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Beware the Hun in the Sun - An IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad LP
Let's Play Il-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad, Moscow, Kuban, Bodenplatte, and more!
That doesn't seem to reassuring...
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Initially released in late 2014, Il-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad saw the return of one of the most beloved flight sim franchises of all time. Coming off of the poorly received Il-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover, criticized for its lack of variety, critical bugs and poor performance, Il-2:BoS was met with a lot of apprehension from fans, and some, like myself, still felt let down thanks in part to a missing career mode and mission/scenario creation tool. 3.5 years later, and the game has received multiple major updates, as well as numerous smaller ones, adding new functionality, planes, missions, and, even more importantly, a proper campaign mode making it feel a lot more like its predecessor from 2001.
With that said, the number of pieces of DLC this game is accruing can be worrisome for those who wish to dive into this game head first, and even those who want to wait for one of several sales that occur throughout the year. And that's not even getting into the scripted campaigns, made before the release of the career mode, and premium aircraft, which are sold separately from anything else. As of writing this intro, the next DLC, Battle of Bodenplatte, is in the works, with a potential Pacific update in the works.
So why do you want to show this off, what does this have to do with me, and how can I participate?
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Well, you may remember an LP I started a number of years ago, using Il-2 Sturmovik: 1946, with mods. I've always wanted to show off more flight sim fun, but without a career mode I didn't feel like I could do anything but show some multiplayer action, rather than something that people could create a narrative with, and see where it goes. That and good flight sim games should get more love.
That said, thread participation will involve decisions regarding our supported faction, background, plane/squadron we will choose to join, and a few other things. Sadly, I don't know how to modify names or stats, so we'll just have to live with what we got.
How is this going to work?
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I'll be flying within a designated unit, continuing the proud tradition of the PS3 + KB/M setup I've always had. Difficulty will be Medium, with a heavy density of action. Difficulty options will be as seen below, as well as the reasons for my choices:
Reasons for options are:
1. No Autopilot can be super tedious, and I only use it for longer flights until radio chatter comes on or we are nearing obj, autopilot is not used to fly home.
2. Warming engine is just boring.
3. Engine/radiator management is just for the present so I dont wreck my engine 20 mins into each mission. Im sure radiator wouldnt be a huge issue, but engine management after a huge hiatus is not good.
4. Spectators/external views cause why not? No external views are used until dead or landed.
5. Navigation Markers on because I dont have time to study maps for weeks on end to get everything right, and the map doesnt even work anyways!
I will be playing at the slowest possible campaign speed. The goal? Survive World War 2.
Everything's out to kill you
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Gun Runs are Fun!
https://i.imgur.com/IfzFQV8.mp4
A look at the Main Menu
The sense of scale that the game achieves is staggering, and reminiscent of prior games in the series.
Here is the furthest you can zoom in on Rzhev, the grid used should be 10km by 10km.
A large selection of aircraft comes at a price. Gold bars indicate premium-only aircraft.
The various DLC also add a variety of new maps.
We will be playing through Battle of Moscow, continuing through Battle of Stalingrad, and ending with Battle of Kuban.
We can choose to play as either faction
The startling scale is even more apparent when you see the fully zoomed out map, which doesn't completely fit on the screen.
You can only choose the squadrons with a green + symbol
Additionally, you can select either a specific phase, or a specific unit to narrow your options.
And each unit has their own history/background, detailing any important changes and actions they participated in.
And even what planes are available for the unit
Once you've selected your unit, you get to create your profile. There are some limits, although being a time-travelling neo-nazi does not appear to be one.
Each option generates a different background, although it doesn't change if you re-select an option.
The Russians also get histories, which is nice.
Click on a plane and it'll tell you everything you'd ever want to know about it, which is incredibly useful.
After you've selected your unit, pilot, and plane, the campaign can truly begin. The "first day" merely allows the player to check the roster before generating any missions and events.
A new pilot obviously won't have any victories.
But some of these unit veterans may have some!
