Dynamic Campaign Generator Beta 6.31
For Combat Flight Simulator 2TM
Fly for Japan in the skies above New Guinea
in a last desperate struggle to take Port Moresby and set up the invasion
of Australia. Or fly for the Allieds and try to stop the Japanese
advance south. You can do either and more with the Dynamic Campaign
Generator for CFS2.
Stock Campaigns
The "stock" campaigns are included in the
DCG download. They use only planes and objects from the original
game and require no additional downloads. These include flying a Wildcat
off the Enterprise in 1942 or at the Battle of Coral Sea, or from Henderson
Field. Or fly a Corsair in the Bougainville campaign. There
are also two New Guinea campaigns, one Japanese and one American.
If, however, you wish to fly a different plane (including a bomber) or
switch sides on the campaign, all it takes is a simple edit.
For complete instructions on advanced editing of the files, see here.
Advanced Campaigns
These campaigns require 3rd party aircraft,
ships and scenery as well as some editting by the user. The basic
files are included in the DCG download. The campaign in the Norwegian
Sea in 1942-43 has additional instructions and recommendations here.
For those interested in night-fighting over Germany, there are instructions
for a very simple "test" campaign here.
Advanced users may also be interested in creating a desert campaign using
the A.M.A.C.
Group's Desert Air Force 1942 files. If so, instructions and
additional aircraft recommendations are available here.
The World War One campaign, Flanders 1918,
requires Alpha Simulations' Combat Aces add-on. The latest campaign,
Poland
1939, requires the freeware campaign available from Robin's
Combat Flight Simulator 2 site.
Expert Campaigns
Advanced users of DCG and CFS2 may also
want to try their skills in a last desperate attempt to save Tokyo, an
independent DCG add-on by "Valter". The Japan 1945 campaign is available
here.
Finally, advanced users may also be interested in creating a campaign for
the American Volunteer Group ("Flying Tigers") in Burma. If so, a
download with scenery (compliments of "Valter") is available here.
Ken Stallings and the Eastern Front Design Team has created three Russian
campaigns, "Stalingrad '42", "Kursk '42", and "Crimea '41" for DCG.
More information on the Stalingrad add-on see the EFDT website..
Latest News
Paul Hauschildt has created a couple excellent
utilities for use with DCG and CFS2: "Add Runways" and "DCG Check
v.6a". The first allows you to add runways quickly and easily
to CFS2. The second checks all files used by DCG such as the airbases.dat
and all plane and ship DPs to see if there are missing or incorrectly formatted
data. If it finds any potential problems in these files, it generates
a page showing what might need correcting. Highly recommended for
serious DCG users.
Grab both files and complete instructions
here.
If you have questions or concerns about either of these two programs, please
contact Paul Hauschildt.
DCG Information
At this time, the missions consist of CAP,
interception, sweep, escort, bombing, torpedo-bombing and reconnaissance.
Your performance, your squadrons performance and even the computer's squadrons
performance will influence future missions as pilots who survive will improve
and those who die will be replaced by raw recruits. Too many plane
losses will cause shortages and mean fewer pilots being assigned for missions.
In addition, most ground installations (field's hangers and buildings excluded)
will not magically repair by the next mission...indeed, it may be days
before they reappear.
Along a "readme", the following files
are included:
DCGVxx.exe - the campaign generator.
DCG.ini - initialization file for current
campaign path and option toggles.
DCG-USN.cmg - the American campaign file.
DCG-IJN.cmg - the Japanese campaign file.
DCG-AVG.cmg - an American Volunteer Group
campaign file for Burma.
DCG-ITA.cmg - an Italian campaign file
for North Africa.
DCG-BRI.cmg - a British campaign file
for North Africa (Can be used for Burma/Germany).
DCG-NOR.cmg - a British campaign file
for Norway.
DCG-GRM.cmg - a German campaign file for
North Africa (Can be used for Norway/Germany).
DCG-NFTR.cmg - a German campaign file
for night fighting over Germany. (Can be used for Norway).
In addition, in the the dcg_campaign folder
are campaign folders. Each contain the following:
Campaign.dcg - the campaign file with date
and frontline.
Squadrons.dcg - the squadrons data file.
Ships.dcg - the ships data file.
Taskforces.dcg - waypoints for taskforces.
Infrastructures.dcg - the campaign file
with installations (ground objects).
Runways.dcg - the campaign file for active
airbases (runways).
Locations.dcg - special locations (excluding
airbases) for mission targets (for example, Tuluga).
To install, unzip into the root
CFS2 folder the files DCGV57.exe and dcg.ini. Before unzipping, ensure
that you have the "use names option" checked on your Winzip program (or
equivelant). All files with the dcg extension should go in their
own campaign subfolders in the dcg_campaign folder. The cmg
files should unzip into the Campaign folder.
To initialize:
the
first time you use CFS2, you must select a campaign and a pilot.
First, chose "campaign" from the "files" menu and chose one
of the campaign folders (for example, "NewGuinea42") in the "dcg_campaign"
folder. If, later, you want to switch campaigns, merely select a
new folder. Second, chose "pilot" from the "files"
menu and then select the pilot you wish to use from the "pilotlog"
folder. This pilot must be the same nationality as the campaign side
being played and must not be dead. The pilot selected will have his
wingmen's skills improve over time.
To use the campaign generator, first
run CFS2 and chose a new campaign ("Dynamic Campaign") from either the
American, British, German, Italian or Japanese campaign menus (depending
on which campaign you wish to fly). Before proceeding to the first
mission, minimize CFS2 and run the DCG program (DCGVxx.exe) in your main
CFS2 folder. When the program is open, press the "Generate Mission"
button to create and save the new mission. The mission will save
in the Campaign folder. A copy will also be saved in the Mission
folder so you can fly it as a stand-alone mission as well. Maximize
CFS2 and fly the mission. When the mission is over, return to DCG
and generate the next mission with the click of the "Generate Mission"
button. It's that easy.
