Should I buy BoS?

[Hawk777th]

Hey all I have been playing flight sims since Blue Max and Red Baron. 

 

I played quite a bit of IL2 Hyperlobby back when Lomac was a thing. I also did alot of the Jane's games online F-15 F/A-18. I play alot of DCS and FSX still.

I am looking at grabbing this but am not sure what to make of it. When it first came out it got alot of mixed press and I was worried it looked like it was trying to compete with War Thunder. I find games like that to simple and kinda wash out and go back to highly detailed sims.

 

I am seeing people talk about buying more planes? After you buy do you have to purchase all the planes to fly? I also see theres BoS deluxe for $80 USD and a separate Battle of Moscow pack? Do you get BoM with BoS deluxe or is it another $50 USD?

 

Thanks for any help!

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

Start with BOS it's​ very cheap now ~ 20$ (I have store link for 50 PLN)and have best dogfighting​ planes. Access to all maps is free.

Edited April 3, 2017 by 307_Tomcat

[Lusekofte]

This is basicly old IL 2 FB in modern clothing, A tad more difficult to taxi, takeoff and land, better graphics . But the rest is pretty straight forward. It is a must if you are in to WW2 CFS , 

Edited April 3, 2017 by 216th_LuseKofte

[Hawk777th]

Ok Thanks!

 

I see its like $60 on Steam right now and theres a coupon here for the extra planes on the forums...?

 

What does buying the expansions net you? Just the planes and maps in SP?

Edited April 3, 2017 by Hawk777th

[Lusekofte]

The BOM give you JU 88, I 16, P 40, BF 109 E7, BF 110, And MIG 3 and the ability to fly Moscow map offline, you will be able to fly Moscow online if you do not buy it. BOK is Kuban map witch you will be able to fly online if you do not buy it, but it brings 110G2 , HE 111 H16, A 20, P 39, FW 190 A5 

[Guest deleted@50488]

I would just like to add that the IL-2 Battle of Series provided me with the most advanced and closer to real sensation of flight ever provided by any flight simulator I have used.

 

I fly for real too, for more than 36 yrs now, and I use other sims ( see my Sig, although it lacks a mention to the recently released FSLabs A320 which "forced" me to buy the monthly P3D licenses ..., and I used almost every version of X-Plane too.., DCS World... ).

 

Then, the support provided by 1C / 777 is, IMO, 2nd to none. I simply can't find any other developer offering their user community such a permament ( I'd say weekly ... ) support, updates, fine tunning. It's exemplar!

 

Even if I don't like air combat, I can't really give up playing IL-2 just for the sake of feeling so so close to my preferred state of leaving - above ground level :-)

[JG4_Sputnik]

777 is a good company, trustworthy and develops with heart.

Also a fair price model imho. 

 

The Sim is good and the FM's are believable in the most parts (and getting improved still). 

It has a good balance between "Game" and "Hardcore Sim", maybe the best out there. Which could be also its weakness since some simers don't enjoy the "game" aspect that much in a Sim (which is the layout of the offline mission and the lack of some features for Bomber pilots/navigation etc.)

 

I think if you are looking for sophisticated online Dogfights, Il2BoS is the Sim to go at the moment. Only if you don't like Eastern Front you might be better off with CloD. If you are looking for "Historical entertainment" down to the last screw, there are other Sims out there.

My suggestion would be to buy BoS and if you like it go from there. If you are like me, buy all the WW2 Sims out there and enjoy them for their different strengths.

Cheers and welcome to the community.

[Solmyr]

 

 

I was worried it looked like it was trying to compete with War Thunder

 

 

I strongly doubt that such an idea could be in the devs' minds... Nah, those titles aren't in the same world. Nor their respective customers, mostly. 

[Hawk777th]

I would just like to add that the IL-2 Battle of Series provided me with the most advanced and closer to real sensation of flight ever provided by any flight simulator I have used.

 

I fly for real too, for more than 36 yrs now, and I use other sims ( see my Sig, although it lacks a mention to the recently released FSLabs A320 which "forced" me to buy the monthly P3D licenses ..., and I used almost every version of X-Plane too.., DCS World... ).

 

Then, the support provided by 1C / 777 is, IMO, 2nd to none. I simply can't find any other developer offering their user community such a permament ( I'd say weekly ... ) support, updates, fine tunning. It's exemplar!

