It's been a long time... Few questions

[Lonecrow66]

I used to play ever sim out there from the C=64 up and was hard core into sims much of my life. I thought Falcon4 would be the holy grail until it was released way too early, and then was never really fixed. I left the arena disgusted at the death of simulations in the market. Even though I kept my eye on community development I still have not

 

Finally I have returned because I have found something worthy of my attention. No more arcade sims out there. I heard Black Shark was heads and tails above everything else and I was intrigued but I am not really too interested in Russian hardware.

 

Now the A10 .. what is there not to love?

 

So I ponied up and so far I'm pretty happy. I'm also terribly lost. I have limited time to spend each night on the sim and sneak some time in at work reading the manual. Of course once you are in flight it becomes a pain because you don't want to pause to check out what to do. Pausing is for wimps!

 

Ok so I have paused occasionally and I don't think I'll be ready for multiplayer any time soon!

 

Starting to get a good grasp on the main functions of everything. Much of it was very similar to the old days. Just having to actually find each button and learn every key command is really time consuming.

 

The tutorials are great and I practice them over and over so that it becomes ingrained in your subconscious where everything is and how to do it.

 

I do have some questions though. I have not been able to get far enough really other than some weapons training. I have not flown a mission yet because I've still not even really looked into countermeasures or other important stuff.

 

So far I can start up.. take off.. fly around.. navigate (Not even going to try and learn HARS) divert to an airport, use ATC and land safely.

 

For shutdown, how do you actually turn your engines off? I've tried to find every single button (even clicked them all) I've cut fuel, power everything to the engines but they'd still keep winding! Is that a bug? I've turned every system off.

 

As for most of you, I see you are all using track ir. I am going to have to buy one. But I have a Saitek X52 and someone did make a profile for it. However it is a bit confusing until I realized you are trying to simulate the actual A10 stick's hat features. This left out any way of actually changing your view and looking around zooming so I can click the right buttons.

 

So I guess I will have to buy a track ir if I'm going to be serious about this sim.. If anyone knows of any dumbed down semi-simple X52 configs please do share!!

 

Also why not replace the coolie that is used for trim with the 3 sliders (rotating) on the throttle instead? That way it could free up one hat for viewing.

 

 

Now for missions. I have not got into a mission yet. But the one thing that drew me so close to Falcon 4 was the fact that it had a dynamic campaign. I mean there was so much going on you could just sit back and watch the war.

 

This seems to be more of a scripted mission by mission old style sim. I don't like it. I think as far as we've progressed in technology there should almost always be some form of dynamic campaign system.

 

But to get past all of that, I have one simple question - if I play a campaign, and bomb a non vehicle target (a building) and fly over it the next mission will it be rebuilt or will it be destroyed still? Possibly still even on fire?

 

Those are the little touches that I need in a sim. They have put a HELL of a lot of work so far from what I can see into the actual A10 and its systems and flight model. But the actual combat and realism of the actual "theatre" is going to be another thing.

 

Overall I'm happy to say I'm back and finally we are going to have a SIM worth spending oodles of cash and time into. Now my wife is pissed I've already bought a new desk, looking at a 27 inch monitor to go with my other 2 23inch monitors a couple SLI cards, track IR .. and maybe (if the price would come down) the Thrustmaster A10 setup..

 

The saitek just aint cutting it but its all I have for now. Sigh.. So little time so much to learn and do.

[Stretch]

For shutdown, how do you actually turn your engines off? Move the throttles back past the idle detent.

 

Also why not replace the coolie that is used for trim with the 3 sliders (rotating) on the throttle instead? Most people have Track IR and therefore no need for a view hat, which means they can use the hat for trim, as in the real jet.

 

if I play a campaign, and bomb a non vehicle target (a building) and fly over it the next mission will it be rebuilt or will it be destroyed still? Possibly still even on fire? Nope.

[mic1184]

Hey there, welcome to this wonderful game.

 

I used to play ever sim out there from the C=64 up and was hard core into sims much of my life. I thought Falcon4 would be the holy grail until it was released way too early, and then was never really fixed. I left the arena disgusted at the death of simulations in the market. Even though I kept my eye on community development I still have not

Same here, I've started a bit later with A-10 tank killer, flight unlimited, red baron, and many more sims.

 

Played falcon 4 AF for a couple years and still love it.

 

Finally I have returned because I have found something worthy of my attention. No more arcade sims out there. I heard Black Shark was heads and tails above everything else and I was intrigued but I am not really too interested in Russian hardware.

