Extreme Noobie Asking For Help

[Hunter192]

Hi guys.

 

I'm thinking of ordering DCS: A10C Warthog, the Saitek X52 Pro and a gaming headset.

 

I have no experience with these sort of flight games apart from a few mess abouts on Microsoft FSX.

 

Just wondering if there is anyone available for help. Or is there like an ingame tutorial which shows you how to get things rolling?

 

Had a look at a few videos and it seems it's a bit more than "point and shoot"

 

Any help welcome

P.S I'm changing my call sign so any ideas also welcome

 

Thanks

Edited February 1, 2013 by Hunter192
Typos

[FreeFall]

Or is there like an ingame tutorial which shows you how to get things rolling?

 

There are ingame training missions. You'd better download the updated ones beforehand from here :

http://files.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/250461/

 

You learn things from

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

(lots of videos and pdf-files)

- Official Manuals (http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/documentation/)

- ED Forum. Visit the subforums. Good threads full of information.

[Mule]

Feel free to post your questions here when you get started and welcome to DCS. :)

[Leeham]

If you ever get frustrated with the steep learning curve, watch something like this:

 

This always reminds me how powerful DCS A-10C is when you take the time to learn the beast thoroughly.

[The LT]

Feel free to message me and I'll be happy to help out. We can fly some training together. I can use TS3, Skype or pretty much any IM out there.

[Rider1]

Yes, most importantly, don't get frustrated. The curve is is steep, but rewarding. Don't go in to it thinking that you are going to be slinging bombs around and shooting effectively right out of the box. Start with the basics. Getting your new stick set up properly is the first order of business. Look at the attached file and try to mimic this layout as best you can on your stick.

 

You will need to know what all of these functions do, as they are all critical to successfully employing the A10. Learn the nomenclature of these functions as well. This is important because if you ask a question and someone tells you that you need to use a DMS up long to make your TGP the SPI, you will know what button you need to use and and how to use it.

 

Secondly, You will need to set up some curves and dead zones for your stick to tailor how your plane behaves depending your stick and flying style. For instance, I have a CH stick with a pretty good throw and very little resistance, and I am ham fisted, so I need a pretty good curve in there to smooth things out. You may fly very precise and smooth so you may not need as big of an adjustment as me.

 

Do a search of the forums for everything related to tweaking your stick and and profiles and experiment until you find the settings that give you the most control. You do not want to be fighting just to control the plane while trying to figure out DMS up long. :)

 

Once you have the AC flying to your satisfaction then start throwing in some weapons employment. Go out and shoot the gun at everything. It's fun and satisfying.

 

Then start learning the AC systems. TAD, DSMS, CMS, TGP, etc. You get the idea. You will eventually learn these systems and will develop the muscle memory to employ them by instinct. Then you get to start learning tactics and combat employment. Yes, it will take a while. Stay with it.

 

Read every post on these forums that pertain to what you are trying to accomplish. Search YouTube for tutorials on each system or technique that you are trying to learn.

 

Once you have the basics, and are confident that you can start up, take off, navigate to the target, find the target, and drop a bomb on it and find your way home, hit up multiplayer and keep on rolling! Consider joining a squad when you are comfortable in the on-line environment.

 

Hunter sounds like a pretty good call sign. I would keep it unless your squad mates decide on a better and more applicable one and change it for you. :)

 

After my third or fourth gear up landing, I am surprised my guys didn't stick me with "Scrape". :)

 

Good luck and have fun!

Edited January 29, 2013 by Rider1

[Revelation]

Hunter, the previous posters gave you some great ideas! I'm also around on most weekends and I can fly with you to give you some help.

 

Pay close attention to what Rider mentions in regards to nomenclature... I use a Warthog and I have no clue what the "key presses" are that are configured for the joystick by default. Knowing the terminology will make the process much easier once you get online.

 

Also get on Youtube and watch the plethora of videos that exist that walk you through, pretty much, every possible operation of the A-10 systems.

[shagrat]

Hi guys.

 

I've just ordered DCS: A10C Warthog, the Saitek X52 Pro and a gaming headset.

 

I have no experience with these sort of flight games apart from a few mess abouts on Microsoft FSX.

 

Just wondering if there is anyone available for help. Or is there like an ingame tutorial which shows you how to get things rolling?

