DCS

[Guest deleted@83466]

8 hours ago, Garven said:

Slowly learning the rear seat and finding the RIO position in MP more fun and rewarding than I ever imagined.

 

Yeah, that's pretty awesome stuff.  I'm finding myself amazed at the level of Tomcat knowledge that some of the VF squads have already amassed, and the skill of some of the RIOs despite the fact that the F-14 just came out.  Demand for good human RIOs is going to be very high in the dedicated carrier-based squads.

Edited March 27, 2019 by SeaSerpent

[Gambit21]

18 hours ago, Garven said:

Slowly learning the rear seat and finding the RIO position in MP more fun and rewarding than I ever imagined.

 

Cool

I would never have time for that.

[Guest deleted@83466]

Garven doesn't take as long to learn the RIO as an old carmudgeon like you, Gambit. ?

 

[Gambit21]

34 minutes ago, SeaSerpent said:

Garven doesn't take as long to learn the RIO as an old carmudgeon like you, Gambit. ?

 

 

Hey!

 

I'm not 50 yet...but it's coming.

The mission editor and several 3D programs take up my available mental bandwidth.

Although I haven't done any 3D work in about 5 months so I'll bet I've freed up enough space to learn RIO if I wanted.

[DD_Arthur]

You know it's got a very decent, versatile map.  

And it can look fantastic.

 

 

It just needs....or rather i just need....a Hawker Hunter....or a Thud or a Vautour....know what I mean?

[dburne]

Looks like DCS will soon get a nice improvement in the VR Department.

 

Wags posted the below today:

 

Hey everyone,

Earlier we mentioned that we have been working on DCS VR optimization. I have good news today! After much investigation and work, we traced the issue back to the terrain engine. We have since adjusted the terrain engine, and this has resulted in a 50% increase in VR performance! We will continue to test and optimize this further, but we hope to have this great improvement to you soon.

[JonRedcorn]

1 hour ago, dburne said:

Looks like DCS will soon get a nice improvement in the VR Department.

 

Wags posted the below today:

 

Hey everyone,

Earlier we mentioned that we have been working on DCS VR optimization. I have good news today! After much investigation and work, we traced the issue back to the terrain engine. We have since adjusted the terrain engine, and this has resulted in a 50% increase in VR performance! We will continue to test and optimize this further, but we hope to have this great improvement to you soon.

Was just gunna post this, hope the il2 devs can do something similar. It's pretty obvious il2's issues with framerate come from the ground. Forests, which we already had optimization for, and cities are the biggest offenders. If we had more control over graphics options I think we'd be able to get a happy medium. Turning off ground shadows, limiting tree generation or getting lower quality trees of some sort.

Edited April 3, 2019 by JonRedcorn

[dburne]

9 minutes ago, JonRedcorn said:

Was just gunna post this, hope the il2 devs can do something similar. It's pretty obvious il2's issues with framerate come from the ground. Forests, which we already had optimization for, and cities are the biggest offenders. If we had more control over graphics options I think we'd be able to get a happy medium. Turning off ground shadows, limiting tree generation or getting lower quality trees of some sort.

 

For me IL-2 has always run better in VR than DCS. 

But I would certainly take improvements any day.

[JonRedcorn]

Just now, dburne said:

 

For me IL-2 has always run better in VR than DCS. 

But I would certainly take improvements any day.

Yeah, that's the truth, yet somehow DCS manages to look pretty good at low settings, meanwhile il2 does not. The clouds are what ruin any setting below the high preset and simple mod like the one in the mods section is all it takes to get high clouds on balanced preset, why we don't get this option I do not know.

[GP*]

Cool news wrt the F-16 module. Lol @ all the NARPs who want a 2-seater first. 

 

“I really wish there was another dude in this jet with me.” Said no Viper driver ever. 

[DD_Arthur]

Just did a takeoff as wingman in my Mig19 for the first time in VR.  As we went down the runway the flight lead went to afterburner.

 

Left me.....speechless......

[No601_Prangster]

On 4/3/2019 at 8:42 PM, dburne said:

For me IL-2 has always run better in VR than DCS. 

But I would certainly take improvements any day.

Yes this update might finally get DCS to perform as well as IL-2 BoX in VR.