 

Now the A10 .. what is there not to love?

I just wasn't interested in flying a helicopter, although i enjoyed the apache and hind sims from like 1996. and they were very well playable with just mouse and keyboard.

 

So I ponied up and so far I'm pretty happy. I'm also terribly lost. I have limited time to spend each night on the sim and sneak some time in at work reading the manual. Of course once you are in flight it becomes a pain because you don't want to pause to check out what to do. Pausing is for wimps!

umm i couldn't play without the active pause (shift, win + pause). Pausing is for wimps or learning pilots!

 

As for most of you, I see you are all using track ir. I am going to have to buy one. But I have a Saitek X52 and someone did make a profile for it. However it is a bit confusing until I realized you are trying to simulate the actual A10 stick's hat features. This left out any way of actually changing your view and looking around zooming so I can click the right buttons.

 

So I guess I will have to buy a track ir if I'm going to be serious about this sim.. If anyone knows of any dumbed down semi-simple X52 configs please do share!!

 

Also why not replace the coolie that is used for trim with the 3 sliders (rotating) on the throttle instead? That way it could free up one hat for viewing.

personally i liked to use the ministick (mouse) on the x52 for viewing around. there are x52 profiles on the forums that use it like that. if you like to use the sticks coolie hat better, just do it. Personally i prefer to keep it as close to the original as possible, like most hardcore sim players do for obvious reasons ;-)

 

Now for missions. I have not got into a mission yet. But the one thing that drew me so close to Falcon 4 was the fact that it had a dynamic campaign. I mean there was so much going on you could just sit back and watch the war.

 

This seems to be more of a scripted mission by mission old style sim. I don't like it. I think as far as we've progressed in technology there should almost always be some form of dynamic campaign system.

 

But to get past all of that, I have one simple question - if I play a campaign, and bomb a non vehicle target (a building) and fly over it the next mission will it be rebuilt or will it be destroyed still? Possibly still even on fire?

 

Those are the little touches that I need in a sim. They have put a HELL of a lot of work so far from what I can see into the actual A10 and its systems and flight model. But the actual combat and realism of the actual "theatre" is going to be another thing.

same here! i would love a dynamic campaign like in falcon 4. I used to play wars with it without actually flying myself for days. there's a discussion threat about dynamic campaigns in the sim reasearch subforum. feel free to join the discussion

 

 

Overall I'm happy to say I'm back and finally we are going to have a SIM worth spending oodles of cash and time into. Now my wife is pissed I've already bought a new desk, looking at a 27 inch monitor to go with my other 2 23inch monitors a couple SLI cards, track IR .. and maybe (if the price would come down) the Thrustmaster A10 setup..

a couple SLI cards? depending on which graphics u got right now i wouldnt invest so much money in a SLI setup. get urself a gtx 560 for $220 and save the rest for #1 a track ir and #2 the hotas warthog and #3 for another graphics card if u really think u need it.

 

The saitek just aint cutting it but its all I have for now. Sigh.. So little time so much to learn and do.

the x52 works well, but it just doesnt feel as fancy as a high quality stick, sure.

 

Have fun

[Lonecrow66]

For shutdown, how do you actually turn your engines off? Move the throttles back past the idle detent.

 

Also why not replace the coolie that is used for trim with the 3 sliders (rotating) on the throttle instead? Most people have Track IR and therefore no need for a view hat, which means they can use the hat for trim, as in the real jet.

 

if I play a campaign, and bomb a non vehicle target (a building) and fly over it the next mission will it be rebuilt or will it be destroyed still? Possibly still even on fire? Nope.

 

I tried to move them past but I have a saitek x52.. it went all the way back and I can't click on the actual throttles to move them further back either..

 

Yeah but some don't have track IR so that is why I'm saying :)

 

Dang.. what a lack of a feeling of accomplishment if you can't fly over the buildings you bombed last week?

[GGTharos]

For the throttles, you have to use the keyboard. No clicking there.

 

And get a TIR ;) Trim is done with the hat like on the real jet, not with axis.

 

You'll be too busy with other things to worry about the buildings you bombed last week.

 

And, believe it or not, depending on the opponent ... a week is enough to see those buildings back up in some state or repair or other.

[Lonecrow66]

Thanks for the reply Mic

 

I haven't found the one with the ministick yet. Do you have a link handy? I searched and didnt see it.

