DCS World - Digital Combat Simulator

[Nejtun]

Summer Sale has started mates you can get your goodies HERE,
50% off of most modules and ALL maps
25 % off F18, I-16, Christen Eagle II and FW 190 A8
No discount on any of the new modules which include the MiG 19, F16 and F 14 Tomcat,
go go go !! no rush though, this sale is good until the 14th of July.

 

[Anson Bennette]

Summer Sale has started mates you can get your goodies HERE,
50% off of most modules and ALL maps
25 % off F18, I-16, Christen Eagle II and FW 190 A8
No discount on any of the new modules which include the MiG 19, F16 and F 14 Tomcat,
go go go !! no rush though, this sale is good until the 14th of July.

Definitely getting the Persian Gulf Map. Don't know what else to get tho. Maybe F-18? or a chopper maybe?

 

[Deb]

@Nejtun, @Skid_Marc_, what would you recommend. Like Anson, I'll get the F-18, but should I get the Persian Gulf Map? Any other planes? I'm not much interested in a helicopter right now, need to focus on flying a plane

 

[Skid_Marc_]

I'd say more maps over more planes, @Deb, especially since you're not coming in with any pre-conceived bias for airplanes. Get the F/A-18 and you can fly it on any map, and do about any mission with it! Personally, I'm sticking to as few planes as possible (F/A-18, F-14, and I'll pick up a WWII plane or two) because I don't want to try to learn each planes systems. Nejt on the other hand has taken the time to tackle A LOT of the modules to a usable level.

@Anson Bennette I don't know how into helicopters you are, but I can't recommend the F/A-18 enough, UNLESS you're more of an F-16 guy. If you are, you might just want to hold out and save your money for that module and maybe pick up a chopper in the interim, if you're interested. What are you flying right now?

 

[Skid_Marc_]

Also, I'll just leave this here for @Deb @Anson Bennette and anyone else that maybe picking up the F/A-18.

This isn't a "By the Book" start-up, this is just the easiest, in fewest steps, process needed to get off the ground (without doing an Auto-Start). Jabbers does a very good job of balancing information, humor, and entertainment, so when you forget what you're doing and have to go back and watch this video for the 40,000,000th time (you probably won't be as dumb as me, so maybe just half that number), it never feels like a chore!

Personally, "Close the canopy" is my Step 3 while I wait for the APU light to turn green. That way I'm a.) not staring at it, and b.) I can actually think without my eardrums ringing!

Also, just a tip; pay attention to what his cursor is doing when he's turning dials. If it's staying put on the dial, he's probably left/right clicking it. If the cursor moves straight up from the dial, he's left-click+dragging up to turn the dial. This may be straight forward and obvious to you by now, but it took me a few watches to figure out why some things weren't doing what I was expecting them to do.

 

[Anson Bennette]

I'd say more maps over more planes, @Deb, especially since you're not coming in with any pre-conceived bias for airplanes. Get the F/A-18 and you can fly it on any map, and do about any mission with it! Personally, I'm sticking to as few planes as possible (F/A-18, F-14, and I'll pick up a WWII plane or two) because I don't want to try to learn each planes systems. Nejt on the other hand has taken the time to tackle A LOT of the modules to a usable level.

@Anson Bennette I don't know how into helicopters you are, but I can't recommend the F/A-18 enough, UNLESS you're more of an F-16 guy. If you are, you might just want to hold out and save your money for that module and maybe pick up a chopper in the interim, if you're interested. What are you flying right now?

Right now I'm flying the A-10C almost exclusively, as other than FC3, it's the only paid module I have. I've pretty much made up my mind on the Persian Gulf map and the F-18 (not a fanboy of any particular jet actually). I'm thinking those should keep me busy for quite a while, considering how long it's taking me to get to grips with the Warthog

 

[Brainling]

Persian Gulf is the best map in the game IMO. I highly encourage people to buy it if it goes on sale during the upcoming Summer Sale. I know any content I churn out of the mission editor will probably be on PG.

 

[Nejtun]

I Second the persian gulf map for anybody considering a new terrain , it si 50% off too for the first time since it was released.
@Deb as others have said the F18 will keep you going forever, if you want a WW2 planes with propellers then the Mustang P51-D as well.
Anson seems to be fixed !

 

[Deb]

I bought the F-18 and the Persian Gulf and Normandy Maps.

 

[Anson Bennette]

I bought the F-18 and the Persian Gulf and Normandy Maps.

Right behind ya.
Well done Ms. Bennett

 

[Kinger]

I think you guys have made some wise purchases.

Anson, if you have found the A-10 a bit daunting, I think you will find the 18 a bit easier. As the A-10c is a fully fleshed out module within ED there is a TON to learn there and it is a very very HOTAS centered aircraft. The 18 being a bit less developed doesn't have quite as steep of a learning curve (IMO) and while you can do quite a bit with the HOTAS it's not to the level of the A-10. (Sometimes I wish it was, but I digress.........)

