Another Potentially dumb Q

[TJ_TAS]

Where are the difficulty settings in this game?. All I seem to have the option of is Easy and Expert, Neither of which suit me. There also seems to be something broken in "Expert" mode as I can't seem to be able to get a map up. This makes navigating to my target in the He-111 just about impossible. I guess I could live with the easy mode which at least has a map if i could find a way to turn off the icons and the auto-map update.

[LLv24_Zami]

Those are only options for the campaign at the moment. You can open a map in expert mode with O key.

[TJ_TAS]

Well pardon the pun but that isn't going to fly with me. I want to play in expert mode but with some of the other settings on. Padlock, External view and Engine management mainly, well unless there is an option to go through the full training course that a bomber pilot would go through to learn the machinery properly. Not that i would really want to go through that when i want to fly for release after a days work.

 

Thanks for the tip on the map in expert mode!. Now to work out how to stop my engines dying.

Edited October 19, 2014 by TJ_TAS

[Finkeren]

Welcome to the club. I think most of us share the sentiment that the difficulty presets are rubbish (even if most other things about BoS is solid gold) Make your oppinion known in a respectful manner and let's hope the devs will listen (they are usually quite good at that)

 

You really ought to learn to fly without padlock though. Use icons instead if you must.

[Zettman]

 

Thanks for the tip on the map in expert mode!. Now to work out how to stop my engines dying.

 

S!

 

Here are Chucks's Aircaftguides. http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/10268-chucks-aircraft-guide/?p=157599

 

Heinkel 111 guide is at the end of his opening post. On page 15 (of the PDF file) you will find the numbers you are looking for.

 

Zettman

[TJ_TAS]

Welcome to the club. I think most of us share the sentiment that the difficulty presets are rubbish (even if most other things about BoS is solid gold) Make your oppinion known in a respectful manner and let's hope the devs will listen (they are usually quite good at that)

 

You really ought to learn to fly without padlock though. Use icons instead if you must.

 

Why should i learn to not use padlock?. Do real pilots have to use their hands to move their head to follow things. I may not be a pilot but when I am driving if I want to watch something it is instant and instinctive. I am not going to pay the near $500 they want in Aus for TIR and from my experience with similar things it is not as instinctive or natural as real life. I agree that it allows an unrealistic amount of motion (padlock that is) but i put that down to being able to reason where the plane is going based on the last observation.

[Zettman]

Why should i learn to not use padlock?. Do real pilots have to use their hands to move their head to follow things. I may not be a pilot but when I am driving if I want to watch something it is instant and instinctive. I am not going to pay the near $500 they want in Aus for TIR and from my experience with similar things it is not as instinctive or natural as real life. I agree that it allows an unrealistic amount of motion (padlock that is) but i put that down to being able to reason where the plane is going based on the last observation.

 

S!

 

What about getting some IR LEDs and some resistors working with a webcam by using Freetrack (which is free)?

 

Here is the mainpage with lot of helpful tips and tricks. http://www.free-track.net/english/

Here is an easy to understand  guide how to connect the LEDs, Battery and resistor. http://www.free-track.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=1856

 

Or FacetrackNoIR which just requires an Webcam and is free too. http://facetracknoir.sourceforge.net/home/default.htm

 

Zettman

[Finkeren]

I have no TrackIR and I've stopped using padlock some time ago. It has both greatly enhanced my experience when flying (in a dogfight keeping track of your enemy is half the battle) It has also improved my MP capabilities tremendeously as no servers really allow padlock.

 

It's up to you ofc, but you're really missing out by using padlock.

[FlatSpinMan]

I just use a POV hat still. It takes time to set views up as you like, and some kind of head-tracking thing would be way better, but I prefer it to padlock. I just find that so confusing and hard to fly with.

Each to their own though. When Oculus Rift is ready, I'm getting that.

And ear protection to block out the mocking laughter of my family.

[No601_Swallow]

Where are the difficulty settings in this game?. All I seem to have the option of is Easy and Expert, Neither of which suit me. There also seems to be something broken in "Expert" mode as I can't seem to be able to get a map up. This makes navigating to my target in the He-111 just about impossible. I guess I could live with the easy mode which at least has a map if i could find a way to turn off the icons and the auto-map update.

