What aircraft / role / nationality do you find most immersive?

[GP*]

Along the same line of thinking as the "Let's talk about our favorite warplanes" thread, I figured I'd start this one. Some great discussion has come out of that thread (so to speak) -- although there has been some (civil) "disagreements" regarding performance and FMs of various aircraft, that thread has mostly brought about discussions concerning our collective passion for WWII aircraft. I'm hoping this thread will do the same.

 

So, in any flight sim -- IL2, ROF, etc -- what aircraft do you find most immersive? Or, what role (air superiority, air to ground, strategic bombing, etc) do you find most enjoyable? And finally, when flying in-game, what side (Allied, Axis, or a specific country) do you find yourself most feeling like you're "really there"? 

 

And, as a bonus question (if you feel so inclined): what ride do you think you'll most often choose in BOS, and why? 

 

For me personally, the 109 is the most immersive ride in IL-2 (really the only flight sim that I spend a reasonable amount of time playing nowadays). I feel that the flight model really gives it a unique character (very similar to what you read about) and I love pitting it against its historical foes. And as you can probably guess, I'm an air-to-air kind of guy...although I sure do love watching the mudmovers blow stuff up  . 

 

I most enjoy flying for the Luftwaffe in game (can't quite describe why, it just feels very "real" to me -- but it's probably a function of the fact that I love the 109 and 190 so much), followed closely by the USAAF (a natural second choice, given that I'm American myself). I love flying Mustangs and Thunderbolts vs 109s and 190s, or Hellcats vs Zeros, and imagining I'm in a scene out of a Nicolas Trudgian painting or something like that. It's just an awesome experience when it comes to playing video games. 

 

I don't get the chance to play ROF that much, so I'm having trouble choosing a plane or side in that game that appeals most to me; but I'm sure others have their thoughts on that game. 

 

WRT BOS, I'll probably fly the 109 the most (and take up the 190 when I get the chance), although I'm sure I'll fly the VVS stuff to experience that side as well. As I've mentioned in other threads, I haven't been so excited for the release of a game in quite some time. 

 

I look forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts!

 

-Pre

[III/JG53Frankyboy]

gimme a Bomber and targets and i will be happy.

prefered planes:

Ju88A-4 mod (with the MG-FF instead of a Lotfe bombsight)

Mosqiuto FB.VI , fastin-BUMM-fastout

B25J with 12 .50cal to the front and parachute bombs

SM79 with torpedoes, who needs an iceberg to sink the Titanic

 

so, in BoS i will mostly fly the He111 and the Pe2 (the Ju88s smaller red 'sister' ) looking out for targets online.

 

and even i am a member of a german ( native and historical named ) unit, the III/JG53, i dont care what nation i fly.

Edited August 17, 2013 by Frankyboy

[crossfade]

I'm a dogfighter first and bomber second

For me i love the pacific theatre and my weapon of choice is the ZERO especially the early versions it is the perfect dogfighter abelt without much armour (but thats what your head is for keep it on a swivel)  when i was flying with my squad years ago in il2 95% of the guys flew the hellcat/corsair but i just loved the zero in between 250/300 kph nothing can match it and i would challenge anyone to try(pm if interested)  i would also like to point out that i am partial to the 190 as well you would be surprised how well it can hold it's own in a slow turning dogfight.

 

As with regards to bombers the A20 is the one i prefer the is nothing i can really compare because it would be my only choice but it is a great bird.

 

And as to what i'll fly in BOS i am on the fence the later lagg's are quite good but will not be in the game the 109's not a plane i have flown much as i would rather turn and burn than zoom and boom which would bring me back to the zero but i will keep an open mind basically i will test fly each plane and then make a choice

 

Thanks for starting the the discussion m8

Edited August 17, 2013 by crossfade

[TheBlackPenguin]

I like both single seater's and the bombers, immersion may come after a few missions. In ROF this is so too, but I was really enjoying the Re8 on the Channel Map, especially when you're off alone with a small escort above relying on your own navigation with the only aid being the map  a lot of fun and rewarding. I'm also enjoying the Triplane, although when expecting a dogfight I find the two guns to be too heavy as it takes away a lot of its overall performance.

