Multiplayer of Il-2 and its popularity

[5./JG11_Rain]

Hey guys,

I have been flying in Il-2 when it first came out, then I found out the glorious Hypperlobby and its massive community back in the day. I will never forget those days, and couple of thousand flight hours in Bf-109 and Fw-190.

I really miss those days. Thats why I am here. With a few questions for you so I can figure out what I should do.

How many people on average everyday fly?

How many servers are there?

Is there Spits_vs_109 server from warbirdsofprey up? Or what servers are out there and how many people fly there?

Are there mods like what we had back in the day (Ultrapack, HSFX, SAS etc.)?

What edition of the game should I start with? Or is there a complete edition?

Are there full switch servers?

Also how will I run the game with this PC?
I7 3820@3.6ghz
16gb RAM DD3 1600mhz
Asus GTX 970 4GB
Samsung M.2 512 gb
Samsung SSD 950 pro 256 gb

With hopes I will fly again,
Kind regards,
5./JG11_Rain

Edited November 13, 2018 by 5./JG11_Rain

[BubiHUN]

Well, BoS, is a must have, and maybe the best to start with. 

[THERION]

24 minutes ago, 5./JG11_Rain said:

Also how will I run the game with this PC?
I7 3820@3.6ghz
16gb RAM DD3 1600mhz
Asus GTX 970 4GB
Samsung M.2 512 gb
Samsung SSD 950 pro 256 gb

 

Yes, it will run on your system - and quite smoothly, if you don't exaggerate with the graphic settings.

Don't worry, you won't need to play in on Low settings - I have more or less the same specs and I run

it on Ultra settings with a little bit of tuning.

 

Regarding the servers: Well, there is quite a list, but a lot of them are not public (Password needed).

What do you mean with Full Switch? Full realism? Yes, there are some full real servers - good ones.

 

KOTA, WOL, TAW and Finnish to name some are quite populated, depending on daytime / timezone.

 

About mods: There are not many mods at the moment and most of the online servers do not allow

them at the moment.

Edited November 13, 2018 by -IRRE-Therion

[BubiHUN]

If you need some players to gather around and play on KOTA, you can alwas join to our discord server. 
You can find the link on the forum at our main post. 
If you need anything, just let me know, and we will try to figure out something. 

[CountZero]

Hi Rain

 

How many people on average everyday fly?

work days ~200-250 at same time peeking around 20-22h cet, weekends ~300-350

 

How many servers are there?

planty but only ~5-6 get 20+ ppl regulary, max is 84 slots

 

Is there Spits_vs_109 server from warbirdsofprey up?

Or what servers are out there and how many people fly there?

dont see that server here but you have 2-3 servers like that in game

 

Are there mods like what we had back in the day (Ultrapack, HSFX, SAS etc.)?

mods exist but, its not as popular as in 46, most popular servers run vanila game (when you turn mods on you see only servers runing mods)

 

What edition of the game should I start with? Or is there a complete edition?

Battle of Stalingrad, airplanes you get there you can run on almost all missions online, 109f4, 109g2 and 190a3 then if you like game you can get either battle of kuban and 109g4 with 190a5 or just get 109g6 as separate airplane for some late east front scenarious. But even with just BoS airplanes your competative in late missions also.

 

Are there full switch servers?

few run what you would consider full switch from il246, some are almost that but have stupid gps that shows your position on map everytime you look at it but rest is same like in 46 spits vs 109s and similar servers you know

 

multiplayer is not as stable and lag and warp free as you remenber in 1946, so expect random disconects and kicks from server, strange warpings, seeing enemy traicers 1-2s after enemy realy start shooting, slowdouns with big number of airplanes in same area, bugs when you try to conect to server, bugs if you stay on server when mission rotates, not able to see airplanes betwen you and clouds and so on... but theres nothing els to play so you learn to live with it and hope for fixes in future.

 

also you miss big sail by like 14 days, you could get bos for 17$ then, if you plan to buy any i still have 25% off promo code that i dont plan to use i can send it to you if you wont, its good on any product they have expect ones in preorder ( also promo code works only if you buy from this website and not from steam)

Edited November 13, 2018 by 77.CountZero

[Rattlesnake]

Expect the multiplayer numbers to go up a lot, I mean A LOT, when the American Iron hits.

