Totally new and lost!

[Pika]

Hey guys!

 

Another newbie here and i'm totally lost.

 

I've been trying my best to take in each of the sims as well as I can (which is everything 'cept CA.) but while I can learn each system inside out if I took the time, keeping the crafts level and in the air seems to be a huge chore. Probably not helped with a 15 year old flight stick and no rudder pedals but I'm trying! So yeah, i've two questions for you hardened ace pilots~

 

Firstly: While I've had the most success with FC3, i'm aware it's not a true DCS product and i'd really love to get to grips more with the A10-C especially. Is there any thing out there to help a complete newbie? Especially with some of the basics like just keeping the craft in the air and the nose pointed where I want it to go? Or better, does anyone have any advice or even point me to a squadron that'd be willing to take in a complete newbie and train him from the rawest of rookies? :D

 

Secondly: What exactly is CA? Is it worth picking up? What does it add to the game exactly and how 'realistic' is it (I'm a dedicated Steel Beasts and ArmA2/3 player for my ground war!)

 

Thanks!

 

Hope to be flying with you soon ^^

[mjeh]

Hey Pika!

 

For flying straight you'll want to trim the aircraft (go Otions -> Controls -> A-10C sim -> HOTAS and bind the trim commands to somewhere accessible). You'll want to retrim quite often which might seem like a bit of a chore at first but it'll change the way you fly and you'll soon look back wondering how you managed without.

 

For learning the sim I recommend you get at least some very basic knowledge with the mission editor, to set up scenarios for yourself to practice in. If you don't want to do that, there are a lot of mission makers out there who make training scenarios, however! I recommend you search around a bit in the mods and mission forums. Also, youtube is probably the best source for tutorials once you've exhausted the ingame ones.

 

It's a daunting task learning the systems of the A-10C, but it's also a very rewarding process. Much more so than any other flight sim I've fiddled around with!

 

For joystick, it doesn't matter if it's 15 years old if it's of reasonable production quality. I can tell you right away however that not having a rudder axis is going to put you at a disadvantage. Get a cheap set of used rudder pedals or something, I don't think you'll regret it :)

 

As for combined arms, if you're used to steel beasts and arma then it's going to seem rudimentary to you. That said though, it does add another dimension to the DCS World and it's still being improved upon.

 

Happy flying!

[Charly_Owl]

Hello Pika,

 

Some tips if you want to learn fast. Try to follow these steps and you should be fine.

 

1) Download the flight manual. It's essential for many reasons. If you're not the reading type, there are many tutorials on youtube to learn how to start-up the aircraft. None of them go into too much details about "why" you check these systems and how they should be relevant to you. That's what the manual is for. It's 600-ish pages of solid content, very detailed and user-friendly. I know that reading this may seem like a chore (and it is), but it's pretty much essential if you want to understand what you're doing and why.

 

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/downloads/documentation/

 

2) Learn how to start-up and land.

 

It may seem basic, but knowing how to fly the aircraft is the first thing you should know. There's no point in using guns and 100000000$ missiles if you can't get your arse off the ground, eh? There is a pretty decent tutorial in-game, but start-up procedures are detailed in the flight manual and on youtube. There are plenty of videos. Just learn to get the aircraft running, taxi, takeoff, fly for a bit, land and you should be fine to know the basics. The most important part when landing is knowing your speed and heading. Figure out what are all these funny-looking gauges in the cockpit, and you'll have a better understanding of what to keep an eye on (speed & altitude).

 

Example of youtube tutorial (it's actually a guy who just filmed the in-game tutorial).

 

3) Now you know how to fly? Great. Now, time to know how the aircraft weapons work. There are still a plethora of youtube videos. The in-game tutorial missions explain pretty well what to use in what situations. Manual always comes handy too. Learn what different types of missiles to use and in what situation.

 

4) If you want to master the aircraft, there's nothing like joining a virtual squadron. Flying with people will make you learn 10 X faster and you'll have much more fun in the process. People are generally quite friendly and this community genuinely wants to help newcomers. See the Multiplayer forum.

 

Tip: Try to learn the "Brevity Code". It's that fancy "military talk" you hear in the comms. Stuff like "Bandit, 1 o' clock high. Fox-2, Fox-2! Ah, bandit on my six, 'going defensive!" The goal of brevity code is to transmit a maximal amount of information in the least amount of words possible. It's not easy to grasp at first, but you gain so much more efficiency when you do.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiservice_tactical_brevity_code

 

Youtube tutorial for Brevity Code and Multiplayer:

 

Well, in a nutshell, I guess that's about it. I hope it helped!

 

 

 

 

Edit: For Combined Arms, I don't necessarily recommend it. The concept is very intereresting on paper, but I think (and I'm only speaking for myself here) it was somewhat "poorly" executed. Don't bother with Combined Arms unless you desperately want to control ground units to achieve objectives. CA is not a tank simulator. It's simply a real-time strategy game that has not much to do with other DCS titles like the A-10C, P51-D Mustang or the Ka-50 Black Shark.

Edited April 11, 2013 by Charly_Owl

[Maachine]

what everyone has said so far, read the manual. i put it off and put it off.......but glad when i finally read it.

 

throw yourself in the fire, dont be scared to learn something new. and if you dont know what it is, google it. tons of little tricks out there that help

 

set up custom snap views.....this helped me a lot since i dont have track IR. i use facetrack NOIR which isnt nearly as good a product....but it works and is free. i set up custom snap views for radios, ILS and light panel, CMS and caution panel, right MFCD, left MFCD, and a zoom view of the HUD. i also made one for the CDU as well.

