Add an option to prefer primary tasked aircraft.

We're still using mostly the same aircraft selection as we have before
we added squadrons: the closest aircraft is the best choice.

This adds an option to obey the primary task set by the campaign
designer (can be overridden by players), even if the squadron is farther
away than one that is capable of it as a secondary task.

I don't expect this option to live very long. I'm making it optional for
now to give people a chance to test it, but it'll either replace the old
selection strategy or will be removed.

Fixes https://github.com/dcs-liberation/dcs_liberation/issues/1892.

changelog.md

@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ Saves from 6.x are not compatible with 7.0.
 
 * **[Engine]** Support for DCS 2.8.3.37556.
 * **[Engine]** Saved games are now a zip file of save assets for easier bug reporting. The new extension is .liberation.zip. Drag and drop that file into bug reports.
-* **[Flight Planning]** Package TOT and composition can be modified after advancing time in Liberation.
+* **[Campaign AI]** Added an option to instruct the campaign AI to prefer fulfilling missions with squadrons which have a matching primary task. Previously distance from target held a stronger influence than task preference. Primary tasks for squadrons are set by campaign designers but are user-configurable.
+* **[Flight Planning]** Package TOT and composition can be modified after advancing time in Liberation. 
 * **[Mission Generation]** Units on the front line are now hidden on MFDs.
 * **[Mission Generation]** Preset radio channels will now be configured for both A-10C modules.
 * **[Mission Generation]** Both A-10C modules now use separate radios for inter- and intra-flight comms (similar to other modern aircraft).

game/campaignloader/defaultsquadronassigner.py

@@ -42,7 +42,11 @@ class DefaultSquadronAssigner:
                     continue
 
                 squadron = Squadron.create_from(
-                    squadron_def, control_point, self.coalition, self.game
+                    squadron_def,
+                    squadron_config.primary,
+                    control_point,
+                    self.coalition,
+                    self.game,
                 )
                 squadron.set_auto_assignable_mission_types(
                     squadron_config.auto_assignable

game/settings/settings.py

@@ -176,6 +176,18 @@ class Settings:
             "extremely incomplete so does not affect all weapons."
         ),
     )
+    prefer_squadrons_with_matching_primary_task: bool = boolean_option(
+        "Prefer squadrons with matching primary task when planning missions",
+        page=CAMPAIGN_MANAGEMENT_PAGE,
+        section=GENERAL_SECTION,
+        default=False,
+        detail=(
+            "If checked, squadrons with a primary task matching the mission will be "
+            "preferred even if there is a closer squadron capable of the mission as a"
+            "secondary task. Expect longer flights, but squadrons will be more often "
+            "assigned to their primary task."
+        ),
+    )
     # Pilots and Squadrons
     ai_pilot_levelling: bool = boolean_option(
         "Allow AI pilot leveling",

game/squadrons/airwing.py

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class AirWing:
         self.squadrons: dict[AircraftType, list[Squadron]] = defaultdict(list)
         self.squadron_defs = SquadronDefLoader(game, faction).load()
         self.squadron_def_generator = SquadronDefGenerator(faction)
+        self.settings = game.settings
 
     def unclaim_squadron_def(self, squadron: Squadron) -> None:
         if squadron.aircraft in self.squadron_defs:
@@ -66,6 +67,17 @@ class AirWing:
                     key=lambda s: best_aircraft.index(s.aircraft),
                 )
             )
+
+        if self.settings.prefer_squadrons_with_matching_primary_task:
+            return sorted(
+                ordered,
+                key=lambda s: (
+                    # This looks like the opposite of what we want because False sorts
+                    # before True.
+                    s.primary_task != task,
+                    s.location.distance_to(location),
+                ),
+            )
         return ordered
 