 

I also loved janes longbow. I actually like flying choppers. If DCS had made it an Apache in an interesting theatre of war then I would have bought it and any addons too. But because of the fact it was a Russian made ship.. many of us North Americans are not interested.

 

I want to get into an Apache with fully clickable cockpits etc. Then another F15 sim, or F16. I know the F22 is still in flux really and a lot of classified data still so it is hard to make a realistic sim with that.

 

A10 was a perfect choice.

 

As for SLI yeah I have a GTS 250 and it .. kinda runs ok at 1400x900 but when you get close to any airport or any buildings or get low on a strafing run it bogs down real bad. I was going to get a 2nd 250 maybe because I have an SLI motherboard. But I saw a package of 2 460's for like $300..

[Lonecrow66]

For the throttles, you have to use the keyboard. No clicking there.

 

And get a TIR ;) Trim is done with the hat like on the real jet, not with axis.

 

You'll be too busy with other things to worry about the buildings you bombed last week.

 

And, believe it or not, depending on the opponent ... a week is enough to see those buildings back up in some state or repair or other.

 

 

I know what you mean but you have to feel like there is some progress hehe. Like if we had 2 missions supporting troops holding a town, and we pushed them back I should be flying over the ruins of a town..

 

Dang guess I'll have to get the Thrustmaster or bind it to some keys to totally shut down the engines..

 

I was always good at memorizing key commands but this takes things to a new level of memorization..

[GGTharos]

Who said you won't have a feeling of progress ;)

 

Anyway, the throttles are one of the very few things that cannot be clicked on. Not too much to memorize.

 

I know what you mean but you have to feel like there is some progress hehe. Like if we had 2 missions supporting troops holding a town, and we pushed them back I should be flying over the ruins of a town..

 

Dang guess I'll have to get the Thrustmaster or bind it to some keys to totally shut down the engines..

 

I was always good at memorizing key commands but this takes things to a new level of memorization..

[Lonecrow66]

Who said you won't have a feeling of progress ;)

 

Anyway, the throttles are one of the very few things that cannot be clicked on. Not too much to memorize.

 

Good point.

 

How is the pausing going to be handled in multiplayer anyway? Like other games if someone pauses it .. everyone gets paused?

[GGTharos]

... how about no pausing. I suggest learning how the aircraft works so you don't need to pause ;)

 

Another thing that may help is that once you have a plan of attack (that's before take-off) and you know the weapons you are going to use, you will already be thinking of exactly what you will do ahead, down to single switch operations. Once you have that going for you, you won't need to pause for anyone.

[Napa]

Welcome to the forums Lonecrow66. Its always good to see a comeback from veteran aviation enthusiasts. The community is getting bigger and better each year.

 

Press Alt + End to cut left engine and Ctrl + End for right engine after you turn off most of the systems and avionics except from the inverter and battery. Follow the Landing training mission to check the shutdown procedure.

[mic1184]

I tried to move them past but I have a saitek x52.. it went all the way back and I can't click on the actual throttles to move them further back either..

 

Yeah but some don't have track IR so that is why I'm saying :)

 

Dang.. what a lack of a feeling of accomplishment if you can't fly over the buildings you bombed last week?

 

yeah i know what you mean. the immersion of a real simulated battle that goes on even without you and every mission you fly successfully acts as a small gear in a huge war drive train... is a promising thought.

 

There are really good and constructive posts in the dynamic campaign threat. you'll find some info why ED hasn't integrated it yet.

 

Myself, I'm still just learning how to fly the hog successfully so i haven't started the campaign or flying online. A really good scripted campaign can be just as immersive, just think about OFP (okay this is infantry but still...).

 

I really can't say what the campaign feels like. If it was a dynamic one like in falcon or F22, i might have even started playing it without really being able to fly, and would spend less time in the cockpit ;-) so maybe it's not so bad there isn't one... ;-)

 

Thanks for the reply Mic

 

I haven't found the one with the ministick yet. Do you have a link handy? I searched and didnt see it.

 

sure, i started with this one http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=62365 and adjusted a few small things. Suggest you do the same. i just bought an TIR (should have done so years ago but being a student couldnt afford it). it's a good investion.

 

I also loved janes longbow. I actually like flying choppers. If DCS had made it an Apache in an interesting theatre of war then I would have bought it and any addons too. But because of the fact it was a Russian made ship.. many of us North Americans are not interested.

 

hm honestly i think the ka-50 looks much cooler than the ah64, i like the coaxial roter principle. Maybe someday i buy myself pedals and try to fly black shark.

