MickV

Vietnam circa 1966-1972 would be my absolute #1 choice, hands-down, over any other map, and any other aircraft module. I'll happily pay extra for Cold War and modern versions of the same map, with different era-appropriate assets, but if we can only get one, please for the love of God, make it the 1960's version. I'm ashamed to admit what I'd be willing to pay for such a map. It's a lot. After Vietnam, in no particular order: Iran-Iraq border, basically from the Euphrates river valley to the southern Caspian Sea: the second biggest air war after Vietnam and lots of GWOT potential Adriatic Sea, with the Balkans and Italy: classic Cold War battleground The Caribbean, with Cuba and southern Florida: what-if Cuban Missile Crisis scenarios

Appreciate even the littlest updates. This is my most anticipated upcoming module and the only one I'm really, truly excited for.

I gotta admit, this announcement was a head-scratcher. With the number of Vietnam War and other Cold War-era aircraft coming, it seems incomprehensible that a Vietnam map isn't in development. Do you Hornet guys anticipate buying this map? So far its the first one that I have no interest in whatsoever.

I think that's correct, given that the VPAF likely has the record for the largest number of MiG-21 combat sorties, and most of those were during Rolling Thunder when the PF and PFL were their primary variants. If we had a dedicated 1960-1968 MP server (or a proper Vietnam map for mission/campaign builders) a PF/PFM would be a blast. Especially if/when Heatblur releases the F-4B with proper early 60's missiles - that could make for some really, really fun fights. But the PF might be in for a rough go in a broader MP environment with only 2 K-13's and no gun, and the PFM having to choose between a drop tank and the gun pod. Without proper GCI, I don't see myself ever choosing one of them over the Bis. Especially if it's going to be F-4E's, F-5E's, Mirage F1's etc etc etc on the other side. There's also the MF, but its so close to the Bis that I think it would be a waste of development effort that could better be applied elsewhere, unless we were ALSO getting the F-13, PF, PFM, etc.

Awesome, thank you!

I’d like to install DCS on a laptop, just to be able to work on the Mission Editor when I’m unable to use my primary computer. I have no intention of flying any modules - it’ll be purely for mission-making. Are there any issues with accessing one account (ie downloading the maps I’ve purchased) from more than one computer? I don’t want to chance any authentication issues (which have buggered up my mods in the past). Thanks in advance!

I picked up Muller's book on your recommendation and it's fantastic. Thank you! Lots of really cool reference photos of systems that I've not seen anywhere else. I'm trying to find high-res copies of some of the full-page photos for use as my desktop wallpaper, without success. MiG-21 Pilot's manual. also really cool, and helped me understand better what I was doing wrong when using the ASP for aerial gunnery. It's also helped me refine my startup, taxi and takeoff procedures to be a little closer to the real thing. I'm exceedingly hopeful that any module updates in the future will make this book even more applicable. I'm a hundred or so pages into Clashes: Air Combat over North Vietnam and its outstanding. It's not MiG-21 specific, obviously, but so far it's had more and better info about actual tactics, real-world employment and technical details of the major American fighters and the MiG-17 and MiG-21 than anything else I've yet come across. Lots of good stuff for building missions to try and replicate air combat during the Vietnam War, such as typical loadouts, mission profiles, etc. A lot of detail about how and why the VPAF employed the MiG-21's the way that they did, which is often lacking or minimally explored in a lot of other books.

+1 Having the Tu-22M available in the mission editor really adds another dimension for Cold War-era bomber intercept scenarios. It would be nice to have a BluFor option along the same lines - especially with the F-4 on its way. Chasing a B-52 in a MiG-19 or MiG-21 will be waaaaay more interesting with a radar-guided gun keeping you from just casually sliding up to 6 o'clock and then blasting it out of the sky.

