PWCG

[Yenns]

@elephant, did you ever figure it out? I'm trying to do the same thing with assigning "Cripes a' Mighty" to Preddy in my own campaing with no luck!

[elephant]

Unfortunatelly not!

[AeroCrab]

On 5/27/2026 at 10:49 AM, elephant said:

<edit> Nothing happened, the custom ace skin doesn't show...

Hmm, from what you've posted it seems as though it should be working - provided that you are in a new campaign where the date is such that Otto is in Jasta 16b, flying a D.Va. And of course that the skin files themselves are in data\graphics\Skins\AlbatrosD5. If all of that is true and it still doesn't work, I think I have officially run out of ideas. 

<edit> What happens if you try to assign the skin from PWCG itself? Assuming your player pilot is also in Jasta 16b, can you click on Otto and then the D.Va icon on the pilot page and get to the skin assignment page? 

Edited Thursday at 03:21 PM by AeroCrab

[AeroCrab]

15 hours ago, Yenns said:

 Is there a way I can change the specific squadron or even just the squadron codes for my whole unit? Thanks!!

 

The squadron code is contained in BoSData\Input\Squadron\352nd FG.json. Open that with a text editor and you'll see this line:

    "unitIdCode": "PZ",
 

You can change that PZ to whatever two-letter code you want.

[elephant]

I tried to do the assignment that way, but the ace pilots are not on the list, only the generated ones.

I have given some of the generated pilots skins and they show normally.

It's a nice skin for my Albatros Mod...

Edited Thursday at 03:36 PM by elephant

[jlan5031]

elephant,

Thank you,

jlan5031

[Yenns]

Thanks, got the squadron code switched! Now I'm just in the same boat as elephant trying to figure out how to assign a custom skin to an ace. It's such a shame that you can't just change it in the skin management menu like with everyone else.

 

I wonder if the skin has to be added to p47d22.json under the skins folder in PWCG itself first? Tried that and all sorts of other things and never had any success. 

[Czech693]

Have you looked at input/aces?  

 ],
  "name": "Hermann Becker",
  "serialNumber": 101085,
  "rank": "",
  "picName": "",
  "pilotActiveStatus": 0,
  "country": "GERMANY",
  "missionFlown": 0,
  "aggressiveness": 0,
  "aiSkillLevel": "ACE",
  "skill": 4,
  "commonSense": 0,
  "skins": [],  <<<
  "victories": [

[Czech693]

Here's a better example:

"name": "Hermann Graf",
    "serialNumber": 201001,
    "rank": "",
    "picName": "",
    "pilotActiveStatus": 0,
    "country": "GERMANY",
    "missionFlown": 0,
    "aggressiveness": 0,
    "aiSkillLevel": "ACE",
    "skill": 1,
    "commonSense": 0,
    "skins": [
        {
            "skinName": "bf109f4_skin_08",
            "planeType": "bf109f4",
            "startDate": "19390901",
            "endDate": "19450601",
            "squadId": -1,
            "country": "",
            "category": "",
            "definedInGame": true
        },
        {
            "skinName": "bf109g6_skin_04",
            "planeType": "bf109g6",
            "startDate": "19390901",
            "endDate": "19450601",
            "squadId": -1,
            "country": "",
            "category": "",
            "definedInGame": true
        },
        {
            "skinName": "fw190a5_skin_03",
            "planeType": "fw190a5",
            "startDate": "19411001",
            "endDate": "19450601",
            "squadId": -1,
            "country": "",
            "category": "",
            "definedInGame": true
        }
    ],

 

 

[elephant]

If you see some posts above I did it, with no effect in game.

I also tried with the edit "definedInGame": false as AeroCrab suggested, because the skins are custom made, not by default included in game, with no effect whatsoever.