[Rei-sen]

Just bought P51. Graphics looks good, FM doesn't feel that impressive after BOX. Shooting doesn't feel that great either. I ran quick dogfight missions against D9. Everytime I shot it down there were not a tiny smoke trail coming from it. That's weird, cause I have my graphics settings pretty high, almost maxed out. Overall, I'm not impressed. WWII combat aircraft isn't great in DCS. Jets suit it a lot better.

[Guest deleted@83466]

On 4/4/2019 at 2:29 PM, Go_Pre said:

Cool news wrt the F-16 module. Lol @ all the NARPs who want a 2-seater first. 

 

“I really wish there was another dude in this jet with me.” Said no Viper driver ever. 

 

Recently had my first experience with a real person in the back of the Tomcat.  I've certainly had a rear gunner in RoF or Il-2, but I've never before had a multiplayer/multicrew experience which allows for another player to man such an important and coequal role in the operation of one aircraft, from beginning to end.  All I can say is that it was really *&^&*%@ cool.  After finally getting a chance to see this work in practice, I'm not suprised at all that people are wanting to see a lot more of it in future developments, or the retrofitting of it to modules that don't have it.  The AI guy that they made is excellent in it's own right, but having a real guy there, who knows what he's doing, takes it to a whole new level.  Now, I wouldn't personally want the F-16 to be an F-16D, because that's just not how it should be (what does the person in back do?), but I definitely can see why people want to see more multi-crew in general.

[GP*]

6 hours ago, SeaSerpent said:

 

Recently had my first experience with a real person in the back of the Tomcat.  I've certainly had a rear gunner in RoF or Il-2, but I've never before had a multiplayer/multicrew experience which allows for another player to man such an important and coequal role in the operation of one aircraft, from beginning to end.  All I can say is that it was really *&^&*%@ cool.  After finally getting a chance to see this work in practice, I'm not suprised at all that people are wanting to see a lot more of it in future developments, or the retrofitting of it to modules that don't have it.  The AI guy that they made is excellent in it's own right, but having a real guy there, who knows what he's doing, takes it to a whole new level.  Now, I wouldn't personally want the F-16 to be an F-16D, because that's just not how it should be (what does the person in back do?), but I definitely can see why people want to see more multi-crew in general.

 

Totally relatable. Sounds like a fun experience! I was mostly poking fun at those who said they wanted a 16D first, which is funny to me. In the USAF at least, 2 seaters are training only (although they are often fully mission capable and at least 1 is typically assigned even to CAF units). When qualified pilots fly them, they usually don’t take a back-seaters unless it’s an incentive ride for someone. 

[DaveP63]

 

 

45 minutes ago, Go_Pre said:

 

Totally relatable. Sounds like a fun experience! I was mostly poking fun at those who said they wanted a 16D first, which is funny to me. In the USAF at least, 2 seaters are training only (although they are often fully mission capable and at least 1 is typically assigned even to CAF units). When qualified pilots fly them, they usually don’t take a back-seaters unless it’s an incentive ride for someone. 

That's right, except our family model was seldom FMC and was usually in the hangar.  May have been just our particular aircraft, but it was notorious as a POS and didn't become halfway reliable until it came back from a depot trip. The jet monkeys still didn't like it and whomever got stuck with it used to call it the penalty box.

[Gambit21]

Mud Hen

 

That would put this new feature to great use.

[Rolling_Thunder]

16 hours ago, SeaSerpent said:

 

Recently had my first experience with a real person in the back of the Tomcat.  I've certainly had a rear gunner in RoF or Il-2, but I've never before had a multiplayer/multicrew experience which allows for another player to man such an important and coequal role in the operation of one aircraft, from beginning to end.  All I can say is that it was really *&^&*%@ cool.  After finally getting a chance to see this work in practice, I'm not suprised at all that people are wanting to see a lot more of it in future developments, or the retrofitting of it to modules that don't have it.  The AI guy that they made is excellent in it's own right, but having a real guy there, who knows what he's doing, takes it to a whole new level.  Now, I wouldn't personally want the F-16 to be an F-16D, because that's just not how it should be (what does the person in back do?), but I definitely can see why people want to see more multi-crew in general.

The multi crew aspect of DCS is crying out for an AH-64. Alas we will never see it in my lifetime.

