Changing a/c type

[drtbkj]

Good Day, All. I am flying the Battle for Balkans Theater, and want to put a F-18 C squadron on the Vinson( it “comes equipped” with the -D).
My first step was to use Mission Commander to change the plane type. It worked in MC, and the BMS UI does show the C, until I get to the loadout screen, It’s still a -D there, as in cockpit.
Then I tried moving a -C squadron to the Vinson but it didn’t show up in the UI.
Any tips?

[Shadow]

Did you try “Add squadron”

I would not recommend changing plane type as it will possibly upset the ATOs planing of mission types, current and future.

We have always just added a squad and taken control away from the ATO

[DaleTheRubbish]

Can’t comment on the ATO planning side of things but I do know that if you just change the a/c type mid-campaign, you seem to have to wait until new missions are fragged by AI and that’s when the ‘new’ a/c type will be fragged with it. Or you do as Shadow mentioned and just create a new squadron under your direct control.

I noticed this when I loaded a new KTO campaign; the vanilla campaign used the blk50 f-16 so I changed a/c type to blk 52 (because JanHas’ new model) via Mission Commander, jumped back in and the flights were still fragged with the old blk50 - until a new mission was fragged and then they were using the new a/c type.

[Blu3wolf]

If you really care about it, you can use MC to also change the types of each flight belonging to that squadron, to the new AC type.

[Raffson]

Most definitely the issue has been stated here because I turn off the automatic fragging of flights, I always frag them manually so when I tried changing the block 40’s (36th FS) from Osan in Korea KTO to block 52’s it worked just fine… I also changed the name & patch of the squadron, just for the fun of it but that’s irrelevant here… Anyway, can’t imagine why it would be a problem for the 18’s to be changed in Balkans… An alternative to blu3wolf’s solution would simply be to delete the existing flights & let either HQ frag them again, or do like myself, turn that stuff off & frag it yourself :mrgreen:

[Cloud 9]

@Shadow:

I would not recommend changing plane type as it will possibly upset the ATOs planing of mission types, current and future.

The ATO doesn’t care. It will continue to frag the missions no matter if you change it or not. Like Dale said, the plane change won’t take affect until new missions are fragged.

Depending on AC type, the missions can be different due to role score, but the ATO will adjust for that. Of course, now you will have some slightly different missions being fragged.

It is not a good idea to change a Pure AG AC with a Pure AA AC, then you will loose some of the balance and the ATO will have to compensate, which will take a little longer to adjust and frag correctly.

C9

[drtbkj]

Thanks for the replies, Folks.
I had a bit of time last night , so I worked on this. Using Shadow’s advice I reset the existing squadron to the D. Then I went to add a squadron in MC. After several attempts to get the Vinson to show as a destination, I was able to add a C model squadron in MC, showing based on the Vinson.
Then things went a bit sideways…
In the UI, It doesn’t show on the Vinson, but near it , when you look up the squadron and click Find.Also, the squadons page shows base as “carrier”.
It does not show up on the Vinson in the OOB
It will not “autofrag” missions, though I only let it run for a couple of hours of campaign time.
When I create a mission it pops up in the frag, but the a/c spawns at waterlevel “under” the carrier and explodes.

[Cloud 9]

@drtbkj:

Thanks for the replies, Folks.
I had a bit of time last night , so I worked on this. Using Shadow’s advice I reset the existing squadron to the D. Then I went to add a squadron in MC. After several attempts to get the Vinson to show as a destination, I was able to add a C model squadron in MC, showing based on the Vinson.
Then things went a bit sideways…
In the UI, It doesn’t show on the Vinson, but near it , when you look up the squadron and click Find.Also, the squadons page shows base as “carrier”.
It does not show up on the Vinson in the OOB
It will not “autofrag” missions, though I only let it run for a couple of hours of campaign time.
When I create a mission it pops up in the frag, but the a/c spawns at waterlevel “under” the carrier and explodes.

Upload the file and I will look at it. This is most likely a MC problem?!?

Cheers,

C9

[drtbkj]

@Cloud:

Upload the file and I will look at it. This is most likely a MC problem?!?

