Campaign Builder - version 2.0

[Hippo]

Some may find it unusual that after (many, many) years of DCS enjoyment, I only tried using the Campaign Builder for the first time a few days ago.  What I found was very disappointing.

I wish to complain regarding the sheer inadequacy of this tool.  That the replies I received to a recent forum question about what should be a trivial campaign creation issue involved user-created APIs and delving into the minutae of 3rd party campaign missions just says it all.

I won't turn this into an essay about persistent campaign-wide variables and unit status tracking, proper branching support and other essential features for a tool of this nature.  Instead I will just point you to what was available in a twenty-six year old product, for an idea of what the functionality a tool of this kind should provide;  I'm sure Matt Wagner will be able to provide further details if required.

Of course, now it's plainly obvious why all* third party campaigns are, structurally, trivial linear affairs rather than complex, branching and endlessly replayable experiences that, in the hands of talented creators, can rival any dynamic campaign.

I think the development effort in creating such a tool would be relatively minor in relation to the enormous benefit it would return in the long run.  Certainly I would've put it way ahead of, e.g., the recent very pretty but mostly unnecessary laucher app, in a priority list.

* No, not all, but those that aren't involve players writing down codes and jumping through other hoops.  And I am continually in awe at what the pro campaign creators produce, especially considering how lacking are the tools at their disposal.  Think of what they could achieve with a tool like the one linked to above.

Edited September 6 by Hippo