 

Just about the difficulty options in "Easy" mode (Is it "Easy"? My version says, "Normal", I think. Using "Easy" for "Normal" seems pettily and tediously pejorative), I find I'm flying all my "campaign" missions in "Normal".

 

All of the on-screen icons can be banished with a flick of the "H" key, while the CEM limiters can be turned off once keystrokes are assigned. As someone else has suggested, I have all of them set to the same key, so at the start of every mission it takes quite literally half a second to turn them all off.

 

(And I can still "cheat" with the icons (or engine for that matter) if I'm tired or frustrated or my conscience isn't looking!  )

[chris455]

I have no TrackIR and I've stopped using padlock some time ago. It has both greatly enhanced my experience when flying (in a dogfight keeping track of your enemy is half the battle) It has also improved my MP capabilities tremendeously as no servers really allow padlock.

 

It's up to you ofc, but you're really missing out by using padlock.

Finkeren,

Is TIR something you choose not to use, or have you never used it?

I found that I had to try something new when ROF came out, the view system was very different from IL2 and I had trouble getting the hang of it. I tried TIR and frankly, now I can't function without it -  

 

Agree 100% on the padlock issue- Turning on padlock for something as critical to ACM as keeping tally destroys my sense of immersion. RL WWII pilots (as well as pilots today) "kept their head on a swivel" if they wanted to survive-"Lose sight, lose the fight". Padlock, for me at least, is an unacceptably unfair advantage.

But- to each his own!

Edited October 19, 2014 by chris455

[avlSteve]

Well pardon the pun but that isn't going to fly with me. I want to play in expert mode but with some of the other settings on. Padlock, External view and Engine management mainly, well unless there is an option to go through the full training course that a bomber pilot would go through to learn the machinery properly. Not that i would really want to go through that when i want to fly for release after a days work.

 

Thanks for the tip on the map in expert mode!. Now to work out how to stop my engines dying.

 

You can use any of the settings in QMB, but true that in campaign, right now you have two choices.

 

I used to use a lot of outside views, especially while cruising around or whatever (not so much during combat).  But since using expert settings so much during the campaign, I find myself never bothering with an outside view any more unless it's a replay.

[Uriah]

I think those who do not have TrackIR need to have the padlock option.  And I don't think it really gives an unfair advantage to those who do not use it.  The reason is that those who use it still have to do the head swivel.  If you don't your still going to get caught unaware.  But this has been a debate since flight sims came out.  I do hope there will be a server that will have most things on EXPERT but will allow outside views and padlock.  I might even host one myself.

[SharpeXB]

I've always used a TrackIR but if I didn't I'd prefer snap views to padlocking. Locking your view = target fixation which is a no go in air combat.

 

$500 for a Track IR! In the US they cost $150!

That's robbery :-(

[Sokol1]

Be disable aids in NORMAL mode you end with External Vision and 1x instead 2x for XP bonus as the only differences between NORMAL and EXPERT mode.

Example, by disabling Engine Aids you have full CEM in NORMAL...

 

 

 

[Finkeren]

Finkeren,

Is TIR something you choose not to use, or have you never used it?

I found that I had to try something new when ROF came out, the view system was very different from IL2 and I had trouble getting the hang of it. I tried TIR and frankly, now I can't function without it -

TrackIR is not easy to get hold of here and is quite expensive. A Swedish retailer shells them for something like 300$.

 

It's sorta like rudder pedals. It's just something I never quite got around to aquire despite 20 years of flight simming(yes, I still use a twister stick)

 

It kinda gives me some satisfaction when I'm able to down a player who I know has all the expensive gear

 

Also: I'm not really sure my wife would approve of TrackIR. She thinks I look like enough of an asshat when flying already.

Edited October 19, 2014 by Finkeren

[SharpeXB]

TrackIR is not easy to get hold of here and is quite expensive. A Swedish retailer shells them for something like 300$.

They can't just be bought direct online from Amazon or Naturalpoint? I would think the shipping would be cheaper.

