General problems questions

[happnindavidmatthews]

Hey, all,

 

I have a few questions about LO2 FC:

 

I cannot, for the life of me, with extensive research, fire my missiles (specifically on the A-10, although the problem persists on the remaining aircraft)--only guns. I've tried every contradicting explanation of this task to no avail. Gone through the esoteric training missions (which give cursory explanations, at best) and they confuse me only more. Is there a decent walkthrough of these tasks? Why don't the documentation and key assignment PDFs address these issues. Ubi really needs a good technical writer.

 

Also, what is the difference of the simulation and game buttons within the gameplay tab of the options area. Again, no documentation referring to this feature.

 

I have run Falcon 4.0 (a very complicated sim), which seems a dream to use with consistent documentation that works.

 

I have read every scrap of documentation and researched this topic on forums with no results for two days (wasted). The irony is that some of these commands work with the old Lockon game bundled with LOFC2. The key commands are totally different too.

 

Anybody want to come over and explain how this f***er works? :furious:

 

I'll pay good money. : )

 

Sorry for the rant and thanks for whatever advice you can give,

 

David

[EtherealN]

I cannot, for the life of me, with extensive research, fire my missiles (specifically on the A-10, although the problem persists on the remaining aircraft)--only guns. I've tried every contradicting explanation of this task to no avail. Gone through the esoteric training missions (which give cursory explanations, at best) and they confuse me only more. Is there a decent walkthrough of these tasks? Why don't the documentation and key assignment PDFs address these issues. Ubi really needs a good technical writer.

 

I don't know how much of a walkthrough it's possible to make, really, but here goes (for F-15C):

 

1) Acquire lock

2) Enter launch parameters (red lights on the canopy bow)

3) Press and hold Release button. NOT trigger.

4) Watch the weapon fly.

 

Also, what is the difference of the simulation and game buttons within the gameplay tab of the options area. Again, no documentation referring to this feature.

 

They set controls depending on whether you are in Game or Simulation mode. See options screen.

 

Since a lot of things in the game mechanics work differently depending on whether you are using Game mode or Simulation, they need different control mappings.

[happnindavidmatthews]

I don't know how much of a walkthrough it's possible to make, really, but here goes (for F-15C):

 

1) Acquire lock (how? Sorry for being so dense, but there are so many contradicting explanations of your answers)

2) Enter launch parameters (red lights on the canopy bow) (how?)

3) Press and hold Release button. NOT trigger. (what is the release button)

4) Watch the weapon fly. (Hmmmmm)

 

 

 

They set controls depending on whether you are in Game or Simulation mode. See options screen.

 

Since a lot of things in the game mechanics work differently depending on whether you are using Game mode or Simulation, they need different control mappings (so what is the difference?).

 

What about the A-10?

 

 

Thanks for your quick reply.

 

David

[EtherealN]

1) Acquire lock through slewing the radar control to the target, the mark it with the Lock key.

2) Launch parameters depend on geometry. If both you and your target is at 30 000 feet, and you are heading towards each other, you basically need to have the target in front and within 40nm. The manual actually goes into this in detail.

3) The release button is, well, the release button.

 

The A-10 is similar, but methodology for each weapon differs. This is in the manual too. See page 294. That section has exact commands for every weapon on all the aircraft. ;)

[happnindavidmatthews]

Ethereal,

 

Thanks again for your prompt replies. I'll give it a whirl.

 

Cheers,

 

David

[159th_Viper]

.....what is the release button......

 

The 'If we had a Penny for every time this came up we'd be filthy rich' question :D

 

 

American planes: Weapon Fire (Cannon) [space] + Weapon Release (Missiles/Bombs) [space + RAlt]

 

 

Russian Planes: Weapons Fire (Cannon/Missiles/Bombs) [space]

 

 

Noted the distinction?

 

 

Eagle Dynamics/LockOn Flaming Cliffs 2/Doc/LOCKON_FC2_Keycommands_......pdf files for the relevant airframe keycommands.

[happnindavidmatthews]

Well, I have given it the good college try and am handing it over--I know when to quit wasting my time. This sim is too esoteric and unnecessarily complicated. I do like Blackshark, though.

 

I'm going to attempt to return it to Target and continue to enjoy Falcon 4.0.