 

In BOS, looking forward to the La-5, FW-190 and Pe-2. Not fully settled yet, but the 109 looks quite decent too. Multiple careers for sure!

[Bearcat]

Fighter.. allied... in a Mustang, P-40, corsair,F-6,Spitfire,Yak, La, P-39 etc..

[BlitzPig_EL]

Immersion has nothing to do with what aircraft or country I fly in or for.

 

It's about the feeling of flight that is conveyed by the simulation itself.

 

So far CloD is the winner in the immersion area, even though every other aspect of that title is flawed, broken, or under developed.

[BeastyBaiter]

For me, it's all about dive speed and firepower. Nothing beats the thrill of diving in on an unsuspecting target, whether it be airborne or surface, at absurdly high speeds. In RoF, this leads me to spads mostly. In a WW2 setting, the Fw-190A, F4U and P-40 are my types of planes. In the initial release, the Fw-190A3 will be my primary plane assuming it's correctly modeled.

[theOden]

In IL2 I must say I mostly fly the IL2 for ground pounding.

While having a sweet spot for P40 and P47 I learnt very early not to fight against AI as no matter what, they flew faster, climbed faster, turned faster and detected me faster (even below them in their 180).

I even setup QMB for a Fw190 vs I16 and then the other way around, still same result :/ but that's off topic

 

But the P47 works very well for ground pounding too but the IL2 has a wider range of weapons.

[ACG_Kraut]

My style is hunting inferior allied aircraft in the 109 and 190. Watch your six down there, cause I'm screaming in from above!

 

Remember: Luftwaffe is best waffe!     

Edited August 18, 2013 by [AKA]Kraut

[I/JG27_Zimmi]

There's nothing better than being in a DF with a 109 and a reliable wingman on your side.

I also love ground attack missions, no matter which side, that's why I'm so much looking forward flying the IL-2 (been active in (v) 61. ShAP back in 2002 or so )

[6S.Manu]

Immersion has nothing to do with what aircraft or country I fly in or for.

 

It's about the feeling of flight that is conveyed by the simulation itself.

 

I fully agree.

 

My most immersive moment were:

- watching around you could see many fighter formations at high altitude, all directed by the radar guy, until finally you see the bomber stream and their escort fighters (Big Week SEOW campaign). 

- ground attacks against fully defended airbase (realistic number of flak) flying the Typhoon/Tempest

- bomber raid flying an heavy bomber.

 

Regarding dogfighting, I don't feel it immersive at all in IL2...

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 Even I gravitate to flying more German planes I still enjoy trying out them all the sim has to offer. Know your adversary But as El Aurens stated immersion is the most important thing, to have a believeable sensation of being in the thick of it. Sure we play a game with it's limitations but still: war is not fun and we tend to forget that while asking for a "fun experience". Immersion with good balance between playability and realism make a winner.

[leitmotiv]

I will fly them all, no matter if its fighter or bomber, like in good old il2.

Dont understand guys who limits them self to one airplane type or one country in game.

Most immersive in game i get from good team play and good online campaigns like SEOW, even as just transport, recon pilot or a gunner you get the feeling your doing something important for your side and objectives of war.

[Finkeren]

As said by others: As far as immersion goes, the way the sim presents itself is a lot more important than what country you fly for and in which aircraft.

 

Putting that aside, I have to say, that the old IL2-FB semi-dynamic careers have always given me the greatest immersion with its thrilling, yet survivable, missions, the huge variety in terms of available aircraft and ground units on both sides and it's sense of progress since you could follow the moving frontlines day-to-day.

