Benchmark Multiplayer Readiness

[Brimstone]

Hello everyone,

 

I am looking to start going on multiplayer.

 

I have flown in it once when I thought I would be okay but was nearly instantly shot down.

 

How can I measure in singleplayer my readiness for multiplayer? I don't want to go online and drag down whichever side I play on or get frustrated because I keep getting shot down and not know why.

 

Thanks in advance!

-VF

[SCG_Tzigy]

seriously, u ll be fine, talk to to peeps, chat or TS, almost always someone that will help u out, fly with u etc.

Edited May 17, 2017 by 5./ZG1_Tzigy

[FTC_Etherlight]

Phew, I'd say if you can reliably taxi to the runway, take off and land without creating a fireball on the runway and are able to shoot down AI in Quick missions, then you're instantly in the mediocre skill bracket. ^^ If you're comfortable with the game, just do it. Maybe get on teamspeak with a few people, you'll always learn faster in a group. Have fun!

[Jade_Monkey]

Just do it!

 

Be ready to flget shot down many many times. it's just part of the learning process.

 

Like Etherlight said. If you can taxi, take off, land and maybe shoot down some ai you will be fine.

 

You will definitely not drag anyone down in servers like Wings of Liberty.

[Finkeren]

Just get started.

 

If you just set your expectations at a realistic level, you'll have a great time. Expect it to take a while before you achieve your first kill/succesful bombing and treat every flight where you land safely as a huge victory. Survival should always be your main priority.

 

Also: make sure to read the rules and mission describtion of the server all the way through to know how to behave and how you can be useful for your team.

 

Finally: If you've got a functioning mic, get on TeamSpeak. Lots of friendly folks there, who are ready to help out a newbie.

[=EXPEND=Capt_Yorkshire]

get stuck in and kill everybody, its great

[JG13_opcode]

How can I measure in singleplayer my readiness for multiplayer? I don't want to go online and drag down whichever side I play on or get frustrated because I keep getting shot down and not know why.

 

You can't.  The AI will never be the same as a human.  Singleplayer will never prepare you to be competitive online and anyone who tells you different is lying.

 

Just jump online and fly with discipline, join a squad or something, and you'll learn.

Edited May 17, 2017 by JG13_opcode

[216th_Jordan]

Situations online can be very different - you can meet highly skilled aces that will bring you down before you even saw them coming and you will meet people who try to shoot you down for minutes without luck and that you will eventually shoot down.

 

It's really a whole spectrum of skills and situations that can happen to you. There is no entry level for multiplayer, just give it a try and see what works best for you. If you want to train your shooting/dogfighting and IDing then go to berloga server (everybody gets shot down there all the time). There is one normal server with labels on but almost all others are without labels. If you want to try without labels and do 'normal' missions then you could start with the wings of liberty server. There are a couple of other nice little servers too that are worth a look.

[JimTM]

Here are some survival tips that you can practice in SP or while you are gaining MP experience.

 

- For expert servers, like Wings of Liberty, get comfortable with taxiing and engine management.

 

- Check out the dogfighting tips in the IL-2 Sturmovik Wiki.

 

- If you can help it, never go near another plane until you have an altitude advantage on them or you have identified them as friendly.

 

- Practice spotting planes, identifying friendly from enemy planes, and keeping the enemy in sight ("lose sight, lose the fight").

 

- If an enemy is diving on you, fly up to meet them (as demonstrated in this video) and also try to fly toward friendly planes that are higher than you (this is easy to do with "icons on" dogfight servers).

  You can mix it up, that is, fly towards safety while the enemy is climbing up and then turn to meet them when they dive.

 

- Learn to fly your plane to the limit while looking to your 6 o'clock.

 

- Try to fly with other friendly planes and use some of these tactics.

 

Hope these tips help you out in MP.

 

Good luck!

Edited May 17, 2017 by JimTM

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Initially, stay fast and avoid turn fights. Surviving early MP missions is a bigger indication of success than any kind of a score.