 

Again, thanks for the help and quick replies,

 

David

[159th_Viper]

Well, I have given it the good college try and am handing it over--I know when to quit wasting my time. This sim is too esoteric and unnecessarily complicated. I do like Blackshark, though.

 

Your problems lie elsewhere if you think that LockOn is more complicated than Black Shark ;)

[EtherealN]

Complicated?

 

Actually, it uses the exact same underlying system for command mapping and so on as BlackShark, and the manual details step-by-step how to employ weapons.

 

I can make a few track files for you to see exactly how to do it, but I really don't understand what the difficulty might be. Are you tapping the release command, or actually holding it? I think 1 second is the required time. (And if anything the weapon systems in FC2 are arcade. :P)

 

I doubt you can do a return on it though - the license number has been used.

[EtherealN]

Attached is an A10 track I flew just now. Basic order of events was:

 

1) switch to ground attack mode (7)

2) flip through the weapon stations (D)

3) slew the target sight for the maverick (,.-ö <--- note, non-US keyboard, so not sure what you'll have there)

4) target (enter)

5) press-and-hold weapon release (R-Alt and Space)

 

after expending another mav I went around

 

6) switch to bombs (D)

7) line up the CCIP and release (R-Alt and Space, again, PRESS-AND-HOLD)

 

released my bombs and went around again

 

8) switch to cannon ©

9) line up and fire (space)

10) CFIT

 

That's exactly how to do it.

a10random.trk

[happnindavidmatthews]

Your problems lie elsewhere if you think that LockOn is more complicated than Black Shark ;)

 

That hasn't been my experience.

[159th_Viper]

LockOn is a simple 'Point-and-Shoot' exercise. Absolutely nothing to it, except if you have regard to the AFM of the T-Toad.

 

That said - for Health and Safety reasons I would have to advise you to proceed very carefully when attempting to get to grips with DCS: A-10C. If you think LockOn is complicated, the Hog will have you in Hospital faster than a pizza disappears at a weight-watcher's convention!

[happnindavidmatthews]

220, 221, whatever it takes. : )

 

Ethereal, your explanation worked perfectly. Thanks.

 

They should put that in the manual as a "quick start."

 

159th, nice metaphor. ; )

Edited December 2, 2010 by happnindavidmatthews

[EtherealN]

It is in the manual. See page 294 and it's section detailing the exact proceedure for all weapon deployment.

Manual table of contents lists "Weapons delivery" section, in which you can find step by step how to use all weapons - including which keys to press. ;)

Edited December 2, 2010 by EtherealN

[beav700]

I know exactly how you feel. I was in the same boat. Flying around using just guns and for the life of me couldn't figure out how to lunch a missile. This is one thing that should have been changed long time ago. Half the people that buy the sim can not figure out how to lunch missiles even after studying the manual. Training videos in Cliffs 2 have nothing on it. You have to play original Lock-On to get the missile training. In IMHO I should be able to switch to given missle be pressing D and press trigget to fire. No other crap. But nooo, you have to press right ALT and Space and hold it for a minute to get it go if you lucky to fly an airplaine that can do that. Russian aircraft will not even let you fire the missiles unless you get all the parameters correct. What happened to be able to fire all the missiles on the plane within few seconds regardless where they will fly. Isn't that how you jettison all the weapons for emergency landing.

[kylania]

That hasn't been my experience.

 

Your name breaks the elegant straight lines of the forums. Why do you do that? :joystick: :(

[happnindavidmatthews]

Your name breaks the elegant straight lines of the forums. Why do you do that? :joystick: :(

 

Straight as in not curvy, or straight as in Straight Brother?

[RIPTIDE]

That hasn't been my experience.

Hey man... just stick with it. Early frustration is normal. You'll look back and have a laugh at this when you're up there pwning teh nOObs. In the meantime, any other general frustrations or, specifically if you get mad, PM GGTharos . He knows everything and he likes when you swear and talk dirty in a PM to him. :thumbup: Money trouble? PM GGTharos. Wimmen trouble? PM GGTharos. :)

[dooom]

I know exactly how you feel. I was in the same boat. Flying around using just guns and for the life of me couldn't figure out how to lunch a missile. This is one thing that should have been changed long time ago. Half the people that buy the sim can not figure out how to lunch missiles even after studying the manual. Training videos in Cliffs 2 have nothing on it. You have to play original Lock-On to get the missile training. In IMHO I should be able to switch to given missle be pressing D and press trigget to fire. No other crap. But nooo, you have to press right ALT and Space and hold it for a minute to get it go if you lucky to fly an airplaine that can do that. Russian aircraft will not even let you fire the missiles unless you get all the parameters correct. What happened to be able to fire all the missiles on the plane within few seconds regardless where they will fly. Isn't that how you jettison all the weapons for emergency landing.

