=VG= SemlerPDX

Okay - all of this is great feedback. @Sinu - contact me when you are online and we'll kick out a revised Day 1 Master Save file. CobaltUK also flys here often, not sure if he has any points to add, or if it's all been said already. Next Proposed Changes: -Difficulty needs to be increased a fair amount -Disable AI Squadrons on Vinson until Day 3 (turn off HQ fragging at least, remove Vinson on Day 1 at most) -Disable A-10 Warthogs at Osan -Add Viper Squadron at Kangnung ?? (AI/HQ Fragged I assume is what Brain meant) -Harriers only for humans, and only for fun (aircraft has issues as noted by Brain) --*Consider "Strong DPRK" as an option, feedback and discussion would help on this point. I'd like to get a new campaign with several of these proposed changes active before Saturday (tomorrow) morning if possible. If you read this, Sinu, see if you can do these things or contact me when able.

I am wondering how the weekend went -- it's time to increase the difficulty level and it's a great time to address any other issues. How do you all feel about the USS Vinson being on scene so early? Were there sufficient targets? Or had the BLUFOR AI overwhelmed them? How are the BLUFOR Anti-Air Defenses? Do they need to be decreased or increased? How are the DPRK Anti-Air Defenses? Do they need to be decreased or increased? How does the ground war look? Does it need to be re-balanced to either side? How does the air war look? Enough enemies in the air? Too many? Too few friendlies? I realize the campaign has been going for less than five days with the new settings, but if there is something that needs to be adjusted, I don't want it to wait too long - I don't want you all having to "put up" with poor settings on the server. Please advise. !hi

Man that sucks, bro! Hope everything turns out for the better. Good to hear from you again - I still have fond memories thinking I was a crack heli pilot, then getting schooled in your chopper as you skim the streets and fly through hangars on Mutrah like driving a car. Take care man - might have to dust off my PR just so I can tag along again. !cheers (sig's ain't working on the site right now, so I gotta photo bomb my sig you made for me for MC support ;) )

Brain LAN_WROTE ... We know BMS has some memory leaks and the server will eventually reach critical CPU loads. The server CPU is dated - it's an Intel Core 2 @2.13GHz. There is no way to run BMS off of our dedicated server in Germany, we are only able to offer this server run on the machine it is currently running on (for the time being).

That was going to be my first question: Did you know that there is no AI/HQ fragging for any of the new added squadrons? **I have similar concerns tho about the carrier being present so early, but lets take it in stride and change it as necessary. If we get through this now, we can play for years in a very cool world we all like. Also - the difficulty I set for the previous campaign is the same as the one set for this one - I literally shared a screenshot with Sinu. Finally, I will be happy to increase rather than decrease the difficulty as you mentioned, it's too easy right now. No problem with that at all. Only in that I need to include Sinu in the process, but he's USA timezone so I anticipate little issue with the 'feeling out' process to get us a Master Day 1 save we can reuse for years and years like the old days. I did write above that I wanted to go to the other end of the spectrum a few posts back, in terms of balance - rather make it a little easier and work up to the correct "hard/veteran" setting than have it too weighted to DPRK and get reports of an unplayable campaign due to bombed out player airbases and missing these reports for hours until I get to my desk - avoiding such downtime is my goal as we work up here to the "best" Day 1 save for the server. And if we find that any of these added squadrons create an OP or terribly weighted problem for the server, we'll revert them as needed. I cannot apologize enough for having to go through all this again so soon, but it is true that I don't have the ability to feel it out first hand and I rely on all of you regular pilots' input. And I thank you for choosing this place to fly - there are certainly more organized, more populated and more knowledgeable BMS groups - we're indeed a casual place to fly with no crazy rules, "just come fly". Cheers for all the very helpful in-depth reports, don't worry at all EVER about that - keep them coming. We'll mold this thing into something we all enjoy! !cp

Server is live with the above changes now. Thanks Sinu! !thx

A question: Added a "third" squadron to Seosan? In addition to the 2 squadrons already there? Also - regarding the Vinson, does it normally arrive at some random date in the beginning of the war? Will it not adversely effect the AI war by bringing it in sooner? The reason I had tried to turn off HQ fragging at Osan and Kunsan was so players could use the Block 40's as well as having a slightly closer airbase to take off from. Would you be able to add a squadron of 40's to Kunsan and Osan that could have HQ fragging turned off (but keep the current squadrons at those airbases HQ fragged so as to not affect the AI war)? I would be most willing to change out the server save file for one you create if these things can be added and/or addressed.

