Devil's Cross Campaign

[Ginsu80]

I have to say the overall experience is excellent, but I have some complaints about the first mission in this campaign. In five tries I have only received data once (known issue I know) I have been shot down by a MIG29, by a Shilka, twice by a SA11, and once by a MANPAD. If I had given a 9 line when I was a JTAC that consisted of 2 Zeus 0nm southwest, Zeus 3 SA11 North 1nm, Zeus MANPAD West 2nm I would have gotten unable to comply. Not to mention the weapon loadout is awful, the CAP cover is non existent, and the cloud base is 2000 or 2500 AGL. So I am a little dissapointed with the authored missions. If anyone has some pointers I would love to hear them. 4 hours of solid flight time and still can't make a dent in the enemy.

[kingneptune117]

is your JTAC working on the first "devils cross" mission? I do not receive data from him.

[636_Castle]

Yeah, it's not easy that's for sure. What's the deal with the JTAC and AI wingmen anyway? It seems like they don't need to be cleared hot. :noexpression:

[Frogfoot1606687865]

I had problems with the datalink at first too, it seems you have to check and double check that both the ID's are set to 1.

 

I agree the first mission really is a batism of fire, however you can always edit the missions yourself if you like, Change the loadout, weather, number of wingmen etc. I changed the loadout on that one to include four CBU's and raised the cloud ceiling a couple of thousand feet. With that done it was an absolute blast.

Tom

[Ginsu80]

Finally was able to semi complete it. Changed loadout to include CBUs as well. I have changed the LUA file so that my labels are all black and cut down the range you can see ground vehicles and indentify them. That didn't help but once I was able to get going it was much better. I tried the fix with checking net ids but that didn't help. Basically I just used my TGP to scan scan on one run in, set a SPI, then attack on the next run in. I can't believe you can't use the TAD to set MGRS coordinates. There has to be a way to do that. I must say that CBUs delivered CCRP in a climb against massed IFVs is outstanding. Able to climb above the range they can engage and turn out before overflying them.

[Sandman]

You hit the nail on the head Frogfoot - it really is a baptism of fire - quite a challenge for the first mission of the first campaign. I'm playing without labels turned on and am really struggling just to identify the tank column (before getting shot up to the point I have to give up).

 

The low flying experience that the cloud base forces you into is amazing (esp. when you're trying to dodge tracer from one of the shilkas that's lurking) and for that I think it's a great start, but I'm finding it difficult to find the targets with just the Mav and no TGP.

 

Also, given the close proximity of friendlies it seems odd that JTAC type 3 is employed (i.e. no designation) - the first time I tried I ended up committing fratricide :(

[Wayc00lio]

If you lock up a traget and press the JTAC "contact" option on the comms menu then JTAC will tell you whether you have the correct target.

[Sandman]

If you lock up a traget and press the JTAC "contact" option on the comms menu then JTAC will tell you whether you have the correct target.

 

Thanks - I'll give that a try next time - really missing the TGP - keep getting shot down using the Mav seekers before I've had chance to properly ID the tank column.

[MUNKEN]

I would like to get one thing clear about the mission which I think is pretty good and challenging because of the low clouds. The mission is not about killing all of the tanks, right? It's about delaying them to buy time for our allied forces, right?

[CaptKornDog]

I've had a lot of problems with it myself so far. Between running into the plain gray screen in TGP BHOT/WHOT modes, a wingman who keeps saying "negative", and simply finding the tank column, I've had the most difficult time, especially with the clouds.

 

Maybe is there a way anyone at all could make a tutorial video walking through the first campaign mission? Easiest parts for me are start up and landing, it's everything else in between with moving targets and low clouds I need proficiency with =P. I think that I'm pretty good using the other systems on stationary targets on clear days, it's putting it all together I need help with (and I suppose using my keyboard is still a challenge for a lot of the hat switches).

 

I can get SADL data onto my TAD but once I arrive on the waypoint and track south to try to find the convoy, I usually get shot before I locate them (either flying too close or under the clouds, trying to use bombs like JTACS said).

 

Thanks!

[CaptKornDog]

Well I've gotten to the point where about 1/3 of the time my FLIR works as advertised on the TGP and I've successfully gotten hits on targets two attempts in a row. Does anyone know how many tanks are in the column on the first mission? I've destroyed 8 of them and get told by JTACs target is not destroyed...then I get shot down trying to hunt for the remainder.

 

Thanks.

[Dropbear]

is your JTAC working on the first "devils cross" mission? I do not receive data from him.

 

Same for me. I tried the mission today. He gave me a coordinate of a convoy but did not send a "MSG" or produce a target for my TAD

 

I *DID* check that I had set group and id to both 1 after I took off.

[CaptKornDog]

I've noticed my group ID defaults to 04 but I have still received data/msg in that scenario. I guess I don't understand the group ID difference (or in other words, why it should be set to 01 instead of 04)?