 

Even if I don't like air combat, I can't really give up playing IL-2 just for the sake of feeling so so close to my preferred state of leaving - above ground level :-)

Thanks for the kind words guys! I grabbed BoS its downloading right now. I am a pilot in RL aswell. 

 

I usually use PMDG stuff on FSX and I have almost all the Modules in DCS. I would love to get that A320 sim but thier Concorde sim is still massive for me!

 

That being said I almost joined a squad on DCS but its just to serious almost now that I have other time commitments. I am kinda waiting for F/A-18 module then might get serious with that haha! I do very much miss flying on Hyperlobby with F/A-18 and IL2 some great memories and friends I met on there. I miss when flight sims weren't such a niche thing. But looking back I guess the 40 people on busy nights on HL wasn't huge either LOL! I even flew back when JCN was a thing on F15. I remember my friends were busy playing Mario and I was dropping some MK 82s on a Sam site!

 

Ya it was back in about 2013 I was looking at IL2 BoS and kinda thought that after reading some bad info. I just cant get into the crazy arcade shooting games. I am very excited to try this new sim out. Guess I was missing out.

 

Hope to see some of you guys online!

Edited April 3, 2017 by Hawk777th

[Solmyr]

Welcome !!

 

For sure BoX isn't a "crazy arcade shooting game". 

[Hawk777th]

Just flew first mission in 109 got two kills! Totally in love will have to grab the expansions for sure! Wish I would have bought this long ago!

[sinned]

Welcome - if you like bombing missions, try JU88. it's a very nice plane - superseding He111

 

If you like progressing campaigns, you can find some in multiplayers where what you do this mission makes difference for progress and next missions.

 

See you in the skies.  

[Hawk777th]

Thanks Sin! I just started gotta get planes unlocked for the SP. 

 

Hilariously on first mission on second kill I rolled underneath and away from him after kill. I kept flying away and somehow he managed to ram me and take my wing off from the grave! 

 

Think I will get the ropes and get my Trackir profile setup before I get online or I am will be a hazard lol!

[Scojo]

Absolutely

[ShamrockOneFive]

IL-2: BoS has evolved and surpassed nearly all of the initial issues that the series had. If you like it a lot then Battle of Moscow is the next follow up and we're in early access mode for Battle of Kuban which is shaping up to be one heck of a release!

[Lusekofte]

 

 

I strongly doubt that such an idea could be in the devs' minds... Nah, those titles aren't in the same world. Nor their respective customers, mostly. 

 

Personally I think they tryed to find a middle-way , They wanted to make something WT pilots could be atracted to and manage to convert to without too much much difficulty, and at the same time stay true towards the original IL 2 and its users. They got a lot of beating from the community, especially from old IL 2 community, that is not known to be the easiest to please. 

Finally after al this time, peoples negative assumption and judgement has been silenced, I actually believe 777 have proven their point, they have continued despite the way they where treated and look at what we got, not only more simulators. We got good competition to the Warthog, from Virpil and VKB , We got cometition on hardware to use, after a long downward course , it seeme to go upwards. I think we can thank 777 for this. And that bring a great deal of gratefulness to my hart

[Guest deleted@30725]

The game has advance flight models, but no clickable pits like DCS. Advanced engine management and stuff you can click in DCS is done by key presses in Il2 bos.

 

You can play this game like warthunder if you wish. There is a pure mouse mode, you can turn on aiming help, simplify the physics, the forces acting on the plane to make it easier to fly, enable automatic engine management, unlimited ammo, unbreakable, turn labels on and a few other aids. This is similar to what you can do in DCS as that has game mode, labels and other similar features that make initially getting into the game easier. There is some kind of reward in Il2 to navigating through the wilderness using the fantastic in-game maps, finding your target whether bombs or planes, keeping you plane from blowing itself up, staying in one piece and then getting back to base without putting your nose into the runway. I've had times when I've gotten lost in a map, desperately looking for any signs of a runway, hopelessly confused where I am on the map, looking for landmarks knowing that I could just re-set, but enjoying the challenge of finding my way home. Sometimes this experience in Il2 is just as fun as dropping bombs or tangling with fighters and puts you in mind of those poor pilots who did get lost for one reason or another.