+1

It's not super-high on my wish list compared to some other things (ASP calibration, gun sounds, etc) but if we've got the reference tables in the cockpit, it's a bit immersion-breaking not to have them be map-appropriate. Wondering if they're maybe on the agenda for the upcoming improved/revised cockpit model?

At higher speeds (still well below 1300km/h and no A/B) and wings level, I've noticed it's distressingly easy to push a bit of negative G without realizing it and induce a flame out. I've done it many times trying to compensate for the porpoising with stick input instead of playing trim-whack-a-mole, usually because I was focusing on something else. Other than over-speeding it, an inadvertent negative-g pushover is the only way I've managed to stall the engine, outside of extreme maneuvers during combat.

I'm only a couple of months into DCS, so take my opinion for what its worth (ie not much), but count me as another diehard Cold War afficionado, for all of the reasons already articulated, and a few more: I'm a history buff (which I suspect many of you are also), and the opportunity to try and re-create historic air battles is a HUGE part of the fun of DCS. From a flight sim standpoint, the GWOT is simply no comparison to Vietnam, the Iran-Iraq War, the Arab-Israeli conflicts, etc etc. It just isn't. (At least not without getting your Tom Clancy on and going full what-if, which I enjoy as much as the next guy - but then you end up hobbled by the lack of RedFor modules) I've also noticed that friends who choose the F-18 or F-16 as their primary module don't seem to have much interest in branching out into other airframes. Given the F-18's ability to do everything, I can understand that sentiment. The more specialized nature of many Cold War-era aircraft, combined with the shallower learning curve for older aircraft would seem to me to be a better business model for ED. A given Cold War module might offer the chance for a radically different gameplay experience, even from other peer aircraft of its own era. Whereas I don't know how true that is for modern, multirole fighters with large amounts of overlap with one another in terms of systems, capabilities and roles. If I'd gotten into the Viper instead of the MiG-21 as my primary module, I don't know how excited I'd be for the F-4, the MiG-23, the Mirage F-1, the A-6.... As it is I'm likely to buy some or all of them, just because I know they'll be very, very different from one another, and offer a ton of gameplay options that I simply don't have while flying my beloved MiG-21.

I'm just getting started with DCS, and I did what everyone advises not to do - selected the MiG-21 as my first module and went in whole hog, despite being completely new and inexperienced. It's been a HUGE learning curve, and I'm still very much a novice, but I've enjoyed studying the aircraft and finding people to learn from almost as much as I've enjoyed actually flying the damn thing. Some issues that I've found - because it's an older module and there have been revisions over the years, figuring out what information is still applicable and what's out of date isn't always easy. If you're a visual learner like me, there are a number of Youtubers out there - Enigma89, Hadwell, Rossmum, CrazyGMan and Tactical Pascale all have MiG-21 specific material that I found super helpful. The Grim Reapers' stuff is very beginner friendly as well; short & sweet, plus really entertaining IMO. As for reading: English language books have been tough to come by, and there are a lot of conflicting sources as 303_Kermit alluded to above. I'm currently reading MiG-21 Aces of the Vietnam War. It's a lot of dates and names and events, but very little about tactics or equipment. I also bought and read this book on the Phantom vs MiG-21, but it was also only superficially useful in terms of technical information that I didn't already know. Still an enjoyable read with ideas for further research, however. The first chapter (about VPAF MiG-21 pilot selection and training) is identical in both books, IIRC. Useful tips and tactics are only indirectly referred to, but I've gleaned a few things. There's this one by Yefim Gordon, but as its out of print hard copies are ludicrously expensive. I found a PDF online, and am just going through it, too early for a verdict. The development sections are very in-depth, and I definitely gained an appreciation for all the pre-Bis variants. I'm DYING for a MiG-21-93/Bison variant at some point, though I realize it's unlikely to become a reality. I realize this post isn't terribly helpful, but I feel like I'm learning more and improving as each day goes by. If you find any sources of value, please let me know! Cheers, Mick

… and I’ve managed to bugger it up. I had to reset my CMOS as part of a RAM upgrade, and got a code 500 authorization error message that disabled all of my modules on startup. Fixed that with a clock reset, but in the meanwhile it seems to have reverted this outstanding mod back to the default sounds. I follower uninstall README instructions and reinstalled the mod, to no avail. Now the switch sounds are completely gone, and the engine sounds are the default. Any suggestions short of a complete uninstall of DCS and A clean re-install? Thanks in advance!

