Just wondering if there will be true game master ability in online play.

So you could have a DCS "dungeon master" that could spawn in events (units/sounds/texts) to create a dynamic environment?

Is there much interest In this

or even a ground commander acting as overall command telling pilots what and where to strike ... the ultimate version of this would be with commanders on both sides running the battle, with limited resources on each side

I thought this was what Combined Arms was all about?

But it never seems to happen ... In my experience .. You might get one person working as jtac, but that's about as far as I have seen it get

I believe this is available in the commercial product, but I'm not sure. We have a lesser version of this, but you can sort of make it happen by using MIST and a bunch of additional code probably. The possibility is there, but not out of the box.

The Game Master roles have control over everything available on the map, it does not matter if a GM is Red or Blue except for the Briefing that they see when joining.

The Tactical Commander roles are what you are looking for. There are several missions that come immediately to mind that pit these roles against each other. tm is right, typically the roles are not staffed in opposition in missions. However, any TC or JTAC can take a mission to another order of battle by directing vehicle groups and setting targets for artillery and air assets.

AI has the advantage in targeting so I will take my vehicles to an engagement point and then let the AI fight it out.

WC

The OP is looking for the GM, AFAIK. Complete control over the scenario.

The Tactical Commander is a nice feature to take over one side ground units and LotATC (http://www.lotatc.com) is a nice tool for ATC, Radar and AWACS controller. Both combined would be huge!

Using the Game Master role is like playing chess with yourself. If someone else is in opposition then you both could make a gentleman's agreement to not control the other side's assets. The Tactical Commander role eliminates this crossover capability. I've used F10 All and F10 Fog Of War in these roles and you can see the other side's units when appropriate; I don't know if the opposition can be completely hidden on the F10 Map from CA roles.

WC

This is timely, from DCS forums --
The problem I am having, is that no matt...es in the area.

This ^^^ is what I think happens -- the CA role can see everything.

WC

Using the GM role is also like running a very specific scenario for certain people. The GM role isn't concerned with 'playing the opposition', they're concerned with executing a particular scenario.

It has nothing to do with gentleman's agreements, it's all about training. In some limited way, a GM could also provide more dynamic play (spawning friendly troops in danger and a JTAC with them, calling for help, as well as their attackers) etc.

That's exactly what the GM role is - a Game MASTER, not your tactical opponent

Yeah, greyghost is in the direction I am thinking.

For instance. I could start a multiplayer game with just a few playable units for people to join in with and no enemy.

So as I am game master, I can spawn in anywhere on a map, any friendly or enemy unit that I wish. I would have full ability to code in waypoints, triggers flags etc for any unit in real time. Basically use the full mission editor in a running multiplayer scenario.

So like the old pen and paper dungeon master, I can shape as I will any event on the fly and insert it into an already running game.

To be honest that is always the direction I wanted Combined Arms to take - I thought the in vehicle stuff to be a distraction to the feature of overall control of the battlefield.

I had imagined a Supreme Commander style usage of the F10 map. The Idea of the human game master being able to spawn units, ala the mission editor, hadn't occurred to me - its a fantastic idea - and doable in a very limited fashion, with triggers and radio commands.

Nate

I strongly agree with that.

I use my Patriot of Fear +12 and take out the entire flight of Blackjacks!!!



The Jedi Master