A non-JTAC FAC script

[Fishbreath]

After I failed in an exciting way at a mission in the Ka-50 Deployment campaign, a friend of mind said he'd be interested in flying it cooperatively. I was thinking about things I would have to do to make it a little more playable with two, and I got to thinking that it might be nice to have a better FAC. The one in the Deployment campaign can't repeat its calls or notify you about moving targets or anything.

 

I got to thinking that it wouldn't be too hard to come up with a script that does all of those things and more, for cases when JTAC is too heavyweight, or unsupported without mods, or presents the wrong sort of information. It's mainly something I plan on doing as an adventure in DCS scripting engine stuff, but if there's sufficient interest, I'll release it, too.

 

Things I want to do for sure:

Register units as FACs for line of sight checks.

Register groups for FAC observation.

Register zones for FAC positional information, e.g. "targets next to the factory".

F10 menu control for repeating target calls.

Script support for enabling and disabling FACs, target groups, and zones.

 

Things I'd probably only do if someone wants to use them:

Adding FACs by client group for better multiplayer.

Advanced comms support?

Talk-ons: support for special FAC responses so mission builders could e.g. give the FAC a radio response providing guidance to the target from major landmarks.

Smoke and maybe IR pointer support.

Deeper F10 menu control, such as asking for target marking or priority tasking.

(Very speculative) support for voice acting for the really fancy mission builders out there.

[Fishbreath]

I've gotten through the initial phase of planning; I think I probably have enough basic architecture down to start working on the script. I hope to have something to show soon, but there are a few other projects (a Battle of the Bulge AAR with Command Ops) I'm working on that have priority.

[msalama]

if there's sufficient interest, I'll release it, too.

 

Please do, this is something I'd probably use a lot in my missions :thumbup:

[Fishbreath]

Just wanted to let folks know that I haven't forgotten about this—right before Christmas, I was wrapping up a Command Ops AAR about the northern shoulder of the Battle of the Bulge (here), and after Christmas I went on two weeks of vacation. I want to get something hammered out on this front this weekend; proof of concept, if nothing else.

[Cibit]

Best of luck and hope you succeed:)