Some questions please

[USAF77]

I am considering buying this game. As it is , and for the first time in years, I dont have a dedicated flight game. My main interest is history, most of all WW 2 flight history, but since that genre is almost dead in flight simming I have been looking for alternatives.

 

This game looks awfully cool. While I dont feel like re-enlisting it seems there are avenues in A-10c for the more casual simmer also. Not that I mind learning and growing, I just dont feel like sitting on a runway for 6 mins going thru a checklist. Is my observation correct ? Can you also play the sim more casually ?

 

Mind you Im not putting down anyone elses interests. I admit its kinda cool there is so much realism.

 

Also, and I guess this is the most important question, what is it you find most fun about the game ? Am I right that you are basically flying CAS against AI targets and never actually fighting against others in multi player ? Of course I realize the A-10 is a dedicated CAS air frame.

 

Thanks in advance for any answers.

[bluepilot76]

Yeah its no problem to find missions where the Hog is sitting on the runway ready to go, or already flying. The aircraft itself is very easy to fly and land, you can spend many happy hours just flying around without delving into the complications of getting the weapons to work. I quite often do just fly around, doing touch and gos or enjoying the scenery, flying under power lines, in out of clouds, night flying etc... You wont regret it!

[Zenra]

Hum, don't know exactly how to answer that one. If you start cold & dark it wil take ~15 minutes to get things spun and to the runway. You do have the option for many missions to start on the runway, all lined up and ready to go, or even in the air.

 

What most people probably really like about this sim, though, are its fidelity and complexity. even if you start on the runway or in the air you will need to study and practice extensively with the systems to use most of the weapons - at all. This is especially the case if you want to fly CAS missions under JTAC control. It is exceedingly rewarding, though.

[slowhand]

DCS A10 has 2 modes SIM and Game. Sim will make you work for all you get.!the Game mode is just that its a game,Still worth it on both cases and when your ready to go get your feet wet in Sim mode it's like a whole new feeling you will get..just keep your clothes on..:megalol:

[bluepilot76]

But you can start simply enough, say the gun for example, its really not that hard. master arm, master mode, pull trigger. The plane as a whole is complicated, but you dont have to jump right into intricacies of programming the navigation computeer for example. Taken bit by bit its really quite easy. Just get stuck in.

 

I thnk far too much was made about how hard the KA50 was, I was nearly put off. when I actually got it I found I was flying around quite happily within a matter of minutes. Obviously wasnt going to do well in a campaign straight out, but didnt need to do that to get satifaction out of the sim.

[Frostiken]

Honestly the A-10 isn't that hard. Combat aircraft are deceptively simple to operate. Come to think of it the most complicated bits of any modern fighter tends to be the navigation and information sharing systems.

[USAF77]

Thanks for the reply so quick. I bought the program and was able to fly the plane in practice, "it handles beautifully".

 

Can I ask one more question ? Im a little overwhelmed with all the keybindings. For instance there seems to be numerous keys to start/stop your engines. Which keys actually do this the easiest way ? And what key controls are most important to have when starting the game ?

 

Thanks again for any answers. This sounds like a great community. <S>

[sobek]

Thanks for the reply so quick. I bought the program and was able to fly the plane in practice, "it handles beautifully".

 

Can I ask one more question ? Im a little overwhelmed with all the keybindings. For instance there seems to be numerous keys to start/stop your engines. Which keys actually do this the easiest way ? And what key controls are most important to have when starting the game ?

 

The more elegant solution would be to use the 3D cockpit with its clickable switches, IMHO. With the exception of the HOTAS commands and the throttle idle detents, everything in the pit is clickable.

[macedk]

lshift - lwin keys together = active pause. this means you can push buttons but the sim/game dosn't move. A good combo for a beginner, so you have time to look around and get ok with all the nice buttons and systems.

