Is there in-game tutorial?

[beavisCZ]

Hello,

I bought BOS + BOM and I want to play singleplayer campaigns. I have Saitek X52 joystick but I'm unable to take of in first mission.

 

1) Is there any in-game tutorial or at least manual?

 

2) I dont know where key for flaps is. I tried F but it changes by percentage and still I have warning to retract flaps.

 

3) What is difference in campaign mode when selecting airfiled? one has little target, other dont. On first I have some story text, on other I can chose from different airplanes. Could someone explain?

 

I must admit I'm quite lost. I played Wings of Prey few years back and there was tutorial. I tried today also Cliffs of Dover, but AI is broken and I'm unable to finish tutorial. So please could someone help me with my problems?

 

 

[Wester]

At the time of posting this there is no in-game tutorial,  instead you have the official game manual and numerous user made manuals in this subtopic for specific aircraft's.

There are many YouTube tutorials for aircraft's, I trust you can find those yourself.

 

1) Official Game Manual : https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/17572-il2-user-manual/

 

2)Some planes you must hand crank the flaps (0%-100% percentage) and others have preset settings (landing, take-off, retracted).

I myself rebound all my keys and do not use defaults, but here are defaults for flaps:

Flaps up      -->  LSht + F
Flaps down -->  F

 

 

Default key bindings pdf: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/27994-key-command-list-updated-and-current/?p=448266

Guide for which bindings are most important to you pdf: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/29700-basic-guide-cem-key-mapping-new-starters/

 

 

 

3) From what I understand "little target" continues the campaign story, so that you can unlock the other airfields. Airfields with no "little target" will not continue the story.

 

 

 

 

 

I played Wings of Prey on console many years back, was a terrible experience because the only way to unlock planes in Multiplayer was to get achievements (in multiplayer), but there servers were never populated so it was impossible to play.

Edited December 17, 2017 by 8.8cm-Flak-36

[beavisCZ]

Thank you very much for answering my questions. So it will be quite difficult path to learn all on my own. I will try. Thanks

[SJ_Butcher]

Sadly no... but we need it one...same as scenarios to take off, landing, navigation, etc

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

One of the biggest drawbacks in the sim. I really hope that it will be implemented someday. 

[Wester]

Ahh the old days of the Training tracks:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgvc9AKqxL2C34llpF7sKXig5HDONz91x

[162nd-YU-Markoni]

Thank you very much for answering my questions. So it will be quite difficult path to learn all on my own. I will try. Thanks

It is not so hard as it seams. What i did was, i have printed instructions for take off and i keep it on the wall behind my monitor. That way i can see the instructions for take off and landing. I also have a printed photo with labels on instrument panel. I only play expert level.

I also use my laptop and tablet for mission planer. That way i can navigate on expert multiplayer servers.

For example. I put my tablet on the right side and i can look at the map without losing the focus on the situation in the air.

Experiment with mixture and radiators. You will see when the engine overheats.

[Warpig]

It may be a daunting task at first, just learn one plane at a time. Once you learn the systems for one plane, it makes the next even easier.

 

SP is a great place to tinker and learn engine management. You have plenty of time while flying to and from your objectives to test your planes limits.

 

Here is a link to some  very valuable pilot notes that should help you greatly. https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/32596-quick-reference-printout-engine-settings-limits-temps/

Edited December 18, 2017 by Warpig

[Dakpilot]

I would recommend starting learning in the IL-2 it is very forgiving aircraft

 

it may seem boring but a real world approach works, set yourself a simple training programme

 

1. learn to taxi around airport and get to runways (zoom in on pre flight  map for airfield layout and initially use external view to help) Familiarise with basic systems and get mapped to controls 

 

2. Basic takeoff and landing circuits (qmb no weather single flight)

 

3. Basic gunnery and weapons (get mapped to controls) 

 

4. Basic navigation and landing at different airfields

 

5. Advanced flight and Combat missions

 

Do this in QMB on your own, then progress to missions and campaign and repeat for different aircraft

 

as said there is much info in (this) tutorials guides and manuals section

 

As one of my instructors said to me; 

 

How do you eat an Elephant?.....In small bites

 

Cheers,  Dakpilot

[xvii-Dietrich]

Good summary from Dakpilot. I'd add...