I "may" purchase the Normandy map during the sale just so in case we have some WW2 outings I can participate with my P-51. (Even though I still have no idea what I'm doing in that aircraft and have only flown it once with Nejt's help.)

 

[Jeeve79]

I am considering Ka-50.

 

[Deb]

I've been trying to practice in the F18 on the Persian Gulf Map that is up right now and there are tons of enemies. In fact, the hanger area keeps getting bombed as I am sitting there trying to figure things out, although haven't got hit on the tarmac yet I can get through the start up of the plane now and if I forget something, I have that video to look at, but I can't get armed. I tried to get through the arming process, flew-off to attack some enemies, none of bombs or guns would work, so I got shot down I tried to find a video on basic steps to arming the F18, but couldn't find one that went through the steps for arming. I found lots of videos of using the weapons once it was armed, but not for the arming process itself. Is there a checklist that anyone has or a video you know of that I can use to learn to arm the F18?

 

[Nejtun]

The arming of the F18 should be as simple as opening the ground crew menu and choosing the weapons, exactly the same way you did with the A4 they need to say" copy" once you have asked, only reason I can think of for the ground crew not arming you is that you have asked for so much equipment that the plane has gone overweight in which case they wont re arm you at all.

That missile/bomb that keeps hitting the airport is always in the same place , only person that has to worry about it is the person that spawns in that spot which I 'think' is a harrier so no problem for you!

Map is changed now anyway , it is Nevada with dynamic spawns, you wont get shot down so much on this one.

To get some enemies to shoot, open the radio menu, click F10 and then choose your mission type and difficulty and it will give you some enemies to kill,

 

[Anson Bennette]

I've been trying to practice in the F18 on the Persian Gulf Map that is up right now and there are tons of enemies. In fact, the hanger area keeps getting bombed as I am sitting there trying to figure things out, although haven't got hit on the tarmac yet I can get through the start up of the plane now and if I forget something, I have that video to look at, but I can't get armed. I tried to get through the arming process, flew-off to attack some enemies, none of bombs or guns would work, so I got shot down I tried to find a video on basic steps to arming the F18, but couldn't find one that went through the steps for arming. I found lots of videos of using the weapons once it was armed, but not for the arming process itself. Is there a checklist that anyone has or a video you know of that I can use to learn to arm the F18?

Grim Reapers tutorials have been indispensable to me in the A-10C. Hopefully the F-18 ones are as good:
Tutorials: FA-18C Hornet

 

[Deb]

The arming of the F18 should be as simple as opening the ground crew menu and choosing the weapons, exactly the same way you did with the A4 they need to say" copy" once you have asked, only reason I can think of for the ground crew not arming you is that you have asked for so much equipment that the plane has gone overweight in which case they wont re arm you at all.

That missile/bomb that keeps hitting the airport is always in the same place , only person that has to worry about it is the person that spawns in that spot which I 'think' is a harrier so no problem for you!

Map is changed now anyway , it is Nevada with dynamic spawns, you wont get shot down so much on this one.

To get some enemies to shoot, open the radio menu, click F10 and then choose your mission type and difficulty and it will give you some enemies to kill,

Thanks, I'll give it a try!!!!

 

[Skid_Marc_]

To get some enemies to shoot, open the radio menu, click F10 and then choose your mission type and difficulty and it will give you some enemies to kill,

Just a reminder, the "Radio Menu" is the "\" key, below the "Backspace". It brings up a menu in the top-right corner.

"F8" for "Ground Crew", and then "F1" for "Rearm/Refuel".

If Ground Crew isn't in the top-left menu when you select "\", you may need to "F11" to get out of a "Request Permission" prompt that appears automatically sometimes after startup.

 

[Nejtun]

Sensible stuff...

Pressing these buttons so often it is so easy to say "open this" and then give more instructions. @Deb or anyone else just learning some of these common systems, if anytime we ever say anything that just assumes you know one or two commands already, please pull us up on it rather than try to struggle through.
I try not to just gloss over all the needed commands but sometimes I let things slip through the net!

 

[Deb]

I tried again this afternoon, got it loaded, hit the master switch, no bombs or gun, nothing, so clearly I am missing something. Do you know when we put in the 1788 and 1688, perhaps that is the step I am missing?

 

[Brainling]

You have to enter those in to the stores page for the bombs Deb. I don't remember the exact buttons now, but from your stores page you can select a sub page that will let you enter the laser code on the UFC number pad.

1688 should be the default though, you shouldn't need to do that. Make sure you're in A-G mode, with the master mode switch on, and whatever GBU's you're trying to drop as your selected weapon the stores page. Make sure you're in level flight, not in a heavy bank or pulling a bunch of G, as the weapon computer will stop release in that case.