 

ideally ..get a hotas, I know its expensive but it will enhance the game to a level you never dreamt of :)

[Fish]

 

.......Can you also play the sim more casually ?...............

 

As purely a 'flight simulator' it is up there (or better than) the best of them available, in terms of aerodynamics, physics, graphics. so.....

 

 

...............what is it you find most fun about the game....................... .

 

 

Even if you never use the combat systems, it us sooo much fun to simply 'fly'.

[jeffyd123]

you can fly the plane in Sim mode and still enjoy it casually.

When I initially started, I would takeoff, fly to a town and blow up oil storage tanks to practice handling. Next I progressed to doing quick missions to start learning navigation. Now I generally make missions that are fairly straightforward and simple and fly online.

 

If you must ramp start (depends on mission), I am usually rolling in 7 minutes ( i dont do the entire checklist thing).

 

For learning the keys/HOTAS check out this HOTAS layout >>>http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=69610

 

ED has made a nearly perfect balance with this sim... you can go in depth and learn all of the functions of the CDU and other systems or just fly and blow stuff up without knowing everything.

[Lange_666]

I just dont feel like sitting on a runway for 6 mins going thru a checklist. Is my observation correct ? Can you also play the sim more casually ?

Just load missions where you start cold and dark on the ramp into the mission editor and change from rampstart to take-off, save and you're good to go, no waiting...

[redtail]

Best most Awesome Flight Simulator I've ever used......and I've had em all going back to 1983 on my Commodore-64. Got my PPL back in 1999 Cessna 172 and let me tell you, nothing else that I've flown on the PC comes as close as DCS A-10C to giving me the feeling of actual flight. The flight model feels real (although I've never flown an A-10). This sim is remarkable even if you never get into the combat portion of it.........Well worth the asking price! I haven't touched FSX or X-Plane since this came out :)

[USAF77]

lshift - lwin keys together = active pause. this means you can push buttons but the sim/game dosn't move. A good combo for a beginner, so you have time to look around and get ok with all the nice buttons and systems.

 

ideally ..get a hotas, I know its expensive but it will enhance the game to a level you never dreamt of :)

 

I have one, an X-52 with rudders. Its still kinda confusing as to whats important enough to map. For instance the Bird has two engines so which keys do I map for them ? Or do I map both ? Or how to read the keybindings ?

 

Pretty pathetic for an ex-USAF man who has simmed for a few years but Ive never simmed modern and the only thing I did with airplanes , back in the '70s, was guard them, watch them, love them. :joystick:

 

Thanks again for all the responses. <S>

[shu77]

I have the same set up :)

Have a look at this profile.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=58484

I use a slightly modified version, but it has everything you need to successfully operate the aircraft. Theres a bit of a paradigm shift in the sim from others in that each control s contextual based on the system you are using, rather than having different 'modes' for different features. It gets comfortable very quickly though

[Oceansize]

USAF77: I realize this probably isn't what you want to hear, but I personally don't know how anyone flies a sim today without a head tracker. I'm brand-new here so I have no idea if this is a contentious issue, but I've owned a TrackIR now for 4 or 5 years and I simply could never go back. I would buy one of these before rudder pedals. The greatest thing about it? Combined with the DCS A10C's clickable cockpit, you don't need to remember any keybindings. You want to flip that switch? Just look at it and flip it with your mouse. Can't quite read that gauge? Just lean towards your screen and it'll zoom right up to you.

 

Regardless, if you want to get the most out of your HOTAS, there is a great filter in the Controls section of the Options menu, appropriately named "HOTAS". When you're in the screen to change controls, open the drop-down and select HOTAS and it will filter out any non-HOTAS keybindings. What you have left are all the functions that your HOTAS would do in real-life. These are the functions you'll find most important in the sim.

 

Unfortunately, with the X52 you probably won't want to use this screen to set up your button assignments. The X52 does not have enough buttons to mirror all the different functions of the real A10 HOTAS, so I definitely need to use Saitek's SST programming software because the X-52's extra modes won't work unless they're being assigned by an SST profile. Alas, therefore I can't use the graceful control-assignment system ED programmed into the sim (other than to assign a few control axes).

