Best modules for newbies

Limitz · July 21, 2015

What would be the best module to get for DCS for a newb like me?

I do enjoy the clickable cockpit but I feel like it takes too long for me to get in the air. Would you consider FC3 as something as a good option? Is it still a high fidelity choice and LoD choice? Will it get a clickable cockpit? I've also been eyeing off the A-10C Warthog and the F-86 Sabre and even some of the WWII planes (I enjoy IL-2 sturmovik and I am a WWII junkie).

I feel too spoilt for choice.

Sorry if this is in the wrong area this thread. This is my first time on DCS forums and I've been playing the game for the past week.

Regards,

Limitz

Empennage · July 21, 2015

Definitely get FC3 first. Get it along with the A-10C. It'll get you used to the two simplicity and complexity extremes in DCS. Prepare to spend weeks learning to fly and deploy every functionality present on the A-10C; but once you've done it, all other aircraft will be a piece of cake to learn.

Or you can just be like me and buy every single module present out there when the next 70% off discount hits.

Mainstay · July 21, 2015

Hi and welcome to the world of DCS.

FC3 is a good option but you won't get a clickable cockpit. The flight models on most planes in FC3 are really good though.

If you want a good flight model and a clickable cockpit without getting overrun by a hundred million actions and buttons i think the safest would to be start with either one of the WW2 planes P51,109 or 190) jet era F86 or MiG15.

Personally i think the MiG-15BiS would be the best option.

Abburo · July 21, 2015

I am still enjoying a lot the freeware SU-25T and it's older brother SU-25A (from FC3).

Then, the easiest plane to fly WW2 era is DORA (best ergonomic and pilot free monitoring during flight), but you can also train yourself with freeware unarmed TF-51. TakeOff and landings are the most tricky maneuvers :D.

Sabre and Mig15 are absolutely marveleous... but keep them for later.

mmaruda · July 21, 2015

This may sound weird, but I recommend K-50 Black Shark. It's what I started with, and I still think, it's the easiest study-sim to get into. It's also got great campaigns out of the box and does not feel out of place in the current theatre.

The only problem is, it's a heli, so if you don't like those, you might not like it, but then again, you just might.

OnlyforDCS · July 21, 2015

You can't really go wrong with anything. I would start with the FC3 planes, since they are not that hard to get to grips with initially. Don't get me wrong, they are bloody difficult to master, but at least some of the things are simplified.

I for one would recommend you buy the FC3 module: You get the A10A, the F15C, the SU27 all with advanced flight modeling, equalling any full DCS module. You also get the Mig29 and Su33 which will eventually get their own AFM free of charge.

I noticed you mentioned you liked WWII era planes, I wouldnt recommend them at this time unless you really enjoy learning their systems to the minute detail or enjoy fighting with them online. Why? Simple, they feature no time period missions or campaigns, so all you really can do with them is dogfight online and enjoy their flight model.

Don't get me wrong, I love my P51, and have been thinking of getting the Messerschmidt for some time now, but I mostly just fly around practicing some basic manouvers, take offs and landings. If that is your cup of tea, then by all means go ahead and purchase one of those.

ATM the best DCS module IMO is the Mig21, it is a little bit complicated though (still much simpler than A10C or Su25T) and suffers from the fact that GCI isnt really modeled very well in DCS, but it's a flying rocket and there is nothing quite like it.

Oh man, forgot about the Heli's. Wow....yeah, you cant go wrong with any of them....sorry bout that. IMO though the Huey and the Mi8 are the pure winners. Great campaigns (especially the Huey) and nervewracking piloting skills required...very fun.

Edited July 21, 2015 by OnlyforDCS

Grigs · July 21, 2015

I do enjoy the clickable cockpit but I feel like it takes too long for me to get in the air.

Well being new to simulation does not change anything. It takes time for everybody to launch the clickable aircrafts. Sure you first have to remember the procedure in order to turn it on, but it comes quickly. Plus, you have the possibility to start some mission directly on the runway where you just have to add gas in order to take off.

Honestly, just choose the airframe you love most. If necessary you can always turn god mode on, illimited fuel etc.

FC3 has an advantage though, since it offers different planes ;)

mwd2 · July 21, 2015

If you like the free Su-25T (no clickable Cockpit) go for the FC3

If you like the free TF-51D (clickable Cockpit), but no WWII aircrafts go with F-86F Sabre and/or MiG-15Bis (but there is no Korea setting!) or MiG-21Bis (but again no Vietnam setting)

If you like air-2-ground and an aircrafts, easy to fly go with A-10C (the challenge is the weapon delivering)

Tirak · July 21, 2015

What would be the best module to get for DCS for a newb like me?