 

The career that has given me the most engrossing experience is propably flying the IL-2 for the VVS. The sim always looked the best from low altitude, and with the greater realism in terms of weapon accuracy and reliability in recent patches, mud moving is more fun than ever. Also, in the IL-2 it always feels like a battle for survival, even as your side is winning the war.

 

Flying different fighters for the Finns has also been great fun, though in 1941 it's pretty much a turkey shoot downing scores of unprotected SB-bombers.

[J2_Trupobaw]

I'll fly them all but of course have preferences. I have little problem immersing myself in CAS planes of any nationality. From Il-2 flyable nations I always liked Fins the most, Britons being close second.   I like British and German planes (especially when flown as Finnish pilot), Russian figthers are much less immersive and American ones are immersion killers for me...  I guess that the more I understand and agree with why a nation even is in this war, the easier it is for me to immerse.

[Foobar]

Like to fly ground missions with 110 and bombing with 88/111. Really would like to see some kind of airfield ressource management wich would be worth flying transport missions to keep the airfields alive.

[Clowndoe]

For me, nothing beats being an Il-2/10 pilot flying ground attack missions. This is especially after "Sturmoviks over Manchuria," which had the great flavor text for briefings that included the various hijinks that the pilots would participate in between missions, as well as going over the feelings the pilots would have, their pride in flying a plane that's meant to save friendly lives and the pitted feeling one pilot had for shooting people riding trains. It really helped me put myself in the mindset and I never feel more involved in the war than when I'm precisely annihilating tank columns and fortifications from less than 100 meters. It also has the intensity of being such a hard hitting weapon but also an easy target. It almost feels like I didn't do my job if I didn't at least once hear the *clank* of a machine gun bullet hitting the armored underbelly, and it's undeniably exhilarating to make my 100th landing in a row despite once again not having rudders/ailerons/elevators, just because I know exactly what I'll get from this plane.

[dburne]

P40, Hurricane, P39. P41

 

Pacific, European

 

Air to Air

 

Allied - preferable U.S. where possible

[79_vRAF_Friendly_flyer]

I find the ground attack missions the most immersive, and I prefer fighting for the underdog, be it Brittain in 1940, Soviet in 41 or Germany in 45. I al really looking forward to trying out the good old IL2 and the P2!

[dburne]

Made this post above, too late to edit, had a typo - obviously P41 was meant to be P51...

 

<<<P40, Hurricane, P39. P51

 

Pacific, European

 

Air to Air

 

Allied - preferable U.S. where possible>>>

Edited August 18, 2013 by dburnette

[Meteor2]

Here I am in line with Foobar. 110 and 88/111 are my favorites. But I will look at soviet multicrew Aircraft, of course.

And the overall immersion is the most important part, as other members underlined. Hopefully, BoS will not be sooooooo Fighter-focused......

[=BKHZ=Furbs]

Where do i find the most immersion?

 

That moment in my 109 up at 25K just inland over England, when i spot a lone spit climbing out of Hawkinge. I check all around then roll over and start the dive towards him at his 6 oc, take the dive down below his tail and then pull up, letting his silly spit wings fill the sights, before firing at very close range and seeing 20mm cannon rip into him, bits flying off and puffs of smoke and flame.

You can almost feel the shock and surprise of the silly spit pilot as his aircraft breaks apart around him and he sees the shadow of my 109 flying over him as i climb back into the blue...

 

Love it.

Edited August 18, 2013 by Furbs

[GP*]

I definitely agree with the comments about the sim itself needing to be immersive. That's a given. The premise of the question is more along the lines of WITHIN an already immersive sim, what really "does it for you." 

 

Additionally, I don't think there's anything wrong with having a favorite plane that you prefer to fly most of the time. Comments in this thread and many others about "flying one plane is silly, blah blah" are themselves quite silly -- having a favorite or, in this case, a plane that gives you the greatest sense of immersion doesn't preclude you from ever flying another plane, or imply that you have no interest in any others. 