Okay - spent this morning tweaking the Day 1 save file for the campaign. We're gonna start at the opposite end of the spectrum and work backwards -- by this, I mean, I've made Seosan the ONLY airbase with no HQ fragging. Kunsan and Osan are once again fully AI/HQ fragged. Players should still be able to snag a flight out of those bases when aircraft are available, but we need to try a more 'default' war for now in 4.33.1 to see how it goes. (edit - added clarification:) As we try to balance it, we may delete HQ fragging of one or more squadrons at one or both of these bases, but let's do it one at a time, as needed - instead of me turning them off outright as I did earlier, which let the DPRK roll straight over our bases like it did. I've also tweaked the difficulty level and weight of troops on either side. BLUFOR should have slightly better air defenses now, ground and naval forces are still weighted to DPRK, as are the air forces - but as we've slightly increased the air defense and re-activated 2 airbases, it should balance out. Input is very much appreciated, and I thank you all for your patience! I've been busy with projects around the house, so I'm still using my laptop (not able to run BMS yet). I expect to get my PC back up and running this week, got the new cooler in a box, and a new tube of Arctic Silver ready to go. For those of you who see warping planes, I'd like to see you try upping your bandwidth to 2048 - just for a test. I doubt it will help, I'm pretty certain a sync issue like that is linked to latency from players who'd have a higher ping to Kansas USA, but I could be wrong. I'd like to narrow it down if possible, and I'd like to test trying that higher bandwidth for players farther from the server, and for multi-player flights with international players from all over. Server is back up now - I'll be in TS3 here and there, and you can poke me or message me with issues. I'll also keep an eye on this thread, and we have a chat bar at the bottom of this site where you can get a message to me almost instantly (if I am at my desk, it beeps almost annoyingly loud). I'm happy to quickly restart and change the server if you find something I've done here to be too severe or 'game breaking' for you to fly here. Thanks again for your patience! !hi

there are crash logs I believe under the BMS programs folder, under User, under Logs. If it was a windows thing, event viewer will have logs, too.

Well, that is the first bug - actually, a big one. Dang it!! It's supposed to be 32-bit, had that selected, launching from the 32-bit launcher, too. Ugh. I'll change it over this evening - just popping in now, don't have the time to restart it just yet - but when i do, it will restart to the last auto-save, so no progress you make right now will be lost. !dash

*Server is now running BMS 4.33.1 (BMS 4.33 U1) and you can all try to join and fly. The save may need some tweaking, and we'll know as time goes on - difficulty, HQ fragging at certain airbases. For example, I have no HQ fragging at Seosan, Kunsan, and Osan has 1 squadron of F-16 Block 40's not fragged by HQ. We'll see how it goes, and feel free to post up input here.

Updating the BMS server now. Expect downtime for most of the day. Will post up when it's done and running 4.33.1 !hi

SemlerPDX =VG= LAN_WROTE ... Minrah LAN_WROTE ... when does the server update to 4.33.1? A couple hours after they release 4.33.1 !sarc (depending on download speeds of course) Well, as it turns out, maybe not so fast. My own PC is down, and I'm on my laptop. The VG Falcon BMS Server will updated Friday, or at the latest, it will be running 4.33.1 by Saturday morning (Pacific US Time). This will allow for me to install my replacement CPU cooler today when it arrives, as I need to have access to all my files and I need my client version running to best setup and test the server when I change it over. I will announce it when the server is going down for the procedure. VG BMS Server will continue running 4.33 through Friday

The Tommo Falcon 4.0 total conversion modification - Benchmark Sims 4.33 U1 - is now available! http://www.bmsforum.org/forum/showthread.php?26567-Falcon-BMS-4-33-U1-Full-Installer (actually released last night, not sure how I missed it - been checking the site nearly 3 times a day for weeks! lol !lazy )

Just for fun, here's the system requirements for the original Falcon 4.0 (gee, I hope I can afford a whole 64MB of RAM so I can play it on "recommended" settings): Minimum Requirements: Intel Pentium 166MHz 32MB RAM 175MB HDD space Windows 95 or 98 with DirectX 5 Monitor 800x600 16-bit color 4x CD-ROM joystick DirectX compatible 16-bit sound card. Recommended Requirements: Intel Pentium 2 266MHz 64MB RAM 400MB HD space Windows 95 or 98 with DirectX 5 3D graphics accelerator (D3D or 3Dfx Voodoo) 8x CD-ROM joystick with throttle DirectX compatible 16-bit sound card

Minrah LAN_WROTE ... when does the server update to 4.33.1? A couple hours after they release 4.33.1 !sarc (depending on download speeds of course)

