Tips needed to help learn this sim.

[MadTommy]

With hundreds of pages of the manual to read & digest, many many terms & acronyms to understand and learn, with a mind boggling number of buttons to set up on my x52pro... to be honest i'm feeling a little helpless.

 

I'm finding the manual a little difficult as a learning tool... it is though in telling you what something is but lacking in the explanation of its function. I understand it is still work in progress, but it is lacking a certain something. (certainly for me anyway)

 

Can anyone give me some tips of a learning strategy?

 

I think i need some of Wags great producers notes, this helped me no end in BlackShark.

 

:helpsmilie:

 

How are you doing it? Thanks.

[aaron886]

I gotta say, the only way is to RTM. I enjoy it. If you love this kind of stuff, you probably will too. If you need to, use the first section as reference... definitely read the parts about HUD symbology, MFCD pages, the countermeasures system, and navigation systems. But make sure you read the entire "combat employment" section from start to finish. It will help you decide what other information you need to pick up from the first section of the manual.

 

That's one way. Personally, I just read every section of the manual I didn't know, from cover to cover.

[Wags]

Use the walk through sections of the manual like the Combat Employment chapter.

[Nate--IRL--]

The most important part in the whole manual is the "Understanding SOI and SPI" sub-chapter starting at Pg 386.

 

Nate

[RogueRunner]

The amount of buttons needed is actually not that many. You only really need to map the 'HOTAS' buttons. The rest is used such that you can actually take your hands of the stick to manupilate them :D

 

I still cannot deploy mavs though, did the RTM thing, watched the videos and help offered on this forum and still cannot get mavs to lock. I get them to slew to the SPI point where the TGP looks but they will not lock. Launched two thus far but I think it was pure luck :D

Edited October 11, 2010 by RogueRunner

[159th_Viper]

One..........Step..........At..........A..........Time.

[Paco]

MadTommy,

 

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Yes, it may seem overwhelming but take it one step at a time. Learn how to employ one weapon at at time. I echo Nate's comments....learn the four SOI's and then how that translates into SPI. That's the heart of the Precision Strike Suite. Leave the CDU for last, that's the most complicated.

This is a great sim, can't wait for it to get out in the community. This coming from a long time Falcon fan.

[thisisentchris87]

What I like to do is jump in and just start one system and start seeing what it does when I press something. I'll be doing this with the EGI and CDU system, I don't need to fly or anything, just start the APU and start button mashing.

 

That's the best way to learning The A-10C (or any complex simulator) in my opinion, read the manual and if something looks cool jump in and try it. Don't try reading a whole chapter and trying everything at once. Look for stuff that's useful or cool in the chapter.

 

The manual is still the place to go to if something is still a little confusing when your playing with it in the cockpit, like the HUD, which has a lot of information that's abbreviated or symbolic.

 

When it comes to arcronyms, don't try just memorizing them. Try looking at the acronym and its meaning, eventually you should notice that its fairly common sense. Like with the CDU, F is Fail, V is Valid, P is Pass. Knowing what the system does helps to, the acronym has to relate to the subject at hand. Like with the CDU and its system statuses.

 

Just make sure to master the SOI and SPI concept, that's by far the most confusing part!!!!

 

 

Personally I find the A-10C far easier than the Ka-50, The menus and systems are very straight forward and intuitive. I fired off my first 3 mavericks yesterday, it took me a few minutes to figure out (although I do have some steps in front of me). I havn't read the manual much and I already have a good grip on most of the avionics (some things I haven't tried yet), which shows how refined the A-10C is.

 

I think the A-10Cs avionics are too easy, although I'm sure I'll be screaming at some point! :P :joystick:

[MadTommy]

Thanks for the tips.. much appreciated.

 

One step at a time for sure... I've tried the button mashing technique, that's not for me, and neither is simply reading the manual from front to back. (that will come in time). Too much to take in at one time.

 

I need to master the SOI & SPI and get my stick configured correctly. Understanding SOI and SPI on page 386 sounds like the place to 'restart' my learning. Thanks again.

[Tracer2k]

about the stick mapping.. if you dont have hotas like me, map all of the hat commands (TMS, Coolie and DMS) to LCtrl + Hat, LShift + Hat, LAlt + Hat (this idea i got from Nate, if i remember correct) also i have mapped china hat to numpad and the trim to arrow keys.. oh and CMS hat to to RCtrl+Numpad keys.. of course it is totally up to you, but these got me pretty well started with the systems. also PAC is mapped to one of the thumb buttons.

[MadTommy]

I think i have got over the initial hump...

 

By understanding the HOTAS controls such as coolie, DTS, TMS and the MFCDs basics I feel like i've made a big leap forward.

 

:pilotfly:

[Scabbers]

Avionics is key gotta learn that stuff first

[Scabbers]

There are a lot of really good input here to help People. However I am going to baby step it a little more. I think new pilots really need to put themselves in diapers first. Follow this as a simple map to learn the hog.

1. Familiarize yourself with the systems (learn acronyms Especially the Master cautions). If you dont know how the avionics interacts everything else is greek.

2. Learn the start sequence for the engines and aircraft start up.

3. Focus on basic nav and control. Master that before moving to weapons employment.

4. Master each weapon type. Lots of practice range time.

5. when you are competent on the airframe now do some wingman practice. AI or RL.

6. Now go see how you fare with stuff shooting at you.