More noob questions on 1st module

[MajBach]

So I tried bumping an old thread on the topic but it wouldn't let me. So starting new thread. Sorry. Here's what I tried writing:

 

HaHa. So this topic has been answered to death and I won't start a new thread. I'm deciding on my first purchase and I do have some unanswered questions. A little about me:

I used to fly single engines professionally but have multi-IFR.

I purchased a gaming PC and HOTAS specifically for DCS.

I've played the two free modules a fair bit but have not done any multiplayer or campaigns.

I'm having a little bit of a challenge getting used to clickable cockpits.

I find I can spend days setting up my HOTAS to do 80% of what I want without using a keyboard.

Watching the videos, I don't know how people use the clickable cockpit and fly at the same time.

I'd stay with the Su25T if it wasnt in Russian.

I'm looking to start flying campaigns then get into multi-players.

 

So...go with a cheap mod like A-10 or F-15? Buy the FC3 without knowing if I will even use more than 1 or 2 modules. Splurge and go with a good module like F-5?

 

When you buy any of these modules do they come with training scenarios like the two included in DCS?

Do they come with their own missions/campaigns?

Are they all multi-player capable?

When in multi-player, do you play with others with the same mods or can I have a crappy mod and get paired up with the Tomcat?

 

Thanks in advance.

[SVgamer72]

More noob questions on 1st module

 

1. Get the module that calls to you and you have an emotional connection to. -It’s a study sim. You will invest time learning the interface (muscle memory for HOTAS and clickable cockpits), and learning the systems. Why waste time in a plane or helo that doesn’t resonate with you?

 

2. Most modules come with basic training missions, and you can easily supplement with the manual, Chuck’s Guides (just google Chuck’s DCS guides), YouTube videos, user created missions, campaigns, self created missions,and asking around on forums ,Discord channels, etc.

 

3. There is an English cockpit mod for the Su-25T in the user files download section of the main DCS site (along with tons of missions, skins, etc)

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/722567/

 

4. All planes/helos can be made available on MP servers, but you can only fly the ones you own. Many servers limit planes by side (East vs West) or era (WWII, Korea, Cold War, Modern).

 

5. Jump online with he Su-25T, join a voice channel (Discord or SRS) amd engage with other players. It won’t be long before you are up to speed.

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tintifaxl]

If you really aren't into clickpits and want a western aircraft, the F-15C seems a very good choice and even comes with a free campaign or two. It's completely A2A, though.

[Wizard1393]

The Su-27 is like the F-15, but with A2G capabilities. There is also English cockpit mod for the Su-27.

 

I'd say, if you're thinking about getting an FC3 Standalone module, like the F-15 or Su-27, I'd say better just get the full FC3. Then you get all the "simple" aircraft without clickable pits if you're not into that.

Edited April 5, 2019 by chrisofsweden

[DeltaMike]

Kinda hard to beat the F15 for the price. I've been flying the F15 a lot lately, it's pretty awesome. There are some really immersive and professionally done campaigns (Red Flag and Georgian War are great). Up until the F14 came out it was about the only really effective NATO bloc air superiority fighter in the game, and to this day it has applications in multiplayer, whether you're talking PvE or PvP. For better or worse, it doesn't have a clickable cockpit. Setting up your HOTAS will still require some thought but there's a lot of helpful suggestions here on the forum. Main limitations are communication and navigation. Simple Radio expands the comms for multiplayer use, as for navigation there are some work-arounds but you'll be using dead reckoning and the F10 map a lot. That's the price you pay; if you want to operate radios or GPS you're gonna have to click something.

 

Only thing I shoulda done was just buy the whole FC3 package to begin with. There are some really interesting Eastern Block aircraft in there. Believe me, there are MIG29's, J-11's, SU-33's all over multiplayer, flown by some very skilled pilots. Making life extremely miserable for people flying the "study sims" (eg, F18, F14). If you're not really into the whole clickable cockpit thing -- and if your idea of "fun" is something other than downloading and reading NATOPs manuals lol (and quoting them to your friends) -- get FC3. Or at least one of the major modules (F15 or Su33). It's still amazing -- everything in DCS is amazing -- just in a slightly different way.

[erniedaoage]

Take FC3, alot of different aircraft like attackers and fighters, one carrier module the su33 and a lot of content like missions and campaigns out of the box, with also a ton of user made missions and campaigns. You will also find a lot of mods like english cockpits for the russian birds and a lot of different liveries.

[MajBach]

Thanks everyone. Those answer were PERFECT!

I am going to proceed with the English mod for the FrogFoot..play a while then go for FC3.

Watch your six!

MajBach

[GTFreeFlyer]

If you don't mind shouting out commands and getting strange looks from your wife, then check out VoiceAttack. You won't ever need to click on anything again if you are okay with voice commands. If you want to take it even further, ViaCom Pro is an addon for VoiceAttack. VA is free if you want up to 20 commands, otherwise it is only $10 for unlimited. ViaCom is another $10, adds a bunch of realism, and all commands are already built in, saving you the headache of setting it up yourself. I'm flying the A-10C which has a very clickable cockpit, and I'm not using the mouse or keyboard too much, just a little.