 

So yeah, screw keybindings. If you think this sim is worthy of some investment (I sure did...I've been waiting for this sim ever since Jane's cancelled their A10 sim over a decade ago) then buy a TrackIR. www.naturalpoint.com I hear there is a less expensive option called freetracker and possibly something else called facetrackernoir, but I've only heard of them and can't vouch for them.

 

Regards,

Ocean

[Inseckt]

Unfortunately, with the X52 you probably won't want to use this screen to set up your button assignments. The X52 does not have enough buttons to mirror all the different functions of the real A10 HOTAS, so I definitely need to use Saitek's SST programming software because the X-52's extra modes won't work unless they're being assigned by an SST profile. Alas, therefore I can't use the graceful control-assignment system ED programmed into the sim (other than to assign a few control axes).

 

Search for Jack bauers a-10 profile, and you shall find an x-52 profile wich have all functions of the HOTAS in on mode!.... SST only for speedbrake... All set up inside the sim....:)

[Frostiken]

The only keybindings I find myself needing are things like the NVIS and the fingerlifts.

 

You can keep the fingerlifts as in any flight you should only be using them twice per-engine - once to start up, and once to shut down. Any in-flight condition that warrants shutting off an engine means you should never try to restart it as well.

 

Engine balance is a different issue. It's possible to have engine damage that will degrade engine performance but not cause it to shell or flame out, giving you imbalanced thrust. Sadly right now there's no way to operate both enignes differently on a single throttle control, as the moment you adjust the throttle they'll both snap together. Going to put this in the wish list though.

[shu77]

The only keybindings I find myself needing are things like the NVIS and the fingerlifts.

 

You can keep the fingerlifts as in any flight you should only be using them twice per-engine - once to start up, and once to shut down. Any in-flight condition that warrants shutting off an engine means you should never try to restart it as well.

 

Engine balance is a different issue. It's possible to have engine damage that will degrade engine performance but not cause it to shell or flame out, giving you imbalanced thrust. Sadly right now there's no way to operate both enignes differently on a single throttle control, as the moment you adjust the throttle they'll both snap together. Going to put this in the wish list though.

 

What you can do if this is important to you is map the Left throttle axis to use the an ALT modifier on the main axis, the right a SHIFT and both throttles a CTRL. In this way moving the throttle axis wont advance the both throttle condition, and you use the modifiers to adjust individula throttles as needed. With the X-52 theres a couple spare buttons on the HOTAS throttle you can use for this with the pinky modifier so that its a hands free drive. I cant say I've needed it myself though, I thought I would be in strife not having two throttles, but honestly i can count on one hand the number of times I've needed to use differential throttle because an engine was 'damaged' rather than 'busted'

[macedk]

yep need that have control on the hotas for both engines.

 

If it doesn't fly...it doesn't fight ;)

[nemises]

I have one, an X-52 with rudders. Its still kinda confusing as to whats important enough to map. For instance the Bird has two engines so which keys do I map for them ? Or do I map both ? Or how to read the keybindings ?

 

Pretty pathetic for an ex-USAF man who has simmed for a few years but Ive never simmed modern and the only thing I did with airplanes , back in the '70s, was guard them, watch them, love them. :joystick:

 

Thanks again for all the responses. <S>

 

I also use x52 + rudders..

 

I use key presses for Idle detent and CMS only, everything else is mapped ala HOTAS + the addition of speed brake controls (although using the stick toggles on the X52 means taking one hand or the other off which I don't really like)

[USAF77]

Thanks for the replys. I have a TrackIR. But I dont see how that connects with keybindings. I kind of get the impression that you dont even need keybindings to fly the airplane. That the program actually allows you to control it with a mouse in the cockpit. I have never done that before. Honestly i thought the sim would be controlled by keybindings mapped to a joystick.

