Starting Out

[VitaminK]

Which DCS title would you suggest for starting out with, I bought DCS A-10C cause it was on sale for 15$ but there are soooo many commands I feel I should start with something a little easier first. What would you suggest playing first? Was thinking maybe P51-D since it's an older plane or maybe get FC3 (from what I've seen cockpits aren't as advanced in FC3)?

[EtherealN]

FC3 aircraft generally are similar in complexity to the Su-25T included in DCS World, so you can get a feel for the level of complexity through taking that one for a spin.

[walker450]

Do you have a joystick or HOTAS setup? The basics of the A-10C is pretty easy to learn if you have a decent HOTAS with several hats.

[VitaminK]

Have a Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X.

 

I tried Su-25T but the cockpit is kind of hard to understand since I can't read anything.

[Hamblue]

That's because it isn't a clickable cockpit like the A-10C

You use keyboar commands which you can map in the controls section.

[EtherealN]

Not much reading you have to do - the instruments are largely standard aviation instruments throughout.

 

Full listing of them one page 8 of the Su-25T Flight Manual. Made a quick guide, as attached, as well.

 

 

As you can see, pretty much everything you need to read is in numbers.

[dumgrunt]

do all the tutorials in the hog, it will make it much easier, and is well worth the effort.

 

most fuctionality you can use with the clickable cock pit and the MFCD's.

 

if you have four bottons at the top of your joystick, you can use the modifiers to mimick the DMS, TMS CMS etc. just write it down so you have a reference sheet in front of you and it will be second nature before you know it. you even have a HOTAS tutorial in the module now.

 

I do enjoy FC3, but i only brought it originally because I wanted to go zoom zoom to 40,000 ft. It is chalk and cheese to the A-10C.

[EtherealN]

Well dumgrunt, not everyone is in it for the "maximum realism" type stuff. And that's why we have FC3. :)

[walker450]

What about A-10C "Game Mode"? I've never tried it, but it may be tons of fun for a lot of people.

[Lange_666]

FC3: easier avionics, easier flightmodel and for your hotas i would go for the A-10A.

 

You will still have a lot of commands to deal with (it's a simulator) but once you see the forest through the trees, you'll find that you will only use a part of them.

[Quirkitized]

I find the p-51 harder to handle than the A-10C.

 

Also, I think, even though A-10C is *harder* than FC3 planes, it can be easier to *learn*. You don't have to memorize 200 key commands, if you want, you can learn by clicking things/looking at the tooltips.

 

Not to mention the great training missions for A10c.

 

So my vote is for you to learn the a10c , u already bought it anyway :)

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

If you're looking after the most accurate prop aircraft simulation ever available for a PC-based fligthsim, you shouldn't skip the p51d.

 

This aircraft was the reason I left all of my other flight simulation platforms for DCS World (well, I still keep Silent Wings for soaring, and ELITE for IFR proficiency...) the moment I understood how far ahead of the remaining offers it stands in almost every aspect of simulating the flight/engine/systems of such a powerful ww2 aircraft.

 

Soon bought the BS2, and finally the A10C, but it's going to take ages before I find myself at home on their cockpits....

[walker450]

+1 what quirk said... With some creativity you can make your HOTAS work.

Edited December 29, 2012 by walker450
Typo

[docbrown]

Here's a great profile for T-Flight HOTAS X in DCS A-10. Just starting out myself and find this setup to be quite intuitive.

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1618224&postcount=7

[IJammer]

Not much reading you have to do - the instruments are largely standard aviation instruments throughout.

 

Full listing of them one page 8 of the Su-25T Flight Manual. Made a quick guide, as attached, as well.

 

 

As you can see, pretty much everything you need to read is in numbers.

Thanks for posting the cockpit layout/tags for the SU25... you mention that the page is from the SU25 Flight Manual... I wonder if you could be so kind as to post a pointer to where that is. I have looked in vain for it on both this forum and the DCS web site.

 

I have only just d/load the DCS World (amazing) and of course the SU25 is included with that as a freebie, but I am having the same problem as the original poster... i.e. not able to read the ruskie instrument tags; worked most of them out and your flight deck pic helps a lot :)

 

I am also having trouble getting the weapons to operate... I suspect I may have to switch them on first as I have mapped the select weapon ('D' on the KB) to my TM HOTAS X (not the expensive one :)) and fire weapon to my stick trigger... but the weapons still refuse?