[probad]

multiplayer is its own microcosm. if you want to ever fly against people, then the sooner you start the sooner you start gaining experience with what works and what doesnt.

 

and no there is no matchmaking beyond your wits.

 

as for flying clickable, you will want to map all critical functions to physical switches, whether its hotas, a switchbox, or your keyboard. 'clickable' cockpits are more valued for their depth of simulation than the notion of clicking the screen while in a fight, but they are nevertheless nice in the way that if you know how to operate the aircraft, you can operate systems even if you are missing keybinds.

Edited April 6, 2019 by probad

[MajBach]

If you don't mind shouting out commands and getting strange looks from your wife, then check out VoiceAttack. You won't ever need to click on anything again if you are okay with voice commands. If you want to take it even further, ViaCom Pro is an addon for VoiceAttack. VA is free if you want up to 20 commands, otherwise it is only $10 for unlimited. ViaCom is another $10, adds a bunch of realism, and all commands are already built in, saving you the headache of setting it up yourself. I'm flying the A-10C which has a very clickable cockpit, and I'm not using the mouse or keyboard too much, just a little.

 

 

THAT.....looks like something I could get into.:thumbup:

[Svsmokey]

Here is a $3 VoiceAttack profile for cockpit controls . I have no experience with it as I use Vaicom Pro for AI coms instead . I have noted , however , very few complaints in his thread , and those quickly resolved .

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=227717

[MajBach]

Hi again, folks. I'm back with a few more questions....not sure if I should bump this thread or start a new one but I will start here.

I haven't had a lot of time to spend on DCS in awhile up until today. Made good on the recent sale at DCS and got the FC3, the F5 and some terrain mods for like 60% off. But I am still getting the hang of it so focusing still on flying the Frogfoot.

 

First issue: what file are the zoom settings located and what are their default values? To elaborate, I've messed around with the cockpit zoom levels AND the "Cockpit Camera" which allows forward and back movements that are like zoom but not. Using the zoom, the HUD changes size but using the cockpit camera it does not. Anyway, I used the "save views" function and I want to revert back to default levels but I don't know what they are or where to enter them.

 

Second issue - and this will be challenging to explain: The plane doesn't fly right. In a nutshell, it seems like when I center the stick, the a/c goes in the opposite direction. So, flying around doing normal maneuvers and maintaining a sufficient speed and ensuring the auto pilot isn't on, it appears like I have to steadily increase my stick input to maintain the same amount of deflection then, when I bring the stick back to center, the control surfaces deflect the opposite direction. I verified this by using an external view while maneuvering and sure enough, if I held full back on the stick, the elevators would come up but slowly return to neutral even while maintaining full pull on the stick. Then, when I returned the stick to center - even slowly- the elevators would deflect nose down then gradually return to neutral. What the heck? BTW, I am using an X52 HOTAS and I have check in the Tune Axis section I am at default settings.

 

Finally, I've got an unusual setup with monitors (for now) which amounts to 3 stacked on top of each other (they are all drastically different sizes and I use only the top two to play and use the bottom and closest screen to work from if I pause the game to figure something out). Basically the top 42" monitor is for the cockpit/world, the middle 24" monitor is my air-ground targeting or my kneeboard and my bottom 15" laptop screen is for whatever non-game screen I need. My problem is, I had to make the topmost screen my primary display so that when DCS boots up, thats where it displays. However, I'd prefer my primary display to be the laptop. How do I get DCS to work on my 2 and 3 monitors and not the 1 and 2?

 

Thanks again!

[Cytarabine]

Are you trimming the aircraft? You need to assign an axis to this (a hat switch will do just fine) and trim your bird out.

[slikbaz]

First issue: what file are the zoom settings located and what are their default values? To elaborate, I've messed around with the cockpit zoom levels AND the "Cockpit Camera" which allows forward and back movements that are like zoom but not. Using the zoom, the HUD changes size but using the cockpit camera it does not. Anyway, I used the "save views" function and I want to revert back to default levels but I don't know what they are or where to enter them.

 

Second issue - and this will be challenging to explain: The plane doesn't fly right. In a nutshell, it seems like when I center the stick, the a/c goes in the opposite direction. So, flying around doing normal maneuvers and maintaining a sufficient speed and ensuring the auto pilot isn't on, it appears like I have to steadily increase my stick input to maintain the same amount of deflection then, when I bring the stick back to center, the control surfaces deflect the opposite direction. I verified this by using an external view while maneuvering and sure enough, if I held full back on the stick, the elevators would come up but slowly return to neutral even while maintaining full pull on the stick. Then, when I returned the stick to center - even slowly- the elevators would deflect nose down then gradually return to neutral. What the heck? BTW, I am using an X52 HOTAS and I have check in the Tune Axis section I am at default settings.

