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[HeadTrauma]

Hi guys.

So it has been many years since I flew IL2. I loved the SEOW campaigns and I had just gotten into (I think it was called) HLFX pack before having to quit due to RL stuff.

I want to get back into it, hopefully there are still online campaigns, but have no clue where to start. I see Ultra, BAT, CUP, SAS...

Anybody point me in the right direction please?

[Captain Dawson]

Hello HeadTrauma, and welcome back to IL-2!

If the last pack you used was HSFX, than I would say a lot has changed in modpack world since you were last in.

I'll give you an overview of the modpacks:

SAS 5.3 (for IL-2 version 4.12.2) and SAS 6.3 (for IL-2 4.13.3) are the gateways to modding IL-2. If you like to simply use stock IL-2 and add your own choice of mods, SAS 5.3 or 6.3 is the way to go.

Ultrapack uses IL-2 version 4.10, and it is mainly designed and optimized for online missions and campaigns. This is what the F.A.C. online group uses.

HSFX was for 4.12.2 last time I used it, and it is optimized for offline game play. It is said that HSFX still has the most realistic battles and flight models, but I am not an authority on HSFX since I too have not used it in quite some time.

CUP (for 4.12.2) was until recently the most complete modpack. It has been superseded by BAT, so I would not recommend you use it now due to this fact and also because CUP is much more difficult to install compared to BAT. BAT includes all of CUP and more.

BAT (for 4.12.2) is the most complete modpack in the history of flight sims to date. It includes nearly every aircraft and map that is made available on this site, as well as hundreds of ships, vehicles, and an insanely massive object pack which takes about 15 minutes to scroll through. BAT is made up of 4 included era-based packs: Dawn Of Flight (WWI), The Golden Age (Interwar years, Spanish Civil War, 1930's military aircraft), World At War (WWII and 1946 aircraft), and The Jet Age (Korean and Vietnam wars, international jet aircraft, and a few modern jets such as the F/A-18, F-16, and Harrier). Altogether there are over 1,000 aircraft and 600 maps in BAT. Other things like extra ships and vehicles correspond to their respective era packs. Since BAT has pretty much every significant mod ever made for IL-2, in theory, any campaign or mission made in an earlier version should work in BAT. BAT is the only modpack (as far as I know) that includes the "Command and Control" mod, which is a collection of triggers, special effects, and randomization objects. Whether you want a complete array of planes, or you just want to try out a plane you've never flown before, BAT is the most complete option. Can't help posting some screenshots here:















VP Modpack is the newest addition to the mod world. Rather than implementing BAT's mindset of including all the available aircraft, vehicles, and maps, VP includes only the highest quality content. Though VP has far less content than BAT, VP makes up for it in detail. BAT is simply beyond the scope of VP in content. The aircraft default skins have been beautifully re-worked by VPMedia, and almost all the default and even some mod maps have been re-textured with much more detail. Quite a few of the maps in VP have "atmospheric" effects, in other words, dirt airfields instead of the lame stock rectangle ones. If you haven't seen these yet, you must at least give it a try!













So many screenshots can not even display the awesomeness of BAT and VP Modpack!
I hope this helps you get an idea of what these modpacks can do! As for which one you should use, that is up to you depending on what is most important to you.

-Captain Dawson

[HeadTrauma]

Captain Dawson

You are a legend! Thank you for taking the time to lay it out for me. Really appreciate it.

Ok so BAT and VP pique my interest for all of the reasons you've mentioned. Both have draw cards, but which (if any) have MP campaigns going, or just general MP if SEOW campaigns aren't run anymore?

[Captain Dawson]

Multiplayer is something which I neglected in my last reply. Put simply, neither BAT nor VP Modpack are designed for online use. For BAT, the sheer amount of content would cause severe lag, and as far as I know, there are no BAT servers. In VP, though there is less content, the hi-res maps and aircraft, along with the hundreds of mods in the #SAS folder would mean significant, if not devastating lag in online play. There are no VP servers as far as I know. When I get my router to cooperate, I will attempt one, since I have a powerful computer with hardly any CPU lag. BAT and VP were both designed for the offline use so they aim at having the best possible experience in terms of content, not online friendliness.

