03.02.2010, 09:59
This is a modification of Asheshouse' wonderful Battle of France Map designed specifically for nightfighting.
In addition to adding new airfields and extending the map about 100km to include the Ruhr River Valley, I've used several unorthodox techniques to create a better arena for us nightfighter enthusiasts.
1) No town buildings - the map is bare except for airfields, in order to improve load times and FPS when using large bomber streams. I've run the map with over 100 bombers and it runs very smoothly. At night you'd never see the buildings anyway.
2) Darkened landscape - the landscape has been significantly darkened, so that at night it is very difficult to pick cities out from the countryside. Also, the declination has been changed to eliminate the "glowing horizon" common to most Il-2 maps - now the only light source is the moon, which can be eliminated with the moon mod.
3) Clearer skies - the upper cloud layer has been darkened considerably to let the stars shine through, and to make it harder to pick out bombers.
4) H2S / FuG mini-map. When zoomed out, the mini-map will display a green H2S-like ground scan to help bombers navigate. There are no map labels to get in the way, so you'd better know where you're going. When zoomed in on the mini-map, the background is black, to save the night vision of fighters using the map as a radar screen. This works especially well with Zuti's MDS mod by setting nightfighters as scouts.
This map is not intended for daylight operations, and will look a little strange without the lights off
Thanks to:
Asheshouse for creating such a great map and giving me permission to post my version.
Version 1.0
Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?im2q0zjat5w
Bonus 100 bomber mission: http://www.mediafire.com/?5mhw3h3nrjm
Happy Flying!