New co-op mission - Blindsided

[DragonShadow]

Hello there.

 

I thought I would make a little contribution to the DCS series/simulator community alongside my first appearance on the forums. I have created a new 1-4 player (2 recommended) co-operative mission named 'Blindsided'.

 

Revision 2 is out, new forum thread: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1549069#post1549069

Download from: http://files.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/218169/

 

Revision 1 of the mission can still be downloaded from: http://files.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/181026/

Original version can still be downloaded from: http://files.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/181010/

 

"Scramble! and defend Batumi airdrome against a sneak attack by well armed insurgents. Then take the battle to them."

 

The mission is aimed at pilots reasonably comfortable with either the KA-50 or A-10C in combat tasks and start up, and has a moderate difficulty level. It is something originally created for myself and a friend to truly get into the ins and outs of combat, but it has grown a lot since. Hopefully it should be enjoyable for those learning, as well as a tightly co-operative experience for more advanced players also. It also demonstrates a feature I think would be a useful addition to the series as a whole, mobile units carrying a loadout of troops to deploy on the move. Given the feature is not fully implemented into the series, it is of course a scripted workaround for now.

 

All in all the mission features a good few scripted events, complete with airlifted JTAC to make the battlefield come a bit more to life as well as provide a twist or two. I'd love to get some feedback, or even see a track or two of people taking the mission on. At any rate I hope you will enjoy the mission if you give it a try.

 

Featuring:

 

• Co-op and single player (Multiplayer server with 1 client) support. Note: Difficulty higher for single player.
  
• Plenty of scripted events with radio traffic (text with audible notifier) and miscallaneous detailing.
  
• Some more aggressive, scripted AI behaviour.
  
• On the move troop deployments.
  
• JTAC available (but not necessary) for final operations.
  
• Be a part of a team where your actions truly matter to the outcome of the mission.
  

 

 

Edited September 12, 2012 by DragonShadow
Revision 2 published.

[TurboHog]

Hey DragonShadow,

 

It's Frett92...

 

I suppose this is the mission I tested for you once? I will find out soon enough, as this mission is hosted right now in an online server! Looks like the mission is already popular :) (let's see if you took my suggestions serious :P)

 

Cya on STP TS...

 

Frett.

 

EDIT:

 

Just tried the mission... Got shot down and the pictures below (from Tacview). Show what happenend. A vehicle spawn 50 meters from me. I strongly suggest that you take out such close range spawns. As you can see, in the first pic I just spotted the BMD-1. As I commenced my attack, five vehicles spawn 50 meters away from me and below me (no visual possible). I was downed in the third pic. Wrong place, wrong time. But make sure the spawns do not occur when players can be right above them (or even passed them already)

Edited May 9, 2012 by TurboHog

[DragonShadow]

Hey Frett.

 

That would be the same we beta tested some, yeah. Great to hear that it's been spotted in the 'wild' :).

 

On the note of the group that spawned on you, acknowledged. I see what happened there and I will be fixing it. I have a pretty good idea of how to keep that from happening, and to make more sure in the same that the group acts it's intended purpose as well. Though pretty unlucky certainly that you happened to be right there at the time ;).

 

 

The group is hiding in Thilnari and basically comes out from the town to join in on the attack. Which is why it spawned on you there. It's intended to primarily pull back the player if the main group has already been destroyed, or to enforce the main group as they are pushing for the airdrome.

 

 

I have a few other things in the plans now as well to make the mission more friendly to unattended servers given it's scramble nature. I'll see if I can implement those in the revision also.

[DragonShadow]

Blindsided - Revision 1

 

Revision 1 for Blindsided is now completed, it has been uploaded to the DCS file server and can be found here:

http://files.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/181026/

 

Changes include:

- More informative briefing.

- Relaxed F2/F10 viewing to allow allies also.

- Mission events will only begin once a player enters an aircraft, better support for standalone servers.

- Fixed possibility of a group spawning next to a player.

- Improved placement of the deployed insurgent troops to make them more reasonable to find.

- Eliminating 85% of the deployed troops is now sufficient for the victory condition.

- Fixed aggressive AI to be more reliable, also some other scripting.

- Moved eastern aircraft support units into better cover to lessen likelyhood of being destroyed in initial attack.

- Added another group of insurgents attacking from the outpost to keep up the pacing.

- Added airlifted reinforcements for players to balance out the above.

- Reinforcements will help with clearing insurgent infantry incase no KA-50's are piloted.

- Added in a few small non-essential insurgent camps.

- Added initial situation map.

 

Edited May 12, 2012 by DragonShadow
Revision 1 moderator released, updated link.

[DragonShadow]

Opinions requested :)

 

As the mission has been downloaded some 50 times between the original and the revision, I thought I would ask what peoples experiences with it so far have been. Given this is the first mission I have published for the simulator community I'd rather like to hear your opinions and thoughts on it. Is this something that has been enjoyed? Should I possibly consider building more missions for the community? Or has it just been so terrible that everyone is being polite as to not say anything? :)

 

I opened a poll on the subject for quick feedback. It's fine if your only feedback is that you liked or did not like the mission, but written comments and suggestions would be appreciated. For example thanks to TurboHog bringing it to my attention, the potential issue with the particular unit spawning should be resolved in the revision.

[Newspeedy]

just hosted the mission this evening for 4 times, people liked the mission allot...

 

maybe you can expand the mission a bit more?

but don't expand the manpads... :P they hate me :P

 

(also saw 2 other servers run Co op - Blindsided (password)

Edited May 17, 2012 by Newspeedy

[DragonShadow]

Great to hear it Newspeedy, and thanks for getting it out there for people :).

 

I'm quite glad to see theres mostly positive feedback on the mission so far, and that people have been enjoying it. Appreciate the feedback from everyone who has commented or rated the mission at this point.

 

Hah, I know the feeling on the manpads, they give you such a warm surprise welcome. I think we can manage without any additional ones for now though ;), trying to keep things fun and balanced. Sure, I'll give some consideration to extending the mission a tad more. But I'll also have to be a bit careful to keep it from becoming too long or heavy for an evenings session for two players.

 

Any chance of a track file, etc on one of those flights? I'm curious and I think it would also help to see how people react in and fly the mission. Not to mention it'd just be fun to see people flying it. It might of course be best to share it elsewhere than on the forums.