[wombatBritishBulldogs]

"multiplayer is not as stable and lag and warp free as you remenber in 1946, so expect random disconects and kicks from server, strange warpings, seeing enemy traicers 1-2s after enemy realy start shooting, slowdouns with big number of airplanes in same area, bugs when you try to conect to server, bugs if you stay on server when mission rotates, not able to see airplanes betwen you and clouds and so on... but theres nothing els to play so you learn to live with it and hope for fixes in future."

 

CZ .    I think this is related more to your system and provider ! apart from they Occasional disconnect due to the main server I don't have any issues like stated above !  But I don't play on every server with poor connection speeds  only the ones who thought about playability prior to adding a public Server . Respect 

[montag]

8 hours ago, CMBailey said:

Expect the multiplayer numbers to go up a lot, I mean A LOT, when the American Iron hits.

I really hope so! It is going to be nuts.

[LLv34_Temuri]

11 hours ago, wombatBritishBulldogs said:

CZ .    I think this is related more to your system and provider ! apart from they Occasional disconnect due to the main server I don't have any issues like stated above !  But I don't play on every server with poor connection speeds  only the ones who thought about playability prior to adding a public Server . Respect 

It's not that much about connection speed, more about BoX dserver performance being what it is.

[CountZero]

18 hours ago, wombatBritishBulldogs said:

"multiplayer is not as stable and lag and warp free as you remenber in 1946, so expect random disconects and kicks from server, strange warpings, seeing enemy traicers 1-2s after enemy realy start shooting, slowdouns with big number of airplanes in same area, bugs when you try to conect to server, bugs if you stay on server when mission rotates, not able to see airplanes betwen you and clouds and so on... but theres nothing els to play so you learn to live with it and hope for fixes in future."

 

CZ .    I think this is related more to your system and provider ! apart from they Occasional disconnect due to the main server I don't have any issues like stated above !  But I don't play on every server with poor connection speeds  only the ones who thought about playability prior to adding a public Server . Respect 

 

Maybe but i still seeregulary a lot ppl on server complaining when they get randomly kicked or not able to spawn and have to reconect on full server, also 90% time when i play online its usealy 50-84 ppl on server, how many times you play on thouse other servers when they are full or close to full? if its that simple as just get best uber pc and best uber net conections there would be some server that is full and dont have problems i and others see online, i still dont see that server here.

[5./JG11_Rain]

Really appreciate each of your replies guys!

Wait, I know you CountZero! Are you in Stuka squadron? You must be I am 99% sure I know you from way back.

So if I go for Battle of Stalingrad I would not go wrong? In terms of populated servers that run BoS... And for me I can't fly anything else that is not full realistic in setting. Its VERY disapointing that map shows your position, why would they do that?

Also the whole editions thing is hell of a confusing, and they are really expensive. All of that kind of is holding me back from buying. I don't like not being 100% about things I am investing into.

Is there a plan for late war western front with Allied bombing campaigns (B-17's, P-38, P-47, P-51D, Bf-109 G10, Fw-190 D9 planesets etc.?) 

 

Are luftwaffe insignia fully displayed on their planes (swastika on the tail)? If not is there an option to enable it, or can I do it with a mod and be able to connect online?

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by 5./JG11_Rain

[Elem]

5 minutes ago, 5./JG11_Rain said:

Are luftwaffe insignia fully displayed on their planes (swastika on the tail)? If not is there an option to enable it, or can I do it with a mod and be able to connect online?

 

Yes, there is a Mod to do this. It's very good.

[CountZero]

14 minutes ago, 5./JG11_Rain said:

Really appreciate each of your replies guys!

Wait, I know you CountZero! Are you in Stuka squadron? You must be I am 99% sure I know you from way back.

So if I go for Battle of Stalingrad I would not go wrong? In terms of populated servers that run BoS... And for me I can't fly anything else that is not full realistic in setting. Its VERY disapointing that map shows your position, why would they do that?

Also the whole editions thing is hell of a confusing, and they are really expensive. All of that kind of is holding me back from buying. I don't like not being 100% about things I am investing into.

Is there a plan for late war western front with Allied bombing campaigns (B-17's, P-38, P-47, P-51D, Bf-109 G10, Fw-190 D9 planesets etc.?) 

 

Are luftwaffe insignia fully displayed on their planes (swastika on the tail)? If not is there an option to enable it, or can I do it with a mod and be able to connect online?