 

Finally, I've got an unusual setup with monitors (for now) which amounts to 3 stacked on top of each other (they are all drastically different sizes and I use only the top two to play and use the bottom and closest screen to work from if I pause the game to figure something out). Basically the top 42" monitor is for the cockpit/world, the middle 24" monitor is my air-ground targeting or my kneeboard and my bottom 15" laptop screen is for whatever non-game screen I need. My problem is, I had to make the topmost screen my primary display so that when DCS boots up, thats where it displays. However, I'd prefer my primary display to be the laptop. How do I get DCS to work on my 2 and 3 monitors and not the 1 and 2?

 

Thanks again!

 

For your zoom issue, I expect you are looking for the controls "zoom in slow" and "zoom out slow" if you want to bind them to buttons. If you want them on an axis (slider or rotary) then in the controls window click "axis assign" on the bottom and set that knob/slider to "zoom".

 

I have an X52 as well and it sounds like maybe you have a deadzone problem, or perhaps your pitch controls are assigned to multiple controllers if you have more than one selected. Are you sure that under the axes section, the X52 is the only controller assigned to "pitch" and "roll"?

 

If you search for "set up usb game controllers" in Windows and click on properties for your X52, does everything look normal there when testing? It could also just be a trim issue as Cytarabine suggested, maybe you have trim controls set to something by default which sets your trim all the way down and left or something.

 

I don't have much experience with multi-monitors but you might get your answers here:

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=60815

 

More recent:

[MajBach]

For your zoom issue, I expect you are looking for the controls "zoom in slow" and "zoom out slow" if you want to bind them .......

 

I have an X52 as well and it sounds like maybe you have a deadzone problem, or perhaps your pitch controls are assigned to multiple controllers ........

 

If you search for "set up usb game controllers" in Windows and click on properties for your X52, does everything look normal........

 

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I do have most of the zoom and camera functions bound on my X52, and I can zoom in/out easily. It's just that I like knowing the "dead center" or default position. When you save your position as the new default or "centered" position, that must get recorded to a file, I was just wondering what *.lua it is and what the game default values were. It's not a big thing really, just OCD :D.

 

I don't think it's a trim issue as I use the trim in flight and I will use the leveling autopilot. When I shut it off, the plane remains level but if I get into some tight maneuvers, the plane seems hard to control and 'springy'. Perhaps this is normal and I just didn't notice before. In a real a/c, if you trim the control surfaces to a certain attitude then give stark inputs and then release the controls, naturally the plane will spring back to what you set and possibly get really wonky in the process without further input. That's what is going on here as far as how the plane is reacting except that when I apply full deflection to a control surface and hold it, it eventually loses effectiveness to the point that I have to hold it there just to maintain equilibrium. If I allow the stick to return to center, the plane reacts as if I had put the stick full in the opposite direction to the initial movement. This was confirmed by observing the control surfaces as this was happening; they were showing sometimes full deflection when the stick was centered. No, I have no other hardware assigned and the properties box of the control applet shows 100% normal function.

[slikbaz]

Thanks for the quick reply. I do have most of the zoom and camera functions bound on my X52, and I can zoom in/out easily. It's just that I like knowing the "dead center" or default position. When you save your position as the new default or "centered" position, that must get recorded to a file, I was just wondering what *.lua it is and what the game default values were. It's not a big thing really, just OCD :D.

 

Ah now I understand what you want out of the view function. Well then one solution I can offer you without any software is to bind zoom to the "E" knob on your throttle, which has a "center spot." Then, when it's there you will know you are at normal/initial zoom.

 

I personally haven't messed with the view *.lua's but I think the one you're looking for is here:

 

\DCSWorld\Config\View\SnapViewsDefault.lua

 

As the readme in that folder indicates, don't edit that directly, but copy it over to your Saved Games DCS folder instead.

 

I don't think it's a trim issue as I use the trim in flight and I will use the leveling autopilot. When I shut it off, the plane remains level but if I get into some tight maneuvers, the plane seems hard to control and 'springy'. Perhaps this is normal and I just didn't notice before. In a real a/c, if you trim the control surfaces to a certain attitude then give stark inputs and then release the controls, naturally the plane will spring back to what you set and possibly get really wonky in the process without further input. That's what is going on here as far as how the plane is reacting except that when I apply full deflection to a control surface and hold it, it eventually loses effectiveness to the point that I have to hold it there just to maintain equilibrium. If I allow the stick to return to center, the plane reacts as if I had put the stick full in the opposite direction to the initial movement. This was confirmed by observing the control surfaces as this was happening; they were showing sometimes full deflection when the stick was centered. No, I have no other hardware assigned and the properties box of the control applet shows 100% normal function.

 

Aha I see, yeah that's definitely not normal. Have you checked your difficulty settings and made sure everything is set to simulation (not game mode)?