[76SQN-FatherTed]

Heading out over the lines in RoF MP is my most immersive experience in combat flightsims.  RoF does a great job of conveying distance (horizontal and vertical) so that you feel you're in a real place.  Then you shove in the fact that there are other people somewhere around trying to get you, and I think there's no finer war-in-the-air simulator

[skline00]

109 and P40

[Graawl]

I've found a lot of ways of playing immersively.

 

I like to play on the Luftwaffe side, as it gets harder and harder. I find it immersive to start with an overwhelming superiority, then slowly the enemy gets tougher and tougher until the end. Impersonating a free-willing (of course :D ) german fighter pilot is very immersive.

 

I also do find Sturmovik campaigns really immersive, as the defense of motherland and destroying fascists is a very rewarding theme :D . Nothing better than the 2 big Il2 cannons rowling towards a wermarcht column !

 

I do like to fly now and then the occasionnal Stuka Barbarossa mission. You know, like in the history books, with this awesome picture of Stukas diving over a crossroad in Poland.

 

 

My best experience with immersion was when I was playing B17 II. I've never felt the same thing in any other flight sim. Messing up your bombing run and bringing back home your wounded crew has never felt more real for me!

 

 

Cheers!

Edited August 19, 2013 by Graawl

[ITAF_Rani]

Where do i find the most immersion?

 

That moment in my 109 up at 25K just inland over England, when i spot a lone spit climbing out of Hawkinge. I check all around then roll over and start the dive towards him at his 6 oc, take the dive down below his tail and then pull up, letting his silly spit wings fill the sights, before firing at very close range and seeing 20mm cannon rip into him, bits flying off and puffs of smoke and flame.

You can almost feel the shock and surprise of the silly spit pilot as his aircraft breaks apart around him and he sees the shadow of my 109 flying over him as i climb back into the blue...

 

Love it.

Furbs....you read my mind ....!!

[6S.Manu]

Furbs....you read my mind ....!!

 

 

Butchering a Spitfire... Who does not like to snap those beautiful elliptical wings?

 

I think it more a matter of pleasure than immersion. 

Edited August 19, 2013 by 6S.Manu

[Zmaj76]

 

what ride do you think you'll most often choose in BOS, and why? 

 

 

 

P47 hehe 

 

OK enough joking...in BOS would be La5..it was the best fighter of its time on eastern front...

Edited August 19, 2013 by Tvrdi

[II./JG27_Rich]

A 109 F4 Trop in Libya 1942 with JG27. 

Edited August 19, 2013 by Richie

[SCG_Neun]

I like the loose hunter type fighter tactics of the Luftwaffe, particularly in the early days of the war.  I usually fly the 109, but if the FW is available I also enjoy some ground pounding. I'm looking forward to the 109F4 in BOS, which has always been a fairly maneuverable aircraft in other sims I've played.   I do however enjoy flying a Spitfire every now and then, which next to the 109, is my favorite fighter.  If I can choose...it would be the MkIX.  Tally Ho!......Uh....I mean Horrido!

[BlitzPig_EL]

Tactics, which is what the thread has devolved into a discussion of, has only a minor part to play in immersion.

 

It seems for most of you, real immersion is secondary to racking up points.

 

Not surprising really.

Edited August 19, 2013 by ElAurens

[=LD=Hethwill]

In my opinion Immersion is a double fold sheet.

One side is the "characterization" of your gameplay. Which side you like the most to play, which planes and mission types. In essence is the role-play thing. On the other page you have the flight and air combat immersion, there comes the Squadron, the buddy factor and the assessment of the mission to carry in a good fun and relaxed way.

 

Taking these into consideration, personally, and roleplaying something I'd always be some sort of Volunteer Group and fly any variant of the P-40. I like mainly the early war stages where the differences between models are much more pronounced and air combat becomes more tactical given those steep differences.

