westr

When you experience drops to around 30FPS does it still feel smooth enough to play? For example there are times when my frames have dropped into the 30 in the Normandy map with the P-51 but were it not for the FPS indicator I wouldn't know. But on this occasion with the F-14 in PG it drops into the 30s but it really stutters and is not smooth at all even though im reading 30fps.

Yeah I’m talking about VR. And the figures recorded and relating to VR when in comparison between maps.

Yeah accepted but my point is it’s not an issue on any of the maps for me apart from the Persian gulf. And even then not all areas. And looking in directions on the map where there is non populated areas. Plus to drop 60fps in one instance because of enabling mirrors is that normal? I’m not necessarily pointing the finger at the module I love the module and am it’s biggest fan, im fortunate I can enjoy it on the other maps. I accept its possible it could be something with my system and would love any advice. But when comparing maps on the FPS indicator. Mirrors: goes up to about 3.0 and I maintain 45fps other maps on PG Mirrors: 6.5-7.0 and frames drop into the 20s-30s Is it possible the PG map could be optimised like the other maps regarding this?

Thanks for sharing. It’s been driving me nuts and I’ve been looking to see if I have something set specific to my pc that is causing the issue but just can’t find anything. When I set the FPS indicator in DCS where you can see all the mirrors: shadows: etc draw on the pc I notice that when turning into the problematic headings the mirrors figure jumps significantly 6-7 for example. Otherwise it’s much lower. And this figure is much lower in the other maps. Yes if I have my settings as I normally do I get mostly 45fps and it drops by 15-20fps same as you. It was only when I had my settings so low to test that I was dropping from the 90s to the 30s.

After trying settings again it seems to be mirrors. Mirrors are affecting FPS by sometimes 60fps in PG. But on this occasion I put my graphics settings to absolute minimum. Even pixel density to 0.5 and it still was dropping from 90fps to 30’s when turining into the before mentioned directions. Other maps are running fine.

My DCS shut down the exact moment I held down the trigger to launch a pheonix. No error no freeze. Just shut down.

Maybe not a bug with the module but something the team may be able to explain. I find the PG map the most demanding for the F14. I have my settings as such that I can achieve a solid 45fps with VR, sometimes more as I have ASW disabled. I get this easily with Nevada and Caucasus, and as long as if not flying in certain directions the PG as well. Sounds strange but as soon as I fly my aircraft in a 90 degree direction in the PG around grid square GR my frames drop into early 30s and its unplayable. As an experiment I placed the aircraft in grid square GR. Its not a populated area (far east of the map) so i'm actually achieving 90FPS, but as soon as I make my heading 90 degrees, its down to 31FPS even though there is nothing complex in that direction, no airfields etc its a non detailed area of the map. I then placed my aircraft at grid square XN35 and found in this area a heading of 270 caused a frame drop to 31FPS. Flying a heading of 270 in grid square WQ in the West of the map I also notice a frame drop. So it doesn't correspond with pointing in the direction of complex renderings, or static objects. Maybe somebody else could explain if there is any settings I could try to solve this, I don't necessarily want to drop graphics settings any further as it seems to cope fine as long as im not pointing in certain directions.

I would definitely recommend you try it Victory. It may take a bit of getting used to and made me a little nauseous the first few times but the level of immersion it gives you is huge. It’s one of the biggest jumps in simulation I would say. It would probably make you feel all nostalgic :) And it definitely helps with viewing instruments the stick in the way etc.

Jester is performing far better with TWS radar modes at the moment what that means is you don’t need to ask him to lock targets. In fact you don’t need to do anything you fly toward the enemy aircraft mirror jesters radar display on your vdi and you will see by the symbology how he has locked the targets simultaneously by looking at the number on the right hand side. For example there is a flight of four enemy aircraft ahead you may see four contacts with 1 2 3 and 4 next to them. If you have pheonix missiles selected and master arm off you can launch them one after another, you will know if you have run out of lost locked targets because the hot rig light in front of you won’t be illuminated any more and your missiles won’t launch. Sometimes then I ask him to go into STT mode to pick off remaining targets that were not hit with my missiles in TWS mode and I admit he often looses lock in STT mode. So often then it becomes a BFM merge with sidewinder or guns.

I would really like the option to keep the music playing in external views as well if possible?

Yep the pilot body will just complete the full VR effect.