There's no real character limit, although I noticed a "Crash to Desktop" most likely caused by an overflow
The leaderboard is updated per day, and events will change as the war progress (as far as I know, anyways)
Speaking of days... each time you progress to the next day, a new set of atmospheric values are generated. (I just noticed <NULL AIRFIELD>
Missions in the morning could affect missions in the afternoon, although I don't know if you can fly both, yet.
Like its predecessors, Il-2 keeps a record of all your accomplishments. Hmmmm... "Get Rich Or Die Trying - Let's Play Il-2 Sturmovik"?
You can also use one of a number of paint schemes in the game by default. Sadly, I don't believe you can use custom skins right now.
And you can also customize what you will bring to fight. Obviously, taking bombs or rockets won't do much for an escort mission.
And before setting out on a mission, you can review your flight plan, with important details marked on the map, such as distance traveled, what your altitude should be, your heading, etc.
------------------- Test Update ----------------------
From the War Diary of Evdokim Porozov - 495th IAP PVO posted:
October 4th, 1941
5:00AM
I've yet to make everyone's acquaintance at the Squadron and already I've already been assigned my plane, my quarters, and my gear, but there is little time afforded to us with the German bastards breathing down our necks and a rapidly expanding frontline that, should our fortune remain unchanged, will soon threaten the very airfield I must not call home. The nearby city of Rzhev has already come under attack several times by enemy bombers, and I hope they continue to focus on them instead of us. I hope the people of that town understand why I write such a cruel thing.
By the time we've finished preparing, eating, and received our briefing for the day, the sun is out, bright and low on the horizon. Despite its warmth, I have been assigned to a unit equipped with I-16's, a rather outdated-looking aircraft compared to the Yak's of the neighbouring squadron. I admit I am a little jealous of their closed canopies.
8:00AM
Our flight of three craft, lead by Comrade Zimin lined up on the runway and ascended to the skies. I always felt great joy when lifting off the ground, as if a cloak of freedom suddenly enveloped me. Rostislav Nesterov, the 2nd man in our formation, quickly established himself above and behind the lead aircraft. I don't recall hearing a command, and I assumed it was just a natural habit for these two. As we made our way to our objective, a flight of bombers, I slowly pulled up behind Zimin. The skies above a frontline were unknown territory to me, and I wished not to lose sight of those much more experienced than I.
8:27AM
The sounds over the radio spark to life in my headset, "CONTACTS! 1 O'Clock, 2km South-West!" I could feel my hands tense up. "The Germans are overconfident, I hear they don't even escort their bombers." A voice said over the radio. "Don't get cocky." I guessed it was Zimin and Nesterov, but I was still unfamiliar with their voices, and it seemed we weren't the only ones in the area spoiling for a fight.
"Look! Bombers!" A man shouted over the radio. My eyes quickly began searching the skies ahead as I dipped the large nose of my plane for a better view. Aided by the thick black clouds of flak, I could see an entire flight of 12 or so twin-engined planes. They didn't look like the Bf-110 heavy fighters, and I cursed under my breath. Should have studied harder.
8:31AM
As our flight approached our slow targets, Nesterov, I think, swore over the radio. Escorts. I counted some 4 Bf-109s in the air, probably 300 or so meters above the flock, but they were diving towards some other flight that I had not noticed. Zimin quickly gave the order to split up and try to down any bombers we could, and to forget about the fighters. Maybe it was stupidity, maybe it was the flight training back in the rear areas, but I immediately chose to ignore Zimin's order and I followed a pair of 109s.
8:33AM
Quickly, I maneuvered my craft behind a 109, taking great care not to expose myself to his rear view. I don't think the pilot noticed me at first, as he entered a slow right turn. I pressed down on my trigger and let loose cannon and machine gun shells. Had I had more training on cannons, my first shots would certainly have accomplished more than bruising the sky. Adjusting my throttle, I did all I could to out-turn the now-startled pilot before a few shots finally hit their mark. White smoke began pouring from the left wing rout, and in my excitement I let loose a few too many rounds. The damage seemed to be enough, however, and the plane slowly rolled over on its starboard side and plummeted into the ground. "Oorah!" I shouted over the radio, now abuzz with chatter from a number of personnel. A minute later, in another turning battle, I would add another kill to my tally, after blasting off the right wing with a few cannon rounds. I saw the pilot bail out, his chute opening in the morning light.