 

Any help appreciated for a newbie. I hope to progress to the A-10C, but one step at a time :)

DaveH-UK (IJammer)

[Lange_666]

you mention that the page is from the SU25 Flight Manual... I wonder if you could be so kind as to post a pointer to where that is. I have looked in vain for it on both this forum and the DCS web site.

 

Ever thought of searching through your installation directory?

 

You can find it in: DriveLetter:\xxxxx\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\Mods\aircrafts\Su-25T\Doc\

[EtherealN]

Thanks for posting the cockpit layout/tags for the SU25... you mention that the page is from the SU25 Flight Manual... I wonder if you could be so kind as to post a pointer to where that is. I have looked in vain for it on both this forum and the DCS web site.

 

Exact location might differ depending on where you told the installer to place them when you installed DCS World:

Start Orb > All Programs > Games > DCS World > Documentation > DCS Su-25T Flight Manual

 

 

On getting weapons to fire - which weapons precisely? There may be multiple reasons. Some weapons require laser system (Schkval) to be operative, for example.

Edited January 11, 2013 by EtherealN

[IJammer]

Thank you Lange, you are correct (you knew that you were) the manual is there. If ever I get the weapons to fire... I promise not to shoot you down :)

 

IJammer (gone green)

 

edit : PS, and thank you EtheralN... another newbie on the slippery slope :)

[Lange_666]

If ever I get the weapons to fire... I promise not to shoot you down :)

 

You don't have to worry about that bud, i will not give you that chance...;)

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

If you want a taste of the best prop aircraft simulation ever made available in a PC-based flightsim, go for the p51d!!!

[Madone]

Don't be afraid about the buttons amount, realize that the options manager allow you to set each clickable command in the cockpit and more(and it will be totally useless most of the time), but when you only keep the HOTAS, engines commands there's actually not that much to do. Don't be scared that just a list guys!

Btw, the T Flight is a good HOTAS, add at least, set one modifier and you can multiply your hat.

Have fun!

[Soulres]

Which DCS title would you suggest for starting out with, I bought DCS A-10C cause it was on sale for 15$ but there are soooo many commands I feel I should start with something a little easier first. What would you suggest playing first? Was thinking maybe P51-D since it's an older plane or maybe get FC3 (from what I've seen cockpits aren't as advanced in FC3)?

Download DCS:World (its free) comes with the SU25t it does NOT have a clickable cockpit so its easier (but just as fun) ill tell you some basics for the SU25t to get you flying and blowing stuff up!NOTE the P51D is a CHALLENGE to even experienced DCS pilots!

 

push 7 (not the numpad) the hud will change slightly and now you can use ground weapons!

 

most weapons require you to be in a slight DIVE before deploying and will have a bracket (on the left side) of the hud letting you know when to drop(or shoot) your weapon(s)

 

(if you have the TV thing) press O (not Zero) to turn it on and off

 

R+Shift turns on the Laser Designator (for Missles)

 

G is landing Gear (up/down) F is Flaps (slow flight) Shift + F (landing mode)(both are toggle)(let) CTRL + C is canopy Open/Close , W is brakes, i

f you would like ill leave my email and we could od a Live Fire training session on the SU25t or you can keep playing around with it! the A10c has LOTS OF BUTTONS AND KNOBS, but once you start figureing out whats for what around the cockpit youll know what to do! Start with using the Main gun once you have gotten the hang of it start to use Bombs then Rockets then Missles then how to Start up and Shut down the ENTIRE PLANE its VERY EASY!,use YOUTUBE not the Tutorial (as its very buggy and it got anoying)Gluck and happy flying! :pilotfly:

kibakun135@yahoo.com (btw i fly with a xbox360 controller and Mic for TeamSpeak) :lol:

 

P.S - i have small notepad with all the SU25t's Buttons mapped out, leave me a privite message and ill put that into a .txt file for you if you would like it.

Edited January 13, 2013 by Soulres

[SharoFFenstein]

I'm also a starter! =D

 

First, kibakun135, I also would like to take a share of your txt file you mentioned, if you don't mind, would be great help I believe..