I agree having no ias on the hud and having to look down a lot takes some getting used too. However as far as situational awareness goes I find the Tomcat allows me more situational awareness than other fighter types mainly because of jester. I’ve honestly had more air to air success in the F14 than anything else. Flying against two Mig29s for example I rippled off Phoenix missiles and managed to down one bvr the second got past me and was flying very low just above see level. I couldn’t see him but my Rio did called out his location and guided me onto him. I still couldn’t see him but put my airplane in auto acquisition mode which picked him up I instantly fired off a sparrow which took him down. In the F15 I dare say I wouldn’t have picked him up visually and he probably would have got me. The other thing that’s helped is Jester reminding me of missiles incoming and telling which direction to break.

Really cool. Looking forward to being able to download Top Gun skins.

I've spent a lot of time optimizing my settings to cope with the Tomcat in VR, I feel for me personally I have certain things I like to keep for immersion mainly high water settings and cockpit mirrors so I have had to compromise in other areas. I have found its better to turn MSAA off and increase pixel density instead, the F14 looks great in external views anyway and I don't feel it needs MSAA as much as some of the other modules. Resolution of cockpit displays needs to be at 512 at least or the mirrors will look terrible. This is to get a solid 45fps in the PG and Caucasus maps btw NTTR runs much faster and I can have higher settings. I have textures at medium, view distance at Low, terrain textures at low as I find this is fine for both these maps and Is more noticeable in the Normandy map actually. Shadows Low Clutter/Grass at 0 and tree visibility at 80. Anisotropic filtering at x2 Terrain shadows Flat I still found I was getting FPS drops in certain areas in the PG map so I went back to putting pre-load radius to MAX and ensured my missions used dynamic weather and not static which seems to help. Too many clouds drop my FPS BTW. So with these settings i'm getting a solid 45fps, of course I hope I can increase things because I spent quite at lot of money on this rig not so long ago. I hope that the module may be optimised a little more over the coming months by the HB team we will see but at the moment I am at least able to enjoy the cat in VR on all the Maps. Edit: I have found with further testing that the Caucasus performs better than the PG map with the Tomcat, for me the PG is the worst performing of the maps with the F14.

Yes convert your files to .ogg it goes in the Walkman folder and you need to re-name them as track01 track02 etc to replace existing. I took the meteor tracks and put them in a folder inside Walkman so I can easily put them back.

"Man I think the LSO got a boner with that one" Brilliant

First thing I did when I loaded the module was go through a manual startup. And it all worked beautifully with Jester reminding me to arm the ejection seat etc. Once he’d finished the INS alignment and told me we were ready to go I taxied out and the sun was shining low in the NTTR and I went to an external view and had to pinch myself I’m in a F-14 Tomcat. I just had an an uncontrollable grin across my face. And best of all to this day the Mig-21 has been my favourite module I love the level of immersion it affords and I love the way it feels like an older jet with quirks and charecter, I find it’s a challenge. The Tomcat reminds me of the Mig-21, not as an aeroplane they are completely different but the painstaking details that have been put into the module and the shakes and the rattles. It feels like an older jet but at the same time it’s very capable, you can fight and win against many aircraft types. I have used the P-51 module a lot and find the rudder inputs I have got used to with the P51 particularly in combat has helped me. HB I love it. I mean I really love it. Thankyou. P.S Is there someone who can explain how to use Jester to attack simultaneous targets with Phoenix and not just STT?

Wow what a video

After the Tomcat. Please bring this bad boy to DCS World. To be fair though I am so delighted the F-14 has arrived and the guys have done such a great job on it that I am happy to just enjoy the Tomcat for the time being. The Tomcat will keep me entertained for years. A Gr1 and an Iraq map and the F14 A&B, then I would be in simulation heaven.

Thank you for the reply. I eagerly await.

Where did you get Air Force One? Love the first one it’s gorgeous.

I really would like to buy this grip for my warthog stick to compliment the Tomcat but all I keep hearing is people can never buy VKB products because they are so limited in availability.

Yes. What a good choice, I will really enjoy a crusader, hope we can get a map appropriate for it down the line

I would like it in the harrier because I don’t think the renders look that good in the mirror, would prefer to just flip them up and it saves a few FPS as well. The mirage mirror I think looks great though.

Nice. Very good vid well made.