New User

[C3PO]

Hello,

 

I'm really tempted to get back into combat flight slims again. Used to do a fair bit with Falcon 4 but have been lately following what's been happening here and Matt and his team continue to do a fantastic job.

 

Couple of questions from a newbie:

 

1. Is DCS World the "base" into which all other aircraft plug into and operate from?

2. With Combine Arms, can player aircraft in MP also interact with player ground units in the same MP session?

3. What does DCS2 bring over DCS?

 

Would also be grateful for any suggestions of squadrons to join to learn how to play properly. Guessing HOTAS is madatory, but what about TrackIR too? I'm running triple screens on a beefy setup.

 

Many thanks for your advice.

[kontiuka]

Welcome!

 

1. Yes, DCS World is the base of everything.

2. Yes. Although, players often use the 3rd-party TeamSpeak software for voice comms.

3. See first post http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=135473

 

HOTAS is not mandatory and I've lived without it fine. But many will say it is a major enhancement to their gameplay. TrackIR ... same thing. I would say get Track IR first.

Edited July 31, 2015 by kontiuka

[Tirak]

Hello,

 

I'm really tempted to get back into combat flight slims again. Used to do a fair bit with Falcon 4 but have been lately following what's been happening here and Matt and his team continue to do a fantastic job.

 

Couple of questions from a newbie:

 

1. Is DCS World the "base" into which all other aircraft plug into and operate from?

2. With Combine Arms, can player aircraft in MP also interact with player ground units in the same MP session?

3. What does DCS2 bring over DCS?

 

Would also be grateful for any suggestions of squadrons to join to learn how to play properly. Guessing HOTAS is madatory, but what about TrackIR too? I'm running triple screens on a beefy setup.

 

Many thanks for your advice.

 

HOTAS is not mandatory at all, especially not for the Flaming Cliffs level aircraft (F-15C, SU-27, MiG-29, A-10A, SU-25A, SU-25T, SU-33). I play with several friends from my clan who only use xbox controllers with those aircraft, and until recently, one of them even flew the Saber with it, though a few of them have noted that when flying the A-10A or SU-25T, slaving one of their screens to view the targeting display also helps a ton.

 

TrackIR, like a good HOTAS isn't mandatory, but also like a good HOTAS, it's a significant quality of life upgrade. The ability to simply turn your head makes keeping track of your opponent in a dogfight, or just looking around completely natural. If the pricepoint of trackir is putting you off, there are several free alternatives that just need a decent webcam.

 

You've picked a great time to get into DCS, as there's a flash sale going on this weekend, and we're right around the corner of the release of DCS 1.5, which will include a major graphical and UI upgrade.

[Joni]

I agree with all replies.

 

Both HOTAS and TIR5 are not mandatory, but they provide you with inmersive feelings like no other peripheral will.

 

I do not agree on flying any module with a gamepad though, a joystick is required from my point of view. A few years ago I used to combine a joystick and a gamepad to simulate having a HOTAS, its ugly but it does the job.

 

 

Cheers.

[fastfreddie]

Not sure about FC3 titles since I don't have any but Hotas/Rudder Pedals/Track IR may not be mandatory but should be very highly recommended for almost all the full sim modules that I have (P51, K4, Dora, Huey, Sabre, Mig 15, Blackshark, A10). This doesn't mean that you need a Thrustmaster Warthog but some sort of joystick/throttle with rudders is needed to fly these at proficient levels due to rotors/props in most cases. Track IR really helps you track targets in a very hard to spot engine and are worth every penny.

[C3PO]

Thank you all - much appreciated.

[Joni]

I just saw your rig in your signature.

 

My god you can run DCS!!!

 

You'll have a very nice experience with that pc.

[scottb613]

Hi Folks,

 

Is it OK to piggyback on this thread ?

 

Another NEWB - the FLASH sale and noticing the development of an F-14 enticed me to take the plunge - although I'm intimately familiar with MSFS - and - fairly familiar with BMS Falcon - DCS is only days old on my drive... Been avidly reading what I can...

 

Question - is it better to be running the official release - or are the beta's stable enough to use all the time ?

 

Is there a canned list of DCS addons that most people run to get vanilla modded to your typical user level ? I've noticed mention of some texture upgrades but I don't see a file library to sort through - are there just not that many addons available ( talking more tools and base world upgrades than planes )

 

Are there any other theaters available besides the default ?

 

Anyway - thanks for your time - appreciate any input...

