Advice for a Noob please

[Whippet]

I've played a lot of flight-sims in my time (from Microsoft FSX to IL-2 and everything in between) but I'm finding DCS A-10C pretty inaccessible (annoying as it seems great!).

 

Is there a simple way to get into it? (I know there's a "game mode" but that just seems to give an external view with easier access to panels), what I want is a mode that makes arming up and firing weapons a lot easier.

 

Else - is there a good simple starters guide anywhere (I find the manual somewhat heavy and the in-game tutorials too verbose).

 

Joystick - I'm using an old Microsoft Sidewinder Joystick, I'm thinking the game would be a lot easier to play with a proper HOTAS set-up?

Currently I'm struggling to find keys and having to hold down control and some other key to lock a weapon and also use [ , . / ' ] keys to move a little triangle about on the HUD by which time I've either crashed or the Target is miles behind...it's pretty impossible!

:helpsmilie:

 

I can fly the plane fine, I just can't do that whilst trying to do the seemingly hundreds of fiddly little things, flicking switches and buttons etc at the same time... any simple way to simplify this workload would be great.

 

Any help appreciated.

[Razor5-1]

I have the exact same joystick, I also use keys for DMS, TMS and slewing. Thrust me it's not that bad once you learn the systems and get proficient then you wont notice using the keys anymore. As far as learning, it takes practice... and alot of it. My advice is to jump in at the deep end.

Do a tutorial, then just keep doing all the tasks in it until you can do then without thinking!

[TheHashWeasel]

Besides the obvious "practice practice practice", I found watching videos on Youtube were very helpful (just do a generic search for DCS A10C, and dig in from there, watching things that catch your interest). I had to do this because while repeating lessons over and over again until I could perform a task in my sleep was good for getting better at flying the Hog, it wasn't very good for holding my interest...

 

I also created a very small mission which was super helpful. I spawn on the ground at Batumi, and at a nearby airfield placed a bunch of tanks that just sat there and did dick-all. The airfield was only a few minutes away, so this gave me a chance to learn startup procedures, and then have easy-to-find, non-threatening targets to practice on.

 

Additionally auto-pilot is your best friend (I think it's the 'A' key by default) while you learn the ins and outs of all the switches and knobs and whats-its.

[FreeFall]

 

Is there a simple way to get into it? (I know there's a "game mode" but that just seems to give an external view with easier access to panels), what I want is a mode that makes arming up and firing weapons a lot easier.

 

Else - is there a good simple starters guide anywhere (I find the manual somewhat heavy and the in-game tutorials too verbose).

 

There is no shortcut. You just have to train and learn. It takes time, weeks at least. Maybe months. You just have to go thru the tutorials and read the manuals as well. And watch youtube tutorial videos too. And read threads of this forum.

 

Maybe some more experienced pilots could teach you online?

 

The QuickStart Guide is quite good for a newbie:

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/documentation/dcs_a-10c_quickstart_guide_en/

 

And forget that "game mode". :smilewink:

[Whippet]

Thanks all ... I thought as much - it's just a case of sticking with it; just wanted to check.

Autopilot tip - good thanks.

 

I found another "best friend" in the "Active Pause" (bit of a cheat I know), having found that I tried the first easy "Instant Mission" and successfully used Mavericks for the first time, used Mav's on the first waypoint, rockets on the 2nd, then tried using Bombs on the 3rd (Bridge) ... that's when I got my tail blown off by the SAMS guarding it (presumably I should take them out with Mavericks first?). Still I managed to eject :o)

 

I'll keep re-doing the Turtorials and check out YouTube now.

 

Thanks again.

[FreeFall]

One more helpful link:

http://en.wiki.eagle.ru/wiki/DCS_A-10C_Guides,_Tutorials_and_Reference_Documents

 

Watch all those video tutorials and other stuff and then come back (it must be about christmas time then... :D :P).

 

 

OK, you are welcome back even a bit earlier... :megalol:

 

Edited August 27, 2012 by FreeFall

[Slap_Chop]

I have a Saitek Cyborb stick and what I do is Use the Hat Switch that you normally look around with and Add modifiers to it to use for TMS DMS etc. functions.