 

I came from this game from DCS as well. I actually thought I was going to be able to click everything like DCS from the way people made videos, but it was not to be. It was one of the first games I decided to jump into the open beta and put money down for. I never pre-order games. From the first moment I loaded the game, sat on the runway with the engine off I knew there was something different, I almost felt like part of the war. The engine fired up, I could see the plane shaking at it felt alive in some way.

 

Right now the game is at a good point. The way the planes feel, the sounds and the feeling of flying is some of the best I have tried. The atmosphere. I enjoyed learning the different planes and the new settings. The AI better, the single player campaign has improved. Multiplayer is a blast either in the easier servers or the harder ones. Complex engine management, stalls, good damage modelling, multi crew, some tanks. It's all here in this combat flight sim.

 

I've tried going back to DCS, I failed to find it as good. I also shrink at the cost when I have so much content on off in this game for so much less money. I tried playing Il2 clod more, but I came back to Il2 bos. Something about this game. It's far from perfect, but the devs keep working on the game and keep a dialogue with the players.

 

Unlocks have been unlocked, the AI has been improved, the fw190 fm has been updated. The players have made lots of reasonable, loud demands and the the devs have attempted to listen and implement correct changes to their game.

 

 

 

 

EDIT - One thing HerrMurf reminded me of is that the AI use the same flight model as us human players meaning you won't be in that annoying situation in DCS where you're shooting thousands of rounds at your enemy AI in training, it's not going down. You run out of ammo. It lands, the engine turns off and you see the prop it broken! You can actually train with the AI in Il2 and have some kind of realistic battle.

Edited April 3, 2017 by deleted@30725

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Bunny, I agree with everything except the ability to "dumb down" the FM. I don't think that is accurate. Everyone including the AI use the same FM as I understand it.

 

Back on topic - there were a few unwelcome Dev decisions in EA but they have mostly been worked out. This team and title are an outstanding combination now. The game is well worth the expense. I have no reservations about telling anyone who asks to dive in with both feet.

[=FEW=Hauggy]

Okay where should I start?

First the negative points (that's my own opinion):

-The orgy of default skins that don't really fit with the Eastern Front (North African theater- Sicily - Western Front - Pacific etc)

-The lack of optimisation leading to very limited creative choices for map makers ( buildings are often removed to avoid lag, interactions between ground units and large concentrations of ground units are quite absent because of that)

-The online servers ( Issues with the stats no big deal here since there are alternatives in the shape of independant websites for stats tracking - sometimes you can have some nasty server lag but it's not happening often because mappers are trying to be careful as I mentionned above - there  is no queing system so when a server restarts you will find yourself trying to log to a servers several times and it can be annoying if you are not patient)

-The current P-40E-1 engine seems to be underperforming a lot when looking at historical USAAF data and it's really challenging to get the attention of the devs in order to get that changed since they want to stick with a russian manual that is probably inaccurate, you will see that there is a debate going on.

-The lack of I-153!!!

 

Then the positive points:

-A very immersive environment (lots of different types of ground units, carefully chosen planes, maps, different weathers and possible types of missions - add on maps became free so the community stay together it's at least true for Battle of Moscow that was released earlier)

-A good variety of planes and the possibility to use custom skins (now 4k skins)

-Constant improvements being brought to the game and devs that seem to be quite attentive to what the players want and have to tell them.

-A rather cheap price (compared to another sim you may know that cost an arm and is barely about to make a map on which 2 planes can fit on a historical level) for an overall great flying experience, epic air combat and breathtaking graphics, also there are discounts on a regular basis.

-A cooperative team of professionals thanks to whom Team Fusion is now progressing faster towards a Battle of Tobruck DLC for Cliffs of Dover and lots of improvements, thus bringing the potential of this gem to a whole different level.

-A great community of dedicated pilots and historians.

-The Ju-52 was made after the community requested it!!!

 

You may miss the button clicking simulator for a while but then you will probably fall in love with the environment, the athmosphere and the graphics like I did.

You deserve to join us and have a good time and the devs deserve your financial support to go further and improve this great sim.

 

In conclusion I think it's more than worth it and seeing the progress that was already made I'm very optimistic for the future of this sim and it's sucessors.

Edited April 3, 2017 by =FEW=Hauggy

[Guest deleted@30725]

Bunny, I agree with everything except the ability to "dumb down" the FM. I don't think that is accurate. Everyone including the AI use the same FM as I understand it.

