GrEaSeLiTeNiN

Liberation 5.2.0 supports the new Apache.

So I maxed out the enemy groups per zone but they seem to get bogged down at Alpha nonetheless. I have now added like 7-8 vehicles per group to overwhelm Blue and will test to see if they can make it to Bravo.

Yeah ROE color in manual and sim are mixed up. As of now green is weapons free in sim.

Is the splash damage effect shielded by the trees completely or does some of it pass through?Yes I now use the ME to reposition those hidden tanks.

I like this mode. But it is best played strictly ie. no active pause/unlimited weapons/labels and start at default location. Otherwise you could wipe out the enemy convoy (which in missions like Mount Olympus has a long way to travel) before they reach Alpha.

It's the tanks deep in the center of a thick tree canopy that cannot be seen with FLIR (no labels) and cannot be destroyed since the default DCS tree canopy (as far as I can tell) is completely impenetrable to rockets and HFs but not at all to cannon rounds. Also, unless they have a planned route to move on, the current response of enemy armor when under threat/hits is only to move a little so they stay hidden. So yes, I have moved such units into less cover in the ME. But I'll take a look at the splash damage script also. Thanks.

Likewise here, SP only with auto-handoff turned off. Was mostly flying as CPG at first. But now I toggle between both after I realised I could also fire HFs as Pilot. Flying as Pilot with AI CPG, it's very doable with labels on and the command circle after you get used to it. Would be better if George could IFF and not put friendlies in his list.

Would be great if there was an option we could check (eg. none, minimal, random) for the number of ground units ending up inside tree coverage. This would be useful for maps with lots of trees like Marianas where currently, some enemy ground units generated are embedded in the center of the jungle with tree canopies that are currently impenetrable by Rkts and HFs.

I've been following CasmoTV and schoolio64D on YouTube (former Apache pilots). I don't recall feedback from them on the FM unless I missed it somewhere. But they seem to go along fine with what's been modeled. I am curious though.

Yeah, watch the TADS video in the pilot seat and it will be clearer what he is targeting or not or what the problem is. If he stores, it's because he doesn't have a firing solution - the target may be behind a tree for example. Also, he is not actually storing anything (there is no T01, T02 from him if you check the Coord page) although he says it but this may be implemented later on. I play only SP and George is usable with practice but could of course be improved.

Yeah, as nicely explained by Kharrn above. Remember to WAS the HF or it will prompt you “weapon?” even though the command circle already instructed the CPG to select HFs. Not having CPG George go ROE weapons free is because he will not distinguish friend or foe at this stage. But if you have labels on and need to take out ground targets fast, weapons free can be useful. Slave and select targets and he fires.

Casmo answers some of your questions in his YouTube vid here.

For me I think the thing that could sometimes lead to problems and sudden rolls is the rudder vs trim reset. I use a Warthog throttle 4-way hat (L/R) for rudder. Works fine mostly. But the rudder STAYS where I last moved it even after the hat re-centers. So in an 'emergency' when I need the rudder centered, I forget that the trim reset WILL NOT recenter it unless I do a force trim first (if there was no prior trimming). This is unlike the cyclic which naturally goes back to stick center (before trimming). PS: Yes I know pedals are good to have for helos with tail rotors. I'll wait and see if future adjustments to the FM and auto hover will make things a little better.

Enjoying the Apache too. What 'spoils' it a little for me though is the possibility (quite often) of doing a disconcerting/unexpected snap roll (feels like capsizing in a boat) whenever you 'make a mistake' in your flying to cause that. Is this how it is in the real helo or just WIP? I know I need to go easy on the roll so I have even used a 30 curve and 80 Y saturation on my standard on-tabletop warthog hotas. It's better but it occasionally happens. Panic use of the force trim/reset probably contributes to it too. I guess I have to keep to small movements on the cyclic/collective. IRL, do attack helos perform rolls at times for specific reasons? Thanks

The Apache is my first serious helo. Complex at first but after a few weeks, you cover most of it because (and you realize) there is only one smart weapon unlike the many weapon systems you have to learn and remember on jets like the F18/16. Of course, efficiency, flying skill (hover!) and really understanding the concepts of sight vs ACQ, LOAL Hi/Lo/Dir vs LOBL, will take some reading up but there are some very helpful posts here by SMEs.

Sorry I can’t watch your tracks as it says a mod is required. Alternatively if it’s not too much trouble you could do a screen recording of the relevant segment and put it temporarily on YouTube.

One other thing you could get CPG George to do is lase and track an enemy helo. Then as pilot you fire the hellfire. The AI is naturally better at keeping the laser on the helo and there’s a chance your missile will hit the target.

Thanks. I see your point about the public part, which kind of defeats the purpose, to some extent, of a block/ignore.

In a nutshell, CPG George is as good as your use of the command rose. He won’t or can’t proactively search out targets other than those in the direction you tell him to look at. Procedurally he is fast, of course, being AI. Search again (aft long press) often does ‘stop tracking’ (aft short press). So you are better off just using forward (short press) again to get George to find targets. Trees are a problem. He sees the target behind the trees but can only store them (they are not actually stored - WIP). Pilot George - I use mainly the FLT command rose in combat. I find CMBT is less employable as the long presses don’t seem to work well. Update/to add: As pilot, you select the weapons and its sub options (eg. LOBL/LOAL, rocket quantity) for CPG George via the command rose, he won't. As CPG, Pilot George will just fly straight and wherever you tell him to fly to, via the command rose. He won't perform evasive maneuvers and you have to tell him to arm the CMWS via the command rose as he won't do it on his own even in battle. I don't think he dispenses chaff and flares if CMWS is set to bypass so I leave it in auto or do it myself. Some of it is probably WIP.

That's not the point or intention if you understand what a block is.

Having fun! Just some feedback/comments: a) Been trying out Blue on Defense. I like that the ground forces move making them harder targets compared to stationary ones in non Blue on Defense missions.. But could the moving enemy force come in from more than one location? Otherwise they can get wiped out before they reach Bravo which kind of makes it pointless to have Bravo or Charlie. Example is the Syria mission Mount Olympus. Enemy forces have a long way to travel. b) For the non Blue on Defense missions, would be great if the ground forces could react/evade or move a little more instead of being mostly stationary target practice. I know DCS ground AI isn't great at the moment but I'm sure the ME experts can plan something interesting. c) As DCS trees are impenetrable to rockets and hellfires at the moment, perhaps for maps with lots of trees like Marianas and Caucasus could somehow have fewer ground forces tucked under trees? One thing I do in Blue on Defense is to not check 'Force Offroad' so that the vehicles are less likely to end up inside vegetation. Thanks!

Yeah the sudden snap roll is weird. Plus side of it happening is it will always roll 360 fast. Hopefully this isn't realistic. Also, whenever the flight characteristics get a little 'crazy' it feels like a swinging pendulum. Can't wait for a major update.

They should have a block option like in Facebook where it's both ways, meaning the one you block can't see your posts.

If you ignore a person, it just hides their posts so you don't see them but it does not stop them from seeing and replying to your posts right? Or is it the same as a Facebook block?

Yes, you can as others have said using buddy lasing. Works too with AFAC and FAC lasing (I have tried this in SP as pilot, no George). As to your question on HF Search mode, I'm not sure but once the JTAC lases, I point the aircraft at the target area and the HF is able to go to "T" (track) in the WPN page. I put ACQ to SKR to see where the missile is looking and the dotted cross is at the target (it won't necessarily be directly on the target). It seems to search for laser reflection on its own. Fire off and HF successfully hits target.