In the US you don't even pay sales tax for things bought online.

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 The TrackIR sells in Finland for like 150€ or so, the latest version of it. So a bit over 200USD? Still on the fence with Oculus, should I get it or just settle with a TrackIR..

[Adriaan]

It's worth looking around for second hand TIR sets too, I was able to find a used one for half the retail price

[LukeFF]

Padlock is a crutch and a relic of the 90s when of course technology like TrackIR didn't exist and monitor resolutions typically no higher than 1024x768.

[Uriah]

So what if it is a crutch and makes one susceptible to target fixation.  Some of us really enjoy it.  And with the issues like target fixation and relying on it to let you know where the enemy is I again state it really does not give an unfair advantage.  Good players are always going to win over ordinary players regardless.  I knew a fellow that did not even have a joy stick.  Just used the keys on the keyboard.  He was still able to out fly most of us.  Arg, pointless for me to argue over this.

[Mikey]

There is no padlock views? I thought there were... I used hat view and mouse for years and was quite proficient with it. The view settings look nearly identical to those of Rof.

 

Now  I have trackir5 and its a world of difference, my situational awareness is much higher.

 

  For me it did not feel natural right away. Wasn't sure if I liked it at first but it just took some getting used to and it begins to feel natural.

[Y-29.Silky]

I bought my trackir for $140 on Ebay, they're not too expensive. My dad was always good at hiding stuff from my mom (mostly new guns).

 

But I highly disagree with having auto engine management in Expert.. And also, the mission briefing gives you the exact directions and time it takes for each leg. This is all after the fact that you can press "I", then "O", and it'll show your plane on the map. I think you just need to note the details in your preflight.

[TJ_TAS]

I've tried FacetrackNOIR and can't really get on with it for flight sims. I absolutely love it in RFactor2, but maybe that is the way the game implements the effect. I tried buying TIR5 from the Natural-point in the US (where it was at the time $120) but they would not sell it to me in Aus. Instead they gave me their distributor here which is where they wanted around $500 for it. Still not as bad a mark up as Photoshop CS6 where i could buy it from the US for $600, when i went to Adobe.AU they wanted $1200 for the same digital product.

 

Mikey420 there is Padlock in easy/Normal mode but not in expert mode. Having said that i couldn't get it to work in Normal mode in the campaign.

 

I don't like all of the other "helpers" in Normal mode especially the Icons and auto-map update. IMHO the campaign needs a Medium or a custom difficulty mode. Having said that I hope it isn't done like ROF where custom mode gives you a 0x multiplier in campaign in custom mode. This always sucked to me as I was taking Medium difficulty and making it harder.

[3instein]

I bought my trackir for $140 on Ebay, they're not too expensive. My dad was always good at hiding stuff from my mom (mostly new guns).

 

But I highly disagree with having auto engine management in Expert.. And also, the mission briefing gives you the exact directions and time it takes for each leg. This is all after the fact that you can press "I", then "O", and it'll show your plane on the map. I think you just need to note the details in your preflight.

Exactly, this is what I thought expert meant.Fair enough you can enable or disable them but a misplaced key press or get the "I" or "O"  mixed up and bamm you see everything on the map, it would be a lot better if expert meant expert.

 

Mick.

 

Mikey420 there is Padlock in easy/Normal mode but not in expert mode. Having said that i couldn't get it to work in Normal mode in the campaign.

 

 

Yep you can only enable padlock in the QMB and not in campaign.

 

Mick.

[TJ_TAS]

I bought my trackir for $140 on Ebay, they're not too expensive. My dad was always good at hiding stuff from my mom (mostly new guns).

 

But I highly disagree with having auto engine management in Expert.. And also, the mission briefing gives you the exact directions and time it takes for each leg. This is all after the fact that you can press "I", then "O", and it'll show your plane on the map. I think you just need to note the details in your preflight.

 

I wasn't advocating Auto engine management in Expert. I would like instead to tailor the difficulty to suit me. I really hope there isn't a plane on the map in expert mode. I want to be able to do "Real" navigation. I just want a map for reference. Like it is/was in ROF.

Yep you can only enable padlock in the QMB and not in campaign.