 

1a: when taxiing around the airport, make a map.

 

Use external view, get a vantage point and take a screenshot, or make one by hand, or something. Part of the reason that I get into trouble is that I'm a) not sure where the best taxiway is and wander off into a difficult area and b) I'm struggling to navigate and control the aeroplane... reducing the task-overload really helps.

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

I remember that in the ROF they had flying thru circles in the Air ...

 

It was a great idea for new pilot. They should do a Career Mode with GETtING YOUR WINGS: missions specifically designed to learn how to fly and more. (Flying thru circles, shooting at balloons, navegation exercises, etc, etc ,etc)

 

This would make the Sim available to beginners and we would get many more people involved in simulation and .... buying the products 

 

No new players, no long future!

 

Do you guys remember the Tutorial Campaign in the old IL2 1946: Straight from the Farm by Zeus

http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=2147

 

That is the seed idea to emulate but making it much bigger and complete.

Imagine Tutorial parallel campaigns form Blue and RED.

 

You are new recruit in the Jagdfliegerschule and you are about to start a course to become a pilot in the Luftwaffe getting your Certificates and eventually earning your wings .... 

 

with Blacksix's skills, experience and imagination in other Scripted Campaigns, imagine the final product!!!!

My mouth is already watering .... 

 

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81r-STEAiAL.jpg

Edited December 19, 2017 by -=PHX=-Spartan-

[1/JSpan_Wind75]

Hi, The best and fastest way is to learn from others. So my recommendation is that you join a virtual squad. Many squads have schools and give courses to non-initiated. Here you have some virtual flight squads from the Czech Republic, or so I think.

 

http://jg26.achileus.cz/

 

http://312raf.com/

 

http://313.cz/newweb/

 

http://www.no633sqn.estranky.cz/

 

 

If your English is good you can request to enter into the hundreds of other vitual squadrons that you have in this thread of the forum: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/forum/17-virtual-squadrons/

 

I already tell you that it is the easiest and fastest.

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

Well I agree that this is a great way of learning and a lot of fun too but ... before I start, let me just add that I am myself member of a virtual squad and that I have already been in four of them.

 

What about the rest of the players? We are taking for granted that every player wants to play online and maybe that is not true. I myself like both ways, online and offline. We need a way to cover the whole spectrum out there.

 

Furthermore, let me as well tell you some drawbacks of joining a virtual squad. Please, do not take me wrong. I like belonging to a virtual squad but before joining one should know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! 

 

First of all, you are joining a group of people. In many occasions you will be the new kid on the block and it is not easy to integrate in a community with friends they have been flying together for many years.

 

Secondly, you will have to be able to cope with socio-linguistics issues even if you speak the same language. as it will be the case, you will meet people by Team Speak and not face to face. The Internet is full of misunderstandings and people will tend to label you from the very beginning. It is not an easy reality. I have met some members years after and you get always surprised when you confront your expectations.

 

Thirdly, the time issue. Can you be available to fly at the same time and the same days as the rest of the squad members?

 

Fourthly, the philosophy of the squad. Are you aware of that before you join in? Is you squad based on politics or is it biased in any other way? Is it a Coop squad or a Competitions one?

 

And last but not least, the Academy itself. How good would the academy be? Not all pilots can teach. You can be a hotshot but a lousy instructor.

 

As you can see, it is not as easy as it seems.

I would recommend learning with a good tutorial integrated in the game itself before giving the big step of messing with the big boys in the virtual skies. It is bloody high there! 

 

This is just my two cents. 