 

Back on topic - there were a few unwelcome Dev decisions in EA but they have mostly been worked out. This team and title are an outstanding combination now. The game is well worth the expense. I have no reservations about telling anyone who asks to dive in with both feet.

 

No problem. I've edited the post. I made a mistake. I thought simplified physics was simplified flight model as I was writing it.

Edited April 3, 2017 by deleted@30725

[Hawk777th]

Thanks guys!

 

I was very happy with RoF from 777. I kinda bought it on a whim sale and got hooked!

 

What on earth is the JU52 used for?

 

Ya the DCS thing drives me nuts with the AI. I love how they just go land like no problem with the tail shot off! It takes all the fun out when you use all ur ammo and the plane is missing half the control surfaces and just flies on like nice try!

 

The damage model in this seems amazing. I had that mid air last night and it tore the wing off right where it hit and plane acted pretty realistically.

Edited April 3, 2017 by Hawk777th

[Mac_Messer]

I find BoS to be a nice blend between WT and DCS. Sure, DCS might have been as good as BoS if it did have the historical background BoS has, but it will never happen.

[Lusekofte]

 

 

What on earth is the JU52 used for?

 

 

You use triggers in missions that get set off by Paratroopers or cargo drop, or simply landing . Quite cool plane to own and fly

[Hawk777th]

I had a few questions on the settings on the game.

 

I am playing on Normal just to get the hang of it and it seems the prop pitch rads and mixture are all auto controlled. It seems I am not being allowed to trim the A/C? Is this cause I am playing on Normal?

 

Is there a way to pick and chose what assists are on or off?

[ShamrockOneFive]

I had a few questions on the settings on the game.

 

I am playing on Normal just to get the hang of it and it seems the prop pitch rads and mixture are all auto controlled. It seems I am not being allowed to trim the A/C? Is this cause I am playing on Normal?

 

Is there a way to pick and chose what assists are on or off?

 

Yep that's because you're on normal. You can turn on/off the automatic settings (Check your keybindings in the controls) and control manually if you want but by default the Normal mode simplifies those things somewhat.

 

Expert takes it off.

 

Right now I don't think there is a good Custom option. I can't remember if that is in the roadmap but the devs have been working towards reintroducing more custom options again.

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

All of those things are plane specific. The German fighters are historically very automated and lack adjustable trim for the period. The Allied AC are much more labor intensive and have some level of trimming. Normal may automate some functions for Allied AC but I don't fly them so I'm not sure.

[ShoeHash]

IL-2 was always an underdog. At first DCS/LOMAC had better graphics, it even trounced the re-release of Advanced Tactical Fighters (Dubbed USAF Fighters iirc) which had better graphics than that.

But they kept updating, and updating. Honestly I was with them the whole ride to 1946. I even bought several copies of the game because I believed in the devs that much. They surpassed DCS and any other WW2 flightsim that had come before it.

By the time I got to ROF I realized one thing. A track IR was needed. Simply couldn't get online and compete with people who had one while I had but 1 hat switch to use.

I also hated, hated, hated how ROF's sales model was driven. Pay to play, and not just a hundred, but several hundred dollars to max out the game. Which is all anyone wants. Once the game is maxed out for everyone then we can start to really work on balance and game play. Things required for a triple A title. But that's my trip, man. Why force people to buy something that isn't real and won't exist ten years from now when computers are better?

To be honest, I hadn't realized Battle of Stalingrad had even released, that's how little press it got. War Thunder has every third ad on Facebook booked. But this isn't that type of game.

I am also happy to report I'll be flying online with everyone as soon as the VR implementation is finished. I have a 600 dollar track IR strapped to my face now, and I don't get motion sick/airsick. I'm honestly going to play until either have vertigo, or my body so absorbs the experience I can no longer sense the controllers in my hands, as my brain has mitigated all thought to being an airplane.

Getting into this game was a significant investment. But it is one that I believe was worth it.  

[Hawk777th]

Thanks. Ya I have the 109 on DCS its nice mixture and that is controlled by fuel injection but I know it still does have pitch trim. Maybe the early ones didnt idk. 

 

Do you know what settings I am looking at in option for key mapping for the automated stuff?