[Brimstone]

-snipped picture-

seriously, u ll be fine, talk to to peeps, chat or TS, almost always someone that will help u out, fly with u etc.

 

 

Phew, I'd say if you can reliably taxi to the runway, take off and land without creating a fireball on the runway and are able to shoot down AI in Quick missions, then you're instantly in the mediocre skill bracket. ^^ If you're comfortable with the game, just do it. Maybe get on teamspeak with a few people, you'll always learn faster in a group. Have fun!

Thanks for indicating skillsets, I can take off and land okayish but definitely should practice groundwork before going on multiplayer. I definitely can take down AI.

 

Just do it!

 

Be ready to flget shot down many many times. it's just part of the learning process.

 

Like Etherlight said. If you can taxi, take off, land and maybe shoot down some ai you will be fine.

 

You will definitely not drag anyone down in servers like Wings of Liberty.

 

 

Just get started.

 

If you just set your expectations at a realistic level, you'll have a great time. Expect it to take a while before you achieve your first kill/succesful bombing and treat every flight where you land safely as a huge victory. Survival should always be your main priority.

 

Also: make sure to read the rules and mission describtion of the server all the way through to know how to behave and how you can be useful for your team.

 

Finally: If you've got a functioning mic, get on TeamSpeak. Lots of friendly folks there, who are ready to help out a newbie.

 

 

get stuck in and kill everybody, its great

 

I get the idea I should just go ahead and practice, will do so.

 

You can't.  The AI will never be the same as a human.  Singleplayer will never prepare you to be competitive online and anyone who tells you different is lying.

 

Just jump online and fly with discipline, join a squad or something, and you'll learn.

 

 

Situations online can be very different - you can meet highly skilled aces that will bring you down before you even saw them coming and you will meet people who try to shoot you down for minutes without luck and that you will eventually shoot down.

 

It's really a whole spectrum of skills and situations that can happen to you. There is no entry level for multiplayer, just give it a try and see what works best for you. If you want to train your shooting/dogfighting and IDing then go to berloga server (everybody gets shot down there all the time). There is one normal server with labels on but almost all others are without labels. If you want to try without labels and do 'normal' missions then you could start with the wings of liberty server. There are a couple of other nice little servers too that are worth a look.

 

 

Here are some survival tips that you can practice in SP or while you are gaining MP experience.

 

- For expert servers, like Wings of Liberty, get comfortable with taxiing and engine management.

 

- Check out the dogfighting tips in the IL-2 Sturmovik Wiki.

 

- If you can help it, never go near another plane until you have an altitude advantage on them or you have identified them as friendly.

 

- Practice spotting planes, identifying friendly from enemy planes, and keeping the enemy in sight ("lose sight, lose the fight").

 

- If an enemy is diving on you, fly up to meet them (as demonstrated in this video) and also try to fly toward friendly planes that are higher than you (this is easy to do with "icons on" dogfight servers).

  You can mix it up, that is, fly towards safety while the enemy is climbing up and then turn to meet them when they dive.

 

- Learn to fly your plane to the limit while looking to your 6 o'clock.

 

- Try to fly with other friendly planes and use some of these tactics.

 

Hope these tips help you out in MP.

 

Good luck!

Pleasantly surprised that in watching Sheriff and Bismarck and all of Requiem's stuff that I know a lot more than these, I should be okay then.

[Guest deleted@30725]

Hello everyone,

 

I am looking to start going on multiplayer.

 

I have flown in it once when I thought I would be okay but was nearly instantly shot down.

 

How can I measure in singleplayer my readiness for multiplayer? I don't want to go online and drag down whichever side I play on or get frustrated because I keep getting shot down and not know why.

 

Thanks in advance!

-VF

 

This sounds normal. The more you get shot down, the more you start to learn why and you can learn what they do and what you do wrong. Gradually you will follow their tactics and use it against them. Seat time is only way to learn. Can read manuals, books and guides for ages, but flying it what you need to do and getting shot down is part of the learning curve.