Most people use Hyperlobby for multiplayer. The servers usually use stock IL-2, but you also see some SAS, HSFX, and UP3 (Ultrapack). I personally see no way to have high quality offline and online play on the same install. UP3 or HSFX is probably the closest you can come to having it both ways, but they lack the quantity and quality of content that VP and BAT have. With the amount of different servers in Hyper, I don't see enough servers to warrant building an entire new install just for one server, which I might not even like anyways. (Stalls and Spins, Head Shake, Turbulence = no go for me, washes away the advantages of most U.S. planes and is quite simply over-realism IMO) I simply have a stock 4.13 install for my occasional ventures into Hyper, and keep VP and BAT for all other use. No need to sacrifice the excellent quality and content just for multiplayer. I would just use different installs if I was you.

[SAS~Storebror]

UP3 or HSFX is probably the closest you can come to having it both ways, but they lack the quantity and quality of content that VP and BAT have.

*Cough* As one of the many FAC guys driving the further UP3 development, I must say that this statement is a little bit disrespectful towards the modders involved and, of course, plain wrong.

Stalls and Spins, Head Shake, Turbulence = no go for me, washes away the advantages of most U.S. planes and is quite simply over-realism IMO

That's a very biased opinion though and frankly I'm afraid that with your take of "stalls & spins are over-realism" you'll find yourself pretty isolated in this universe.

Best regards - Mike

[Captain Dawson]

Stalls and Spins, Head Shake, Turbulence = no go for me, washes away the advantages of most U.S. planes and is quite simply over-realism IMO

That's a very biased opinion though and frankly I'm afraid that with your take of "stalls & spins are over-realism" you'll find yourself pretty isolated in this universe.

I said this is only my opinion. Frankly I kind of think if planes snap-rolled as ridiculously as in IL-2, we would have a lot of problems in real life. And actually a few people did agree with me in my thread about this, and I know some people who did not reply to my thread that agree with me as well, including licensed pilots. Perhaps I would be somewhat isolated by this thought, but I simply do not like the interpretations of some of the FMs, and to me some of them appear to be more biased even than myself. I am entitled to have my own opinion, no?

What does this have to do with HeadTrauma's question? 
HeadTrauma, if you're wondering what on earth we're talking about: https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,53928.0.html
*Read at your own risk

UP3 or HSFX is probably the closest you can come to having it both ways, but they lack the quantity and quality of content that VP and BAT have.

*Cough* As one of the many FAC guys driving the further UP3 development, I must say that this statement is a little bit disrespectful towards the modders involved and, of course, plain wrong.

You know I meant no disrespect in this statement. I respect all the modders who work on this sim, and I am not trying to make any one look better than another. UP3 does not have nearly the amount of content BAT has, and last time I checked UP3 did not have re-textured maps and aircraft that VP has. This is no disrespect to UP3 or its developers, UP simply has a different mindset than BAT or VP. UP is designed with multiplayer in mind, correct? That does not mean it is any worse than any of the other packs, it just has a different purpose. I personally prefer VP and BAT because they have the content I prefer. UP could not run well online if it had all the content of BAT could it? I have used all these mod packs, so I at least have an opinion on them. As I said, this is only my opinion, like it or not. I am simply attempting to explain the differences between the modpacks to the thread creator.

[asheshouse]

A few basics on IL-2 setup.

Install the game in c:\Games or similar. Not in c:\Program Files.  Patch the game up to v4.12.2. Keep that as your master copy.
Copy the entire game folder to make a second install and apply your preferred mod pack to the copy. Keep the master copy clean.
If you also want the latest Team Daidalos version then make another copy of your master and patch it up to v4.13.3  ---  no modpacks can be installed on v4.13.3  (though you can install individual mods).

[Captain Dawson]

A few basics on IL-2 setup.

Install the game in c:\Games or similar. Not in c:\Program Files.  Patch the game up to v4.12.2. Keep that as your master copy.
Copy the entire game folder to make a second install and apply your preferred mod pack to the copy. Keep the master copy clean.
If you also want the latest Team Daidalos version then make another copy of your master and patch it up to v4.13.3  ---  no modpacks can be installed on v4.13.3  (though you can install individual mods).