Edited Friday at 08:54 AM by elephant

[AeroCrab]

@elephant Okay, I put a "base" install of 17.1.1 on my machine and went through the process. It turns out that CampaignAces.json is modified by the app itself from the base data; you only need to modify the ace file. I started a campaign on June 1, 1917 in Jasta 16b (since that's when you had the first skin start) and built a mission making sure that Otto got a D.Va and it all worked. I have attached the associated ace file (I used a Schorner skin since it was already on my machine - swap in yours in the appropriate place) and the resultant mission.

I didn't even need to start a new campaign, really - after updating the ace file, I could just start PWCG and go into the existing campaign, then back out all the way and it would update CampaignAces.json with the new data.

Otto Kissenberth.7z Mission.7z

[elephant]

Thank you the most! I'll try them ASAP!

I was playing another Campaign, with Jasta 23b, this time and found Otto Kissenberth transfered there.

I did the edit to the CampaignAces JSON and created a mission with him in...

Nothing...

I'll try your files (fingers crossed)!

[Yenns]

Went with a fresh install and edited the aces.json before launching PWCG at all, and finally had some success!

[elephant]

Finally, it worked for me too!

Thanks a million AeroCrab!

In a new Campaign it worked at once, but I was trying to implement the skins in existing Campaigns editing the CampaignAces JSON of the Campaign (or replacing it with the one from the Campaign with the implemented ace skins, it's the same) but PWCG was automatically restoring the CampaignAces JSON with the default one and the skins didn't show up.

What worked for me was to edit (or replace) the CampaignAces JSON with PWCG closed, then reboot the computer.

Upon rebooting and firing PWCG the edited files remain intact and thus the skins would show.

Thanks again AeroCrab! 🥳

New Campaign, Jasta 16b

Existed Campaign, Jasta 23b

Edited Saturday at 07:37 AM by elephant

[Polnoch]

Could you, guys, pls explain, what are pros and cons to use this campaign generator instead of official career mode?

[FodderMonkey]

2 hours ago, Polnoch said:

Could you, guys, pls explain, what are pros and cons to use this campaign generator instead of official career mode?

Pros: Absolute control over flight, loadout, waypoint, # of enemies, type of mission and most mission parameters.  You can also start close to the action and not captured if you quit a mission over enemy territory (useful for those of us who have to adult full-time and just want to jump into a dogfight or two and have it still count toward our career).  On Stalingrad and Moscow maps you can also (usually) start missions parked engine-off at the airfield (AI struggles with this, so some airfields are a poor option).  Easier to get into large furballs, depending on your settings, and encounters feel more natural and random.  

Cons: The devs were stingy with the code and and how it runs, so the same number of units in PWCG put a much, much bigger impact on memory and clock speed than the same number in career.  As a result, you won't see as many targets or aircraft for the same hit to performance.  This is especially noticeable for ground targets, which are quite a bit fewer except on the highest settings.  You also have a bit fewer mission types to choose from.  You are also limited to a single mission per game day.

Edited Saturday at 10:37 PM by FodderMonkey

[elephant]

What FodderMonkey said is absolutely true. 

I mostly play Flying Circus...

Cons: Because of the memory handling, that FodderMonkey has already mentioned,

the aerodromes in PWCG feel abandoned comparing to the Career Mode ones, there are no static planes, no flares on takeoffs and landings.

All the missions feel like patrols or CAPs, for example in balloon busting and balloon defending missions the ballons are nowhere to be found.

In escort missions you have to go to the aerodrome of the attackers (far away) to get them first, but in the meentime your Flight Leader will be chasing a random lone two seater to the other side of the lines ignoring the mission objectives.

The same in Interceptions and Scramble missions, where there is supposed to be an imminent threat uppon you, but there isn't one.

Pros: The flak is so much lively, threatening and intimmidating.

The missions feel more real life, as a matter of fact you may replay the same mission, but it feels like a new one every time.

You can add custom skins to your squadmates and ace skins can also be added via editting.

There are many more options of Units to chooce from, comparing to the official Career, all assigned by default with their respected skins, if you get the skin packs as well.

These are out of my head now...

 

Edited yesterday at 08:43 AM by elephant