander will create a mission for every AI unit but it simply is not up to your expectations.

Maybe, but I can tell you, that my expectations are very low. What I said were just wishes. Hints for ED what I personally would like it to be at the end.

 

vor 5 Stunden schrieb draconus:

 Independently of DC, AI is not as advanced as you want it to be and I can't agree with "AI bandits that cannot perform any realistic manouvers".

I don´t want to argue if the AI is capable of x or y but, when it will be that bad and they don´t come around with some improvments I think in terms of DC I will stay with those who have proven to know what a dynamic campaign shoul´d look like. Even if the graphics are still a pain in the brain.

[Czar]

6 hours ago, OmasRachE said:

One thing I absolutely don´t get is the focus on single player. This makes no sence at all. Especially considering the shortcommings of the AI as a wingman.

??? DC is taking long especially because of overhauls in that front.

It makes 100% sense. Dynamic campaigns are already running in multiplayer for years, it is the single player portion that is missing.

6 hours ago, OmasRachE said:

In the handcraftet campaign the campaign creator sets up the threat picture with tons of triggers and manages the AI behavior as far as possible to make it at least look like a somehow realistic or logic behavior but who will do this in a dynamic campaign?

The sim itself, autonomously.

....that's....the.....whole point. 

[buceador]

7 hours ago, OmasRachE said:

One thing I absolutely don´t get is the focus on single player.

Ease of production...

[OmasRachE]

  

vor 14 Minuten schrieb Czar:

??? DC is taking long especially because of overhauls in that front.

It makes 100% sense. Dynamic campaigns are already running in multiplayer for years, it is the single player portion that is missing.

The sim itself, autonomously.

....that's....the.....whole point. 

 

Ok, if thats true, I haven´t that a word. That was my whole point. The AI is at the present state not able to behave prober and react on a threat picture like someone would expect it to do, but if they are working on this. Man It could be very cool. This is not impossible like others have shown. 

The effort to be made to create a dynamic multiplayer environment is rediculous and the outcomming hardly satisfying. But even if it was true, that we don´t lack DC vor MP, where is the problem to let the player decide if he wants to run the campaign as SP or with a friend on his PC as a server or with his squadron mates on a dedicated server? When Relfected claims, its impossible to make a handcrafted campaign for MP, that makes total sence since he has to set up tons of triggers for custom made comms, spawn events and so on. Doing this for more than one client, he had to do a whole new campaign. But how does the DCS DC work? Isn´t it a more or less randomly generated Mission with ingame comms where only the AI objects are generated by the DC AI Commander? Is it that hard to make the player(s) decide if a flightmember is AI or another client? I´m not an expert of course but I have no idea of the difficulties in that and why ED is going for SP only. 

Edited yesterday at 01:48 PM by OmasRachE

[BIGNEWY]

Folks we will share more news when we can, I can not tell you just how complex the dynamic campaign is to get right. While Single player is planned first its more about taking steps before we run with it. 

thank you 

[OmasRachE]

Nice to hear @BIGNEWY. Please ask if instead of or in addition to sure beautiful but meaningless 20XX and beyond videos the devs could take the time and give some detailed insights about the programming, the successes and challenges. At the moment DC is a big mistery and feels like a running gag like nuclear fusion, where people have totally different expectations. Would be also a great opportunity to get feedback of the community.

[BIGNEWY]

3 minutes ago, OmasRachE said:

Nice to hear @BIGNEWY. Please ask if instead of or in addition to sure beautiful but meaningless 20XX and beyond videos the devs could take the time and give some detailed insights about the programming, the successes and challenges. At the moment DC is a big mistery and feels like a running gag like nuclear fusion, where people have totally different expectations. Would be also a great opportunity to get feedback of the community.

 

We shared some news at the beginning of the year to let you all know work continues. We will share more news when we can, but I dont know when that will be currently. 

[MAXsenna]

9 hours ago, OmasRachE said:

One thing I absolutely don´t get is the focus on single player.

Because most users are flying SP and not MP?

2 hours ago, buceador said:

Ease of production...

First iteration I'm sure. 

 

9 hours ago, OmasRachE said:

The only way this could work would be by a complete and drastic overhaul of the AI and a totally new and immersive comms system. Maybe they are working on this and I get suprised, but given everything you hear about ED and their prioritys I doubt it. Someday we will see, I hope.

I have no clue to how long you have been lurking on these forums, but if you haven't been around for the past "few" years, I can see why you don't know. According to ED they are working on a totally new AI ATC system. And I believe them, because they asked for people with experience with professional Military ATC for voice overs. They are also working on a better flight model for AI called GFM, which they have shown videos of, even if that have been years ago.

2 hours ago, Czar said:

??? DC is taking long especially because of overhauls in that front.

It makes 100% sense. Dynamic campaigns are already running in multiplayer for years, it is the single player portion that is missing.

Exactly this.

I was also disappointed when I first learned it would only be for SP and Caucasus, while it makes perfect sense. Make it work on the Caucasus first, because everyone has that map.

I will look at it as a proof of concept, before it will be enabled for other maps and MP.

Cheers! 

[OmasRachE]

vor 36 Minuten schrieb MAXsenna:

Because most users are flying SP and not MP?

First iteration I'm sure. 