[Sandman]

My last attempt at this yielded the same problem with JTAC, except that this time I checked before contacting that my user/group id was set to 1 - but I still didn't get data.

 

However, on a positive note, having flown this many times already I was much quicker at entering the JTAC provided coords into a new flightplan and (unlike previous attempts) managed to arrive at the ADDER IP on time - from there direct to the JTAC waypoint and I found the line of tanks first time. So I think my problem before was loitering too long at WP1 fiddling with the CDU / JTAC coords. Getting to the IP on time seems to pay dividends....

[Para_Bellum]

Mission 3 was kind of disappointing since my flight never even made it to the runway... taxi AI is certainly in need of some dev love.

[JaBoG32_Prinzartus]

Mission 3 was kind of disappointing since my flight never even made it to the runway... taxi AI is certainly in need of some dev love.

 

Same here. As well as in mission 4 ! I have no idea how to get my fligh members up in the air. The Single Player Campaign, definately was not part of the testcases, was it?

[Para_Bellum]

It's rather disappointing to see such bugs in a release version, to be honest. Especially since this is rather obvious stuff, compared to some of the more arcane avionics/systems problems. I would've preferred to have waited another month to let the team iron these bugs out.

Edited March 2, 2011 by Para_Bellum

[McDaniel]

Same here...mission 3....flew alone and killed 1 heli and 19 groundtargets....

 

Came back and kicked my wingman in the nuts :megalol: :smartass:

 

the other 2 flightmembers have to buy me beer for the rest of the campaign :thumbup:

 

PS: who ever did those missions is a sadist (just JK):joystick:

 

 

McDan out

[Para_Bellum]

In mission 4 I start in the shelter, then after start up ask tower for clearance to taxi.

 

"Negative."

 

I've been sitting in my cockpit for 20 minutes, still the tower won't let me get to war. And if I tell the tower guy to screw himself and start off anyway my flight of course stays put in their bunkers...

 

As much as I love the sim, the campaigns so far have been a rather anticlimactic experience.

 

EDIT: The takeoff problem screws up the whole mission. Even if you decide to take off alone, your CAP (2xF-15s) will keep sitting on the airfield, while another pair of F-15s land. And 3 Mig-29s are inbound for you.

 

Not fun.

Edited March 2, 2011 by Para_Bellum

[Zorg_DK]

I can confirm I had the same problem Para_Bellum. It's the mission where you have to cover allied defeat. No ATC taxi clearence, no allied aircraft takes off.

 

My wingmen didn't take off in mission 3 either.

 

I hope ED fixes this in a patch soon. :helpsmilie:

[winz]

The best thing in this campaign so far (mission 1 and 2) is that you don't have to destroy everything to succeed.

That results in much more realistic scenarios, fly in, fire your ordnance, and head back to base. Mission sucessful.

 

Triger-wise you only need to take-off, make some distance from the airfield, turn back, land and stop.

[Zorg_DK]

The best thing in this campaign so far (mission 1 and 2) is that you don't have to destroy everything to succeed.

That results in much more realistic scenarios, fly in, fire your ordnance, and head back to base. Mission sucessful.

 

Totally agree.

[CaptKornDog]

The best thing in this campaign so far (mission 1 and 2) is that you don't have to destroy everything to succeed.

That results in much more realistic scenarios, fly in, fire your ordnance, and head back to base. Mission sucessful.

 

Triger-wise you only need to take-off, make some distance from the airfield, turn back, land and stop.

 

At what point does JTACs usually clear you off station then with no further tasking? I haven't been able to get to that point on mission 1 yet.

[Rider1]

Mission 2

 

OK, I got my wingmen to take off, somehow I got clearance from the tower. I was taxiing down a random taxiway, And I got the cleared for take off from ATC. So I did. And my three wingmen too!

 

We got to the battle line and I could see the tanks and other vehicles. I ordered Flight: Engage Tanks.

1.Negative

2.Negative

3.Negative

 

OK Flight Fence In. Copy

 

Flight: Attack Targets of Opportunity.

1. Negative

2.Negative

3.Negative ..

 

I tried everything on the list of attack commands and they just kept repeating Negative. They had weapons hanging on the wings. All of them were in LOS of all targets.

 

Am I missing a step or a command here?

 

Rider

[winz]

At what point does JTACs usually clear you off station then with no further tasking? I haven't been able to get to that point on mission 1 yet.

I fire my ordance, Report attack complete, he clears me to re-attack, and I refuse with 'unable to comply'. He then clears me off. You are the pilot here, and you're responsible for the multi-million equipment and your life.

Charging with cannon into a line full of manpads, shilkas, bmp, in that whether, is something I doubt a real pilot would do.

 

It's too bad that many many missions and campaigns are omitting this, and you're request to play kill-all-beat-all super hero. And people have fixated the idea that they failed unless they destroy everything.