 

 

It works like this (Left Alt key Held down) + (HAT Switch up) is my Move the TGP camera UP (Left Alt + HAT Switch Down, Left, Right) to move the TGP

camera Down Left Right Etc.

 

 

For Trim I use (Right Control key Held down) + (HAT Switch Up) to Trim UP then Right Control + HAT Switch Down, Left, Right to Trim those directions.

 

 

Just Use the attached Graphic file and Rename Each Function. For example TMS could be Left ALt or Left Windows Key etc. Then In your A10 Commands under ALL , HOTAS Find TMS and Program the function by clicking on the Joystick field and adding the correct modifier from the dropdown list and Pushing your Hat Switch UP, Down, Left or Right depending on the TMS function you are programming.

 

 

This method really opened up the game for me. So Now when I read manuals I can actually do TMS UP LONG by holding down the correct modifier key (Say Left Control for example) and Holding My Hat switch in the UP position for a Second or Two.

 

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

[SharpeXB]

I was surprised in how little time, maybe a few weeks, it took me to learn everything. I have only done RoF as another flight sim.

Just a combination of reading the whole manual, tutorials and You Tube videos does the job. If you think you'll be into this one seriously enough. A HOTAS combo that duplicates the one in the plane really helps. I lucked out an happen to have a CH Fighterstick and throttle. Overkill for RoF but beautiful for this one as the stick is a replica F-16 style like the A-10C and the throttle while not identical still has enough of the right type of buttons. That makes learning all of them much easier. Like many things that are complicated at first it's surprising how second nature all the controls become.

[cichlidfan]

Like many things that are complicated at first it's surprising how second nature all the controls become.

 

Very true. I started with an X-52 which still needed modifiers to map everything. By the time I replaced it I was completely used to it and could use it without thinking about each button.

[SharpeXB]

Active Pause is a great command. It's Win Shift Pause I think

When learning the TAD and CDU for example it's great to have the manual and then use this to pause the game but you can still use the cockpit. Then practice away.

[EddieMuntz]

I would agree, that it is a steap learning curve initially, but a thoroughly rewarding one. I use a Thrustmaster Hotas X but i also have my xbox pc controller as well, and the additonal buttons and DPAD help a great deal.

Also look at what key commands you use. I started off downloading the Hotas keyboard layout from the wiki and actually having that infront of me helps loads. along with that i have the print out of what hotas stick buttons do, ie DMS up and down (Home/End) zooming the TGP.

From this it helped me organise my controls.

 

Also look at what keys you actually are using, For example you dont need up,dn,left,right, cursor buttons as you have a stick, so i remamped then to TMS without the modifier.

 

Essentially why have keyboard copies of stick buttons. I ended up Photoshoping the the orignal hotas keyboard image with images of my xbox and flight stick colour coding them as needed to follow the logic of the original.

 

P1$$ poor preperation leads to P1$$ poor performance, i printed out every shred of PDFs on the wiki and bound it all up. a bit anal i know but when your sat on the ramp and have a mental block as to why your EAS switch isnt engaging you can easily find out why.

 

I didnt even touch the game for about 4 days out of sheer intimidation. I pulled my hear out when i could get the engines running. 2 weeks on im dropping multiple JDAMs on markpoint targets.

 

A10 is truley awesome stick with it practice and get printing!! also as i found with most flight sim communites the DSC bunch are a fantastic outfit, i think mainly due to the sparcity of the sim market these days as peolple prefer killing zombies to sending some russion tank commander to the hurt locker with a IR guided Maverick in his face.

 

Keep on keepin on and dont flip those switches and defo dont mash those buttons.

[Jordan4]

The Hotas Warthog is an unbeleivable asset. If you can throw down the cash than theres nothing better. It took me about a week of nonstop reading and repetition to become proficient with all of the systems however who knows how long it would of took if I was just using the keyboard. I would recommend just doing one training mission over and over until you have all of the material down. For instance I did not even get in the air until I could do a cold start from a blindfold. Once you complete one mission and absorb all of the material you gain confidence to truck on to the next. The hardest things for me to learn were the start up procedure and DSMS. Once I had those down the rest of the mission were relatively easy.