Common issues and solutions

[Nix Mills]

Hi all

We've had a couple of users dealing with various odd issues relating to AI behaviours, DCS mechanics and missed triggers that are not necessarily appearing when replaying a mission. This advice applies for any campaign really, not just The Rampagers.

Also refer to the campaign manual, which can be found in:

(drive)\DCS World\Mods\campaigns\FA-18C The Rampagers\Doc\Rampagers - Campaign Guide.pdf

 

GENERAL ADVICE

Downloaded mods not purchased from store can be the cause of issues for any DCS campaign.

SRS and OpenKneeboard (mostly VR users) seem to be ok, as we test these missions using both. Voice Attack and Viacom generally seem to be causing odd issues. Make sure to remove any and all mods before flying campaigns.

If you have no mods, or if removing all mods still does not fix the issue, take the following steps (test after each step):
1) Delete fxo and metashaders2 folders in your saved games. Can get gummed up with old files.
2) Rename you DCS Saved Games folder, run DCS and let it create a new one. Close DCS and then just copy the Config folder from the old to the new so you don't lose your bindings and also copy your logbook.lua from saved games mission editor folder. That way you don't lose campaign progress. Some mods can write to places like your scripts folder in your saved games location, but this also seems to help sometimes even if you never run mods at all.
3) Do a full deep repair of DCS to clear up any unwanted stuff in your main game folder.

Some settings to check from the main menu:
1) If you have easy comms enabled, DISABLE it (it'll change your channels).
2) Under gameplay options, make sure the tick box on the bottom right for "No force from mission, use mine" is NOT ticked.
3) Try disabling TacView under special options. It can cause issues, usually performance, that can lead to bugs if your cores are overloaded/too busy and it misses a trigger point due to that.

 

EXAMPLES AND SOLUTIONS

Flight Deck Operations

Issues with getting flight directors to start directing you to the catapults. Follow these steps:

- Battery and APU on
- Salute for engine start up (deck crew raises arm)
- Finish Starting Up
- Salute Again for taxi clearance
- Follow Taxi director orders

Issues with flight directors directing you into other units (particularly when these have recovered ahead of you):

- Ignore flight director and exercise own judgement (he is a robot after all).

 

Wingman unresponsive

If wingman is not responding to normal radio orders (e.g. formation, engage ground targets, rejoin, go to tanker):

- Check you are calling wingman on their channel (usually AUX channel 1, 305AM).

- Remember: Radio menu commands can be activated both on COMM1 (PRI) and COMM2 (AUX), but it has to be on AUX otherwise wingman is not registering it.

Wingman not responding to anything on any channel:

- Order wingman to "RTB", if responsive, then order "Rejoin".

 

Air-to-Air Refueling

Issues with wingman stuck behind tanker and not refueling:

- Order wingman to rejoin, try again (if unresponsive, see above)

Issues with wingman stalling and then eventually crashing:

- Order wingman to rejoin, try again (if unresponsive, see above).

- Position yourself with wingman behind the tanker with some distance in between, heading in the same direction and about the same altitude.

Player not connecting to tanker's drogue (basket) and not taking fuel:

- Make sure to request refueling from tanker on correct channel (check kneeboard for Arco, Texaco, Shell) and get your "cleared contact".

- You will be able to take fuel from the left-side drogue, unless you sent your wingman there first, then use the right-side drogue.

 

Wingman not attacking targets

This is specific to The Rampagers campaign.

When cleared to engage, you normally get an F10 option to order your wingman to attack a target. When this order has been given, or the target is destroyed, the option will disappear.

If the target, for example, consists of multiple vehicles, wingman may sometimes destroy some of the targets, then rejoin.

You can use normal wingman and flight commands to attack (or re-attack) targets. Use the normal option "Engage Ground Targets" to attack (or re-attack) ground targets. Do not use the attack option "Mission", which won't work here and may confuse the AI leading to the wingman heading off and not responding (if so, overrule by ordering wingman to RTB, then rejoin).

 

Wingman cutting in front me during carrier recovery

Check your kneeboard for checklist and visual showing correct CASE I recovery. Make sure you 'kiss off' your wingman after you have made the first pass over the carrier (350 krs at 800 ft) and then make your break (starting at 3.5G). Your wingman will then continue straight a make their break some 10 seconds or so later.

Wingman AI does however seem to be a bit buggy during CASE III recoveries, and might just remain in the marshal stack 20+ miles behind the boat. Just make your recovery and end the mission.

 

Edited May 4 by Nix Mills

[G21pilot]

Hi,

First, thanks for all the work on the campaign. 
today I flew the first three missions. On the first two I lost my wingman after using the in game wingman commands instead of the F10. I got that sorted by mission three. 
We completed our primary target and got tasked to gun the trucks. All good up to this point. At the tanker I was cleared contact and also gave my wingman “hit the tanker”. The drouges were already extended when we got there but my probe just flew right through them… both sides. 
any ideas?

[rob10]

49 minutes ago, G21pilot said:

Hi,

First, thanks for all the work on the campaign. 
today I flew the first three missions. On the first two I lost my wingman after using the in game wingman commands instead of the F10. I got that sorted by mission three. 
We completed our primary target and got tasked to gun the trucks. All good up to this point. At the tanker I was cleared contact and also gave my wingman “hit the tanker”. The drouges were already extended when we got there but my probe just flew right through them… both sides. 
any ideas?

If your probe is going through the drogue that usually means you done proper comm's to get cleared for contact.  You still need to do that even if the drogue is out already.  If you don't get cleared it won't allow you to connect.

Edited March 30 by rob10

[G21pilot]

I had called inbound and again cleared contact so I’m not sure what part of comms I would have missed?