Cheers,

C9

Thanks , C9, though I’ll need help as to what file and how to upload. I do suspect the BfB/MC interface

[Cloud 9]

Depends on what campaign you’re running? Normally it would be the Save0.cam.

Which version of the Balkans is this??

C9

[Shadow]

@Cloud:

The ATO doesn’t care. It will continue to frag the missions no matter if you change it or not. Like Dale said, the plane change won’t take affect until new missions are fragged.

Depending on AC type, the missions can be different due to role score, but the ATO will adjust for that. Of course, now you will have some slightly different missions being fragged.

It is not a good idea to change a Pure AG AC with a Pure AA AC, then you will loose some of the balance and the ATO will have to compensate, which will take a little longer to adjust and frag correctly.

C9

You just confirmed my point.

He should just add a dedicated squadron.

[drtbkj]

@Shadow:

You just confirmed my point.

He should just add a dedicated squadron.

Which he did Just gotta get it on the Boat and not under it. blub
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[Cloud 9]

@drtbkj:

Which he did

Ignore Shad…he’s…uuhhhh…INSANE!!! :lol:

Just upload the file like I said!!

C9

[drtbkj]

@Cloud:

Depends on what campaign you’re running? Normally it would be the Save0.cam.

Which version of the Balkans is this??

C9

Bfb.
Today I was successful in getting a Hornet C with working TACAN in BfB. I first made numerous attempts to create or move squadrons, all of which ended up as previously described. Then , I tried changing the existing Enterprise to the Vinson via MC. I then created a mission, the a/c spawned properly, and TACAN does work. Even the comms work with Vinson’s 226.000,10x,111.10.
The campaign hasn’t auto fragged missions, yet, but then I haven’t run it for long. Right now I’m not overly concerned about that. My created mission around SAM City near Split Airbase is giving plenty of fun, and an opportunity to do my SLAM E Project.
C9, I wasn’t ignoring you. I don’t think the now-“corrected” Autosave would be very informative. Mucho thanks for the offer, though.
And Shadow’s ok in my book. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all a little nutty here.:woohoo:

Update: I just took one last look at MC for the night, and noticed something…
The File Name path to Auto save.cam correctly “goes through” BfB. However, the Database location is …4.33u1…Add on Balkans…Terrdata/objects. Should that not be …Add On Battle for Balkans…?(italics added) If so, I don’t see a way to set that.

[Habu_]

Perhaps I am mistaken, but I thought BfB used a hidden or encrypted database as an anti-cheating measure.

[Falcas]

Hey,

Some things to clear up a couple of Qs about MC.

• What happens if you change an Squadron to a different aircraft type?
  First of all, the squadron gets changed to the selected type.
  You will then be asked if you want to delete the flights which are already airborne or tasked. If you don’t do this, these flight will not be touch and will remain the OLD type. All new created flight, by human or ATO, will be of the new type.

• What happens if you change an aircraft type of a flight.
  The flight gets changed to the aircraft you selected.
  But this flight does not have a matching Squadron, so MC will look at the departure airbase if a squadron of the new type already is present.
  If not, it will add a new Squadron of the new type.

• If you change a flight or squadron, will that interact with the ATO/Mission.
  Well this all depends on what the user does.
  If the user changes a squadron and chooses to delete the flights which are already airborne… Yes this you will notice as the flights are missing.
  If this flight was important to the package, like an escort… Well I think you get the picture here.
  As the squadron will be active, the ATO will just plan new flights as needed.

So it does not matter much if you first add a squadron or change a squadron.
If you want to change a squadron with flight already planned, the user needs to change the flights himself.
This can’t be done automatically as MC can’t know which loadout to put on the new aircraft type.
For example change a F-4D with AIM-9D and AIM-7M to a F-15C… What should MC pick for loadout?

Gr Falcas

[Falcas]

@drtbkj:

Update: I just took one last look at MC for the night, and noticed something…
The File Name path to Auto save.cam correctly “goes through” BfB. However, the Database location is …4.33u1…Add on Balkans…Terrdata/objects. Should that not be …Add On Battle for Balkans…?(italics added) If so, I don’t see a way to set that.