 

HAWX is that way ----------------->

[EtherealN]

Flying around using just guns and for the life of me couldn't figure out how to lunch a missile.

 

Sigh...

FC2 Manual, section "Weapons Delivery", page 291:

 

Step 1

Acquire the target with radar (i) in either LRD (2) or the TWS (Rctrl-I) sub-mode.

 

Step 2

Place

the TDC on the radar contact wit the (;), (,), (.), (/) keys and press the (Enter) key to lock the target. Once locked, the radar with automatically transition to an STT lock.

 

When in TWS mode it is possible to lock up to 4 targets simultaneously. The first target will be the PDT and all subsequent targets will be SDTs.

 

When within visual range, the VISUE (6) mode can be used.

 

Step 3

 

Use the dunamic launch zone (DLZ) on HUD and vertical situation display (VSD) to determine when the target is within range (in VISUAL mode there are no cues on VSD).

 

When the target is within Rtr range and the shoot cue is provided, press the weapon release button on your joystick or the (RAlt-Space) key on your keyboard.

 

I'm sorry, but saying something like this:

 

Half the people that buy the sim can not figure out how to lunch missiles even after studying the manual.

 

...just doesn't work. It is telling that I made pretty much exactly the same explanation as was already in the manual, and then it worked. That tells me one thing that I sort of hoped not to use here, but this here is just insulting...

 

 

IMHO I should be able to switch to given missle be pressing D and press trigget to fire. No other crap.

 

I'm sure ED won't mind if I apologize on their behalf for giving you a simulation. ;)

 

But nooo, you have to press right ALT and Space and hold it for a minute to get it go if you lucky to fly an airplaine that can do that.

 

You can always re-map it to something sensible - like your joystick. ;)

 

Russian aircraft will not even let you fire the missiles unless you get all the parameters correct.

 

Imagine that - the russian ministry of defence doesn't want you to launch million-dollar missiles without first achieving launch parameters? Now that's just way weird!

 

What happened to be able to fire all the missiles on the plane within few seconds regardless where they will fly. Isn't that how you jettison all the weapons for emergency landing.

 

No.

You use the weapon jettison command.

 

Seriously people, ED makes simulators. ED does not make airborne FPS. That's why it comes with a manual.

[159th_Viper]

I know...... weapons for emergency landing.

 

You.....have.....got.....to.....be.....kiddding.....me!

 

:huh:

[EtherealN]

Now now Viper, launching an armed missile on a ballistic trajectory into the horizon is a GREAT idea! ;)

 

But to be fair, someone who only played DCS:BS before might get that idea, since there you do launch the Vikhrs (but with un-armed warhead) when you want to reduce weight. But on the other hand, DCS:BS is a lot more complex than FC2. :P

[GGTharos]

... if he PMs me I ban you :D

 

 

Hey man... just stick with it. Early frustration is normal. You'll look back and have a laugh at this when you're up there pwning teh nOObs. In the meantime, any other general frustrations or, specifically if you get mad, PM GGTharos . He knows everything and he likes when you swear and talk dirty in a PM to him. :thumbup: Money trouble? PM GGTharos. Wimmen trouble? PM GGTharos. :)

[EtherealN]

But I PM you about all those things! :D

[beav700]

I'm all for simulation and love sims that cover only one aircraft with 1000 page manual. Play them all. But for a beginner, it should be easier way to lunch a weapon. This missile lunching question comes up all the time, over and over again. I think the problem is with using two keys combined that have to be pressed for few seconds. It's nice to unwrap the box, grab keyboard commend list and take off to blow things up, just to see if the game is worth reading 1000 page manual. That is what I always do. Also, why the traning videos where not carried over from Lock-On to FC2.