 

I'll do a search for training videos. Maybe that will at least allow me to start to understand the language of the sim. I cant follow instruction if I dont understand the language. "idle detent" "CMS" "NVIS" ? words like that i dont even know what they mean.:dunno: I gather "fingerlifts" means to start or stop the engine. Time to roll up my sleeves and start studying.

 

OK I get that you have to start/stop/control each engine separate "bad choice of throttles". I suppose I can map one engine to the throttle and one to the slider right ? Thank you.

 

 

USAF77: I realize this probably isn't what you want to hear, but I personally don't know how anyone flies a sim today without a head tracker. I'm brand-new here so I have no idea if this is a contentious issue, but I've owned a TrackIR now for 4 or 5 years and I simply could never go back. I would buy one of these before rudder pedals. The greatest thing about it? Combined with the DCS A10C's clickable cockpit, you don't need to remember any keybindings. You want to flip that switch? Just look at it and flip it with your mouse. Can't quite read that gauge? Just lean towards your screen and it'll zoom right up to you.

 

Regardless, if you want to get the most out of your HOTAS, there is a great filter in the Controls section of the Options menu, appropriately named "HOTAS". When you're in the screen to change controls, open the drop-down and select HOTAS and it will filter out any non-HOTAS keybindings. What you have left are all the functions that your HOTAS would do in real-life. These are the functions you'll find most important in the sim.

 

Unfortunately, with the X52 you probably won't want to use this screen to set up your button assignments. The X52 does not have enough buttons to mirror all the different functions of the real A10 HOTAS, so I definitely need to use Saitek's SST programming software because the X-52's extra modes won't work unless they're being assigned by an SST profile. Alas, therefore I can't use the graceful control-assignment system ED programmed into the sim (other than to assign a few control axes).

 

So yeah, screw keybindings. If you think this sim is worthy of some investment (I sure did...I've been waiting for this sim ever since Jane's cancelled their A10 sim over a decade ago) then buy a TrackIR. www.naturalpoint.com I hear there is a less expensive option called freetracker and possibly something else called facetrackernoir, but I've only heard of them and can't vouch for them.

 

Regards,

Ocean

Edited April 26, 2011 by USAF77

[159th_Viper]

. Honestly i thought the sim would be controlled by keybindings mapped to a joystick....

 

It is.

 

Interactive cockpit aside, there are approximately 80 commands that are mapped to the HOTAS alone that are needed for for proper functionality. Have a look at pgs 83-90 of the manual to better understand the HOTAS - always a good start :)

 

 

 

OK I get that you have to start/stop/control each engine separate "bad choice of throttles". I suppose I can map one engine to the throttle and one to the slider right ?

 

Map both to the throttle (Throttle Both in Options screen), unless you wish to utilize a Split-Throttle config - Personally would advise against it in the beginning.

 

Only time it is relevant if you do not have a HOTAS Warthog (where you physically move the throttle-arms from off to idle over the detent) is a startup which is attended to with a keypress for both engines simultaneously or one at a time. Either way, as long as your throttle is at idle (all the way back) it will not make a difference - you are always going to be starting your engines with the keyboard.

[USAF77]

Thanks for the reply. I have a question, "no doubt an easy answer", that I cant find anywhere. I have two screens and other games I can put in window mode when I also have a training aid on the other window, "video-manual"..ect. For the life of me I cant find a way to put this sim into window mode so I can access both it and a training video without shrinking the sim program to desktop.

 

Am I missing something easy ? I tried setting to full screen and back in control/settings but that does nothing. Is there a keybind/command to put the sim into window mode ?

 

Thanks again.

[USAF77]

Ok I think I found the answer. Im running game resolution the same as my desktop resolution. I'll back off the game a notch and unchecking fullscreen should work.

For training I can live with a lower setting.