 

i think just the fact it's russian shouldn't keep anyone from flying it, that just sounds prejudiced ;-)

 

I want to get into an Apache with fully clickable cockpits etc. Then another F15 sim, or F16. I know the F22 is still in flux really and a lot of classified data still so it is hard to make a realistic sim with that.

 

A10 was a perfect choice.

 

totally agree that the A-10 was the best choice. Everyone loves it, me included, i don't even really know why.

 

As for SLI yeah I have a GTS 250 and it .. kinda runs ok at 1400x900 but when you get close to any airport or any buildings or get low on a strafing run it bogs down real bad. I was going to get a 2nd 250 maybe because I have an SLI motherboard. But I saw a package of 2 460's for like $300..

 

i really wouldn't suggest SLI. not worth the extra money, power consumption, heat, noise and driver hassle. you're better off investing $150 to $200 in a good single GPU card and buy another $150 card in 2 years. gives more value and performance in the long run.

 

DON't buy a second GTS 250, that would be a waste of money. better sell it on ebay

 

Good point.

 

How is the pausing going to be handled in multiplayer anyway? Like other games if someone pauses it .. everyone gets paused?

 

you can't pause in MP. there's no reason to do, in MP you should know how to control the game and aircraft

 

Welcome to the forums Lonecrow66. Its always good to see a comeback from veteran aviation enthusiasts. The community is getting bigger and better each year.

 

Press Alt + End to cut left engine and Ctrl + End for right engine after you turn off most of the systems and avionics except from the inverter and battery. Follow the Landing training mission to check the shutdown procedure.

 

serious sims always have the best communitys. speaking from a lot of experience :-)

[Lonecrow66]

Welcome to the forums Lonecrow66. Its always good to see a comeback from veteran aviation enthusiasts. The community is getting bigger and better each year.

 

Press Alt + End to cut left engine and Ctrl + End for right engine after you turn off most of the systems and avionics except from the inverter and battery. Follow the Landing training mission to check the shutdown procedure.

 

Yeah thanks I figured that out last night.

 

I was able to get everything going in a mission but had a hard time with the CDU.. learning how it all works. I keep clicking the wrong thing and it isn't very forgiving. The actual direction / compass on the HUD wouldn't work but everything else did.

 

Just had a hard time figure out how to get the MFD's to display stuff. Even though I downloaded and let the asterisks come up, it showed nothing in the weapon stores, but there were weapons on the racks.

 

The actual mission planner is a little weak from what I could see. I mean I know they spent the majority of their effort in the actual SIM and aircraft itself, but we need a little more intuitive ordinance loading and configs and mission planning. Something a little user friendly I guess.

 

I'm just struggling to learn. I've been reading the manual pretty well but I still have a LOT to learn!

 

I can't believe how I can spend hours in the cockpit and barely even do anything, I'm having so much fun just working the systems..

[Lonecrow66]

Yeah I agree mic ... I mean the Black Shark looks awesome and has a lot of great avionics and weaponry but some of us just are not interested in simulating things that are not ours.. Hard to explain. More pride in flying stuff made in the USA etc..

 

As for that thread - and the other beta threads I can't get into the forums it wouldn't let me have access. Even thought I pre-paid. I couldn't even get my registration email to yahoo because I think it blocks anything from russia.

 

If any of you know of a mod who can let me into the beta forums I'd appreciate it!

[poochies]

the hardest thing for me is finding targets without the labels on. It's really hard to pick them up at 15 to 20 miles out with the targeting pod, in FLIR modes. Learn to use the F10 map and find your targets on there, or have JTAC give yo the coordinates and learn how to enter them into your CDU to create a waypoint. Or have a buddy you're flying with share his target location with you by broadcasting his SPI. Lots to learn in this sim, and unfortunately I'm flying with some guys online who've had this sim from day one and are aces at it, and it's hard to fly with them when you're still having some hard times with things. Always look for the training missons under available multiplayer games, you'll see them from time to time... good luck!

[Bulletstop]

There is a sticky that explains how to get into the beta forums. This sticky and read post number 2. http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=58551

Welcome to the friendly sky's :) .

 

 

 

Bullet

[nomdeplume]

Just had a hard time figure out how to get the MFD's to display stuff. Even though I downloaded and let the asterisks come up, it showed nothing in the weapon stores, but there were weapons on the racks.