Edited December 19, 2017 by -=PHX=-Spartan-

[1/JSpan_Wind75]

I agree. I am one that today likes to fly off-line Campaign rather than on-line. But learning only, from the first basic steps as well as which keys are for this or that, makes many get bored and leave. I used to teach the new ones in my time, but of course it was very easy to put you in a slot of the HL, you would throw any map and with TS with external views you would be guided step by step. This here in BoS can not be done unless you have a server of your own.

 

Some Youtube video channels where basic things are taught step by step.

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/RequiemBoS/videos 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgWIRod5I8hE2WUj5kf6cBQ/featured

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEOoU9PxkXEmsFdzrbvx37A

[beavisCZ]

Thanks all for tips. I have one more question. Is there possible to make scripted campaign by users? I read on blogs, that there is some way to make scripted campaigns. It will be great if developers dont want to make tutorial try it in community. I think that 4 mission will be enough like take of, landings, noticing most important aspects like brakes, flaps, engines etc.

[1/JSpan_Wind75]

nd even assemble them as a scripted campaign. There is only one but ... It is not as simple as the one that had the old IL-2. The editor is quite complex, much more than learning to be an ace on airplanes. You have to look in the IL-2 folder The route is usually if you have it purchased in Steam Disk C> Program files (x86)> Steam> steamapps> common> IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad> bin> editor> STEditor. exe

 

Make a direct access to the STEditor.exe desktop and you can see it on your home screen.

 

Screenshots:

 

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/17721-prangsters-il-2-bos-mission-building-guide/

 

Edited December 20, 2017 by 1/JSpan_Guerrero

[Eclipse4349]

One of the biggest drawbacks in the sim. I really hope that it will be implemented someday.

This is absolutely true! I am one of those new players that absolutely loves the concept, the possibilities, and what I have been able to piece together myself so far, with the aid of lots of research. But the motivation to keep at it drops off. They have a great product, but they also made it extremely difficult to enjoy, unless you are already a flight sim veteran. If 1C really wants to see IL-2 take off (no pun intended), they really need to focus on incorporating serious training and orientation into the game itself, step by step. For example, the game doesn't even tell you what the gauges in the cockpit are in your native language. Even something as simple as a labeled diagram or two for each aircraft is somehow overlooked!

 

Is in-game training on the roadmap? I am very happy to see that multiplayer lobby, chat, and coop missions are finally coming - they were sorely needed also. Some actual, complete training on the aircraft and flying would help IL-2 realize its very high potential! It is possibly to do... DCS has pretty good training for their aircraft modules. I hope to see IL-2 follow suit!

Edited December 22, 2017 by Eclipse4349

[Eclipse4349]

Thank you very much for answering my questions. So it will be quite difficult path to learn all on my own. I will try. Thanks

Some very good resources here:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=303117111

[LukeFF]

 

 

Even something as simple as a labeled diagram or two for each aircraft is somehow overlooked!

 

Labeled diagrams are in the official manual. 

[Eclipse4349]

Labeled diagrams are in the official manual.

Are they? I don't remember seeing any when I had looked way back. Maybe they added them later. But still... They should be available in the game. Especially something so simple but also so necessary. The majority of people aren't going to go hunting for a manual online, especially when in game there is no reference made to one even existing. There are a lot of little, easy things that could be done to make this genre much easier for a newcomer to get into than it currently is.

[J37_Spyboy]

Luke FF would know.... he wrote it!!

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

Today I gave a tried to the ROF again. I wanted to fly again the TRAINING CAMPAIGN. This is the idea that should be followed, improved and expanded.

 

I cannot understand that there is no official word about it from the Devs. Why?

Edited January 15, 2018 by -=PHX=-Spartan-

[=OPFR=ColNinny]

There are many good tutorials in the Tutorials section of the forum. I create non-combat tutorials like this one:

 

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=UIiYzkEEE0g Slow Flight - the silent killer

 

You'll also find tuts on taxiing, basic and advanced nav, fuel vs performance, basic instrument flying...