8:34AM
By now I'd lost all notion of where I was and, more importantly, where my flight was. My eyes scanned the light blue sky, and although I could see many black spots, some emitting coloured tracers, a feeling of fear grew in me. I knew I'd have to simply approach whatever black specks I could see and pray that I would find red stars on their frames...
Thankfully for me, the first group I approached consisted of another 109, but he took no notice of me, presumably too pre-occupied with a duel he was having with some other unknown plane. Using the same tactics as with my first kill, I eventually managed to set this new target on fire, although that didn't seem to stop that unknown pilot from suddenly opening fire, firing over my right shoulder at the burning plane. The fright nearly caused me to lose control as I swung the control stick to the left to avoid him.
8:40AM
I don't know how much ammo I have left, I turned towards what I thought was North, using the Sun as a directional guide. Another group of Bf-109s! My chances were getting slimmer every minute I spent in the air with a diminishing supply of ammunition. A 4-minute duel began between myself and what I think was 2 or 3 enemy planes, in which I managed to land a number of shots on one of them. I'd run out of cannon ammo a long time ago, but I'd hoped my machine guns would still be good enough for the job. When I no longer had a response come from my guns, I knew I was now empty... not good for a lonely Russian with a few Hungry Germans at his back! Quickly I spun 'round, and heading approximately towards the same heading as before, hoping that I could find some major town, and its nearby airfield.
8:52AM
8 minutes of flying close to the ground, hoping my engine doesn't start giving me any problems and suddenly a trail of tracers announced their presence just above my cockpit! I broke left, hoping I could pull hard enough to evade my attackers. It was those damn 109s again! Despite being 50km behind the frontlines, they seemed desperate to shoot me down. After the pair of aircraft overshot me and entered their own turn I immediately reversed direction into a tight right turn and gunned it for Rzhev. I kept thinking to myself, it must be North of here, but it became harder and harder to figure out where I was, flying 10 meters off the ground in an effort to discourage the Germans from shooting at me again. It didn't work.
8:54AM
I thought they would have left me alone, but the city below didn't deter the Germans, and the flak guns appeared to still be sleeping. I will have to speak to their commander about that! Every time I thought I'd lost the Huns, a number of tracers would remind me of their presence. What was more worrying was that they'd finally started landing shots. I almost crashed into the trees below as I quickly checked myself for any damage. Did the engine always sound like that? What's that hole in the wing? I recalled that my airfield was North-East of Rzhev, but attempts at calling the base were futile, as my radio was knocked out.
"Damn the consequences, I'd rather live than become a wreck!" I thought to myself as I neared the airstrip. Although I was above the maximum airspeed for it, I started cranking the landing gear lever. Another series of holes appeared on my wing as the AA guns finally came to life. Then, the engine cut out as I tried desperately to fully extend the landing gear, but either my turning wheel was broken or something had jammed... In any case, that was how I skidded to a halt, damaging the left wing-tip, and collapsing the gear.
Later, I learned that I had been credited with 4 kills. Additionally, one Bf-109 was found, crash landed halfway between the front and Rzhev. I supposed that the pilot, inexperienced, accidentally crashed; I tried to petition the board to add it to my kill count, but someone in another squad will apparently be receiving credit. Oh, and a 2nd 109 crashed just East of Rzhev, but the city's flak regiment claimed it as theirs. Bastards.
Fedor Zimin, 35, was never heard from again, whereas Ristislav Nesterov managed to crash his plane somewhere near the frontline, but was quickly picked up by some friendly forces and should be back here shortly. Of the 10 I-16s the squadron started with, our flight of 3 resulted in 2 lost and 1 damaged, Nesterov's plane being deemed too close to the frontline for retrieval. The 7 others took flight a few hours after we did on an escort mission to the front. I'm told it was rather uneventful.
And that was my first day of fighting