Yes, all very good things to do! Directly in your main drive is where you want it.
I will say that it is very important to keep backups. And even though you may only plan on using 4.12 and 4.13, it is also wise to keep a completely stock, unpatched install somewhere you can easily access it. If you want to try a pack that runs on 4.10, like UP3 or DBW, you don't necessarily want to start from scratch every time. In addition to 4.12 and 4.13, I keep a 4.07 disk install and copy it out so that I can easily change it to whatever version I want without having to install from the disk every time.

Let us know if you need to know more about the settings, or conf.ini, etc.

[SAS~Storebror]

Fine CD, just wanted to get a little more differentiation in these statements.

What does this have to do with HeadTrauma's question?

Not much, but this does:

Use VP and BAT for offline gameplay, a Vanilla 4.13.3 copy for playing on Hyperlobby Gangbang style Dogfight Servers and another Ultrapack 3 RC4 + Patch Pack copy for playing online with matured chaps from SAS (precisely FAC, the "Flying Ass Clowns").

Best regards - Mike

[HeadTrauma]

Thanks a lot guys.

I have an old Steam install with HSFX still. Will figure out how to get a "clean" install somehow. I presume the install can just be copy/pasted from 1 folder or HD to another?

I'll go for the UP3 RC 4 option first, and so will a buddy of mine. We prefer the more hardcore realism stuff to the Air Quake / Gangbang (as Mike put it so eloquently;-p)  scene.

Then I'll get 2 more installs and go for the VP and BAT stuff for the porn.

[Captain Dawson]

I presume the install can just be copy/pasted from 1 folder or HD to another?

Yes. Make sure you get everything or it won't work obviously.

Fine CD, just wanted to get a little more differentiation in these statements.

Sure. I understand. 

with matured chaps from SAS...

...(precisely FAC, the "Flying Ass Clowns").

Ok, absolutely no acrimony intended here but I have to say this: Mature Clowns?    LOL
All in good fun 

[printenduevel]

I have installed some different versions of the game, because I like also online and offline flying.

BAT is not my taste, because it is to huge for me. I don't like flying Jets or WW1 planes. I prefer only WW2 and so for me is VPMedia the best choice for offline flying.
The focus of this MOD is the WW2 period. Is there somebody, who have experience how VPMedia mod works online in a dogfight campaign?

For online flying I prefer at the moment HSFX, I love the graphics and I hate the overheating of the engines. But I think, this is a "problem" of the 4.12.2 patch.
Here I like to fly on servers with full real settings, where you must navigate, have an eye for your leader or wingman and also for the enemy and fly against human opponents.
The history behind this is, when I started with IL2 in 2012, I fly only offlline with very very very easy realism settings like unlimited ammo and so on.
Then I met in the german Sturmovik-Board some guys from the JG42 and they persuaded me to join into their DCG-Campaign.
That was a jump in the cold water, because they have flown only with full real settings. Since this time, that gives me the kick. And you can be sure, I'm not a good pilot, but I fly with enthusiasm.
Unfortuntely for me, there is only one server with full real settings available.

I use also pure 4.12.2 and 4.13.3 installations for online flying, but most of the servers in the Hyperlobby don't satisfy me with there settings.

Since three or four weeks I fly sundays with the F.A.C., they use 4.10.1 with UP3, which is also a good Modpack. Here are some very nice effects included, much better then in HSFX.
Only one thing looks better in HSFX, that is when you have hit a plane and the debris parts fly away. Here is potential for the modders. :-).
The FAC have a good mix in the settings, because all for flying relevant settings like realistic weapons, blackout and so on are enabled. They allow only the map symbols, and this make sense. Most of the missions are designed for fights agains AI and then it is very helpful. That is pure fun with interesting missions and nice guys in the TS. And personally I enjoy, that the planes not so fast overheat like in HSFX, it is relaxing for me.

I think, you must try out and decide for yourself, which mod you prefer, When you find a good campaign or mission, which doesn't work with your prefered Mod, then try to convert it in the FMB.