     def best_squadron_for(

game/squadrons/squadron.py

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ class Squadron:
     role: str
     aircraft: AircraftType
     livery: Optional[str]
+    primary_task: FlightType
     auto_assignable_mission_types: set[FlightType]
     operating_bases: OperatingBases
     female_pilot_percentage: int
@@ -416,6 +417,7 @@ class Squadron:
     def create_from(
         cls,
         squadron_def: SquadronDef,
+        primary_task: FlightType,
         base: ControlPoint,
         coalition: Coalition,
         game: Game,
@@ -428,6 +430,7 @@ class Squadron:
             squadron_def.role,
             squadron_def.aircraft,
             squadron_def.livery,
+            primary_task,
             squadron_def.auto_assignable_mission_types,
             squadron_def.operating_bases,
             squadron_def.female_pilot_percentage,

qt_ui/widgets/combos/primarytaskselector.py

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from PySide6.QtWidgets import QComboBox
+
+from game.ato import FlightType
+from game.dcs.aircrafttype import AircraftType
+from game.squadrons import Squadron
+
+
+class PrimaryTaskSelector(QComboBox):
+    def __init__(self, aircraft: AircraftType | None) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self.setSizeAdjustPolicy(QComboBox.SizeAdjustPolicy.AdjustToContents)
+        self.set_aircraft(aircraft)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def for_squadron(squadron: Squadron) -> PrimaryTaskSelector:
+        selector = PrimaryTaskSelector(squadron.aircraft)
+        selector.setCurrentText(squadron.primary_task.value)
+        return selector
+
+    def set_aircraft(self, aircraft: AircraftType | None) -> None:
+        self.clear()
+        if aircraft is None:
+            self.addItem("Select aircraft type first", None)
+            self.setEnabled(False)
+            self.update()
+            return
+
+        self.setEnabled(True)
+        for task in aircraft.iter_task_capabilities():
+            self.addItem(task.value, task)
+        self.model().sort(0)
+        self.setEnabled(True)
+        self.update()
+
+    @property
+    def selected_task(self) -> FlightType | None:
+        return self.currentData()

qt_ui/windows/AirWingConfigurationDialog.py

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ from game.squadrons import AirWing, Pilot, Squadron
 from game.squadrons.squadrondef import SquadronDef
 from game.theater import ControlPoint
 from qt_ui.uiconstants import AIRCRAFT_ICONS, ICONS
+from qt_ui.widgets.combos.primarytaskselector import PrimaryTaskSelector
 
 
 class QMissionType(QCheckBox):
@@ -210,6 +211,10 @@ class SquadronConfigurationBox(QGroupBox):
         self.livery_selector = SquadronLiverySelector(squadron)
         left_column.addWidget(self.livery_selector)
 
+        left_column.addWidget(QLabel("Primary task:"))
+        self.primary_task_selector = PrimaryTaskSelector.for_squadron(self.squadron)
+        left_column.addWidget(self.primary_task_selector)
+
         left_column.addWidget(QLabel("Base:"))
         self.base_selector = SquadronBaseSelector(
             game.theater.control_points_for(squadron.player),
@@ -262,6 +267,7 @@ class SquadronConfigurationBox(QGroupBox):
         try:
             self.name_edit.setText(self.squadron.name)
             self.nickname_edit.setText(self.squadron.nickname)
+            self.primary_task_selector.setCurrentText(self.squadron.primary_task.value)
             self.base_selector.setCurrentText(self.squadron.location.name)
             self.player_list.setText(
                 "<br />".join(p.name for p in self.claim_players_from_squadron())
@@ -285,6 +291,7 @@ class SquadronConfigurationBox(QGroupBox):
         self.squadron.coalition.air_wing.unclaim_squadron_def(self.squadron)
         squadron = Squadron.create_from(
             selected_def,
+            self.squadron.primary_task,
             self.squadron.location,
             self.coalition,
             self.game,
@@ -331,6 +338,10 @@ class SquadronConfigurationBox(QGroupBox):
     def apply(self) -> Squadron:
         self.squadron.name = self.name_edit.text()
         self.squadron.nickname = self.nickname_edit.text()
+        if (primary_task := self.primary_task_selector.selected_task) is not None:
+            self.squadron.primary_task = primary_task
+        else:
+            raise RuntimeError("Primary task cannot be none")
         base = self.base_selector.currentData()
         if base is None:
             raise RuntimeError("Base cannot be none")
@@ -583,6 +594,7 @@ class AirWingConfigurationTab(QWidget):
 