I do enjoy the clickable cockpit but I feel like it takes too long for me to get in the air. Would you consider FC3 as something as a good option? Is it still a high fidelity choice and LoD choice? Will it get a clickable cockpit? I've also been eyeing off the A-10C Warthog and the F-86 Sabre and even some of the WWII planes (I enjoy IL-2 sturmovik and I am a WWII junkie).

I feel too spoilt for choice.

Sorry if this is in the wrong area this thread. This is my first time on DCS forums and I've been playing the game for the past week.

Regards,
Limitz

Flaming Cliffs 3 for sure is your best value for money. You get the F-15C, SU-27, SU-35, MiG-29, A-10A and SU-25A. Of these aircarft, the F-15 and SU-27 and A-10A all enjoy almost equal level fight models with the fully clickable cockpit aircraft (Note, these aircraft themselves DO NOT have clickable cockpits). Right now, the SU-27 and F-15 are the best dogfighters in the game, meaning you can go mix it up in the sky in a conventional way. The A-10A is a nice compliment to the already free SU-25T if you prefer a more western style CAS play.

If you're looking to get into clickable cockpits, the MiG-21Bis is perhaps your best bet. This aircraft quite literally can be started and rolling down a taxi way in less than a minute. Everything is mechanical and simple, so unlike in the A-10C module, where there are hundreds and hundreds of pages going over advanced systems, the MiG-21 can be understood in one or two passes through the short and moderatly amusing tutorial campaigns. The only problem with this module is that compared to the F-15 and SU-27, the plane you fly is ancient, meaning you have to be creative if you want to fight competitively online.

Supersonic not really your thing? Try out Belsimtek's F-86F or MiG-15Bis. Both are Korean War era aircraft, armed with machine guns and cannon (or if you're a masochist, the F-86 also has the GAR-8 missile). Because they're second generation jets, they're remarkably easy to handle, and most of the fighting concepts from prop planes that you learned in IL-2 will apply here. Again, simplicity is the name of the game here, meaning there is no steep learning curve to learn the cockpit. It will never fight in the modern air battles, but there are Korean War servers that pop up from time to time, and since the two modules compliment each other, when you fly, you will be able to find someone flying a jet that's a good challenge without being completely over your head.

Perhaps you find full military aviation rather daunting and want to skip through the skies care free, and maybe do some gun practice from time to time. VEAO's Hawk is the ticket for that, with a light nimble airframe that anyone can get to know and love in mere minutes. In real life it's a trainer, and in game it carries only the lightest weaponry, but if you love flying and like acrobatics, there's nothing quite like the Hawk yet.

For the World War II junkies, the advice is to save some money for a little while, and that's not a knock against the props. However, DCS 2.0 is coming Soonish, which will give massive improvements to WWII gun style combat. Furthermore, several WWII modules such as the F4F Wildcat, P-40 Warhawk and two versions of the Spitfire are coming by the end of the year. Unless you adore the BF-109, P-51 Mustang or FW-190, it might be best to hold off for a little while.

OnlyforDCS · July 21, 2015

If you like the free Su-25T (no clickable Cockpit) go for the FC3

The Su25T is not clickable? You sure about that, been a while since Ive flown it but I distinctly remember the clickable cockpit...

GeorgeLKMT · July 21, 2015

Su-25T is not clickable just like FC3 modules.

Tirak · July 21, 2015

The Su25T is not clickable? You sure about that, been a while since Ive flown it but I distinctly remember the clickable cockpit...

Not in DCS it's not...

Limitz · July 21, 2015

For the World War II junkies, the advice is to save some money for a little while, and that's not a knock against the props. However, DCS 2.0 is coming Soonish, which will give massive improvements to WWII gun style combat. Furthermore, several WWII modules such as the F4F Wildcat, P-40 Warhawk and two versions of the Spitfire are coming by the end of the year. Unless you adore the BF-109, P-51 Mustang or FW-190, it might be best to hold off for a little while.

Damn, spitfires, warhawks and wildcats! I'll make sure to leave some cash left for them!

So I'll probably get the FC3, the F-86 Sabre and either MiG-15bis or MiG-21bis in that order. Also, someone said there was a sale coming up with most modules 70% off. When do you think that will be? I could probably learn Su-25T and TF-51D in more detail (other than getting it up in the air and surviving xD) while I wait for the sale.

Thanks to everyone who has replied! You guys are the best community out there!

Edited July 21, 2015 by Limitz

WinterH · July 21, 2015

Well, first off, there is free Su-25T which is still one of the aircraft I enjoy most, even though it is a FC3 type offering without clickable cockpit.