 

Had a look at a few videos and it seems it's a bit more than "point and shoot"

 

Any help welcome

P.S I'm changing my call sign so any ideas also welcome

 

Thanks

Hmm, for the callsign wait for your first online sessions and ask the guys you're flying with?

 

As for the guys willing to help: You already found the forum. Lots of people around here regularly help and answer questions, though as already stated, there is plenty of information available in the wiki as well.

Start with the trainings at first, don't fall for the "Game avionics" mode. Go to sim mode straight away.

When you are comfortable with basic flying and your Joystick configuration, take a look at the "DCS A-10C QuickStart manual"! Skip to page 21 "Take Off" and walk yourself through your first start and landing runs, then continue with the basics for weapon employment... focus the fun part here, "immortal = on, perhaps unlimited ammo = on" until you get a feeling for the procedure then, the sooner the better, get used to mortality and limited ordnance.

 

I did this quite late and struggled a lot with the adaption to limited ammo, fragile landing gears etc. you learn the hard way :D

 

If you manage to get online and look around for a free flight or training server, don't hesitate. If you manage the startup procedure on your own there are many people out there that help a fellow pilot on a training...:thumbup:

[Python]

Welcome to DCS world, everyone on this forum is learning all the time. I have barely scratched the surface myself but I've had fun so far. Experience will come eventually and this forum is great for help and advice where you need it. For example....

 

There are ingame training missions. You'd better download the updated ones

 

Oh, first I've seen of this, what exactly does it change? And if it is an improvement, why haven't ED included it in an update?

[Leeham]

Welcome to DCS world, everyone on this forum is learning all the time. I have barely scratched the surface myself but I've had fun so far. Experience will come eventually and this forum is great for help and advice where you need it. For example....

 

 

 

Oh, first I've seen of this, what exactly does it change? And if it is an improvement, why haven't ED included it in an update?

Sometimes the original files would stop progressing. The instructor would stop talking and never come back. Ever.

 

The updated files fix this issue, and I imagine it will also be fixed in the next update of the A-10C module.

 

Here's the download page:

http://files.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/250461/

[shagrat]

Oh, first I've seen of this, what exactly does it change? And if it is an improvement, why haven't ED included it in an update?

It is a fix for some training mission that were broken by the last update? ED hopefully integrate them into the next patch.:(

 

Citation: "Fixed a number of issues in A-10C training missions for DCS World v.1.2.2"

[Hunter192]

Thanks for the tips so far guys!

 

Guess when the game comes I'll have to take it a step at a time. Cant wait to fly with some other pilots and blow some stuff up ;)

 

My current callsign 'Hunter' is just something I thought of quickly for the forum but I think I will stick with it for a bit.

 

I'll let you guys know when my kit arrives and maybe can get a flight with some of you?

 

Cheers

Hunter:pilotfly:

[Rider1]

Hunter, one more thing. Track, IR. You didn't mention if you had one or not. If not, I cannot stress the importance enough of flying A10 with TIR. Besides your HOTAS, it is the single most important piece of kit to have.

 

Some guys would say you can fly without one and yea you can. But you will not fly to your full potential without one. It shortens the learning curve as well. It takes constant fumbling with your thumb to look around. That thumb will be moving constantly on the other buttons up there. When you are trying to manage your view with the hat switch, you will not be as effective in managing those other buttons in a combat environment. Plus you will need that hat switch for trimming. You will be trimming quite a bit..

 

TIR is by far the best investment I have ever made on simming gear. Hands down. It's just that important. Myself and many others would tell you they wouldn't fly without it. It will work great on FSX or any other flight sims you may get in the future.

 

And before you anyone on the forums tells you to RTFM, Your will really need to Read the Flight Manual, and study it. It helps tremendously.

Edited January 30, 2013 by Rider1

[Hunter192]

I don't have TIR but have been looking into it.

 

One question I have to ask is how much head movement do you need to make to look right round. Surely if you have to move your head quite a bit your eyes won't be on centre screen?

[FreeFall]

I don't have TIR but have been looking into it.

 

One question I have to ask is how much head movement do you need to make to look right round.

 

You mean like an owl?:megalol:

 

Seriously, I think you can adjust it in the preferences, but with preset settings if you look right back in your cockpit (180 degrees) so that you can see your tail, your true head angle is about 37 degrees or something like that.

