lesniakbj / jdcg

JDCG - Java DCS Campaign Generator

JDCG - Java DCS Campaign Generator

JDCG is a Dynamic Campaign Simulation and Mission Generator for the Flight Simulator DCS: World. The goal of this project is to bring the feeling of the Dynamic Campaign from BMS into the modern simulator that is DCS: World. This project involves five different parts, which all work together to get the feeling of a BMS Dynamic Campaign:

1. Air Campaign Generator (sim.gen.*)
2. Air Campaign Simulator (sim.*)
3. Air Campaign Mission Simulator (sim.*)
4. DCS Mission Generator (dcsgen.*)
5. DCS Mission Results Interpreter (dcslog.*)

Air Campaign Generator

The Air Campaign Generator runs outside of DCS, and will generate a starting situation in which the campaign will be played. It has the following features:

• Configuration:
  • Selection of Map (All DCS maps are supported, there is limited support for Normandy and WWII campaigns, but this will be rectified)
  • Selection of Coalition Factions
  • Selection of Campaign Type
    • Offensive, Defensive or All Out War
  • Selection of Campaign Era
    • Modern, Gulf War, Vietnam, Korea, WWII
  • Selection of Squadron (dictates what aircraft are available to the user; subject HEAVILY to changing [ie. being removed]).
  • Selection of Coalition
• Generation:
  • Generation of starting Airbases
    • Airbases are populated with Munitions, with a heavier distribution to their home airbase
  • Generation of starting Ground Troops
    • Generates both point defence (Airbase) and frontline troops
  • Generation of AAA and SAM Groups
  • Generation of Air Forces for each side
    • The percentages of each type of aircraft generated was derived from the following worksheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HbPD-TihUdf-2mBNxT3FOgnmfvZOr8KkzmonjtcMqAk/edit?usp=sharing

Air Campaign Simulator

The Air Campaign Simulator will simulate commanders planning missions that might be expected to happen during an Air Campaign. It has the following features:

• Configuration:
  • Selection of Simulation Step Length in Minutes
  • Selection of Mission Generation Settings
    • Generation of Missions when a planned mission gets to the "Mission" waypoint
• Simulation:

Air Campaign Mission Simulator

The Air Campaign Mission Simulator will simulate missions that the player does not choose to play, and will be invoked by the Air Campaign Simulator whenever it detects that a Mission is within it's objective area. It has the following features:

• Configuration:
• Simulation:

DCS Mission Generator

The DCS Mission Generator is used to generate DCS missions (as the name implies...). These missions are generated using parameters from the Air Campaign Simulator, and will allow the user to feel like they are taking part in the conflict. It will be invoked whenever the Air Campaign Simulator detects a player mission, or the player elects to step in. It has the following features:

• Configuration:
• Generation:

DCS Mission Results Interpreter

The DCS Mission Results Interpreter is used to interpret the log file that results after a DCS mission is played. This is crucial for integrating the results of the player's missions into the running campaign. It has the following features:

• Configuration:
• Interpretation:

Example of Campaign Configuration

Example of Campaign Generation

jdcg's Issues

DCS Mission Generator - Rewrite

The Mission Generator is in an ugly place. There are many different generators that are used to generate the individual files that are used in the .miz file, but they are inefficent and loosely coupled (which is probably the reason that there are issues with creating a valid .miz file). This is a good candidate to be rewritten, which may alleviate the issues with generation.

Once I start looking at this code again I can give a better idea of the changes that are going to be needed.

Unable to generate .miz file that is readable by DCS

Currently the Zipped .miz file that is generated by DCSMissionGenerator.generateMission(...) is not able to be read and opened by DCS.

It appears that the file format is correct, as well as the folder and file structure that is supposed to be present in the mission.

I will need to investigate either DCS logs or the JDCG logs to determine where the issue is occuring, as there are other external tools that can generate DCS Missions without issues.

Air Campaign Generator - Smoke Test

While the initial implementation of the Air Campaign Generator is in a decent spot, it would be nice to pound on the generator with different configurations, settings, eras and default squadron. Any issues or odd generation sequences found can be noted as a separate issue.