Dogfighting the Hornet in Multi-Player

[Rex]

I've had some multi-player dogfighting sessions over the past few weeks which have been downright purple-faced frustrating.  In particular, I can get on the six of a bandit relatively often, but many has been the time I've emptied my cannon into a SHOOT queue without obtaining a single hit. 

Then I'll pull out, look to the side, and another bandit will effectively circumcise me from 4000' away with mohel-like precision with a brief trigger burst.

On the positive side, my family has learned some profanities that they never knew existed, but is there some trick to it that I haven't gotten yet.

I mean, it seems so simple ... get on their six, get a shoot queue, pull the trigger, and sometimes it DOES work out that way.  But I've lost count of the times I've effectively shot through them.

Is network lag a factor in these kind of things, or do I just suck?  Or both?

 

[Hulkbust44]

Are you actually putting the reticle on the bandit? Do you understand the reticle symbology?

Mobius708

[maxTRX]

10 hours ago, Rex said:

I've had some multi-player dogfighting sessions over the past few weeks which have been downright purple-faced frustrating.  In particular, I can get on the six of a bandit relatively often, but many has been the time I've emptied my cannon into a SHOOT queue without obtaining a single hit. 

Then I'll pull out, look to the side, and another bandit will effectively circumcise me from 4000' away with mohel-like precision with a brief trigger burst.

On the positive side, my family has learned some profanities that they never knew existed, but is there some trick to it that I haven't gotten yet.

I mean, it seems so simple ... get on their six, get a shoot queue, pull the trigger, and sometimes it DOES work out that way.  But I've lost count of the times I've effectively shot through them.

Is network lag a factor in these kind of things, or do I just suck?  Or both?

 

HUD vid? Answers questions like this immediately.

[Rex]

On 10/30/2021 at 8:04 PM, Hulkbust44 said:

Are you actually putting the reticle on the bandit? Do you understand the reticle symbology?

Mobius708


 

Negative, I just pull when I get the shoot queue.  I'll look it up, though. Thanks.

Edit to add: Actually I understood more than I thought, but I see where I can increase accuracy a bit. I concede that I do not set the wingspan typically as I always figured the default was close enough.  Maybe not.

On 10/31/2021 at 6:15 AM, Gripes323 said:

HUD vid? Answers questions like this immediately.

Mind if I ask what you use to create those? I mean I know you can use FRAPS and things like that, but do you have something that you run every session without hurting performance?

Edited November 2, 2021 by Rex

[maxTRX]

5 hours ago, Rex said:

Negative, I just pull when I get the shoot queue.  I'll look it up, though. Thanks.

Edit to add: Actually I understood more than I thought, but I see where I can increase accuracy a bit. I concede that I do not set the wingspan typically as I always figured the default was close enough.  Maybe not.

Mind if I ask what you use to create those? I mean I know you can use FRAPS and things like that, but do you have something that you run every session without hurting performance?

 

Regardless of the aiming method, whether it's radar assisted (director reticle) or the funnel, it helps a lot to be in the same plane of motion as the target or close to it. When you drive your reticle or funnel cross onto the target, drive it up slightly ahead of the target as you start shooting (short bursts). Correct up or down a little. You'll get the feel. Out of plane snapshots are a bit more tricky and take some more practice.

Now, as far as recording vids...  I don't get too fancy with editing or quality of recording so, I simply use the capture feature of windows gaming. Looks like crap when recorded in real time in VR (G2) but it's good enough for debriefs. I didn't notice any drop in performance when recording directly from VR. I would prefer recording vids from mission tracks... if they were  reliable but they are not. Especially A/A missions with lots of turning involved. Things will get out of whack in no time. Tracks are not too bad for A/G replays.

After I get the raw in-game recording, I cut out the short clips of the footage I need. So.. as you can see I'm not an expert on video making. There are bunch of folks here that specialize in creating quality vids, using all kinds of fancy software. I'm sure you can find some good info on these boards. 

Edited November 3, 2021 by Gripes323

[Brass2-1]

For what it’s worth OP, I never bother with the wingspan setting despite being aware of it. I’m not a BFM junkie or gunfighter, so it has to be a bad day for me to even get to guns. 
That said, I do train to it and enjoy it occasionally. Learning to predict other aircraft and process symbology are key. The biggest thing truly is learning how to fight the Hornet to its strengths and weaknesses, and specifically when and how to use the AoA/nose pointing ability. 

[Jenson]

Maybe try single player dogfight practice first to see if you can shoot down an AI aircraft with guns. 

[Rex]

On 11/17/2021 at 7:59 PM, Jenson said:

Maybe try single player dogfight practice first to see if you can shoot down an AI aircraft with guns. 

Oh yeah, I've made quite a few of these. The one I use most often is over the Persian Gulf where I get one of each modern Red aircraft type as an opponent ... if I defeat one, the next one spawns, defeat him, the next one spawns, etc. Opponents are always set to Ace, and I can more or less defeat the AI pilots at-will.  I'm decent at getting on my opponents six, just lacking in my ability bring it home.  It's like running the kickoff from your own endzone to your opponent's 2 yard-line, and then dropping.  Kind of what it feels like at times. I'm getting better but I'm still not as good as the truly skilled pilots.

Thanks for all of the feedback, it's been helpful.  I haven't had as much trouble recently, but I'm using the Afterburner buffer feature which will let me save video retroactively if I get another really bad session (I have 64GB and I buffer a rolling 10GB loop to RAM).