 

I have no clue to how long you have been lurking on these forums, but if you haven't been around for the past "few" years, I can see why you don't know. According to ED they are working on a totally new AI ATC system. And I believe them, because they asked for people with experience with professional Military ATC for voice overs. They are also working on a better flight model for AI called GFM, which they have shown videos of, even if that have been years ago.

Exactly this.

I was also disappointed when I first learned it would only be for SP and Caucasus, while it makes perfect sense. Make it work on the Caucasus first, because everyone has that map.

I will look at it as a proof of concept, before it will be enabled for other maps and MP.

Cheers! 

Yes your right, I am quite fresh. Owning DCS and some modules for Years I did never got into it, until early 2025. And I am binging everything I can, bying and learning module after module, flying SP campaigns and Being active member of a squadron, as well as quite active in the forum. I love DCS and at least try to have patience and understanding for the dev team. I apologize if any of them feels offended. But for me its a communications thing. I see that leaked zoom disaster and people like enigma drawing a real bad picture that indicates, ED would have no interrest in making good content beyond FF modules espacially for MP. And then you google since when a dynamic campaign is awaited. But ED does not stand up against it. Doesn't proof them wrong and despite nineline and bignewie making quite a job handling this forum I feel a need for better communication. I obviously don't have the insights you have.

 

Anyway, thanks for keeping my curiosity alive. Sounds better than draconus' post. I would realy be happy to be proven wrong about this one.   

Edited 23 hours ago by OmasRachE

[MAXsenna]

30 minutes ago, OmasRachE said:

I love DCS and at least try to have patience and understanding for the dev team. I apologize if any of them feels offended. But for me its a communications thing.

Pretty sure they are not.  

30 minutes ago, OmasRachE said:

I see that leaked zoom disaster and people like enigma drawing a real bad picture that indicates, ED would have no interrest in making good content beyond FF modules espacially for MP.

He's just frustrated like the rest of us. We basically all the want the same thing. ED should hire a "game" manager that overseas the devs working on the core, and then all the engineers can tinkle with FF all they want.

30 minutes ago, OmasRachE said:

despite nineline and bignewie making quite a job handling this forum

They sure do!  

30 minutes ago, OmasRachE said:

I feel a need for better communication. 

You're not alone, and it must be frustrating for the mods when asked for updates each and every day when there's nothing new to show.  

 

30 minutes ago, OmasRachE said:

 

 

30 minutes ago, OmasRachE said:

I obviously don't have the insights you have.

I'm just addicted to this community, and read most of the posts here.

31 minutes ago, OmasRachE said:

Anyway, thanks for keeping my curiosity alive. Sounds better than draconus' post. I would realy be happy to be proven wrong about this one.   

Ah, don't mind us "veterans" that frequent the forum daily. We might forget that new users, (that's why I looked up your join date), join from time to time and haven't read all the posts we have!

Welcome to the forum! I think you can bring a lot of interesting discussions to the table.  

Cheers! 

[Czar]

3 hours ago, OmasRachE said:

Ok, if thats true, I haven´t that a word. That was my whole point. The AI is at the present state not able to behave prober and react on a threat picture like someone would expect it to do, but if they are working on this. Man It could be very cool. This is not impossible like others have shown. 

There were posts like this: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/news/2024-07-26/ on newsletters and videos. It is a very labor intensive thing I imagine, but the dynamic campaign has been presented alongside AI improvements in a consistent manner, albeit reports have been very rare about it in community updates.

1 hour ago, MAXsenna said:

Exactly this.

I was also disappointed when I first learned it would only be for SP and Caucasus, while it makes perfect sense. Make it work on the Caucasus first, because everyone has that map.

I will look at it as a proof of concept, before it will be enabled for other maps and MP.

Cheers! 

 

I'm very disappointed to have just discovered it will be Caucasus only, for a while! lol but oh well.... the map doesn't look bad.
...and looking on the bright side; perhaps the AI improvements will make it up for majority of the update because it can potentially positively affect external dynamic campaigns and mission generators.

[MVS-Viper]

12 hours ago, Czar said:

??? DC is taking long especially because of overhauls in that front.

It makes 100% sense. Dynamic campaigns are already running in multiplayer for years, it is the single player portion that is missing.

The sim itself, autonomously.

....that's....the.....whole point. 

True. But that is only in Falcon BMS.  We r not supposed to talk about that in here.

A true dynamic campaign does not exist currently in DCS (single player or multiplayer).   Just an FYI.

[MAXsenna]

1 hour ago, MVS-Viper said:

True. But that is only in Falcon BMS.  We r not supposed to talk about that in here.

No, there are semi dynamic campaigns for DCS, not at the level of that other one. But still. I believe that's what he meant. 

Cheers! 

[OmasRachE]

Ok, I can live with SP first and after that MP, if that is the plan. But saying we allready have DCs for MP is quite an exaggaration. There are limited servers, and you cannot simply set up your own DC on your squadrons server. So I strongly disagree with that one. Again, there will be no real joy for me to substitute the campaigns of awesome people like Groundpounder, Baltic, or Reflected with a generic DC for singleplayer. The whole point of a dynamic campaign for me is multiplayer, so that you can create meaningfull connected campaignmissions to fly with your squadmates much easier than today. Basically what we are often enough forced to do in that other sim, at the cost of our eye health.  But sure, if its only a developing step, I will try it and give feedback to support the development.