 

Mick.

Well frankly that isn't acceptable. BTW 3instein its me Dark From SB.

Edited October 20, 2014 by TJ_TAS

[pilotpierre]

They can't just be bought direct online from Amazon or Naturalpoint? I would think the shipping would be cheaper.

In the US you don't even pay sales tax for things bought online.

Finkeren. Amazon or ebay is the way to go. I have been using TiR since it first came out and would not be able to fly without it. I promise you, you will not regret it. Ditto rudder pedals.

 

Do yourself a favour man. Tell your wife it will keep you at home more and you will save trillions of dollars on booze.

[ilikepie]

 

 

When Oculus Rift is ready, I'm getting that. And ear protection to block out the mocking laughter of my family.

 

same 

[unreasonable]

 I really hope there isn't a plane on the map in expert mode. I want to be able to do "Real" navigation. I just want a map for reference. Like it is/was in ROF.

 

 

If you set up your expert mode with HUD on, tooltips and instruments off (in the interface options) all you see on screen is the chat box and the infamous yellow messages. If you really do not want to see those you can assign a joystick key or use H to turn HUD off, and only turn it on when you need the simultaneous translator to help out with the radio messages. They last a few seconds, so no need to panic.

 

In this mode the "O" map has nothing on it except the mission waypoints etc, though you may have to fiddle with it to minimize the briefing text and centre the map how you want.  Then you can call up for a glance to navigate for a second - the game does not pause - it really works very well.

 

The only cheat is that there is a big button at the bottom of the map labelled "my plane": if you press it the map zooms and centres on your plane. Of course you do not have to press it: I have only used it once when I was hopelessly lost in 9/10 cloud, got the edge of the map message and then landed with an almost empty tank. So I was "asking the locals" so to speak. I was amazed at where I had ended up!

[Finkeren]

They can't just be bought direct online from Amazon or Naturalpoint? I would think the shipping would be cheaper.

In the US you don't even pay sales tax for things bought online.

The tariffs would cancel out any potential savings.

[LLv24_Zami]

I've tried FacetrackNOIR and can't really get on with it for flight sims. I absolutely love it in RFactor2, but maybe that is the way the game implements the effect. I tried buying TIR5 from the Natural-point in the US (where it was at the time $120) but they would not sell it to me in Aus. Instead they gave me their distributor here which is where they wanted around $500 for it. Still not as bad a mark up as Photoshop CS6 where i could buy it from the US for $600, when i went to Adobe.AU they wanted $1200 for the same digital product.

 

 

I use Opentrack with Delanclip and Ps3 eye camera. This is quite cheap solution and works great in BoS.

[malteser1337]

IMO Padlock is much different from using TIR, because with TIR I have to rely on my visual peperception which might be low when I'm tired or distracted. So using TIR I might loose sight on my target even though I have a direct line of sight to it. Padlock will keep the lock and my vis on the target.

[FuriousMeow]

There are only point modifiers for Expert and Normal. There aren't any when using custom difficulty. I don't know why they couldn't just give arbitrary values for each individual difficulty setting and tally them together for the multiplier value. Each option selected add +.1 or +.2 to the total overall difficulty multiplier.

 

But that is the reason there isn't custom difficulty in campaign, because otherwise it will have a multiplier of 0 and so you'd get no points and thusly would be unable to get field mods or advance.

Edited October 20, 2014 by FuriousMeow

[SharpeXB]

I don't know why they couldn't just give arbitrary values for each individual difficulty setting and tally them together for the multiplier value. Each option selected add +.1 or +.2 to the total overall difficulty multiplier.

Because too many difficulty levels would kill multiplayer.

[FuriousMeow]

Because too many difficulty levels would kill multiplayer.

 

Well, MP servers setup custom difficulty. They don't have to run expert or normal, they can run custom. "Expert" or "Normal" for MP is just two templates.

[SharpeXB]

Well, MP servers setup custom difficulty. They don't have to run expert or normal, they can run custom. "Expert" or "Normal" for MP is just two templates.

True, just like RoF. But they don't award points. I don't know what mp points are for? But maybe they will do something with them in the future.