Because BfB is not created correctly and using wrong naming, this is the result.
BfB files are actually pointing to Balkans theatre.

Nope, none of the databases for any theatre are encrypted.
Users can’t do that as that is only possible on the code side.
The BMS team actively has chosen NOT to encrypt the database so the whole communitiy could work on there own projects.

Gr Falcas

[drtbkj]

@Falcas:

Hey,

Some things to clear up a couple of Qs about MC.

• What happens if you change an Squadron to a different aircraft type?
  First of all, the squadron gets changed to the selected type.
  You will then be asked if you want to delete the flights which are already airborne or tasked. If you don’t do this, these flight will not be touch and will remain the OLD type. All new created flight, by human or ATO, will be of the new type.

• What happens if you change an aircraft type of a flight.
  The flight gets changed to the aircraft you selected.
  But this flight does not have a matching Squadron, so MC will look at the departure airbase if a squadron of the new type already is present.
  If not, it will add a new Squadron of the new type.

• If you change a flight or squadron, will that interact with the ATO/Mission.
  Well this all depends on what the user does.
  If the user changes a squadron and chooses to delete the flights which are already airborne… Yes this you will notice as the flights are missing.
  If this flight was important to the package, like an escort… Well I think you get the picture here.
  As the squadron will be active, the ATO will just plan new flights as needed.

So it does not matter much if you first add a squadron or change a squadron.
If you want to change a squadron with flight already planned, the user needs to change the flights himself.
This can’t be done automatically as MC can’t know which loadout to put on the new aircraft type.
For example change a F-4D with AIM-9D and AIM-7M to a F-15C… What should MC pick for loadout?

Gr Falcas

QUOTE=Falcas;424323]Hey,

Some things to clear up a couple of Qs about MC.

• What happens if you change an Squadron to a different aircraft type?
  I have tried that, and all looks well in MC. However, inside BMS the UI lists the new a/c until I get to the Loadout window. That remains the old a/c, as in 'pit.
  First of all, the squadron gets changed to the selected type.
  You will then be asked if you want to delete the flights which are already airborne or tasked. If you don’t do this, these flight will not be touch and will remain the OLD type. All new created flight, by human or ATO, will be of the new type.

• What happens if you change an aircraft type of a flight.
  The flight gets changed to the aircraft you selected.
  But this flight does not have a matching Squadron, so MC will look at the departure airbase if a squadron of the new type already is present.
  If not, it will add a new Squadron of the new type.
  I have not tried to change flights, just the squadron.

• If you change a flight or squadron, will that interact with the ATO/Mission.
  Well this all depends on what the user does.
  If the user changes a squadron and chooses to delete the flights which are already airborne… Yes this you will notice as the flights are missing.
  If this flight was important to the package, like an escort… Well I think you get the picture here.
  As the squadron will be active, the ATO will just plan new flights as needed.
  I have tried both deleting the flights and not deleting
  So it does not matter much if you first add a squadron or change a squadron.
  If you want to change a squadron with flight already planned, the user needs to change the flights himself.
  This can’t be done automatically as MC can’t know which loadout to put on the new aircraft type.
  For example change a F-4D with AIM-9D and AIM-7M to a F-15C… What should MC pick for loadout?
  Thx, Falcas. Your post has we wondering- how much campaign time should I have let let run before I start seeing AI fragged missions? Another , and possibly related thing I noticed last night is that when I create a mission it doesn’t show up on the frag list. However, when I go into the ATO it’s there. When I join it, it then appears as well as other missions. The possible reason for that could be I believe I generally stop the clack when I’m working on things?

[drtbkj]

@Falcas:

Because BfB is not created correctly and using wrong naming, this is the result.
BfB files are actually pointing to Balkans theatre.

Gr Falcas

Thx, again, Falcas. So, the question becomes, how do I fix that? Or rather, can I fix it?

[Cloud 9]

It’s not the DB that is the issue, it the campaign files!

C9