 

You can't use the aircraft as a weapons platform if you can't fly it!

[Eclipse4349]

The community really is great. There is a wealth of information on the web, these forums, and YouTube. With a bit of effort, everything you need is out there. Yes, some little things would be nice to have included in-game, but I realized some time after my post above that the line has to be drawn somewhere. Becoming a proficient virtual pilot will always require education and practice, and guidance from experienced pilots, just as a real student pilot would need.

 

I just watched (well, listened to) the developer Q&A from November yesterday. I didn't realize how small a team is behind BoX. I always knew it was a small team, but now I know it is SMALL. What they have accomplished with such limited staff and resources is truly commendable. And the guys around here who produce some really great training materials are top notch in my book. Thank you all!

Edited February 2, 2018 by Eclipse4349

[racketyjack]

Good thread. I'm just starting myself though I played IL2 for many years. Just bought BoS so getting into the learning curve myself. Thanks for all the tips and suggestions fellas.

[beavisCZ]

So last time I resigned. I installed ROF and finished tutorial campaign and enjoyed it very much. I try it again, because I'm very interested in this game. I chose Yak-1 as my learning aircraft. Today morning I tried to take of, but I dont know where to taxi on airfiled. So now I will watch few youtube videos and then try again and post another questions. I hope that I will take off today.

[Eclipse4349]

Good luck! When I was learning to taxi, my issue was not understanding the Russian braking system. It got much easier once I knew that part!

[beavisCZ]

I looked for some keyboard map for basic keys. I did not found anything, so I made simple layout. Please could someone check if there is all important keys for flying for begginers?

 

[flyingskytro]

Thanks! Reminds me of the boxed version of RoF, where such a diagram was included. Would be cool to have something similar for the advanced users as well (e.g., usage of F10 to set up your default views etc.)

 

 

I looked for some keyboard map for basic keys. I did not found anything, so I made simple layout. Please could someone check if there is all important keys for flying for begginers?

 

 

[beavisCZ]

So it is very difficult for me to even take off. I'm trying to fulfill all tasks as Dakpilot layed out.

1. learn to taxi around airport and get to runways (zoom in on pre flight  map for airfield layout and initially use external view to help) Familiarise with basic systems and get mapped to controls

 

And here a ended.

 

I start engines, unlick tailwheel, add some power to engine and try taxi to runway and then i turn clockwise or other way.

I'm sorry for my stupid questions but I would love to play this game, but it is too difficult for me. I try post video of my attempt here, if someone could explain me what I'm doing wrong. Or post here some links to youtube for taxiing tutorial?

Here is my funny attempt.

 

https://youtu.be/k6swkCHMK8A

[beavisCZ]

Thanks! Reminds me of the boxed version of RoF, where such a diagram was included. Would be cool to have something similar for the advanced users as well (e.g., usage of F10 to set up your default views etc.)

Here is link, where someone more skilled than me could make better keyboard map.

http://www.keyboard-layout-editor.com/#/gists/225d87b79b043c9f55e67d848d8102af

[beavisCZ]

I managed to taxi. My mistake was using left brake and right brake, which does not work on Yak. Now I dont unlock tailwheel and use only rudder and wheelbrake and I was able to taxi to runway and take off. It was first time and it was great.

[Eclipse4349]

I managed to taxi. My mistake was using left brake and right brake, which does not work on Yak. Now I dont unlock tailwheel and use only rudder and wheelbrake and I was able to taxi to runway and take off. It was first time and it was great.

That is exactly how you want to do it - locked tail wheel, and use rudder and brakes to steer. Once you have good control of that, taking sharp corners with the tail wheel unlocked will be easier, but for most cases, just leave it locked. Not all planes have a lockable tail wheel, and some are locked until the rudder controls are pressed passed about halfway, then the tail wheel unlocks. This kind of info is in the specifications pages for the aircraft, by the way. Glad you figured it out! Edited February 24, 2018 by Eclipse4349

[flyingskytro]

I managed to taxi. My mistake was using left brake and right brake, which does not work on Yak. Now I dont unlock tailwheel and use only rudder and wheelbrake and I was able to taxi to runway and take off. It was first time and it was great.