Just downloaded and installed the mod. WOW. What a difference! Why this isn't the default sound pack for the module is beyond me. Its absolutely fantastic. Feels like a totally different plane. The in-cockpit engine sound makes a huge improvement in immersion, and the exterior sounds are even better! That afterburner pop and the engine crackle sounds are simply exquisite. The only thing missing is a proper GSh-23 sound. Thank you so much for making this available!

Given that its the F-4E being developed, I imagine more players would rather see a fully updated/improved Bis II module than a PF, MF, etc. The F4-E and Bis feel more like peer variants than the -E and a PF/MF would be, given that the former are the 'ultimate' expression of its parent type, IMHO. With the obvious matchup of the F-4 and MiG-21 as adversaries for Cold War multiplayer, it feels fairer/more balanced as well. (Especially given the lack of GCI in the base game.) I'd be MUCH more excited and for a Bis II than a spanking-new PF/MF (let alone an F-13) that's even more outclassed against the vast majority of other DCS aircraft. I doubt I'm alone in that.

As per your suggestion, I uninstalled the most recent Windows updates from 14 April, and that has seemed to do the trick as of this AM. One of the updates was a Windows Security definitions patch. I tested it by connecting to a Cold War server with a limited roster of aircraft and only a couple of players, and it loaded up very quickly, with zero lag. I then tried one of the busier servers that had previously locked my system, with the full whack of available planes and 15ish players. It still hangs at 'net sim post start'; however, after about 4-5 mins it connected as previously, and ran reasonably well with intermittent lag. Thanks for the help and the suggestions. I'm going to upgrade to SSD storage on my PC, hopefully that will improve loading times and keep it stable. A new build is likely on the horizon as well. Appreciate the prompt responses, thank you!

Updated drivers as per your suggesion. Looked like it worked, as I subsequently attempted to join an MP server with only 1 player on as a test, and it worked like a dream@ Loaded very quickly, near-zero lag. Ok, great I thought. So I tried another server with 10 or 12 players on - same crash. Complete system lock at net sim post start that even crashed task manager and froze my mouse. Took my system about 20 mins to return to normal function. Log attached. I appreciate the help. Just baffled why this has happened only since yesterday afternoon. Was working well prior to that. dcs.log

I had not, but have now done so. Same result, unfortunately. Single-player works fine, but attempting to connect to any MP server gets hung up at net sim post start. Leaving it for 15-30 mins will occasionally get it to connect, but with crippling lag, any mouse input provokes freezes the program and requires task manager to shut down. Most recent log attached. dcs.log

Having same problem. Getting stuck at net sim post start crash on attemping to join an MP server. Have to Task Manager out and shut down DCS. 100% reproducible. Log attached (I think). No issues connecting to MP yesterday. Restarted router twice as per suggestions earlier in thread with no improvement. Thanks in advance. dcs.log

I'm new to DCS, but the MiG-21 has been BY FAR my favorite of the modules I've purchased to date, and the one I'm putting 90% of my flight hours into. Bravo to the developers! For what its worth I'd buy a MiG-21Bis II module in a heartbeat, regardless. But I would be doubly excited about a LanceR or Bison module so as to be more competitive against 4th gen adversaries. Some of the Vietnam-era variants would be fantastic, but without more of the mid-Cold War era NATO aircraft to match up against, I don't see how they would offer a demonstrably different experience than the Bis. I'd rather have an updated Bis II module than a standalone F-13. In any case, count me as another 100% committed buyer for another MiG-21 module.