 

But... I'd fly anything anyday with the "squaddies" and immerse myself enough to make sure they return safe to base. A good sortie is good immersion. We may fail a mission, but we are ready to carry on the war the next day.

[kestrel79]

Immersion for me is feeling like I'm there. Getting completely lost in the sim, forgetting about what else is going on around me in the real world. One of the main reasons I love sims, because they are such a great escape and engaging.

 

Ground attack missions get me sweating pretty good. Flying in low, trying to remain undetected. Scanning for fighters. Then the flak starts, then the AAA. Time to find the targets and drop your bombs and rockets then get the hell out of there before the fighters bounce you.

 

For me flying back to base beat up and damaged is some of the most fun in a sim without firing a single round. Controlling all the CEM stuff to make sure you can make it back to base is thrilling.

[LLv44_Mprhead]

Don't know about immersion, but back in the day in IL-2 I was flying mostly "red". RAF and USAAF, in spitfire, p-51, p-47 and tempest. That was mostly because the server I did most of my flying had high amount of blue players when I started there, so I wanted to balance things out on my part.

[Heywooood]

flying off a carrier...in moderate weather, knowing where the target is supposed to be, finding it without the map cheat - full realism 'on' - surviving the attack...maybe - only to now have to relocate my carrier group and land successfully

 

thats the most absorbing kind of flight for me...

 

anything else is a cake walk..in the park

 

a great question from the OP - so many possible answers

 

I suppose a pure night intercept in a radar equipped Bf110 or allied P61 would be almost as engrossing....

Edited August 19, 2013 by Heywooood

[GP*]

Tactics, which is what the thread has devolved into a discussion of, has only a minor part to play in immersion.

 

It seems for most of you, real immersion is secondary to racking up points.

 

Not surprising really.

 

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.

 

God forbid people enjoy employing realistic tactics in historic aircraft in a COMBAT flight sim. But to you, apparently this simply equates to "racking up points." 

 

Not everyone derives immersion from the same qualities a sim possesses as you do. That's what this thread is all about -- finding out what makes people feel truly involved in a sim and discussing it in a fun way...without categorizing it as anything negative. 

 

 

Immersion for me is feeling like I'm there. Getting completely lost in the sim, forgetting about what else is going on around me in the real world. One of the main reasons I love sims, because they are such a great escape and engaging.

 

Ground attack missions get me sweating pretty good. Flying in low, trying to remain undetected. Scanning for fighters. Then the flak starts, then the AAA. Time to find the targets and drop your bombs and rockets then get the hell out of there before the fighters bounce you.

 

For me flying back to base beat up and damaged is some of the most fun in a sim without firing a single round. Controlling all the CEM stuff to make sure you can make it back to base is thrilling.

 

Very well said! 

[Lord_Haw-Haw]

Well the thing with "racking up points" is you usually have your kill stealers, those that will fire at a plane that

is going down and burning end to end, just to get some points. Which does bring out some rather loony situations.

If the game settings are so, that you only get those points if you manage to land behind friendly lines, without killing

your virtual pilot, would end a lot of "gaming the game" sort of thing, and then I am fairly certain no one would say a word

against "racking up points"

[Volkoff]

Well, in IL2 BOS I will likely prefer to use the LaGG-3, Yak-1, and the La-5. I think that I will really like to perform escort, attack bombers, hunt for enemy fighters, as well as defend rail yards, factories, airfields, and other high value Allied targets. I will find the VVS the most immersive side to be on, because I get to fly as part of the GIAP Virtual squad. As part of the 69 GIAP, I will really get to role play in IL2 BOS multiplayer, not just play IL2 BOS multiplayer. 

 

MJ

Edited August 21, 2013 by =69.GIAP=MIKHA

[Lord_Haw-Haw]

Hmm thinking of "escorts" those where often enough more dangerous for the bombers than enemy fighters......

at least in IL2