 

 

yes its me but we just ditch stg here as there was stg77 already here, and they do bombing better

 

it is a little confusing at start with all thouse dlc and standard and premium options and stuff, but in stor section you can check all in more detail ( just click on each dlc and it will explain it in detail:

https://il2sturmovik.com/store/battle-of-bodenplatte/

 

when you have for example BoS, you can online play on all maps and missions that have airplanes that you et when you buy BoS, and now thats usealy on every mission thats why i think bos is good to start with.

 

Now they are making Battle of Bodenplatte its in preorder state, and it will be fully finished some time next year. but if you buy it now on preorder you get 10$ off price and you can play with airplanes when they finish them, it will have 109g14, 109k4,190a8,190d9,me262vs spit9,p38,p47,p51, tempest and B-25 as AI only ( no big bombers).

 

if you plan to buy it on steam, you have to have Battle of stalingrad first, if you dont care about steam, you can buy it from this webpage and all mony goes to devs then and you can have what ever dlc, no need to have BoS first as on steam.

Edited November 14, 2018 by 77.CountZero

[ACG_KaiLae]

With regards to the product and how you order it; it is slightly confusing, but this is the way that it works. If you buy any product in the great battles series, you buy the whole product. For instance, if you buy BoM, and then buy BoK, your client will not download any additional items. What buying one version over another does is it gives you access to certain planes. The versions are more like plane packs than anything else. In the previous example, if you owned BoM and bought BoK, the software would "unlock" all the BoK planes in your client and you then would have access to them. This has multiple advantages, because the software is easier to create for 777. For the player, it means that if you have BoS, and you join a MP server that is using the BoM map, you will be able to join and fly on it even though you don't own it (though you might find that after joining if they are not using any BoS planes, you may find you can't select an aircraft to PILOT and it is a waste of time). This is because you already have the map in the software on your HD. Also, 777 has made it that you can take up a gunner position in a multicrew aircraft you don't own, so if you only owned BoM and joined a server that was using a BoK planeset, you could still take up a gunner position in a He111 H16 if you wanted.

 

In short, it makes it a lot easier to play online without having to worry about which version of the software you own, because in reality, everyone has the same version. It's just not everyone has access to the same planes.

[wombatBritishBulldogs]

6 hours ago, 77.CountZero said:

 

Maybe but i still seeregulary a lot ppl on server complaining when they get randomly kicked or not able to spawn and have to reconect on full server, also 90% time when i play online its usealy 50-84 ppl on server, how many times you play on those other servers when they are full or close to full? if its that simple as just get best uber pc and best uber net conections there would be some server that is full and dont have problems i and others see online, i still dont see that server here.

KOTA 30-80 ppl is Smooth apart from random kicks that's Not related to the  KOTA service ! 

[5./JG11_Rain]

Hey folks,

I've just bought Battle of Stalingrad standard edition and really appreciate your help with the info you gave me for all my questions.

It is downloading. Now before the game finishes downloading I would like to know how to get complete historical markings (swastika on the tail) on my Bf-109? Are there any fifth staffel JG11 historical skins out there to download?

[Thad]

Check out --- Aircraft Skins

[Feathered_IV]

Good luck!  Hope you have fun. 

[Gambit21]

On 11/13/2018 at 5:04 AM, 5./JG11_Rain said:

Hey guys,

I have been flying in Il-2 when it first came out, then I found out the glorious Hypperlobby and its massive community back in the day. I will never forget those days, and couple of thousand flight hours in Bf-109 and Fw-190.

 

 

Is that all you flew?

 

[bzc3lk]

2 hours ago, 5./JG11_Rain said:

Hey folks,

I've just bought Battle of Stalingrad standard edition and really appreciate your help with the info you gave me for all my questions.

It is downloading. Now before the game finishes downloading I would like to know how to get complete historical markings (swastika on the tail) on my Bf-109? Are there any fifth staffel JG11 historical skins out there to download?

 

Enjoy.

 

[LLv34_Temuri]

Do note that if you use mods, you can fly online only on servers that allow mods. The mods setting on a server is an on/off one, i.e. server has no control of what mods are allowed on clients.

[CountZero]

this game dosent have selection of squads or numbers so swastika is not tyed to this like it was in 1946, so if you wont to have swastika on original skins made by devs you have to use mod, but you cant play on most servers then.