 

Regards,

Scott

[Joni]

most users fly official releases so for online gaming will be better to use those imo

[Art-J]

Well, "Downloads" -> "User Files" links on main ED website take You to a sort of a file library, where You can find lots of stuff, but not everything gets posted there and the searching/browsing algorithm works kinda... meh.

 

You'll be better off spending lots of time in "Mods and apps" section of this forum (including sub-forums, especially "DCS mods" one).

 

With a couple of gfx/map texture mods available, there is no single "best", as choosing THE one is a very subjective. Mustang's land textures compilation is quite popular here, however, and his shaders mod is a must, until DSC 1.5 gets released, that is (both to be found in aforementioned forum section).

 

No other theaters available and no support for adding these... yet (although some new ones are being worked on).

 

Not sure which "beta releases" You ask about. The aircraft ones, or the DCSW one?

Edited August 4, 2015 by Art-J

[scottb613]

Hi Folks,

 

Thanks for the tips...

 

Yeah - all my questions are geared towards DCSW...

 

I picked up the Warthog - the Sabre - and - the Huey at the sale - figured it's plenty to get my feet wet... I used to enjoy Rowen's Mig Alley - so I'm hoping to recreate some of that enjoyment now with DCS while I wait on my Tomcat...

 

Again - thanks...

 

Regards,

Scott

[Art-J]

 

Yeah - all my questions are geared towards DCSW...

 

 

In that case, it's up to You. Some folks use only "regular" version of DCSW, some use the open beta one, while the others have both of them installed to cover all the options.

 

Open beta copy allows You to play with all the goodies earlier ('cause open beta versions of the patches/updates get published a couple of days/weeks earlier than the final ones), but You have to be prepared for dealing with unexpected, serious bugs.

 

Regular copy is supposed to offer stable and tested build (although some unspotted glitches always creep in as well), but You have to wait for the updates somewhat longer.

 

Important - open beta patches should be installed only on open beta copy DCSW, while final version patches should be installed only on regular copy of DCSW.

 

Edit: About the Sabre - You will find plenty of awesome custom USAF skins for it made by BoNidle, but all of them are outdated and don't quite work properly now (texture mapping on the external model changed in one of recent updates). Fortunately, the author announced recently, that he would soon start reworking them. Meanwhile, you can wait, or download other, high-quality non-USAF skins (CAF ones by Jocko come to mind).

Edited August 4, 2015 by Art-J

[scottb613]

Hi Art,

 

Thanks for the additional suggestions - I'll start poking around in the Mods forum...

 

Regards,

Scott

[71st_AH Rob]

Meanwhile, you can wait, or download other, high-quality non-USAF skins (CAF ones by Jocko come to mind).

 

You missed the R.

 

Not only does Jocko do the best RCAF skins, he does some interesting skins for other Airforces that flew the Canadair Sabre and one that ordered it but didn't receive them. His RAF skins are great.

 

He just recently released a beautiful USAF skin too. M.I. "Pete" Fernandez, second highest scoring jet fighter Ace, 334th FIS, 4th FIW, Korea.

 

I highly recommend them.

[C3PO]

Hi guys - I'm downloading DCS now - really looking forward to getting into this. Will need to buy a joystick soon!

[C3PO]

WOW!

 

[blaueente]

Nice Setup :D

 

Hope you enjoy it...

[C3PO]

Thanks! One more question, does this sim have full 24-hour real-time lighting for long missions?

[lanmancz]

Thanks! One more question, does this sim have full 24-hour real-time lighting for long missions?

 

Yes, it even has 4 seasons. I can recommend opening a mission editor and creating some simple custom training missions while you're learning new aircraft. Always works for me.

[C3PO]

Excellent.

[C3PO]

Mmm ... tried a new campaign and on the first mission was getting 9 - yes 9 FPS near the airbase! Around 60-90 high up in the air. Ground units and objects sapping FPS v badly.

[lanmancz]

Try lowering scenes and visibility distance to medium to get the object count down, that should help most I'd say. I realize that your rig is pretty powerful but the bottleneck is the age old DirectX 9 that the current engine is using that does not play well with high object counts. Been discussed many times here. That's why everyone is looking forward to the 1.5 version that should be released later this month. The new engine will run under DirectX 11 which should provide major FPS increase compared to the current engine.

Edited September 15, 2015 by lanmancz

[C3PO]

Thanks Ian - that's good to hear. Bonkers performance otherwise. Will make those changes in the meantime.

[C3PO]

Is the F-15E Strike Eagle flyable in DCS - or just the A-A variant?

[mwd2]

Is the F-15E Strike Eagle flyable in DCS - or just the A-A variant?

 

Only the F-15C.