[Ghost666]

AS the above say. except don't worry to much about learning to land. No need, for at least the first month or two on MP.  

[Beazil]

Teamspeak.  Get it.  Use it.  Profit.

 

Join the official TS for BOX and choose allied or axis and win.

 

Or look for a squad to join.  There is no barometer of readiness for multi play, other than being a good sport (helps alot, but not necessary.)

 

People are pretty friendly either way.  Just learn some TS etiquette (listen for breaks in the convo when you have a question if the others are in combat, for example, and wait for it to finish).

Ai is one thing, but people are very unpredictable.  Sometimes easier than AI, but usually much harder.  (Ai is fun to play against though!)

[=TBAS=Sshadow14]

Always Trust In You Wasabi.
 

[=EXPEND=Dendro]

Just smash it. When you get your first kill you will never look back.

 

Oh.... and join Yorkshire, Trip and myself on BoS Teamspeak. I'll be happy to walk you through stuff.

Edited May 18, 2017 by JG19_DendroAspis

[A_radek]

Don't worry about the prestige of stats or making yourself useful. Jump in and have fun.

 

I also recommend joining a medium difficulty server for some fighter practice. The pilots there are not less skilled, but the instant furballs will give you lot's of gunnery and maneuvering practice against human opponent in a very short amount of time. Full real servers are much slower paced, but ad the dimensions of proper tactics, suspense and mission goals. Making you feel as you are there and your life matters.

 

Also don't get stuck flying only your favorite ac. Learn to master as many as possible, and this takes time.

[=EXPEND=Dendro]

Don't worry about the prestige of stats or making yourself useful. Jump in and have fun.

 

I also recommend joining a medium difficulty server for some fighter practice. The pilots there are not less skilled, but the instant furballs will give you lot's of gunnery and maneuvering practice against human opponent in a very short amount of time. Full real servers are much slower paced, but ad the dimensions of proper tactics, suspense and mission goals. Making you feel as you are there and your life matters.

 

Also don't get stuck flying only your favorite ac. Learn to master as many as possible, and this takes time.

This

 

Berloga Dogfight server..... priceless experience. Go in and get shot down within seconds. Then as if by miracle you will get a kill. Then one day you will get a few situations where you get 3-4 kills, run out of ammo and fuel and have to restart.... finally you are getting on top of things.

[Brimstone]

Berloga DF server is a good choice. The most important thing to do is to start 1 v 1 training, there's an area dedicated just for duels on Berloga. That's by far the most effective way to improve your skill. Both start at the same altitude and speed, so it comes down to the pilot's ability. Just ask someone for a duel and prepare to get shot down. Don't get frustrated, there are some very competent pilots flying online. Remember that they also had to start somewhere. The only way to learn is to make mistakes; record your fights and try to understand where you made a mistake and maybe try to replicate what the enemy pilot did. If you take this approach and keep your cool, you'll start improving, but remember, it takes time. 

 

Also casual furballing is a great way to improve gunnery and defensive maneuvers, definitely practise those alongside with 1 v 1 training.

 

Flying with a friend/squad on Full Real servers such as WoL sure is fun, but like others said they are much slower paced and thus give you much less practise. And think about it, bouncing lone wolfers with a squad isn't really that challenging. So what I'm suggesting is that you start off by practising 1 on 1 duels and when you've gathered some experience then head to full real servers. 

I may try this, though in theory shouldn't I always attack with advantage, avoid with neutral, and never with disadvantage? 1v1 will come down to pilot skill to an extent but depending on the planes and the altitude and speed initiated at, it may just be that one person has the better plane for the job.

[JimTM]

I may try this, though in theory shouldn't I always attack with advantage, avoid with neutral, and never with disadvantage? 1v1 will come down to pilot skill to an extent but depending on the planes and the altitude and speed initiated at, it may just be that one person has the better plane for the job.

 

You should always try to start with an advantage, but sometimes you are stuck with a bad situation where only a mistake by the enemy pilot will save you. It's good to practice using your plane's strengths to try to force an error. For example, use the I-16s turning ability to try to get a 109 into a turn fight with you and bleed energy.