From there on, FC3 is good bang for buck, and if we don't count MiG-29 and Su-33, all FC3 aircraft have good flight models now, along with simplified but performance wise more or less realistic sensors. They are pretty rewarding for new or seasoned people alike.

If you like WW II aircraft like you have said, Mustang is a good start (and you can get your feet wet with freely included but completely unarmed TF-51). As much as I like Axis warbirds, I believe Mustang is the better start for a DCS newbie, even with more finicky engine management. It is more versatile (pretty good for both A-A and A-G), it's guns, however a bit weak, are also easy to hit things with, and among 3 currently available ww2 warbirds, it is by far the easiest to taxi, take off and land. Dora and Kurfüst are a bit on the nightmare side compared to Mustang when it comes to taxi, taking off and landing :P. Also, handling it in a dogfight feels easier than other two for different reasons.

As for the DCS jets, F-86 is pretty beginner friendly, start up is easy and almost as fast as FC3 aircraft, fun to fly, and can even do some fair air to ground on targets with light to medium AAA defences. I don't have it but, MiG-15 seem to even easier to fly from people's comments, but it's systems can be a tad more finicky.

If you are into helicopters, UH-1 would be a good starter, I find it easy and fun to learn flying with, while feeling a bit more hands-on than Ka-50.

MiG-21Bis and A-10C, while they currently are top two modules available (at least according to majority of people including myself), I wouldn't suggest them for beginning. A lot is involved in learning either. A-10 is mostly simple to fly and land but it's systems are pretty complex. MiG on the other hand, have simple but laborous to use systems (which take some learning and getting used to), while also requiring a good stick hand to fly good, and is one of the more difficult jets to land.

tintifaxl · July 21, 2015

I recommend the A-10C with Sabre-TLA's (http://www3.sympatico.ca/tlaschuk/mapleflagmissions/) magnificent flight qualification campaign for the best DCS single player experience.

Aviators · July 21, 2015

mmmmh, P-51

Backy 51 · July 21, 2015

Hands down buy the A-10C. It's slow enough for a noob and can take the abuse of most hard landings. Why, rumor has it that if the USAF sends them all to the boneyard; the Navy will move them all to Pensacola to serve as carrier landing simulators. The Navy spends 90% of it's time on landing remediation.:megalol: Besides, there's nothing quite like a gun pass with the GAU-8 on a column of Russian tanks.

BTW, the mission editor can let you avoid the whole engine start sequence if you so desire. The A-10C module also has an FSX-like auto-start capability for those without a TM Warthog or that simply want to sit back and let "George" do all the work.

Ce_Zeta · July 21, 2015

For a probie....The best choice is the F-15.

Charly_Owl · July 21, 2015

I suggest you check this thread and see what aircraft interests you best

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=135765

If you're into WW2 birds, I think the P-51D is the best choice you can get. Once you do the start-up procedure 2-3 times, you will remember it as easily as you remember your own name.

The Sabre is one of the easiest modules to learn: the start-up procedure is super simple. It's easy to learn but hard to master against MiG and Sabre pilots who know what they're doing.

If you're mostly an offline player, the Black Shark, A-10C and UH-1H huey have the best campaigns. Hands down.

Wizard_03 · July 21, 2015

I would suggest the F-15C the ACS makes it very forgiving but the FM is pretty realistic so you can get a good feel for flying and you can learn the basics, Sabre is great too for learning.

If you want to try helos I would recommend the UH-1 as it is simple to learn and pretty basic however I think It can be harder to fly and master, KA-50 and MI-8 are pretty complex but a little easier to fly.

tacky_taco · July 23, 2015

I made a similar thread not long ago, here you can see what suggestions I got:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=143905

Being a newbie (a few weeks in) myself I would recommend you just start off with the free Su-25T. It has great training and content, though the campaign struck me as really really hard for a new player with all the AA.

I've tried some of the other modules as well:

WWII modules are cool and all, but there is not much content for them. If you just like flying around not doing much then yeah, they're fine.

Same goes for the early jets.

Ka-50 Black Shark 2 - this module seems a bit old. The training is fan made(!?) and the documentation is outdated, belonging to the old Black Shark 1 perhaps. The whole thing just gives off the vibe that it's been forgotten by the devs, patched together here and there over time. Still love it, though; this is the one I'm focusing on at the moment.

Mig 21Bis - OMG WHAT AN AWESOME COCKPIT! The Leatherneck guys should be hired to do ALL cockpits. The training put me a bit off with this one, just being silly comedy, not explaining anything.

A-10C - Yeah.. later. Seems like a complex beast :D

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