Help Getting Started

[bjm051593]

I just picked up Cliffs of Dover Blitz so thought posting here is best, even though I'm not sure this is specific to CoD.

 

I've been away from sims for a few years - my last investment was in CFS3 (and breifly Wings of Prey) and the thing I really liked about it was it's simplicty and realism. What I think I mean by that is that I like the "arcade" flight models where I don't have to worry about oil temp, trim, prop pitch but I want some thinking into missions & dogfights.  E.g. a mission can be a stale mate or even if I completely blow my objective I can still play on and even have to return to base and land the aircraft.  I'm not really interested in multi-player as I doubt I'd ever be much more than target practice.

 

So I've been looking for an "upgrade" from CFS3 and it sounds like IL-2 is really the only option (and it looks to be very well done).  I think I can simplify a lot of the options in IL-2 in the realism section which is great.  But I'm struggling with getting into simple training missions... some quick questions off the top:

 

1) Is IL-2 going to be for me?  Given what I'm looking for re: single player mission depth with simplicity in the flight model (ala CFS) or am I just encountering some speed bumps (see below) I need to get past.  I have about 6 hours invested in the game now (very little in actual gameplay, just reading, watching videos, tweaking, configuring, debugging) and wondering if this is the right game for me... Though I haven't really seen another option.

 

2) I can't get the video options to be saved - I have Native 4K resolution but in-game I want to bump down to 1080 until the new video card arrives (they seem hard to come by these days).  But after I change the res, and the game restarts, all the video settings are reverted.  I can't even change the detail settings in an attempt to dial down the detail and use 4K res.  Everything is reset whenever the game restarts.  For now, I've reset the resolution in Windows and in-game seems to honor the settings that but better if I can get it to honor the in-game settings.

 

3) Joystick sensitivity - cannot seem to set this to a point where I'm not over correcting pitch, roll, rudder constantly - I've only flown the tiger moth at this point.  I have a Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick, and don't have similar sensitivity issues in CFS or Wings of Prey, so I don't *think* it's the hardware.  I cannot get straight level flight and any adjustment in the stick needs to be corrected and re-corrected. I've tried fiddling with the sensitivity controls and that seems to help but I am constantly applying some pressure to the stick, which then requires some corrective pressure and then correcting the other direction, etc.  I'm wondering if this is just the "realism" showing even though I have most of it dialed down.

 

4) Is there a "virtual cockpit" or HUD view in IL-2 - I know I can put up info windows to display certain info but I really just want to remove the cockpit and plane from the screen altogether - at least some of the time.  Both CFS and Wings of Prey seem to have a good option here, I haven't been able to find it in IL-2 if it exists.  I also haven't been able to figure out how to do some things in the info windows like heading, speed, pitch, roll.

 

As you can see I haven't made it very far...  

 

If you've read this all the way, thanks - I appreciate the look...  I'm still hoping get this figured out, I'd really like to get back into WW2 sims but so far am just feeling really frustrated.

 

Brian

 

[zzzxxxxzzz]

To level flight you need to take care of the trim controls (elevator trim mainly). There is several views to choose, see control menu to select the one you like.

 

But at least try the cockpit view and realistic mode several times, this is a great simulator and it's a pleasure to fly that way.

[9./JG52_J-HAT]

Blitz is a wonderful game, but unfortunately for a multitude of reasons it‘s sort of hard in the beginning to see through all the clutter (its many „quirks“ if you will). Once you get through that you start seeing how good it is.
 

1)

Training missions are kind of broke in Il-2 Cliffs of Dover. You can do a couple of them but at some you will see it not working the way it‘s intended. Tbh I‘d just play the quick missions for flight training and campaigns for start-up, taxiing and take off.

You can select your realism settings for the game, turn everything off that you don‘t like. From what you wrote I‘d say turn off complex engine management so you don‘t bother with oil temps etc. but still get the rest of the flying experience. You can disable the FM aspects too like torque. Easiest way to access realism setting is through a quick mission, just click the Realism button at the bottom right once it shows up before you hit fly.

Once you’ve gotten more acquainted with the game, give this a try:

 

And you want want to check out ATAG for more content and information. It is where all this started some 9 years ago when the game was first released.

 

https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/forum.php

 

Lots of single player missions under „downloads“ (make sure to register on the forums and make a single post to he able to download anything).

 

2) that is probably Steam Cloud resetting your settings for whatever reason.

Try turning Steam Cloud off for the game (in Steam, right click the game in your library, go into properties, first tab should have the Steam Cloud option at the bottom; untick it).

 

If that doesn‘t work, check if your Windows managed folders are not blocked for access from CloD.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-enable-controlled-folder-access-windows-10-fall-creators-update

 

3) yeah, that‘s normal. Your joystick is fine. Just disable all the realism settings for flight model (see 1); torque, gyroscopic effect etc.).

In case you want to adjust your curves and sensitivity, go in the game, choose options -> controls and select the axis tab. Scroll to the axis you want to change and fiddle with the slider (0 to 1.00). On the right side there are two green bars showing input and output. See the changes and decide what works for you (I use 1:1, all that I input comes out as output to the same degree).