UPDATE: [ Edited Tue Apr 05 2016, 08:03PM ] SemlerPDX =VG= LAN_WROTE ... The Tommo Falcon 4.0 total conversion modification - Benchmark Sims 4.33 U1 - is now available! http://www.bmsforum.org/forum/showthread.php?26567-Falcon-BMS-4-33-U1-Full-Installer (actually released last night, not sure how I missed it - been checking the site nearly 3 times a day for weeks! lol !lazy ) BMS 4.33.1 System Requirements Note: From the BMS website: "The original Microprose Falcon 4.0 software (not Lead Pursuit Falcon 4.0 Allied Force) is required to install Falcon BMS. During installation, the user can provide the original Falcon 4 CD, a clean F4 installation (or 1.08us) or the CD's contents in a folder on the user's hard drive. It does not have to be an English language version, however, BMS is in English only. NOTE: BMS does NOT install over-top a clean F4 installation, it is completely separate in its own folder (or folder of the user's choosing)" http://www.bmsforum.org/forum/...(system requirements) VG FALCON BMS SERVER IS NOW RUNNING THE LATEST VERSION OF BMS 4.33 The wait is almost over for those who had not downloaded Falcon BMS 4.33 before the link was removed for the licensing discussions - in short, an agreement has been reached between the BMS devs and Tommo Inc., the new owners of the original Falcon Series. Soon, the new BMS download will be available - all the details and information can be found on the BMS website here: "BMS 4.33.1 will release shortly - What you need to know and how to be prepared" http://www.bmsforum.org/forum/showthread.php?26408-4-33-1-will-release-shortly-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-to-be-prepared TLDNR - What it all means: Falcon BMS 4.33.1 will require us all to have fully installed the original Falcon 4.0 - there will be checks during installation and each time you launch BMS. It will again be a standalone version with no connection to BMS 4.33 or 4.32. It will include the first patch to BMS as well promising a few minor improvements. Logfiles and keyfiles will work from 4.33 to 4.33.1 and can be copied/pasted to move your current setup and settings into this new standalone version. The VG BMS Server will be running BMS 4.33.1 when it finally releases, which should be soon. Right now, GOG has the original Falcon Series on sale 75% off - that's only $2.49 (US)!! Normally, it's $10 on GOG or Steam, either copy will work (on Steam, it's called Falcon GOLD) Best to get it now on GOG while the deal is hot - I just bought 3 copies myself, 2 as gifts for later - amazing deal, no idea how long it will last! https://www.gog.com/game/falcon_collection

It won't even be an issue. VG BMS will remain up as long as there is internets. ;) **UPDATE: Server has now been restarted to Day 1 (Mar. 27 10:45 PST) locking thread - will post another one after several weeks when the next campaign starts getting stale, it's up to the players. !hi

I am using the Poll window above, but you must also post a reply with your vote - this is only for active BMS pilots on our server, and this is the only way to enforce that. It's been 18 days since North Korea attacked, they've been getting pummeled ever since. I hear the weather is pretty foul. Should we restart to Day 1? Feel free to write input and observations if you wish, I'd rather put it to a poll and a discussion each time rather than just restart it on you regular and dedicated pilots. The beauty of a Campaign that can run for weeks is to see the progress you make as players and the progress of the war on the ground due to your actions. It's up to you all when the server should be restarted to Day 1 from now on, these polls will come up each month. I'll keep them up for a short time each time, depending on the number of replies, so get your vote in or your points heard before the decision is made. Also, know that any suggestion to restart the server to day 1 will not be a swift process and you must allow time for these votes, hoping to keep this under 24-48 hours until a decision is made. !hi *(So I can see the votes, I have voted YES, but I have no opinion truly - I'm on my laptop and can't even fly if I wanted. FYI)

Thank you for your input. Project Reality has had a rather large influx of players since the standalone released, and the waves of those intent on disrupting gameplay still wash up on a regular basis. At times, for any number of reasons, we will remove a player from the game immediately to avoid further disruption, and sometimes even innocent players get caught up in larger events - for all of these reasons, we have very attentive administrators here at the website and in game (some of whom I know keep written logs in addition to the server log files they have access to) and a very accessible unban request system here at the website to deal with the large volume of players on our servers. You will also see, if you look again at those unban requests, that we respond to and resolve these posts in a rather timely manner, and we lock them afterwards to avoid the unpleasant online peanut gallery posts that plague the internets. Again, thank you for your input. !hi

Dude - just use a proxy... lol. Can't believe that Proxy isn't an SOP for German gamers. Here's a good one for ya - just set your country to US or Netherlands and you'll be a FREE MAN again: https://hide.me/en/proxy BTW, spoiler alert - it's just some cool music from Top Gun and a few other choice selections. !lol

Epic video man - thanks for sharing!! !2cool

Restarted to last autosave

Definitely a fan of Patrol Ops - hope their testing goes well.

Rough morning, bit of a late response here - It had indeed crashed to desktop. I restarted it to Day 7. Let me know if it happens again, I will keep this website open and will check often today. !cheers