Campaign for DCS OH-58D: "Through the desert dust"

[YoYo]

(Dedicated campaign topic). Info + links.

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen! I'm rushing with hot news for fans of the OH-58D "Kiowa Warrior" and DCS. A substantial, fully professional single player campaign (quality of paid versions or even better) will soon be coming to the DCS simulator. The campaign is intended for the Polychop Simulations OH-58D module, but you also need to have a map of Afaghanistan (the south-western part or the entire map). It is also worth adding that the campaign was created in cooperation with Ryan Robicheaux, the pilot of the Kiowa Warrior and the author of the book "Scouts out!". The campaign period is 2010.

The campaign has been ready for some time, and is currently being finalized. What's most important for you, despite the large amount of my work and investment, the campaign will be available for free for fans of DCS (similarly to my previous one for the Mi-24P). You will find a full description of the campaign's manual (it will be important). The campaign will be available for download via the DCS website in User files section soon. For now, this is just a preview. The most important features of the campaign:

• Over dozen single player missions (14, lasting from 40 minutes to 1,5 hours gameplay of each) taking place in Afghanistan (DCS: Southwest Afghanistan map or the whole DCS: Afghanistan map is needed)
• Realistic, detailed scenarios, based on real events of the Operation Moshtarak (2010) and its prelude (although of course the campaign was adapted to the DCS environment and its possibilities, thus achieving a compromise between history and playability)
• Story driven campaign with a detailed mission introduction, voice commands and plot twists during the mission
• Proceeding the campaigns as the pilot of OH-58D and co-pilot/gunner/AMC
• Full, advanced voice package in English, even your co-pilot received his role! 
• Several thousand lines of subtitles in English (only English is supported language)
• Various types of missions (also artillery guidance), including night ones
• Dedicated skin for Kiowa Warrior from period of Afghan war
• As real as it gets - cold starts only, you also need to return to the airport/FOB/FARP after the mission and special mission completion mode
• Auto ATC (automatic communication during takeoff and landing is used after selecting the appropriate radio)
• Prepared briefings (description of the situation and tasks), full documentation, graphics and photos
• Important data in the pilot's kneeboard 
• Summary (including tips and tricks) in the manual, check it before the flight ;)!
• FPS friendly (tested in VR too), only the most necessary units plus the surroundings
• Custom background’s music created for this campaign (after successful completion of the campaign online access to the soundtrack)

I'm aiming to release it in June this year, so now you have a great time to refresh your memory of the OH-58D !

    

    

     

   

   

   

   

   

   

 The campaign is out now:

• DOWNLOAD LINK CAMPAIGN: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3345522/
• DOWLOAD LINK SKIN: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3345514/

 NOTE (important!): Before starting the campaign, be sure to read the whole manual ("Manual campaign OH58D") in the DOC folder, The path: DCS World\Mods\campaigns\OH-58D - Through the desert dust\Doc (folder) or directly after downloading in a zip file. There is a situational description (the most important historical background) as well as a method for installing the campaign, skin and user tips and FAQ.

Btw. You can ask questions about the plot in this thread, or seek advices, but if you want to reveal the plot, it would be nice to use a "spoiler window" so as not to reveal the mission's assumptions and so that others can enjoy it as much as you do:

Edited July 1 by YoYo

[YoYo]

A little bit about this operation against the Taliban, it could be my preview video :

You will feel it soon.

Edited June 21 by YoYo

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

Splendid, thank you! I'm looking forward to it! 

[Yurgon]

Sounds fantastic!

[Gladius]

Wow, thank you so much for your work. I'll have to get more involved with the Kiowa again.

[Kingtiger45]

I'm looking forward to playing this indeed. We lacks good campaigns for the kiowa. 

[Mainstay]

Awsome!!!

[dsc106]

Thank you! Can’t wait!!

[hannibal]

i might just have to run some of the missions in this campaign in my motion simulator!

[YoYo]

1 hour ago, hannibal said:

i might just have to run some of the missions in this campaign in my motion simulator!

Picture please.

[hannibal]

5 hours ago, YoYo said:

Picture please.

Video perhaps..

https://youtu.be/NihmOkIgfaQ

I know this is designed for single player..no chance of it multicrew, just one ship client with 2 human operators?