Edited April 4, 2017 by Hawk777th

[RobCarter3]

Thanks. Ya I have the 109 on DCS its nice mixture and that is controlled by fuel injection but I know it still does have pitch trim. Maybe the early ones didnt idk. 

 

Do you know what settings I am looking at in option for key mapping for the automated stuff?

 

The 109s and 190s have an adjustable horizontal stabilizer that functions like pitch trim, but needs to be mapped separately in the controls.

 

I don't remember which does which, but "Shift + N", "Shift + M", and "Shift + R" turns off all the automated engine management by default. You can map these in the "engine controls" section.

 

Edit: by "automated engine management" I mean the normal mode assists -- your Bf 109s will still have their automatic mixture, prop pitch, radiators (unless you're in the E-7), etc.

Edited April 4, 2017 by RobCarter3

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

You can map multiple things to a single key as well. Map your elevator trim, horizontal stab and 190 stab to the same hat or axis. They are different inputs in game but it simplifies your cockpit load if you map all three to the same input.

[Hawk777th]

Ok I will do that thanks!

 

What is a good online server to play on if I am new?

[[310th]310thCopperhead]

So if i'm seing this right....if i buy all the current avalible ver. I still wont own ALL the planes that are avalible. even after buying extra planes?

There are some "collector" planes that arent aavlible anymore?

[Hawk777th]

So if i'm seing this right....if i buy all the current avalible ver. I still wont own ALL the planes that are avalible. even after buying extra planes?

There are some "collector" planes that arent aavlible anymore?

 

 

No you can get the planes in the store if they dont come with the game.

 

I think what I am running into is I had someone reach out to me that saw these posts and sell me a key that is the starter edition and its locked cause I didnt know any better. Not sure if I can upgrade it or what lol.

Edited April 4, 2017 by Hawk777th

[SAG]

No you can get the planes in the store if they dont come with the game.

 

I think what I am running into is I had someone reach out to me that saw these posts and sell me a key that is the starter edition and its locked cause I didnt know any better. Not sure if I can upgrade it or what lol.

 

you cant upgrade, unlucky you that were sold a "basic" russian exclusive version. did you buy through G2A by any chance?

[Hawk777th]

No I used paypal and he sent me one. Figured it was to good to be true.

 

Guess I will grab it on Steam haha.

Edited April 4, 2017 by Hawk777th

[Dakpilot]

So if i'm seing this right....if i buy all the current avalible ver. I still wont own ALL the planes that are avalible. even after buying extra planes?

There are some "collector" planes that arent aavlible anymore?

 

The wording is somewhat confusing..The "Premium edition" (BoS/BoM/BoK) is the full module, it includes 10 aircraft and the maps

 

 

The "Standard edition" includes 8 aircraft and maps but is a bit cheaper and allows a 'budget' entry to the series, later you can purchase the missing aircraft separately in "collector planes" section of store

 

Currently there are Two "collector" planes the JU-52 and Yak-1b which are not included in any of the Modules and are optional to purchase separately, these were 'community requested' and created/added when Dev's had some spare time between modules

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[Dakpilot]

Thanks. Ya I have the 109 on DCS its nice mixture and that is controlled by fuel injection but I know it still does have pitch trim. Maybe the early ones didnt idk. 

 

Do you know what settings I am looking at in option for key mapping for the automated stuff?

 

Although there is only "Expert and Normal" choices for settings everything in Normal that is a 'helper' can be turned off giving the same experience as expert, however you could leave on say 'external views' in normal, thus normal is also custom

 

It is worth downloading the Manual here

 

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/17572-il2-user-manual/

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[Hawk777th]

Thanks Dak!

 

Is it to late to get BoK early?

Edited April 4, 2017 by Hawk777th

[Dakpilot]

Still currently available in early access at 'Cheaper price' with exciting things being added regularly, "highlights" (depending on preference) of Spitfire, P-39, Hs-129, and A-20 coming soonish

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[Boris_Putz]

Hi. I'm new here and have a similar question to OP. I've been playing ED for a couple years and got into VR. I recently heard about VR coming to BoX, so I'm definitely looking for a change.

 

My question is whether BoS, BoM, and BoK are essentially the same game, but with different planes and maps? Or does BoM have big improvements over BoS, and will BoK have big improvements over BoM? I get the impression that updates see to apply to all versions, and if they are essentially the same, then I'll start with BoS and go from there.

 

Thanks.