Advice to the New Players

[Tank50us]

Greetings guys, I am Tank50us, leader of the 145th PMC Group, and in our commitment to the new players out there, I am going to do a bit of a PSA on behalf of the group, and, something that I hope will help all of the new players struggling, or just trying to figure out what they want to do in DCS World. With that said, let's get started:

 

1. You don't need an expensive HOTAS.

While this nearly comes out of the words of the "Ten Things" trailer, it is something that is very true. I've seen many people in my time ask the question "What's the best HOTAS to get?" or "Where can I get a decent HOTAS for under $$$". While these are all valid questions to ask, one should note that when looking to get a HOTAS while you're still starting out, you don't need to break the bank getting one. Take your time, and do your research before selecting one, but remember that you can get by with a simple stick that you can pick up at a local re-seller shop on the cheap. Alternatively, you can get by using a game controller, or even a mouse and keyboard. The skills and tactics do translate, so if you train yourself and become dangerous with a mouse and keyboard setup, imagine how dangerous you'll be when you get your hands on an X52.

 

2. The Su25T is your friend.

Many people like to go around telling people that cannot do anything with the Starter aircraft, the Su25T Frogfoot. Many will tell you to buy a high fidelity module or you won't get the 'proper' experience. These people, are very wrong. The Su25T is an aircraft of many talents, and should not be underestimated. The 'Frogo' as my group calls it, is a very capable aircraft, and we accept people who only have that plane, and train them to the point they feel ready to get something else. We even have people who will swear by the aircraft, with some who even use it exclusively when doing ground attack missions. Basically, when you're starting out, and looking for people to fly with, if any of them start sticking their nose up at you because you want to ground pound in the Frog, then that is not a group for you. Speaking of groups...

 

3. Avoid groups that force you to buy anything.

If there's one thing that you should avoid at any cost, especially when you're just starting out, it's the groups that won't let you even join their discord unless you already have XYZ module. There are some will impose such restrictions when it comes to missions, these groups are fine as they will often help you learn what you need to, and help you make an informed decision when it comes to buying your first aircraft module.

 

4. Get the Maps as soon as reasonable.

Once you've settled in to DCS, and you are starting to get a feel for flying, I strongly recommend getting your hands on the maps as soon as you can. The reason for this is because the maps are going to open up many new avenues for missions and play. Also, compared to many other modules, the maps are usually the cheapest items you can get, especially when sales happen. Which map will be determined by what you ultimately want to do, but I personally recommend Syria and Persian Gulf as many servers use one or both of these maps.

 

5. Never be afraid to ask for help.

Under no circumstances should you be shy about asking people to help you out. Whether it's help with a map module because you want to fly with the group, or just asking general questions about the aircraft and its system, do not be afraid to ask for help. My group for example sees several people ask the question "Can someone help me learn (insert plane)?" and it is almost always responded with "Sure, I'll help ya out" or "(player) knows that aircraft quite well", and 9/10 times, the individual is shown the ropes, and given a good lesson by someone who knows the aircraft.

 

6. Learn to navigate early, practice often.

While most servers operate allowing you to use the F10 map to its full potential, not all servers do this, and some will not even allow you to see your own plane on the F10 map. For this reason, it is a good idea to learn how to "Dead Reckon" Navigate, that is:

• Plot a route
• Measure the approximate distance of that route from point to point
• Plan to fly using a set airspeed
• Figure out the time it should take to cross the gap between points

Basically, if you can pull this off, than more than likely before too long you'll be able to fly complex routes without ever having to look at a map. This is a skill that one should practice as much as they can, and in most servers, can be done fairly easily as you can just start up and take-off without ever loading a single weapon.

 

7. A/G Get smart with the dumb weapons.

While it's certainly easy to hit a moving target using a laser guided bomb provided you can keep a laser on it, it should be stressed that there are going to be cases where using a pod of Hydras or a couple Mk82s will work just as well. Even with the high fidelity jets, setting up a 'dumb' bomb or rocket is fairly straight forward, and sometimes even obvious (the F-5 for example, all the controls for the bombs and rockets are by your left knee). More importantly, in groups that operate with limited ordinance, being able to deploy as many dumb-bombs as needed, and being able to land them on target is a great skill to have.