 

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

5 minutes ago, hannibal said:

Video perhaps..

https://youtu.be/NihmOkIgfaQ

DEFINITELY wear socks next time! 

[MAXsenna]

DEFINITELY wear socks next time! 

Sparco has some nice gaming socks.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[YoYo]

There are some new screenshots from the campaign in post 1. Additionally, the campaign will most likely be available tomorrow  (this is quite a broad word depending on the latitude)

Edit: The files have been uploaded to the ED server (30.06). Im waiting for approval, as soon as it happens I will inform you about it. Regards!

Edited June 30 by YoYo

[YoYo]

I have good news. The campaign was relesed. The firts post in this thread about this campaign for "Kiowa Warrior" has been updated. Enjoy! 

Btw.

Let me remind you that the Afghanistan map also has a "Trial" option for 2 weeks: DCS: Afghanistan Map (ED store).

Edited July 1 by YoYo

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

Thanks, YoYo. I’ll download and try it as soon as the temperatures where I live drop below boiling and it’s safe to turn on my PC again

[Buster0083]

You've done a brilliant job YoYo

[MAXsenna]

Yes, thank you again @YoYo! Seems I replied in the other thread.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[CommandT]

This looks awesome but have to agree that not having a multi-crew as an option here really detracts from wanting to fly it. It wouldn't be so bad if Polychops made much more of an interactive AI co-pilot that could search for and find targets, use the MMS on his own ect with much less player intervention but the way it is atm the player is basically performing the roles of both seats and it makes it far less fluid an enjoyable. Which is why multi-crewing the Kiowa is the way to go for those who have friends wanting to do so.

One more slight constructive criticism I have looking at the screenshots is there seems to be a really bizarre assortment of various vehicles at American bases that makes little sense... Russian KRAZ, MAZ and ZIL trucks etc. Even a Land Rover fire truck? I know we are limited by the assets we have in DCS and we obviously can't replicate every vehicle and unit from real life but I do find using units that have nothing to do with the theatre of operations is more immersion-breaking than just not using them at all. Also having the sailor standing there in the desert just look very strange. I mean if the campaign is supposed to be focused on realism then I think the ground scenes need to reflect that as much as possible. I know you could argue that the Afghan army has some Russian/ Soviet equipment but it's placement there at the bases is just strange.

Either way hats off for spending the time and effort on making the campaign and making it free. The Kiowa desperately needed something with the Afghanistan map. If I find some time this will be on the to try list for sure! Thanks for your efforts

[coyote79]

Thank you very much. I already really enjoyed the first three missions.

 

Edited July 1 by coyote79

[YoYo]

1 hour ago, CommandT said:

One more slight constructive criticism I have looking at the screenshots is there seems to be a really bizarre assortment of various vehicles at American bases that makes little sense... Russian KRAZ, MAZ and ZIL trucks etc. Even a Land Rover fire truck? I know we are limited by the assets we have in DCS and we obviously can't replicate every vehicle and unit from real life but I do find using units that have nothing to do with the theatre of operations is more immersion-breaking than just not using them at all. 

We have the assets we have and in this case we are obliged to do what DCS itself offers without installing mods (not everyone can do this and for some it may be a problem). We only have full compatibility with objects directly related to DCS and this may guarantee (to some extent) compatibility of the campaign for some time in the future. Secondly, unfortunately I do not agree with what you write in some cases. A mix of vehicles is and was possible. Both Americans and Russians rolled through Afghanistan. Just look at many photos to see what the folklore is like in this regard, we have a total mix. As for bases, I don't know if you know but ANA soldiers used vehicles from Eastern Europe and Russia to a large extent, but over time they were also supplied by the American army (as part of training, as well as releasing facilities for the ANA units). Additionally, it is worth mentioning that some bases were divided, also with British or European soldiers, here we must also remember as well that we have a choice in DCS to have something in a desert skin (and not every vehicle has it) or green, which is not usually used in Afghanistan. Btw. Don't forget that locals also worked at the bases, for whom there were separate parking lots. I also don't have to add that some forces specifically used other vehicles to blend in with "the crowd", for their own safety. You really have a lot of options :). There are probably many good things ahead of us, especially when they start adding Currenthill mods & units to DCS, officially. Then there will definitely be more possibilities and it will be possible to do something better someday :), I hope too, but now we have a lot of limitations that we have no influence on. Playing DCS is probably a compromise and unfortunately you either accept it (with limited resources) or you don't have a good time ;). Cheers!