 

so your best option is to get skin that already have swastika on it and use that, but some servers lock skins and have only oficial skins available.

also anyone who dont have your skin will not see it, as its not like in 1946, here i would have to have also same skin you have to be able to see it on your airplane, but trick is i can just repaint that skin in bright pink and you would not know about that and you would be so visable for me then so some servers like WoL have skins locked.

 

[jaydee]

What about the Thousands of copies that  have been sold that Don't Read Forums, don't play Multiplayer(all 300 of ye) and ye all move from Server to Server depending what ye want ?

Not very Enticing for new Players . But ye are "Hardcore" !..I wonder why new pilots  have a Look and Give up ?

[5./JG11_Rain]

On 11/15/2018 at 3:35 PM, 77.CountZero said:

this game dosent have selection of squads or numbers so swastika is not tyed to this like it was in 1946, so if you wont to have swastika on original skins made by devs you have to use mod, but you cant play on most servers then.

 

so your best option is to get skin that already have swastika on it and use that, but some servers lock skins and have only oficial skins available.

also anyone who dont have your skin will not see it, as its not like in 1946, here i would have to have also same skin you have to be able to see it on your airplane, but trick is i can just repaint that skin in bright pink and you would not know about that and you would be so visable for me then so some servers like WoL have skins locked.

 

Hey CountZero,

I had about 6 sorties so far, with 2 aerial victories each of them from a one pass dive ambush, it was picture perfect. The atmosphere of the game is amazing. When I saw Stalingrad burning and shells landing all over the place, and the detailed map with unit positions and frontlines I was trully amazed. Yesterday, me and my wingman were trying different servers than WOL, to name them they are Knights of the Air and Coconut dynamic campaign servers. And the game began crashing alot. I mean every time I would take off it would crash to desktop with no error message. We already had a good dose of flying so I left it at that.

 

I am glad I've found full switch servers, I think KOTA got GPS disabled only on weekends, I will try to reason with them about that, so they make it full switch over week aswell

To try to fix my crashing problem I will reinstall Nvidia GPU drivers to the newest version. If that doesn't help, I will wipe them out and install some of the older drivers I can find on the internet. Fingers crossed I will fix it, otherwise I am in for a disapointment. Will also try launching the game as administrator. Any other ideas? Game runs 120+ FPS for me... no issues with framerate or stutters, absolutely gorgeous graphics wise and performance.

Makes me want to organise huge bomber events on one of the full switch servers, if the hosters are willing to do it. But more on that in different thread I guess.

 

Edited November 19, 2018 by 5./JG11_Rain

[IRRE_Centx]

17 minutes ago, 5./JG11_Rain said:

To try to fix my crashing problem I will reinstall Nvidia GPU drivers to the newest version. 
 

 

Actually it fixes most crashes for many people, so you should be ok.

 

 

[CountZero]

nice you like it, thats best for start try all servers and see what you like, taw will come back sone so maybe youll like that one also.

 

you were maybe geting kicked on cocnut because you used airplane that you should not, but for me useal i dont know why ppl are geting random kicks, yesterday me and rip oined wol flew 30min and then server crashed and kick all, then we joined again and flew for 40+min and then all of sudden half of ppl on server got kicked at same time, its like Thanos glove mod is running hidden in game and half servive half are dust   i just expect that i will have 1-2 kicks from server per month, some have mutch more then that.

and sometimes your just kicked in main lobby and some times it just crashes your whole game, and there is little you can do if your with high ping on top of that.

 

There is already some events with bombers, and i see DBS,JG4,SG2,JG5 and some more offten show up with big number of bombers on some servers and fly together 

 

 

 

 

[Warpig]

I never understood what gets people off about no GPS... It adds nothing but frustration, and it's another un-necessary barrier to potential players. It's the one grip I have about this game, and people that insist on navigation simulator.

[LeLv76_Erkki]

5 minutes ago, Warpig said:

I never understood what gets people off about no GPS... It adds nothing but frustration, and it's another un-necessary barrier to potential players. It's the one grip I have about this game, and people that insist on navigation simulator.

 

It makes navigation effortless. Pinpoint navigation in clouds and above overcast layer, damaged planes taking perfect heading to home, low flying attack planes never needing to bother looking outside etc. Just like spotting aircraft, managing engine, knowing strengths and weaknesses, gunnery, combat tactics you name it, navigation is an element and a skill among others and GPS eliminates it.