         selected_type = popup.aircraft_type_selector.currentData()
         selected_base = popup.squadron_base_selector.currentData()
+        selected_task = popup.primary_task_selector.selected_task
         selected_def = popup.squadron_def_selector.currentData()
 
         # Let user choose the preset or generate one
@@ -594,7 +606,7 @@ class AirWingConfigurationTab(QWidget):
         )
 
         squadron = Squadron.create_from(
-            squadron_def, selected_base, self.coalition, self.game
+            squadron_def, selected_task, selected_base, self.coalition, self.game
         )
 
         # Add Squadron
@@ -744,6 +756,12 @@ class SquadronConfigPopup(QDialog):
         )
         self.column.addWidget(self.aircraft_type_selector)
 
+        self.column.addWidget(QLabel("Primary task:"))
+        self.primary_task_selector = PrimaryTaskSelector(
+            self.aircraft_type_selector.currentData()
+        )
+        self.column.addWidget(self.primary_task_selector)
+
         self.column.addWidget(QLabel("Base:"))
         self.squadron_base_selector = SquadronBaseSelector(
             bases, None, self.aircraft_type_selector.currentData()
@@ -774,6 +792,7 @@ class SquadronConfigPopup(QDialog):
         enabled = (
             self.aircraft_type_selector.currentData() is not None
             and self.squadron_base_selector.currentData() is not None
+            and self.primary_task_selector.selected_task is not None
         )
         self.accept_button.setEnabled(enabled)
 
@@ -784,6 +803,9 @@ class SquadronConfigPopup(QDialog):
         self.squadron_def_selector.set_aircraft_type(
             self.aircraft_type_selector.currentData()
         )
+        self.primary_task_selector.set_aircraft(
+            self.aircraft_type_selector.currentData()
+        )
         self.update_accept_button()
         self.update()
 

qt_ui/windows/SquadronDialog.py

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from game.theater import ConflictTheater, ControlPoint
 from qt_ui.delegates import TwoColumnRowDelegate
 from qt_ui.errorreporter import report_errors
 from qt_ui.models import AtoModel, SquadronModel
+from qt_ui.widgets.combos.primarytaskselector import PrimaryTaskSelector
 
 
 class PilotDelegate(TwoColumnRowDelegate):
@@ -161,8 +162,20 @@ class SquadronDialog(QDialog):
         columns = QHBoxLayout()
         layout.addLayout(columns)
 
+        left_column = QVBoxLayout()
+        columns.addLayout(left_column)
+
+        left_column.addWidget(QLabel("Primary task"))
+        self.primary_task_selector = PrimaryTaskSelector.for_squadron(
+            self.squadron_model.squadron
+        )
+        self.primary_task_selector.currentIndexChanged.connect(
+            self.on_task_index_changed
+        )
+        left_column.addWidget(self.primary_task_selector)
+
         auto_assigned_tasks = AutoAssignedTaskControls(squadron_model)
-        columns.addLayout(auto_assigned_tasks)
+        left_column.addLayout(auto_assigned_tasks)
 
         self.pilot_list = PilotList(squadron_model)
         self.pilot_list.selectionModel().selectionChanged.connect(
@@ -298,3 +311,9 @@ class SquadronDialog(QDialog):
         index = selected.indexes()[0]
         self.reset_ai_toggle_state(index)
         self.reset_leave_toggle_state(index)
+
+    def on_task_index_changed(self, index: int) -> None:
+        task = self.primary_task_selector.itemData(index)
+        if task is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("Selected task cannot be None")
+        self.squadron.primary_task = task