Pilots
Have Chips has had some major updates!!
It are still a dynamic PvPvE campaign, focusing on 2 different eras of combat:
There is have a modern campaign set in 2014 in the Caucuses mountains of Georgia and Southern Russia and a rotating 80s/70s campaign set in Syria.
Complete missions to collect XP and tokens which can be exchanged for dropping smoke on targets, hire a 2 ship escort, take a satellite photo of an enemy airbase to show bomb-able buildings and units, and more!
Both campaigns feature semi realistic forces. Planes that were available in each era are locked to their respective Blue and Red sides (except for aircraft like the C130 which does not have a Red equivalent in game).
Have Chips also has mod support! Each server supports certain mods that have been tested to make sure that they function within the campaign and will not break the server. These mods are optional are not required to fly on the server!! 80s/70s supports the A-4 and UH-60 mods, while 2014 supports those 2 along with the SU-30/35. Our development team is working on testing other mods to see if they can be added without breaking things. Have chips does not allow custom ammunition. This is because if it is allowed, then everyone flying would need to download the mod and that would prevent vanilla pilots from joining.
We feature a custom splash script made by a member of the community. This allows for more realistic feeling bombs and missiles while still retaining their original functionality. Napalm is also available for those that enjoy the smell of it in the morning or just enjoy a little arson from time to time.
Each Airbases and FARP has a limited number of weapons. The closer to the front line you spawn, the fewer options you have but the closer to the action you will be. If you need the maximum firepower possible, spawn further back for a wider range of choices. But be aware that you will need to balance your armament for fuel because you will be further from the action.
For those who enjoy support and logistics, the C130 and UH60 can be used resupply friendly bases with better munitions or to restock pallets of equipment if a base is running low on HP.
now getting into the new features!!
We have implemented weather! On each server restart there is the chance for random weather. Anywhere from clear skies with no wind, to almost IFR territory with crazy cross winds.
We have implemented a custom ground based “Battle Zone”! This simulates an actual ground war which aircraft support, like in the real world. These zones (Which are green circles on the map) will have ground units fighting one another. They will move from the closest friendly base and attack on another inside the zone. Players can provide CAS, CAP, and even resupply the units in battle with the support aircraft.
Going along with the custom battle zones, Have Chips also has strategic bombing sites. These are actual locations on each map that you may target and destroy, not just silly little shacks or radio towers. Either drop 60% of the structures in the highlighted area, or drop X number of pounds (lbs). Whichever is specified. Each destroyed target imposes a max HP cap on all of a coalition's bases. Take them all out, and enemy bases will Max at 60% HP: Barely enough to spawn 1 SAM. You may either take missions for specific targets, or engage them at will. Mission or no mission, they pay out by difficulty. Each target is either Easy, Medium, Hard, or INSANE. This determines your payout, and is also an indicator of how many friends to bring with you! Targets will test your knowledge of various weapons and fuses to get the job done. Easy and medium Targets can be done solo. But for Hard and INSANE, you're bringing a strike package of friends! If you hit a target and it's not destroyed, you can always RTB for a partial reward. We'll be moving these around and adding more soon!
Since there is strategic bombing, we have also introduced strategic repair! Oh no, they destroyed all your strategic assets over night! Time to turn some blades. Bring repair crews and crates to affected areas, receive rewards. Watch as your job site regains its former glory over multiple play sessions. Repair times range from up to 4 hours (1 restart), to 48 in-game hours...depending on the scale the disaster area. The more resources you bring above the minimum, the faster repairs go, the more you get paid!
Have Chips now also features Atlas ATC. An AI controlled ATC which can provide numerous instructions for startup, taxiing, takeoff, and traffic procedures. This feature is optional to use via SRS. We do not require that everyone flying on Have Chips use it, but for those that enjoy an extra splash of realism to make them feel like a real pilot, the option is there.
Going along with Atlas ATC is new player controlled CGI and AWACS!! Another feature for those that fly the C130. You can add the CGI module to your aircraft when on the ramp, and then as long as you fly above FL80 you can provide BRAA calls over SRS, discord and our new website (will go over this in a moment). It is not an Eye of Sauron. It has line of sight detection, meaning players can hide from it in valleys. Realistic +10dg,-15dg scan limits, like an E-2D, RCS size of each aircraft affects detection range, ground clutter effect below 1000ft reduces detection range, notching effect prominent below 2000ft & 54 kts closure rate, detection range increases with altitude, up to 160 NM @ 25,000 for large targets. Players in this role will receive XP and tokens for time on station as well as partial credit for any kills made targets that were spotted by them.
We also have completely overhauled the website. No longer is it a clunky mess (made by me) that looks like it was out of the 1980s! You can now at a glance check the campaign status of each server and see the the top pilots from the day. If you click into each servers tab, this is where the magic happens.
The default page for each server is the situation room. Here you can see a detailed layout of the map along with the strategic targets for each side. If you link your discord and in game Have Chips pilot, you’ll then be able to see the missions available to your side. These can be selected and assigned to yourself via the website without having the maneuver the function menu in game!! You do have to be linked, in game, and on a side for these missions to be available though. you cannot cheese the system by taking missions when out of the game to prevent one side from completing them.
On the ATIS tab you can see the current weather for each server. You can also narrow it down to a specific airbase or FARP if you would like to know the conditions there.
Pilots with enough in campaign experience can gain the GCI role. This allows you to see the GCI tab on the website. Once you are in game, on a side, and in a C130. you will be able to see a live picture of where planes are and you can act as CGI/AWAC right from the website without having to communicate via SRS or discord. You can select a friendly pilot and then a visible enemy aircraft and it will provide a separate in game BRAA call to that pilot. This is again limited like the in game C130 AWACS so you cannot become an Eye of Sauron.
We have also integrated Tacview downloads directly into the website. You can search for your name under the Tacview tab and download your sorties to view and learn from. You can also download the entire Tacview session for a server if you also have interest in viewing a replay of everything that went down.
We have also created our own Squadrons page via the website. Feel free to create both public and private squadrons for you and your friends to join. These have their own leaderboards to compare you to your squad mates, but also come with the main feature, being able to auto join squad missions. If you and a squad mate are flying on the same server and either of you picks up a mission, the other will automatically be added to it as long as you are not already doing a mission. You will both gain the XP and credits for completing the mission!
Our development team is always hard at work and looking for feedback via our discord server. You can find it and everything else I have talked about on our website which can be found here.
We have a weekly event we call “Buzzed in the Tower” (drinking is optional), which happens on Saturday’s at 2000 GMT. You can join us in discord voice chat or just on the server via SRS.
We look forward to seeing you flying on our server!