 

get online and find yourself a new joystick. i bought my used saitek x-52 for 65 bucks or something. was totally worth it. but play the game a bit and make sure you'll stick with it before buying gear.

 

and mentioned before.....trim trim trim. you drop a bomb or shoot a missle from this plane and you'll immediately need to trim

[mjeh]

Edit: For Combined Arms, I don't necessarily recommend it. The concept is very intereresting on paper, but I think (and I'm only speaking for myself here) it was somewhat "poorly" executed. Don't bother with Combined Arms unless you desperately want to control ground units to achieve objectives. CA is not a tank simulator. It's simply a real-time strategy game that has not much to do with other DCS titles like the A-10C, P51-D Mustang or the Ka-50 Black Shark.

 

One thing should be said here, though; CA shines when you have cooperation between ground elements and aircraft. The usual problem is everybody wants to be the fighter pilot, nobody wants to scout around on the ground and designate targets for them :)

 

Edit: To elaborate a little - there is definitely a lot of fun to be had with CA if you're into multiplayer, but if you're expecting a tank sim then you're going to be disappointed. The execution is pretty basic as Charly Owl pointed out, and the terrain engine is getting a bit dated and doesn't necessarily lend itself well to ground operations. We're getting a new graphics engine though, and with a few changes CA could become a really good product.

Edited April 11, 2013 by mjeh

[Hamblue]

Only one more thing to add. If you truly intend on learning the A-10C, forget CA for now. The A-10 will be a full time job for quite a while. In the end it will be rewarding though.

[Pika]

Thanks for all the advice and assistance guys!

 

My stick may need replacing honestly. It's a 15 year old Sidewinder with only one hat switch and no HOTAS (Only a sliding throttle!) Might be fine for Flaming Cliffs 3, but I don't think it'll work to well for the DCS games :)

 

I'll keep at it, might try that A10C user made training mission thingy too.

 

And thanks for the advice on CA too. I was under the impression it was a ground vehicle based sim of at least FC3 fidelity. Guess i'll hold out a little longer for a ground based sim! :D

 

One last question: does anyone have any recommendations for a good, high quality stick and rudder set? I'd very much like the TM Warthog but that's a little out of my price range at the moment! :D

 

Thanks again guys!

[Sorin]

Use the autopilot, it is a great deal of help when you are busy targeting.

[Ich666]

The lack of buttons on the sidewinder indeed makes it a lot harder to learn and master the A-10, Good Luck with it though!

[mjeh]

One last question: does anyone have any recommendations for a good, high quality stick and rudder set? I'd very much like the TM Warthog but that's a little out of my price range at the moment!

 

saitek x52 pro is generally considered the poor man's tm warthog :)

[Sorin]

saitek x52 pro is generally considered the poor man's tm warthog :)

 

Yes, that is what I use and it is good enough.

[charmande]

These guys have given some great flight tips already so I won't touch on that. I highly recommend especially if you don't want to buy a separate rudder pedal system buy the Logitech Extreme Pro 3d. It's about 30 bucks at your local Walmart or Best Buy (maybe even cheaper online) and it twists to simulate rudder action. While it's no replacement for a true rudder system it'll give you a decent flight stick with a good selection of buttons, throttle and rudder action for cheap. I use it for all DCS products until I get my TM Warthog and rudder pedals and I fly just fine.

[Jona33]

These guys have given some great flight tips already so I won't touch on that. I highly recommend especially if you don't want to buy a separate rudder pedal system buy the Logitech Extreme Pro 3d. It's about 30 bucks at your local Walmart or Best Buy (maybe even cheaper online) and it twists to simulate rudder action. While it's no replacement for a true rudder system it'll give you a decent flight stick with a good selection of buttons, throttle and rudder action for cheap. I use it for all DCS products until I get my TM Warthog and rudder pedals and I fly just fine.

 

OR you can use this. It's cheap and dead good.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-Joystick-PS3/dp/B001CXYMFS/ref=sr_1_sc_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1365699412&sr=8-5-spell&keywords=TM+Flight+stick+x

[Mac10]

Although not essential I would recommend Track IR as your next purchase after a joy stick ( http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/ )

really adds a whole new dimension to the sim and the all round veiw inside and outside the cockpit greatly improves situational awareness

I could'nt play without it.

[Bucic]

It's for Black Shark, but if you're totally lost, it is applicable to a large degree.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=63018

[159th_Falcon]

saitek x52 pro is generally considered the poor man's tm warthog :)

Replace poor whit sensible please. Also, how do you know my or anyone else's wealth?

[Hamblue]

X52 pro is an excellent stick. Had one and no complaints.

[Maachine]

dont get a logitech extreme 3d. that was the joystick i had when i first started playing and hated it. thats the reason i upgraded to the saitek x-52. so much better. wish i would have gotten the x-52 pro version now though.

[Bucic]

Replace poor whit sensible please. Also, how do you know my or anyone else's wealth?

Please give it a rest, unless you consider 'poor' an insult.

 

Read this before buying any joystick!

About crap-pots http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=883109#post883109

[mjeh]

Replace poor whit sensible please. Also, how do you know my or anyone else's wealth?

 

Oh come on, didn't you see the smiley at the end?

 

Yes, it's a sensible choice - I gave it a recommendation after all. No, I don't know anything - nor do I care - about your economy or anyone elses. Furthermore, being a student, I in not a position to call anyone poor and I wouldn't even if I could.

 

It's a light hearted comment on an internet forum, no need to get offended because there was absolutely no offense intended.

Edited April 12, 2013 by mjeh