[Art-J]

On 4/10/2019 at 8:20 AM, Arthur-A said:

Just bought P51. Graphics looks good, FM doesn't feel that impressive after BOX. Shooting doesn't feel that great either. I ran quick dogfight missions against D9. Everytime I shot it down there were not a tiny smoke trail coming from it. That's weird, cause I have my graphics settings pretty high, almost maxed out. Overall, I'm not impressed. WWII combat aircraft isn't great in DCS. Jets suit it a lot better.

 

DCS still uses its ancient, primitive, giant hitbox-based damage model, which, coupled with braindead AI operating on extremely simplified flight models (not much related to visual damage anyway) make the sim combat-ready only for jets in practical terms. I'd say forget about fighting in warbirds and use the sim as a cheap alternative of P3D/Xplane for now, at least in short VFR flights scenarios. This is where it shines and that's how I've been using it with great satisfaction (I admit I'm totally not a combat oriented guy, however).

 

Revised, scratch-built, detailed damage model, closer to CloD and BoX standards, is apparently in the internal testing phase nowadays. Arrival time unspecified. Haven't heard about similar AI overhauls being planned though.

Edited April 11, 2019 by Art-J
typos

[Ehret]

2 hours ago, Art-J said:

DCS still uses its ancient, primitive, giant hitbox-based damage model, which, coupled with braindead AI operating on extremely simplified flight models (not much related to visual damage anyway) make the sim combat-ready only for jets in practical terms. I'd say forget about fighting in warbirds and use the sim as a cheap alternative of P3D/Xplane for now, at least in short VFR flights scenarios. This is where it shines and that's how I've been using it with great satisfaction (I admit I'm totally not a combat oriented guy, however).

 

At least guns are set-up properly including harmonization and ripple firing in the DCS. (even the "arcade" WT has de-sync wing guns...) Neither planes with nose mounted guns (like the Cobra) can be set properly because the BoX don't have split H/V and parallel convergence settings. Why the M54 shell doesn't explode after 3s (it has tracer based timed self-destruct) is a mystery too. The BoX has best graphics related to DMs currently but it is not all perfect.

[Sokol1]

Dubai "airshow".

 

 

Edited April 15, 2019 by Sokol1

[Lusekofte]

First time after several attempts done 2 campaigns with no retakes , no mishaps that was unrecoverable 34 days and 36 missions in total . 1 mission a day in average

[Lusekofte]

This is first mission on third campaign and almost blew it. Suppose to rendezvous with 2 mi-24  and I thought I did. But the bastards turned and ignored me. I turned the chopper round too quickly and stalled one of the engines. Fell 1,5 k and had real big issues staying in altitudes. Took 3 attempts to restart engine on left side and 20 minutes to catch those two hinds. 

[Thad]

Isn't that a typical mission for you? ?

[Lusekofte]

Well yes, stories f my life. AI is a huge pain in the ass in all simulators. But they are particular a nuisance flying choppers. 

In the last finished campaign I too often flew wing man and had to follow in order to complete missions. They got better

performance than human flown MI 8 and mission makers make up for it by adding more load in them. 

But for every way point they slow dramatically down and make a hard turn, then say they will do that afterwards. AI behave

"OK" if they are wingmen, except for not too often occasions they stuck in a never ending loop during landing. 

The missions are in my opinion only based on players success and if you empty your ammo in belief that you are finished 

You might have to fly a mission over again, this is one of the reasons I am very proud of myself. I preserved my ammo in all military

missions. What I like about the MI 8, is the fact that the campaigns are based on how well you navigate and land at different altitudes.

You do not often carry weapons

 

[Gambit21]

5 hours ago, LuseKofte said:

 

The missions are in my opinion only based on players success and if you empty your ammo in belief that you are finished 

You might have to fly a mission over again, 

 

 

If so then this is just poor mission design.

[Lusekofte]

1 hour ago, Gambit21 said:

 

If so then this is just poor mission design.

Well you got backup but you cannot trust they follow the orders. And if you are wingman you cannot send orders. I guess the mission designers do not want you to depend on ai. In all they give great immersion in general. 

I do not mind action. But I do mind authentic feeling. And MI 8 give you a feel of being a truck with weapons if need be. You feel being part of a real conflict. Important but not in the center of it

[JonRedcorn]

DCS needs an apache. I don't think I'd play anything else.