[Brimstone]

make the first pass without shooting and its on like donkey kong. 

Awww, but it's so much fun when the enemy misses and I get headshots (wing root, pilot, fire) everywhere on the initial pass

[Brimstone]

Or, both are heavily damaged and have to limp back home like 99.9% of time. 

 

Btw, that's usually a sign of a competent pilot when he avoids the head-on spray and goes for the maneuver kill.

Just got back from Berloga... Only problem is that there were too many planes and my FPS made it too hard to keep up with the action. Was okay for the first half an hour though.

[Gambit21]

Btw, that's usually a sign of a competent pilot when he avoids the head-on spray and goes for the maneuver kill.

On the other hand there's a way to set up a facial that doesn't expose you to the other guy's shots.

Duck to his 'cold' side (low) then pop up and give him some crap to fly through.

 

That's the sign of a competent pilot as well.

[Brimstone]

On the other hand there's a way to set up a facial that doesn't expose you to the other guy's shots.

Duck to his 'cold' side (low) then pop up and give him some crap to fly through.

 

That's the sign of a competent pilot as well.

I have done more than a numerous amount of "facials" where I was a bit aside and did hard rudder moves to slide and get shots, then return to my original course. (in certain positions where the enemy was unable to do likewise.)

[JG13_opcode]

Berloga DF server is a good choice. The most important thing to do is to start 1 v 1 training, there's an area dedicated just for duels on Berloga. That's by far the most effective way to improve your skill. Both start at the same altitude and speed, so it comes down to the pilot's ability. Just ask someone for a duel and prepare to get shot down. Don't get frustrated, there are some very competent pilots flying online. Remember that they also had to start somewhere. The only way to learn is to make mistakes; record your fights and try to understand where you made a mistake and maybe try to replicate what the enemy pilot did. If you take this approach and keep your cool, you'll start improving, but remember, it takes time. 

 

Also casual furballing is a great way to improve gunnery and defensive maneuvers, definitely practise those alongside with 1 v 1 training.

 

Flying with a friend/squad on Full Real servers such as WoL sure is fun, but like others said they are much slower paced and thus give you much less practise. And think about it, bouncing lone wolfers with a squad isn't really that challenging. So what I'm suggesting is that you start off by practising 1 on 1 duels and when you've gathered some experience then head to full real servers. 

 

 

I find the hard part of Berloga (aside from the insane lag/ping from Canada) is that it's often very difficult to determine where you went wrong.

 

As a beginner I avoided 1v1 duels (and kinda still do) because I don't learn from them.  To learn you have to be able to detect your mistake and then try to avoid making it next time, and highlighting those teachable moments is one thing most flight sims are awful at doing, including this one.

 

I wish I had a solution but I don't.  Maybe we need a "critique my tacview recording" thread, once tacview support matures a little more.

Edited May 18, 2017 by JG13_opcode

[Brimstone]

I wish I had a solution but I don't.  Maybe we need a "critique my tacview recording" thread, once tacview support matures a little more.

I actually originally planned to make this post a "Review My Flight" with a video of me against AI because I kept getting shot down and didn't know what I was doing wrong. I found my problem though, I was doing 1v4 hehe... I figured out that was my problem, and decided the best solution was to try again. I did so and then started winning 40% of those 1v4s.

 

I think it would be best if I flew with an experienced pilot and such; but I'm still not comfortable with the idea of getting on TS or whatever and talking with people.

Edited May 19, 2017 by VinylFlyer

[Flitgun]

...

 

I think it would be best if I flew with an experienced pilot and such; but I'm still not comfortable with the idea of getting on TS or whatever and talking with people.

 

I would like to encourage you to bite that bullet and do it anyway. You will soon get comfortable. Voice comms adds a LOT to the game and I am of the opinion the game (MP) cannot be played effectively without it. I don't mean TS with several drunks who can't stfu, I mean tactical voice comms with persons you are flying with.