Good! The Yak is a bit dodgy to taxi with the unlocked tailwheel in my opinion. Try to taxi in an Il-2 with an unlocked tailwheel, you'll see that the IL-2 is pretty sluggish compared to the Yak

[beavisCZ]

Hi, I made progress. I'm able to taxi, take off and fly around airfiled. So I tried first campaing mission where I must take off and fly to another airfiled and there land. I always crash. I manage to fly to runway at 200 km/h speed, wheels released, flaps released, but when I touch ground I turn on my nose and damage motor. I would like to train landing, is there any quick way to setup my plane near airfiled in quick mission to train landing? Repeating same mission is quite boring, because it takes around 5 minutes to reach target airfiled.

[Eclipse4349]

Hi, I made progress. I'm able to taxi, take off and fly around airfiled. So I tried first campaing mission where I must take off and fly to another airfiled and there land. I always crash. I manage to fly to runway at 200 km/h speed, wheels released, flaps released, but when I touch ground I turn on my nose and damage motor. I would like to train landing, is there any quick way to setup my plane near airfiled in quick mission to train landing? Repeating same mission is quite boring, because it takes around 5 minutes to reach target airfiled.

This is relatively easy to set up in the mission editor. I had made a landing practice mission that started me in the air at about 1000km and maybe 3000km away from the airfield, more or less pointed right down the runway. That made it much faster to repeatedly practice landings.

 

More than likely you are approaching the runway and then touching down too hard, causing a hard bounce and hitting the prop. Or, you are touching down and braking too hard, causing the plane to nose over.

 

Approach the runway at about 200km/h, gear down and full flaps, close the throttle to zero or as close to it as you can while maintaining 200km/h. Make sure you hold wings level and you aren't slipping sideways. As you reach the runway and are descending down almost to landing, pull back on the stick to level out. You want to end up just above the runway. Cut throttle the rest of the way, and try to maintain flight just above the runway (not gaining altitude) until you lose enough airspeed for the plane to stall and touch down. The stall speed is indicated in the plane's spec page. As long as you were not too far above the runway and your rate of descent was not too high, you should not bounce much.

 

Once you are down, use rudder and tap wheel brakes as needed to keep straight and avoid ground loops as you slow to a stop.

 

Hope that helps!

[beavisCZ]

Please could someone share generated mission for landing training? I tried editor, placed plane on ground, but I'm not able to put it into air, set speed etc. I dont understand, that there is not any training missions by authors.

[Eclipse4349]

There are a couple mission editor guides out there.  You can find these and more by using the search function in the forums here.  I have some very helpful things from the community here and the developer in my OneDrive account:

 

Mission Editor and Multiplayer Server Manual:

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvsT7RSoxuzFuST_HjOo2t5tHSof

 

Prangster's Il-2 BoS Mission Building Guide:

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvsT7RSoxuzFuSKGDpgf1Cas-POw

 

Chuck's Guide - Il-2 BoS

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvsT7RSoxuzFtEHAE95tQtrAOd3k

 

Il-2 BoS User Manual:

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvsT7RSoxuzFt39Llm2YbGN1rSSt

 

For your plane issue, it is pretty easy, once you know a couple things about the editor. Placing an object in the world simply places a static object the will not function at all. It will simply exist, and do nothing. To make it more than an empty parked plane, you need to have it selected and click the "Create Linked Entity" button in it's information panel. 

 

After that, there is an advanced properties tab that you can access by right clicking the plane (and some other way, if memory serves). In that menu, you can set whether it starts on the ground parked, on the runway, or flying. If flying, you can set its altitude and speed, heading, and attitude. There are a lot of other things that can be done also, but this covers what you are asking about. 

 

Good luck!