[Lusekofte]

Have you tried the KA 50? Awesome firepower. But I stick to my  MI 8

[dburne]

Just now, LuseKofte said:

Have you tried the KA 50? Awesome firepower. But I stick to my  MI 8

 

I love the KA-50! One of the very few modules I took the time to learn in DCS.

Yes firepower is incredible! Love blowing things up in that thing.

[JonRedcorn]

On 4/22/2019 at 4:53 PM, LuseKofte said:

Have you tried the KA 50? Awesome firepower. But I stick to my  MI 8

I have not, I should though, I love heli's. Haven't ever flown one in a real sim though. The only full module I have in DCS is the f-18.

 

 

[kestrel79]

Picked up the Nevada and Persian Gulf map during the sale yesterday. What's the easiest way to fly a plane for fun with no enemies on these new maps? I wish DCS had as easy of a setup for quick missions as IL2 does.

 

Also bought the Flaming Cliffs 3 planes...does anyone know if they come with training missions? I could of swore years ago in either LOMAC or an earlier version of DCS the Flaming Cliffs planes all had really good training missions. I don't see any in the Training area of DCS which makes me sad. I need to remember how to fly these things

[SovietAce]

13 minutes ago, kestrel79 said:

Picked up the Nevada and Persian Gulf map during the sale yesterday. What's the easiest way to fly a plane for fun with no enemies on these new maps? I wish DCS had as easy of a setup for quick missions as IL2 does.

Mission editor. I highly recommend to learn how to work with it since SP content for DCS is now pretty non-existent.

19 minutes ago, kestrel79 said:

Also bought the Flaming Cliffs 3 planes...does anyone know if they come with training missions? I could of swore years ago in either LOMAC or an earlier version of DCS the Flaming Cliffs planes all had really good training missions. I don't see any in the Training area of DCS which makes me sad. I need to remember how to fly these things

Try to check out training section. I think there are some of those.

[nirvi]

1 hour ago, kestrel79 said:

Picked up the Nevada and Persian Gulf map during the sale yesterday. What's the easiest way to fly a plane for fun with no enemies on these new maps? I wish DCS had as easy of a setup for quick missions as IL2 does.

 

Also bought the Flaming Cliffs 3 planes...does anyone know if they come with training missions? I could of swore years ago in either LOMAC or an earlier version of DCS the Flaming Cliffs planes all had really good training missions. I don't see any in the Training area of DCS which makes me sad. I need to remember how to fly these things

Have a look under Quick Missions in the main menu, most planes have a free flight mission.

[ACG_Invictus]

Looks like Chuck Owl's new guide for the MiG-19P is out.

 

https://www.mudspike.com/chucks-guides-dcs-mig-19p-guide/

[JonRedcorn]

13 hours ago, kestrel79 said:

Picked up the Nevada and Persian Gulf map during the sale yesterday. What's the easiest way to fly a plane for fun with no enemies on these new maps? I wish DCS had as easy of a setup for quick missions as IL2 does.

 

Also bought the Flaming Cliffs 3 planes...does anyone know if they come with training missions? I could of swore years ago in either LOMAC or an earlier version of DCS the Flaming Cliffs planes all had really good training missions. I don't see any in the Training area of DCS which makes me sad. I need to remember how to fly these things

Gunna have to use youtube. No real training missions for FC3. They are really easy though, just takes forever to setup your keybinds for the radar.

Edited April 26, 2019 by JonRedcorn

[kestrel79]

Found them! Looks like there's missions for the SU-27 only in the Training Missions part of DCS. I guess that's better than nothing. All the other FC3 planes have a few single missions like stated above that are free flights that seemed to do the trick...

 

As someone who has never quite had the PC gaming horsepower to run DCS on very high settings at 60fps I had a blast taking off from a Russian carrier in an Su-33 last night full afterburner and flying all over the Persian Gulf map wow. Very pretty. Now to set up alllll these key binds...

[Bremspropeller]

F-8J

[Monostripezebra]

I gotta say, I kind of love the Christen Eagle II.. so much silly fun:

 

 

 

 

Edited April 27, 2019 by Monostripezebra

[Jade_Monkey]

Finally caved and got DCS Normandy + Asset pack, Spitfire, P51 and campaigns.

 

I had low expectations but  I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I might post a some comparison thoughts if anyone is curious.