 

8. Learn to defend as early as possible.

In relation to getting warheads on foreheads, a key thing to remember is that none of those skills mean much if you don't make it to the target. Knowing how to stay alive is an incredibly important skill-set. From defensive breaks, to notching, to terrain masking, knowing how to avoid giving the enemy a chance to kill you is something worth learning as soon as you can. And this is before you get into the use of countermeasures and ECM.

 

9. What you spend should be up to you.

DCS can be quite expensive when you first get into it. The modules alone are anywhere from 60-80 USD each, and then there's the peripherals and the computer to run the game on. So don't be ashamed to buy things on sale when sales crop up. Most importantly, with the 2wk trials now available for stand-alone users, you can now even try out the module, and decide for yourself if it'll be worth the investment. Let no one tell you which modules to buy, and let no one tell you when to buy. It's all up to you, and you alone.

 

10. Have fun!

Although it is a highly accurate study simulator, DCS is, and should always be, a fun experience. Whether you're racing Tomcats around Cyprus to re-enacting historic battles to having ridiculous challenges, DCS is still a video game at heart, and it should be treated as something fun to do.

 

So get out there, have fun, don't be too shy to ask questions. And for all of you experienced players, be sure to lighten up a bit too ya know? You were that new guy once yourself remember.

 

Tank Out.

[draconus]

3 hours ago, Tank50us said:

the groups that won't let you even join their discord unless you already have XYZ module

I find it quite normal for a Tomcat squad to not accept any other types

[Dragon1-1]

Yeah, but if they don't even let you hang out with them, that's a red flag for sure. For a beginner, it might be better to stick with more open-minded groups.

[Tank50us]

55 minutes ago, Dragon1-1 said:

Yeah, but if they don't even let you hang out with them, that's a red flag for sure. For a beginner, it might be better to stick with more open-minded groups.

 

That's the kicker, most of them don't advertise like that, they operate as "Yeah sure, we accept new people to the game in our group", then use that tactic to get people to spend hundreds of dollars before they've gotten out of the Frogfoot Ts basic training.

[SharpeXB]

Don’t know about the mouse and keyboard…

 

I got into DCS due to a Steam sale on the A-10C and knew nothing about modern aircraft at all, only having played Rise of Flight. Zip. I didn’t know my HSI from my ADI. But I did have a TrackIR and a HOTAS. DCS is a dilemma because as a beginner you might not want to invest in those things but they will make your learning curve many many times easier. Head tracking frees you from having to learn this bewildering array of view commands and you will have your hands full (literally) with all the actual HOTAS commands. So they both compliment each other. 

 

 

[Gambit21]

With regard to the HOTAS remark, I tend to agree with caveats.

A poor quality or older controller that is jumpy or has poor resolution is not going to serve you well.

 

My older Saitek twist stick would not have served me well in DCS, especially with the Huey. I purchased a mid-range stick from an upper-end brand, and it's a night and day difference.

You get what you pay for, even if you're paying a bit too much right now.

[sirrah]

Although ED and the 3rd parties might not really like it, I miss the most helpful tip of all (for newcomers):

 

"Wait for a sale!"

 

There are about 4 sale periods each year, so you'll never have to wait very long (this hobby is expensive enough, especially to newcomers who have to build up everything from scratch)

[draconus]

6 minutes ago, sirrah said:

I miss the most helpful tip of all (for newcomers):

 

"Wait for a sale!"

It was mentioned in #4 and #9.

[sirrah]

48 minutes ago, draconus said:

It was mentioned in #4 and #9.

I stand corrected

 

(typical case of tl;dr properly  )

[silverdevil]

i can say the squad to which i belong takes great care to allow anyone with anything to join. our mission maker puts every plane / heli possible on the free maps. its cool to fly along side different AC.

[Fastbreak]

On 7/28/2021 at 11:22 AM, Dragon1-1 said:

Yeah, but if they don't even let you hang out with them, that's a red flag for sure. For a beginner, it might be better to stick with more open-minded groups.