 

Generally, head movement doesn't cause big problems. Normally you can see your screen OK.

Edited January 30, 2013 by FreeFall
typos

[Python]

I don't have TIR but have been looking into it.

 

One question I have to ask is how much head movement do you need to make to look right round. Surely if you have to move your head quite a bit your eyes won't be on centre screen?

 

You can customise it to your preference but generally very little movement is needed. Its hard to describe really, suffice to say Rider1 speaks sense, you really won't be able to live without it once you've tried it.

[Pman]

It scales with your head at roughly 6:1 so every 1 degree of movement in your head is 6 degrees of visual movement.

 

I couldnt live without my trackIR nowadays on any flight sim, I couldnt get used to not being able to look around!

 

Situational awareness is everything

[Revelation]

I don't have TIR but have been looking into it.

 

One question I have to ask is how much head movement do you need to make to look right round. Surely if you have to move your head quite a bit your eyes won't be on centre screen?

 

 

Here's a "rule of thumb."

 

Place your flat hand on your monitor. Keep your eyes focused on your middle finger and turn your head to where you think your forehead is "pointing" to either side of your hand.

 

That is the amount my head actually turns. In-game my head is looking over my virtual shoulders when I am physically looking just past the edge of my hand in the above given scenario.

[Irregular programming]

I don't have TIR but have been looking into it.

 

One question I have to ask is how much head movement do you need to make to look right round. Surely if you have to move your head quite a bit your eyes won't be on centre screen?

 

You don't notice that you are moving your head. At least that's how I've set it up.

[Hunter192]

Well guys thats me just spent £300 lol!

 

Purchased DCS A-10C, Track IR 5, Saitek X52 Pro & a Gaming Headset

 

Hope one of you will be able to help me get up in the air and shooting, all these short names and codes are confusing me and thats only watching Youtube videos!

 

Let you know when my kit arrives :)

 

Hunter :pilotfly:

 

(Edit: Also, the missus isnt to happy so it better be worth the bollocking I just got! lol)

Edited January 31, 2013 by Hunter192

[Hamblue]

Both the Trackir 5 and X52 pro are great choices.

The trackir takes a few days to really get used to. After about 2 weeks of use you won't even realize it's there. When you watch youtube videos you'll find yourself moving your head and trying to look around.

 

Good Luck

[shagrat]

(Edit: Also, the missus isnt to happy so it better be worth the bollocking I just got! lol)

 

Well, start bollocking the next time she comes home with a pair of shoes, a knew skirt, the usual "this and that" of which there is plenty available in the cupboard in every color of the world. Now she will point out it was a sale and it was just £200 for all of it.

That is a where you ask her to complain the next time you buy a third or forth joystick a second trackIR if they ever come in different colors. Until then she may sell all the shoes and shirts she didn't wear for 3 month, because she obviously don't need them any more. The money should cover her expenses for new clothes easily, so you can spend your money on new toys?

Mine agreed to the flawless logic :D ...well, I guess it is more that we both agreed on accepting, that we each have a different hobby that we might never understand.

[Financeman]

Hi am a Newbie also and I am working my way through the forums attempting to pick up any information. I have built a new machine recently with the objective of being able to maximize DCS I played FC some years ago but have been distracted by life.

I have a Cougar Thurstmaster joystick and TIR 4, I will take all of the help you gentleman would like to provide. Where do I start.

I have Skype etc...

Financeman:music_whistling:

[shagrat]

welcome to the forums. I would suggest download and install DCS World from the Digital Combat Simulator website. Then try a simple settings and performance test with the SU-25t for free.

If you see everything is as expected buy the DCS A-10C module, use the wiki and the forum search for information and tips while working through the trainings.

As soon as you know which button and panel of the hog is which and at least manage the startup procedure and take off, look into multiplayer. There should be some servers hosting freeflights or trainings, that is where teamspeak and a headset come into play.

When you have problems a forum search doesn't solve or you get stuck, ask the guys around here.

:thumbup:

Edited January 31, 2013 by shagrat

[Hunter192]

WOW! Just purchased and downloaded A-10c Warthog. Love it! Still not managed to do a complete start up but the stick Im using just now is crap so i'll wait for the x52 stick and throttle to arrive.