1.06.100 Release Candidate 2

[anthonykevinluke]

No worries mate. I'll keep testing this one for a while, say till 20 days of game time and report back. I was trying to remember if the intercept bug and associated issues came in at 1.09.4 or 1.09.6 ... Up to that change I hadn't seen the issues I noted above. Will provide feedback as I go. Thanks as always.

Cheers, AKL

[anthonykevinluke]

Morning Simovitch,

Just ran a turn for two hours of game time and had to take a walk in frustration, I don't know how you manage to keep going sometimes. Ok, so; Launched a few Stabs at 0745h for a height of 32000ft knowing that the usual wave of spits and typhoons would be crossing the coast soon. At 0800h the Stabs took of, at at 0813 (approx) they were at 30000ft and I vectored one of them onto an incoming raid reported at 19000ft with 75 acft. The Stab closed in the raid, confirmed its height as 21000 ft and as son as it was in the same space as the raid I saw two gps of ftrs (spitfires) and 50 typhoons. Three ME109s immediately turned for home and one pursued them for about five minutes then turned for home and was immediately shot down. I then targeted the raid with 26 FW190s who had taken off a few minutes earlier and were at 11000ft. They closed on the main body (flight details reported they were targeted on 21 typhoons) and were bounced by 20 spitfires. One FW was damaged, two spitfires broke off and turned for home and all 26 FW190s chased them across the channel .... I am pretty sure it is still an issue and unfortunately not a perception. Will stay in contact and await the next iteration/fix.

Question can you repost version 1.09.2 and 109.4 as I may try each of those in turn and see when the issue first appeared ... I don't seem to have kept those patches.

Cheers, AKL

edit: Actually I think the last one without the intercept bug may have been 1.06.83. can this one be reposted please?

[anthonykevinluke]

OK, found a copy of 1.06.83HFX, and will run that on a new bgame for 10 days or so and see if the bug is back there. From my comments on this build I don't think it was but appeared on the next build 1.09.23 (?). See my comments in the posts relating to these two. Will let you know.

Cheers, AKL

[simovitch]

Please instead test the new attached RC2 version at the beginning of this thread. It fixes the fuel issue (bugged when I fixed the rocket issue) and straightens out why some of the interceptors were making nonsensical target choices.

Your testing is invaluable. We are trying to release a final legacy version here, so I can't justify in my head leaving it in a buggered state. It will never be perfect though, it just needs to be exciting and realistic enough for players to enjoy.

[anthonykevinluke]

Ok mate. I'll keep testing this new one. I was only going to try the others for about 10 turns each to determine where the intercept bug first appeared; seems to be after 1.06.83 HFX2, as it started in the next iteration. Stay tuned for the next round of testing ... (I must admit if it drives me nuts you must be completely around the bend by now! )

Cheers, AKL

[simovitch]

Ok mate. I'll keep testing this new one. I was only going to try the others for about 10 turns each to determine where the intercept bug first appeared; seems to be after 1.06.83 HFX2, as it started in the next iteration. Stay tuned for the next round of testing ... (I must admit if it drives me nuts you must be completely around the bend by now! )

Cheers, AKL

Note that there is a new file to download as of March 31. Please make sure you are testing RC2.

[anthonykevinluke]

Hi Simovitch,

Confirmed testing 10698RC2 downloaded 01/04/26. Clean start New Axis long campaign. Unfortunately turn one indicates that the intercept bug is still there (crap!). Two FW190 gps intercepted a typhoon and spitfire raid on Eindhoven Radar site just after they hit the target; all targeted on main body of 50 acft (confirmed by checking flight info). As they hit one typhoon was damaged by flak and all FWs chased the one damaged Typhoon. A third gp of ME109s also came in targeted on main body and as soon as they were in the vicinity of the two gps immediately pursued the single damaged typhoon ... wish I had better news mate. I will await your thoughts or next patch as it doesn't seem worth continuing this one. For your consideration.

Cheers, AKL

edit: Please don't say that I would need to wipe the game and do a complete fresh install to ensure no corruption ... I had a hell of a time getting DWXND to work when I did it a year or so ago ...

[simovitch]

You don't need a fresh install.

Typhoons are very fast aircraft (I was surprised when I checked their stats) and difficult to intercept properly along the coast. Sound like the LW did the best they could going after the low hanging fruit here. Moving on.

What I'm looking for is improvement in intercepting the deep raids by the heavies, which I think you find to be a lot better than in the past.

There is an issue that I discovered (and caused) with the attacker escorts being lackluster or heading off into oblivion. I fixed that so just concentrate on the LW interceptions of the heavies.

This deep dive into the interceptor code has been quite interesting but mind-bending. The changes I made to properly track the allotment of defender interceptors to attacker targets minute by minute has upset the old broken code. I would like to think we are getting close.

[anthonykevinluke]

Evening Simovitch,

Kept going for 6 days and it's not looking good. Two raids by 8th AF on the Paris region and results were very poor for the Axis. As soon as one bomber was hit just about all the axis Ftrs went RTB and got slaughtered by the escorting allied ftrs ( in the first battle 9 x FW and 2 x Me109 G5 killed they turned for home without any allied casualties. This same 'arrive in proximity and RTB' is fairly common and the allied escorts cut the retiring axis ftrs to shreds. Also you just can't seem to bounce the allied FB raids. The escorting ftrs always hit you first and then seem to loiter just behind the FBs and shoot down whatever acft are still pursuing the raid. Allied escorting ftrs are incredibly effective and near impossible to hit. Wish I had better news to report. Sorry if this seems a bit negative, but I am, as always, only reporting what I'm seeing in the hope of it getting better. As always thanks for the endless work.

Cheers, AKL

Question: What changes did you make ito V1.06.83 HFX2 in the next release (1.06.92?), as it all seems (in my perception) to stem from that point ...