 

At what point in the startup sequence did you load it? If you do it too early, it'll get reset at some point and you won't have any data in there. Best bet is to wait until you have at least one engine running and its generator on - the transition from the APU generator to the engine generators isn't smooth and causes a reset of pretty much anything running from AC.

 

The actual mission planner is a little weak from what I could see. I mean I know they spent the majority of their effort in the actual SIM and aircraft itself, but we need a little more intuitive ordinance loading and configs and mission planning. Something a little user friendly I guess.

The mission planner is basically just the mission editor, with some bits missing (i.e. you can't alter the enemy forces :D). It might be nice to have a more dedicated mission player UI though.

[mic1184]

The actual mission planner is a little weak from what I could see. I mean I know they spent the majority of their effort in the actual SIM and aircraft itself, but we need a little more intuitive ordinance loading and configs and mission planning. Something a little user friendly I guess.

 

it's obvious DCS isn't much of a game and apart from in-cockpit, there's nothing fun to see or do. but ED is working hard to improve the between-mission-immersion - i hope.

[Lonecrow66]

the hardest thing for me is finding targets without the labels on. It's really hard to pick them up at 15 to 20 miles out with the targeting pod, in FLIR modes. Learn to use the F10 map and find your targets on there, or have JTAC give yo the coordinates and learn how to enter them into your CDU to create a waypoint. Or have a buddy you're flying with share his target location with you by broadcasting his SPI. Lots to learn in this sim, and unfortunately I'm flying with some guys online who've had this sim from day one and are aces at it, and it's hard to fly with them when you're still having some hard times with things. Always look for the training missons under available multiplayer games, you'll see them from time to time... good luck!

 

Yeah I just discovered there even was an F10 map!

 

Man I did my first mission for fun. The river raid.. talk about sensory overload.

 

Managed to take out the first adn 2nd bunker and a few AAA but my TGP got knocked out and my right MFD which made me pretty useless. Couldn't use the mavericks I had left so I RTB.

 

So I watch the reply, and it shows my A10 nosedive into the ground!! I was like WTF? Thats not what happened.

 

Pretty exciting though. I really need to work on threat assessment somehow.

 

I got riddled with bullets and the damage on the a10 was awesome. Even my right engine which I could see was hit pretty well with small arms, it would overheat if I had the rpms too high so I couldn't get the hog over 200kts. This is where the Saitek sucks. If I had the thrustmaster A10 I could at least feather the one engine back. I'll have to figure out a way to do this. When i tried to throttle it back the analog would just put it back up. Oh well pretty sweet.

[Lonecrow66]

There is a sticky that explains how to get into the beta forums. This sticky and read post number 2. http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=58551

Welcome to the friendly sky's :) .

 

 

 

Bullet

 

Yeah I saw that .. it wouldn't show me how to get in, twas because I had a different email address. I sent the proper request now I'll check see if I got in :)

[Lonecrow66]

At what point in the startup sequence did you load it? If you do it too early, it'll get reset at some point and you won't have any data in there. Best bet is to wait until you have at least one engine running and its generator on - the transition from the APU generator to the engine generators isn't smooth and causes a reset of pretty much anything running from AC.

 

The mission planner is basically just the mission editor, with some bits missing (i.e. you can't alter the enemy forces :D). It might be nice to have a more dedicated mission player UI though.

 

 

Most of it is RTFM. I've been reading and going "oh" I forgot to turn this on and that. It is just the frustrating part putting in the time to learn and slog through it all before you can start to enjoy it. I've had it for over a week now and I just finally tried my first combat mission today. Made it back alive parked and everything. So the prep time making sure you know the systems like the back of your hand is important.

 

Problem is getting a proper hotas set up really. Once you get comfortable being able to do it all without having to pan and view to try and find stuff it gets faster.

 

I REALLY need a track IR though.

 

However whenever I get near the ground I get very long pauses to the point where it is almost unplayable.. that'll get improved I'm sure.

[bradleyjs]

>>Problem is getting a proper hotas set up really. Once you get comfortable being able to do it all without having to pan and view to try and find stuff it gets faster.

 

 

For Christmas my wife bought the TM HOTAS Warthog and I hardly ever have any CTD's anymore and I find the sim almost impossible to fly "efficiently" without it - [iMHO]..

 

Edit: And there's little no change in the configuration (unless you want certain features to be activated)... It's very expensive but very worth the $$$ to overcome the headaches with other controllers.. .02 Cents.

Edited January 30, 2011 by bradleyjs