It is recommend you keep a backup copies
of the "dcg" files if you wish to start a new campaign from the original
files as they are updated after every mission. These are simple text
files and can be custumized with NotePad.
DCG can run simultaneously with CFS2 with
little or no effect on the game.
DCG Options
Enable Warp
If this menu option is checked, you may
warp at any time in a mission. If the option is not checked, you
may not warp when there is action occuring over target areas (bases or
taskforces) even if it does not involve you.
Clouds
If this option is checked, missions may
have overcast skies. If it is not checked, missions will always be
under clear skies. Some areas of the world may have more severe weather
than others. This option is found in the "Weather" menu.
Take Offs
The player squadron can either start on
the ground (checked) or in the air (unchecked).
Landings
If this option is checked, AI planes will
attempt to land at the end of their missions. If it is not checked,
they will not attempt to land.
Front Movement
If this option is checked, the frontlines
will move based on the advantage on side had over the other. For
example, in 1941, the front will advance toward the Allieds. In 1942
it will remain relatively equal, and after it will advance toward the Axis
- although the success of the player can influence it somewhat. If
this option is not checked, the front will move only as influenced by the
player's success.
Small Squadrons
If this option is checked, the maximum
number of planes in a squadron is four. If checked the maximum number
of planes is eight. This maximum applies to both the player squadrons
and AI squadrons.
Fix Squadron Skill
If this option is checked, all pilots
in the squadron will have the same skill as set by the squadron skill level
and never improve. If the option is not checked, pilots will start
at a skill level up to and including the squadron skill level and will
improve on their own over time.
Pilots' Names
If this option is checked, plane IDs for
all squadron will be by pilot name. If unchecked, IDs will be by
squadron name (except the player's squadron).
Density Settings
If this option is checked, the Density
Panel will be displayed and a player can set how much air and ground activity
is present in the game.
Night
Check this option if the player flies
in a night fighter or night bomber squadron.
Links to Additional Information
Frequently Asked
Questions
How to Switch
Sides in a Campaign
To Advanced File
Editing
Additions for Beta 6.31
Fixed flight generation; losses are now being applied to squadrons when creating missions.
Additions for Beta 6.3
Corrected infrastructure bug which would
delete stationary objects from the infrastructure.dcg file.
Additions for Beta 6.2
Removed hard-coded references to nations
and pilot names. All countries and pilot names available in the country.cfg
file are now used by DCG. Players can now customize their nations
as they wish and have DCG recognize them. If a country is not available
in the country.cfg file, that nation cannot be used by DCG.
Additions for Beta 6.1
Added Romania to the available nations.
Enable linear-type formations for trains. This version is required
to fly the new Crimea campaign.
Additions for Beta 6.0
Added feature to place more than one carrier
in a taskforce (no more than two carriers per taskforce is recommended).
Added Coral Sea mini-campaign. Increased speeds of carrier groups.
Additions for Beta 5.7
Added the Density settings in response
to users with computers unable to run full Kursk campaign.
Additions for Beta 5.6
Fixed the date bug in the squadron editor
mode. Added option to have pilots' names or squadron ID visible.
Additions for Beta 5.5
Added Poland as an allied nation.
Added "columns" to vehicle taskforce formations. Improved player
mission assignment.
Additions for Beta 5.4
Added the "Fix Squadron Skill" option.
Improved "robustness" of DP checks. Corrected the mission goal bug
for armed reconnaisance and strike missions.
Additions for Beta 5.3
Added routine to check that any objects,
ships, or vehicles being used in DCG are available in the user's game.
Expanded conflict dates to include World War One and Post World War Two.
Note: players who wish to use Alpha Simulation's Combat Aces add-on, must
use the default "British" (1) allegiance and not the "CA Allieds" (6) allegiance
for DCG as DCG recognizes "Italy" (6) as an Axis nation.
Additions for Beta 5.2
Added ability to edit any squadron and
add new squadrons. Fixed aircraft swap bug. Fixed carrier transfer
bug. Added Russia to available sides.
Additions for Beta 5.1
Added the "Night" weather option for night-fighter/night-bomber
campaigns. There are instructions for a "beta" night fighter campaign
located here. Added carriers to available
"runways" in the player quick edit panel. Improved first waypoint
generation to reduce collisions. Improved bomber formations to reduce
collisions. Fixed "17 Mile" bug in New Guinea campaigns. DCG
now checks airbase names in the squadron file to ensure a match exists
in the runway file - if not, it automatically transfers a squad at a "bad"
airbase to an operational one.
Additions for Beta 5.0
Important, some file formats have changed!
Added players squadron name to squadrons.dcg file (see advanced
file editing for details). Simplified the runways.dcg file;
DCGv5.0 and higher now relies on the airbase.dat file for airbase information
(see advanced file editing for details).
Added airfield types ("strip") to restrict use of seaplane bases to seaplanes,
and small dirt/grass strips to smaller planes. Removed Burma 1942
campaign from main download and placed it with Burma scenery located here.
Made weather more severe in Northern waters. Added rain and thundershowers.
Future Releases
There are no future releases planned at
this time. If you have any suggestion or comments on what you would
like to see included (or have found a bug!), please drop me an email.
Download
The download is available at www.lowengrin.com.
Disclaimer
As this is a beta release of the DCG,
the creator does not guarantee it's functionality. Nor will the creator
accept any responsibility for any negative effect(s) it may have on your
CFS2 game, your computer system, your enjoyment of CFS2, or your love life.
Combat Flight Simulator 2 is a product
of Microsoft Corporation.
Paul
Lowengrin, July 17, 2005.
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