 

“The proper office of a friend is to side with you when you are in the wrong. Nearly anybody will side with you when you are in the right.”

Mark Twain

 

Dragon1-1, maybe you should take a look at hell () for the company?!

[Mars Exulte]

On 7/28/2021 at 7:27 AM, Tank50us said:

1. You don't need an expensive HOTAS.

  True. You don't need an EXPENSIVE HOTAS, but you DO need one. Telling people otherwise is basically setting them up for failure and frustration.

 

On 7/28/2021 at 7:27 AM, Tank50us said:

While this nearly comes out of the words of the "Ten Things" trailer

  It was wrong then, too. That ''appeal to the casuals'' bit is just stupid. War Thunder doesn't need a HOTAS because it has ONE game mode that is specifically designed for M&K. Otherwise, even War Thunder needs at least a gamepad, and ideally a simple HOTAS. You cannot multitask with a M&K to 1/100th the extent you can with even a cheap HOTAS.

 

On 7/28/2021 at 7:27 AM, Tank50us said:

it is something that is very true

  No, it is very much NOT true.

 

On 7/28/2021 at 7:27 AM, Tank50us said:

I've seen many people in my time ask the question "What's the best HOTAS to get?" or "Where can I get a decent HOTAS for under $$$".

  People shopping for expensive peripherals for a brand new hobby are putting the horse before the cart.

 

On 7/28/2021 at 7:27 AM, Tank50us said:

While these are all valid questions to ask, one should note that when looking to get a HOTAS while you're still starting out, you don't need to break the bank getting one. Take your time, and do your research before selecting one, but remember that you can get by with a simple stick that you can pick up at a local re-seller shop on the cheap.

  All very true.

 

On 7/28/2021 at 7:27 AM, Tank50us said:

Alternatively, you can get by using a game controller

  True, especially if you're joyriding. Sub-optimal for sure for fighting, but doable if careful.

 

On 7/28/2021 at 7:27 AM, Tank50us said:

or even a mouse and keyboard

  No. Just no. DCS is not optimised for mouse usage like that in any way shape or form and this is a terrible idea. This is a good way to get somebody to waste $80 a module and then not be able to use it because... surprise... DCS doesn't work worth a crap this way. It's not War Thunder. Let's not lie to people that it is.

 

On 7/28/2021 at 7:27 AM, Tank50us said:

The skills and tactics do translate

  Aviation wise in general, yes.

 

On 7/28/2021 at 7:27 AM, Tank50us said:

so if you train yourself and become dangerous with a mouse and keyboard setup, imagine how dangerous you'll be when you get your hands on an X52.

  Not at all, because all the habits and concepts you built up using a mouse and keyboard will not apply, and you will have to get used to using all your fingers and limbs, memorising where commands are, and getting used to a completely different form of control. Seriously, helping noobs is fine, but this sort of reasoning is just blatantly false and is the OPPOSITE of helping them.

 

  This is akin to somebody learning to fly a hot air balloon with one cord for up and down, and then saying ''It's flying! All the skills transfer over!'' No. They don't.

Edited August 1, 2021 by Mars Exulte

[Steel Jaw]

Trying to learn this sim with mouse/keyboard is a REALLY bad idea.

[Tank50us]

4 minutes ago, Mower said:

Trying to learn this sim with mouse/keyboard is a REALLY bad idea.

 

The thing is, people *have* done it, there's even videos of people doing fairly well with their setups, and at least able to fight people with full sim builds to a stand-still. It is by no means perfect, but it does get the job done.

 

24 minutes ago, Mars Exulte said:

Aviation wise in general, yes.

 

The tactics and maneuvers don't change because the equipment is different. Knowing how to knotch a missile for example doesn't matter what you're using, the tactic applies to all frames and kit. The same applies to all of the maneuvers. Sure, training yourself from one platform to the next will take time (I had to do it going from an X56 to a Warthog), but the rules and maneuvers are all the same regardless of what you're using.

[ReyCandy]

En 28/7/2021 a las 6:27, Tank50us dijo:

And for all of you experienced players, be sure to lighten up a bit too ya know? You were that new guy once yourself remember.

Correct!!!