 

Now, I am very new to these games, and still not entirely convinced myself, if I really should jump in to this serious stuff. My background is in BF3 (probably nothing to compare) however I also played blazing angels, hawx and wings of prey (for which I actually went out and bought the TrackIR5 unit). So basically I am coming from a really arcade'ish gameplay. But there is nothing better than the feeling of a succeeded elimination of a target with a well placed missile or machine gun bullet! And the more videos I see about FC3, the more I want to play it (never the less, that the learning curve is probably very steep). I guess it could really be the buttom of the iceberg to get into the "real deal".

 

So first I should probably just try out the SU25t or at least see if my laptop can run the game at all (i7. 2.3ghz, 16gig ram, AMD7970M and SSD drive? Seen people having pretty decent setups in here with a quick look trough some signatures), second I would like to run it on my tv like this:

(which I configured for WoP and BF3 =D) to get more immersed. And then 3rd, Do I really need a hotas setup??? I mean that kind of hardware is not cheap! (But I must admit that I have kind of felt in love with the Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog Joystick for around 500 bucks) But if a 360 controller can do it, perhaps my allready owned Logitech extreme pro would do it? And hopefully the TrackIR5 unit would be for help too (damn expensive thingy)

 

Any suggestions?

 

And thanks for the great insight so far!

 

 

Download DCS:World (its free) comes with the SU25t it does NOT have a clickable cockpit so its easier (but just as fun) ill tell you some basics for the SU25t to get you flying and blowing stuff up!NOTE the P51D is a CHALLENGE to even experienced DCS pilots!

 

push 7 (not the numpad) the hud will change slightly and now you can use ground weapons!

 

most weapons require you to be in a slight DIVE before deploying and will have a bracket (on the left side) of the hud letting you know when to drop(or shoot) your weapon(s)

 

(if you have the TV thing) press O (not Zero) to turn it on and off

 

R+Shift turns on the Laser Designator (for Missles)

 

G is landing Gear (up/down) F is Flaps (slow flight) Shift + F (landing mode)(both are toggle)(let) CTRL + C is canopy Open/Close , W is brakes, i

f you would like ill leave my email and we could od a Live Fire training session on the SU25t or you can keep playing around with it! the A10c has LOTS OF BUTTONS AND KNOBS, but once you start figureing out whats for what around the cockpit youll know what to do! Start with using the Main gun once you have gotten the hang of it start to use Bombs then Rockets then Missles then how to Start up and Shut down the ENTIRE PLANE its VERY EASY!,use YOUTUBE not the Tutorial (as its very buggy and it got anoying)Gluck and happy flying! :pilotfly:

kibakun135@yahoo.com (btw i fly with a xbox360 controller and Mic for TeamSpeak) :lol:

 

P.S - i have small notepad with all the SU25t's Buttons mapped out, leave me a privite message and ill put that into a .txt file for you if you would like it.

[Manuel]

First of all I would recommend a budget limit as things can get very expensive very soon.

 

TrackIR is one of the essential things on Simming. It gives you a lot more of situational awareness and a few things are just impossible without it (air refueling e.g.)

 

The Warthog as a Controller is necessary if you want to step deep into A10C Flying. For the other parts of DCS:W it is nice to have but not a requirement. I would test firstly on the Su25 model with your stick to see if it is something for you. Maybe consider a few a10c tutorials to understand the complexity of it all.

 

All in all I would recommend that you buy, if possible, the items in this order:

 

1. TrackIR (can be 4 or 5)

2. A Hotas setup of your choice (TM is nice, CH has some good products too)

KEEP IN MIND that you will need pedals in order to fly with the TM warthog as it does not support turning the stick for the rudders

 

Have fun exploring the world of the jet fighter pilots.

[Lange_666]

But if a 360 controller can do it, perhaps my allready owned Logitech extreme pro would do it? And hopefully the TrackIR5 unit would be for help too (damn expensive thingy).

 

Any suggestions?

 

As a start, you can hook up that 360 controller up along the Logitech and use it as an extra input device. If you are a bit creative, you can make a setup with all the important stuff grouped on that dual setup. And the stick has a twister so no need for pedals right away.