A thank you

[PoliticalPuffin]

Hi there,

I am working my way through this campaign and I am not only having a great time but learning so much that I am no longer thrashing myself with a birch switch in penance for my terrible, awful and woeful flying (to be accurate and honest that should read crashing) ability, or rather, lack of!

In all seriousness, I am fairly hopeless with DCS. Nonetheless, I really enjoy everything about it. It is with this in mind that you may see why I continue to put myself through this. It occurred to me that perhaps it is a certain type of instruction that I am missing. I just need a certain something to help me connect what happens in my brain and what the outcome is at my arms, hands and feet. Then I stumbled on Baltic Dragon's A-10C Iron Flag Part 1

First and foremost, the instruction/teaching is, for me, exactly what I need. Perhaps I should have explained, I have ADHD (Combined) amongst other 'challenges'. So, I am fully aware that I need every sense input to be engaged in order for me to make sense of it. One of the other 'challenges' I just mentioned messes with memory. So, while I get my money's worth, so to speak (I can end up reading, watching, listening, smelling, touching and/or tasting something over and over to try to hammer it home). Not that I can't make sense of the manuals in DCS, I simply need other ways to absorb the information for it to make sense to me, and for me to retain it. The way this campaign does this is just spot on. While I know that 'Biff' is just a scripted character, the dialogue and the manner in which the lessons are put across see to make it 'natural' for the information to just sink in.

As for the fun/enjoyment aspect, well, there's obviously the sense of achievement as I manage to fly the aircraft correctly, get it off the ground, back down again, turn correctly etc etc. However, it 'feels' as though it is some bloke from a squadron that has drawn the short straw and has to take me through my familiarisation. This will sound really weird, but the way the scripts work, you get the sense of how two strangers with something in common, actually interact with one another. The 'Biff' character is acted so very well and his dialogue not only makes sense in technical terms, it makes sense in social terms. The best part of all, in terms of interacting with 'Biff' is that there are times when he will say.....absolutely nothing! You know, the way real people that get to know one another do. Other packages seem to have to fill every second with sound. The use of silence makes the character feel real. For that matter, so far, all the dialogue, silent or otherwise, is authentic and has purpose and does not kick the arse out of it, having 'dialogue' that is worthless.

I am loving this campaign, everything about it. Occasionally, there are hiccups with triggering, but I put that down to me doing something not right. However, this takes nothing away from what is the best training I have undergone, and is amongst the most fun I've had with a 'video game', ever.

So, to close this out, thank you, Baltic Dragon. I am thoroughly enjoying my time in Iron Flag part 1. While I am not likely to achieve this, I think it very likely I will buy every single one of your campaigns, missions, anything you develop for DCS. Thank you and all the best to all the team that produced such an excellent and fun experience.

Dave

[baltic_dragon]

Thank you so much @PoliticalPuffin for this feedback, means a lot. And I am happy you're enjoying it! Unfortunately I still don't have any news on part 2, but there is quite a few hours of fun in #1 to be had

[PoliticalPuffin]

Hi there ,

First, I apologise for not realising you had replied to me . I just wanted to let you know that I have completed all of the missions . As I alluded to in the previous tome, not only have I had the most fun, but I can now start the jet, work my comms, interact with all the parts of the process of getting from 'parked' to taking off, getting in the air, getting permission to enter the range, etc, etc. I can manage the sensors, D/L, TAD, TGP, weapons... I'm sure you get the picture

The one and only thing I have yet to manage to achieve is AAR. I can get myself to the tanker, get in comms with it, get to pre contact, but a combination of panic, gripping the stick like I'm choking it to death and as for the poor throttle...I've lifted it up and off the desk on so many occasions I've lost count. However, prior to your IF1, I could not even catch up to tankers . As you quite rightly say in your reply, there are still many hours of fun to be had from part 1. I do not see getting to the end of the first go around as me being finished with your work, not be a long shot.

I cannot recommend your work highly enough. I cannot think of any group that would not totally enjoy the experience, get brilliant training from it, have eyes opened to the nuances of a jet like the A10C and simply just find themselves smiling from the minute they get in the 'pit (see, I'm getting a bit cocky now that I think I know the lingo) until the moment they get back to Thunder and shut the jet down.

Bravo , this is simply a fabulous package. I know you have your work cut out with the new Kola map, but know this, as soon as IF part 2 is available, whenever in the future that may be, I will be buying it.

All the very best to all at Baltic Dragon. You really have produced something that every minute sunk into it is a pleasure, and every minute until one can get back in the air is a minute too long.

Cheers,

Dave

[baltic_dragon]

Thank you! I think this approach to training is something that many people will appreciate, that is why we're working on a similar campaign for the F-18C as part of the Raven One series (with Kevin Miller, author of the books and Jell-O, host of the Fighter Pilot Podcast). We also recently began work on the same thing for the AH-64. Interesting times ahead!

[PoliticalPuffin]

Hi again ,

I will look forward to seeing your new work for both the Hornet and Apache Awesome! Cannot wait. 

All the best, 

Dave

[Blackhawk163]

I was going to create a thread pretty much saying the same thing Puffin. @baltic_dragon, I absolutely love the way this was setup and presented. So much so that I am disappointed that there aren't any other campaigns that cover all the other aircraft like this one does for the A10II.

Are we ever getting a part II?

Edited October 17, 2024 by Blackhawk163

[Rudel_chw]

1 hour ago, Blackhawk163 said:

Are we ever getting a part II?

 

It is under development, but no ETA:

https://www.baltic-dragon.net/copy-of-campaigns

 

[Blackhawk163]

thanks for the heads up @Rudel_chw