4) Shift+F1 (if it isn’t shift it’s ctrl; sorry, always mix them up) should do that. You will get what is called „wonder woman view“, with a transparent aircraft but all your instruments showing around the borders. Iirc there is even a moving sight that shows you lead, like in Warthunder. You need to disable „cockpit always on“ under realism settings (see 1) above).

Let us know if you need anything else.

Edited December 6, 2020 by 9./JG52_J-HAT
Wrong link

[bjm051593]

Ok...

 

Thanks for the feedback - the new video card arrived so I spent some time actually playing some quick missions.  It was almost comical how quickly I ran out of ammo on the first mission and not sure I hit (let alone downed) a single He-111.  But yes, much better than the training missions.  I'm glad to know I'll never run out of single player missions - that community is exactly what I was hoping for...

 

re: the video options, @9./JG52_J-HAT you were right about the steam cloud being "helpful" - I flipped that and that fixed the problem with video settings being reset.

 

Also CTRL+F1 was the view I was looking for, I know it's not very realistic but until I can get the hang of glancing at the instruments and looking outside the cockpit this is really helpful...  I did run into a problem one time when I moved the view closer to the gunsight - once I was closer I couldn't move back (toggle didn't work).

 

@zzzxxxxzzz I think you're right that trim was my problem, I was hoping there was an autotrim or something a little more forgiving but I'm starting to get the hang of it...  Two things I'm still working on:

A) when I set the trim, I was expecting to be able to see what the trim was set to (in the CTRL+F1 view) and I haven't found it yet.  I found flaps, gear, throttle, but there are a other knobs on that dial I haven't figured out (though I don't think trim is one of them) - for now I rely on the "reset trim" buttons but would be better if I could see the controls/response

 

B) joystick is still really touchy, the best way to describe it is if I'm driving a case with bad shock absorbers...  I pull on the stick and it moves too quickly and too far in one direction and then correcting that does the same thing and I bounce all over.  I can't make adjustments as smoothly as I see in videos of everyone else flying  I've ordered a new joystick (mine was 10+ years old) but something tells me that's only part of what I'm seeing.

 

Attached are my realism settings...

 

[Sokol1]

On 12/6/2020 at 3:46 PM, bjm051593 said:

1) Is IL-2 going to be for me?  

 

No, IL-2 CloD is not good option for "casual" Single Player -  like you describe yourself; you need deal with "workarounds", AI "shenaningans"... bug and bugs, to have some enjoyment.

Is OK for MP players.

 

I suggest Wings over the Reich. But no idea on how much "arcade" you can set, anyway is based of CFS3 engine, don't expect "stat of art" graphics.

 

[Buzzsaw]

On 12/14/2020 at 2:09 PM, bjm051593 said:

Ok...

 

Thanks for the feedback - the new video card arrived so I spent some time actually playing some quick missions.  It was almost comical how quickly I ran out of ammo on the first mission and not sure I hit (let alone downed) a single He-111.  But yes, much better than the training missions.  I'm glad to know I'll never run out of single player missions - that community is exactly what I was hoping for...

 

re: the video options, @9./JG52_J-HAT you were right about the steam cloud being "helpful" - I flipped that and that fixed the problem with video settings being reset.

 

Also CTRL+F1 was the view I was looking for, I know it's not very realistic but until I can get the hang of glancing at the instruments and looking outside the cockpit this is really helpful...  I did run into a problem one time when I moved the view closer to the gunsight - once I was closer I couldn't move back (toggle didn't work).

 

@zzzxxxxzzz I think you're right that trim was my problem, I was hoping there was an autotrim or something a little more forgiving but I'm starting to get the hang of it...  Two things I'm still working on:

A) when I set the trim, I was expecting to be able to see what the trim was set to (in the CTRL+F1 view) and I haven't found it yet.  I found flaps, gear, throttle, but there are a other knobs on that dial I haven't figured out (though I don't think trim is one of them) - for now I rely on the "reset trim" buttons but would be better if I could see the controls/response

 

B) joystick is still really touchy, the best way to describe it is if I'm driving a case with bad shock absorbers...  I pull on the stick and it moves too quickly and too far in one direction and then correcting that does the same thing and I bounce all over.  I can't make adjustments as smoothly as I see in videos of everyone else flying  I've ordered a new joystick (mine was 10+ years old) but something tells me that's only part of what I'm seeing.

 

Attached are my realism settings...

 

Did you calibrate your joystick in Windows prior to playing the game?

 

Quite often a poor calibration in windows can cause spiking and over powerful inputs.

 

Also don't create large 'deadzones' in your joystick profile... the deadzone should only be few degrees.  Otherwise it can also see a situation with spiking like effects.

 

For explanations of how to get started and set up correctly, including the above issues, please see the "Getting Started And Troubleshooting Guide".

 

It is located in the Steam/Steamapps/Common/ IL-2 Sturmovik Cliffs of Dover/Manuals/ folder on whatever drive you installed it on.  (usually 'C' drive)