Newbie intro, questions, and even a few newbie tips

[predavolk]

First, this place is both really cool and really annoying. Really annoying because a couple of months ago I finally tossed my LOMAC CD when I realized I wasn't going back to it again. Then I decided to try world of warplanes. Both annoying. :doh:

 

Really cool though because through an accidental search for a more realistic WoW game I came across this site and discovered that once more, Flight Sims are alive and kicking! Awesome stuff, thanks to the devs and the supporting community! Three cheers and a bottle of rum for you guys! :drunk:

 

So, as a highly experience past LOMAC user, I eagerly strapped on the Su-25T and...proceeded to repeatedly flip it on its back and roll it. Thanks to pulling too hard on the stick. I noticed the AoA was pegging, but it wasn't until I read from someone here that RCtrl-Enter shows your stick movements that I finally tamed the beast. That's my first tip for fellow newbies. This game is really, really sensitive to over-pulling in pitch (probably made worse by my brief WoW experience). Whomever designs the tutorials should put that bit front and centre in lesson 1. It leads to my first question to veterans-

 

What's the gentlest setup curve for a joystick? I use the Extreme3D Pro, so nothing fancy, but hopefully good enough to make a go of the simpler planes. Right now I've got a 5 dead spot (so tiny jitters don't ruin aiming) and 15 curve on all three axis. That works well enough, but I'm curious if there's a widely regarded sweet spot.

 

My second tip is to recognize that this game is a resource pig. Turn down the settings until you get something smooth. The auto-detect settings were too high. I came across a thread somewhere here on tuning one's system/game settings. so I intend on doing that shortly. That should be part of the game IMO- how resource hungry each option is. Which leads to my second question- do the graphics for Flaming Cliff 3 differ from the general DCS graphics?

 

Which leads to my third question- I really most want to fly the Su-27/33. I've read there is a DCS module coming up for it soon. What will be the difference between that module and flying it in FC3? Is it simply a fully interactive cockpit, or will the flight modelling be very different? If it's the latter, I don't want to get used to the Su in LOMAC/FC3 only to have to relearn in on DCS.

 

Which leads to question 4. I'm really leaning towards buying the P-51 module, having enjoyed the IL-2 franchise back in the day. Does the P-51 include other enemy planes to fight with or is it just P-51s versus P-51s (and I suppose helicopters perhaps)? Will any of them? Will the Su-27 module have a variety of opponents? Will the F-15?

 

I'm sure some, if not all, of these questions have already been answered so I apologize for the repetition. But in my defence, I've already read 30-40 pages of posts and thought that simply asking my questions instead of searching might be good for me and for other newbies. Thanks in advance for your help!

[SkateZilla]

 

Which leads to my third question- I really most want to fly the Su-27/33. I've read there is a DCS module coming up for it soon. What will be the difference between that module and flying it in FC3? Is it simply a fully interactive cockpit, or will the flight modelling be very different? If it's the latter, I don't want to get used to the Su in LOMAC/FC3 only to have to relearn in on DCS.

 

Which leads to question 4. I'm really leaning towards buying the P-51 module, having enjoyed the IL-2 franchise back in the day. Does the P-51 include other enemy planes to fight with or is it just P-51s versus P-51s (and I suppose helicopters perhaps)? Will any of them? Will the Su-27 module have a variety of opponents? Will the F-15?

 

 

The Standalone Su-27 Flaming Cliffs Module will be the same Content that's already part of FC3 Module, only difference is it's standalone and available on Steam. and the Su-27 Standalone module will not require A Valid LockOn:MAC Installation Like FC3 Does.

 

The P-51D Can Fly against the AI FW190, there's also a AI BF-109 Mod Available on the forums.

 

Su-27 Flies against any plane in DCSW, the Popular ones being F-15s, F-16s, F-18s.

F-15 Flies against any plane in DCSW, the Popular ones being Su-27/33, Mig-29s, Etc.

 

Go to the Mission Editor, Place an Aircraft on the map, anything in the list for each country is available to fly against regardless of what modules you own.

 

 

Also, P-51D and FC are On Sale right now on the ED E-shop

FC3 ($19.99)

P-51D ($15.99)

[esb77]

Stick curves are really a matter of personal hardware setup interacting with personal preference. The best way is to spend some time fiddling around with settings and then test flying to see if you like the results.

 

I typically have a dead zone of 0-3 and curvature of 0-25 depending on the aircraft.

 

Graphics are basically the same across different mods as far as I know, though the player/ai versions of flyable craft may have more detailed models than the scenery static object versions. ED is working on a new image rendering system though so changes may come with that.

 

The SU-27 standalone will not be a fully interactive cockpit. It may have 6DOF camera movement and touched up textures in the cockpit. Upgrades to the flight model are also possible, though I don't know how likely. It will still be a survey level sim like the Su-25, Su25T, A10-A, and (when it comes out) F15-C. Very little information has come out on the Su-27 standalone other than that it's likely to arrive after the F15 stand alone does. So far they've been adding improvements to many of the stand alone mods, so think, "similar to FC:3, but if we're lucky with some nice improvements."

 

The P51's definitely have a shortage of same era opponents to fly against at the moment. I've also heard that the damage model is a bit wonky and that unless you hit the pilot or the engine you can shoot planes to pieces without having any effect (seems to be the case with WWII era ai planes available to mission builder for DCS, not sure if buying P51 modules improves this at all).

I assume the variety and fidelity of WWII era planes will improve when/if the WWII mod project hits release.

[predavolk]

Thanks for the helpful replies! One more quick question that probably belongs in the FC section, but I'm sure you guys can answer it here too.

 

I just ordered a new copy of LOMAC on Ebay. I'd like to take advantage of the current sale. Can I simply buy a license now, wait until LOMAC gets here, install it, then FC3, then update it with the key I purchased on sale this week? That seems pretty straight foward but I thought I'd ask before I go ahead with it.

[SkateZilla]

Thanks for the helpful replies! One more quick question that probably belongs in the FC section, but I'm sure you guys can answer it here too.

 

I just ordered a new copy of LOMAC on Ebay. I'd like to take advantage of the current sale. Can I simply buy a license now, wait until LOMAC gets here, install it, then FC3, then update it with the key I purchased on sale this week? That seems pretty straight foward but I thought I'd ask before I go ahead with it.

 

You can buy the License Now, and Get a License Key.

Install DCSW Now, Update it. Play with the Free SU-25T While you wait for LoMAC to be delivered,

 

When LoMAC is Delivered, Install it, Then Install and Activate FC3 Module into DCSWorld w/ the License Key you purchased..

[predavolk]

I already installed it (along with the P-51 module), but thanks for clarifying the rest of the process!