[Aap]

7 minutes ago, Warpig said:

I never understood what gets people off about no GPS.

 

Seriously, you don't have a clue, why some people might not want to have GPS, when trying to simulate WWII flying?

[Warpig]

1 hour ago, II./JG77_Kemp said:

 

Seriously, you don't have a clue, why some people might not want to have GPS, when trying to simulate WWII flying?

Some things translate to fun, some don't. When I think of an aircraft simulation, the very last thing on my mind is map navigation...

 

Sure, navigation was part of WWII air combat, but so was being in good physical shape to handle the stresses of G forces. Should we also have regular workouts that our pilots have to participate in to ensure their body is ready for flight?

 

Some things just aren't necessary to simulate, and only add to frustration more than they do fun or competitiveness.

Edited November 19, 2018 by Warpig

[montag]

You get a perfect map in the game which makes in really easy to navigate even without GPS with just a little bit of practice. The perfect map of the area you are flying in is not something every aviator had in WWII. Just follow rivers, roads, the coast, or traintracks around and use towns and cities as landmarks. If you do that navigating is super simple.

[Aap]

46 minutes ago, Warpig said:

Some things just aren't necessary to simulate and only add to frustration, more than they do fun or competitiveness.

 

I understand that different people enjoy different things, but navigation is so major part of aviation (in any era), so for me it is very obvious, why many flight simmers want to simulate realistic navigation also. It is comparable to saying that, hey, I don't get why some people want to fly without aim assist - it only adds to frustration when you miss, when trying to shoot down enemy planes.

[Warpig]

I haven't tried navigating the newer maps, but Stalingrad winter was a killer for me. Maybe maps like Kuban aren't as bad.

 

Stalingrad however, left a very bad impression on me as far as navigation goes. All SA is gone, because I had to stare at the map to keep a hold of my bearings. Wasn't at all enjoyable. I couldn't imagine leaving the map closed for any amount of time, because there just isn't enough discernible landmarks to pinpoint location with. And using roads alone, just didn't work for me. Too much time staring at the map rather than my surroundings.

Edited November 19, 2018 by Warpig

[Ribbon]

23 hours ago, Warpig said:

Some things translate to fun, some don't. When I think of an aircraft simulation, the very last thing on my mind is map navigation...

 

Sure, navigation was part of WWII air combat, but so was being in good physical shape to handle the stresses of G forces. Should we also have regular workouts that our pilots have to participate in to ensure their body is ready for flight?

 

Some things just aren't necessary to simulate, and only add to frustration more than they do fun or competitiveness.

Here Erkki explained it to you nicely how big advantage is to have gps regarding spotting, tactics and flight style.

It is one of the most affecting things that will change many aspects of the flight not just "i need to look around and it doesn't bring or take anything".

It does change the game completley in every aspect!

You just didn't think about it so read this bellow \/

23 hours ago, LeLv76_Erkki said:

 

It makes navigation effortless. Pinpoint navigation in clouds and above overcast layer, damaged planes taking perfect heading to home, low flying attack planes never needing to bother looking outside etc. Just like spotting aircraft, managing engine, knowing strengths and weaknesses, gunnery, combat tactics you name it, navigation is an element and a skill among others and GPS eliminates it.

 

[Guest deleted@134347]

23 hours ago, Warpig said:

I haven't tried navigating the newer maps, but Stalingrad winter was a killer for me. Maybe maps like Kuban aren't as bad.

 

Stalingrad however, left a very bad impression on me as far as navigation goes. All SA is gone, because I had to stare at the map to keep a hold of my bearings. Wasn't at all enjoyable. I couldn't imagine leaving the map closed for any amount of time, because there just isn't enough discernible landmarks to pinpoint location with. And using roads alone, just didn't work for me. Too much time staring at the map rather than my surroundings.

 

I was on your side of the argument up until 5-6 months ago.  Then I decided to tough it out and in all seriousness it's not that hard, however you do need to practice flying for about 2-3 weeks to get a better internal sense of the landscape moving underneath you, especially the 'speed' of it. Once you obtain it the ground will make a lot more sense and you will possess the innate ability to spot pretty little intricacies of the landscape right away, which will make your navigation a breeze. Just like you learn how to fly a plane in a decent manner the same goes for this navigational skill. Give it a try and keep on for 1-2 weeks, i promise you it'll start to make sense. Even on Winter snowy maps.