Edited July 1 by YoYo

[Rudel_chw]

2 hours ago, CommandT said:

One more slight constructive criticism I have looking at the screenshots is there seems to be a really bizarre assortment of various vehicles at American bases that makes little sense...I know we are limited by the assets we have in DCS and we obviously can't replicate every vehicle and unit from real life but I do find using units that have nothing to do with the theatre of operations is more immersion-breaking than just not using them at all.

 

I don't see the "constructive" part of your critic, as you don't offer any better alternative that having the bases with no assets at all. 

[CommandT]

27 minutes ago, Rudel_chw said:

 

I don't see the "constructive" part of your critic, as you don't offer any better alternative that having the bases with no assets at all. 

I did not say that. I pointed out the fact that using the wrong assets is not the way to go. We do have enough period-correct assets to populate the scenes. 

 

1 hour ago, YoYo said:

We have the assets we have and in this case we are obliged to do what DCS itself offers without installing mods (not everyone can do this and for some it may be a problem). We only have full compatibility with objects directly related to DCS and this may guarantee (to some extent) compatibility of the campaign for some time in the future. Secondly, unfortunately I do not agree with what you write in some cases. A mix of vehicles is and was possible. Both Americans and Russians rolled through Afghanistan. Just look at many photos to see what the folklore is like in this regard, we have a total mix. As for bases, I don't know if you know but ANA soldiers used vehicles from Eastern Europe and Russia to a large extent, but over time they were also supplied by the American army (as part of training, as well as releasing facilities for the ANA units). Additionally, it is worth mentioning that some bases were divided, also with British or European soldiers, here we must also remember as well that we have a choice in DCS to have something in a desert skin (and not every vehicle has it) or green, which is not usually used in Afghanistan. Btw. Don't forget that locals also worked at the bases, for whom there were separate parking lots. I also don't have to add that some forces specifically used other vehicles to blend in with "the crowd", for their own safety. You really have a lot of options :). There are probably many good things ahead of us, especially when they start adding Currenthill mods & units to DCS, officially. Then there will definitely be more possibilities and it will be possible to do something better someday :), I hope too, but now we have a lot of limitations that we have no influence on. Playing DCS is probably a compromise and unfortunately you either accept it (with limited resources) or you don't have a good time ;). Cheers!

I understand what you're trying to do, and I've heard something similar from Reflected when I had similar criticisms of his scenes with strange choice of objects. I am not suggesting that you should use any mods. I understand what this means in terms of the accessibility and long-term longevity for the campaign in the long run. And I totally appreciate that Afghanistan does have Soviet and Russian vehicles as I have mentioned before, however exactly what vehicles is important if we are paying attention to detail. In the screenshots for the campaign there is a myriad of KrAZ-6322 trucks scattered around the base, standing close to US helicopters on the ramp - I cannot find any references anywhere where this has been spotted in Afghanistan. Maybe there's a couple kicking about somewhere but my point is - why use something like this when if you wanted to have some trucks lying about the place you could either use GAZ-66's or some other Soviet trucks which actually could be there and are used by the Afghans, or even just keep it simple and have US heavy trucks instead and reserve the Russian stuff to "civilian car parks" on the base like you said. The odd Afghan GAZ-66 loading up a Chinook would be fine too. But definitely not the KrAZ trucks though. 

With regards to ground personnel - yes, this is true, we do not have anything other than some soldiers that we could place. Personally I'm against having Supercarrier sailors and fighter pilots and LSOs standing about to fill up space. But I get the argument that we don't have anything else to put there. 

Sorry, I don't mean to be super negative here. I just think attention to detail is important. And probably 99.9% of the people who play your campaign won't care and probably wont even know so if it stays the way it is I'm sure nobody apart from me will really be affected. Once again thanks for the efforts in creating the campaign in the first place  

[coyote79]

The missions are just my thing

Edited July 1 by coyote79

[YoYo]

Wow, nice pictures! Thx!