Returning to Il2 - request for advice

[Magnum-in-parvo7]

It's 12-15 years since I last flew Il2. A young family and increasing work commitments put paid to my fun. I used to fly online full real with the RAF238th on Warbirds of Prey. I now have more free time and watching various Il2 videos on YouTube has been whetting my appetite.

 

I'd like to fly all the earlier versions I remember including the original Il2 Sturmovik, Cliffs of Dover, Forgotten Battles, Pacific Fighters, Il2 Sturmovik:1946, etc., but also the more recent developments including the WWI aircraft.

Are any of the older iterations still played online?

Which are the best servers for full real play for UK players?

Can one download the various iterations, old and more recent, with all the updates? (I finally gave up Il2 all those years ago when I was spending the hour or so I might have free after work downloading and manually installing updates rather then playing.)

My ageing laptop may struggle so that's an excuse for a new gaming PC ? and monitor. Any must haves?

I still have my CH Products force feedback joystick, throttle quadrant, and rudder pedals which I hope will still work. My Track IR is probably hors de combat. 

 

Any helpful advice would be much appreciated.

 

I hope to see you in the skies before too long. ??

 

 

 

 

[ACG_Bussard]

For the older iterations of IL-2 (1946 or CoD) your best start would be here:

 

General Discussion - IL-2 Sturmovik Forum (il2sturmovik.com)

 

IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz + Desert Wings - IL-2 Sturmovik Forum (il2sturmovik.com)

 

If you want to try in the future the current iteration called Great Battle Series you here very welcome!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[9./JG52_J-HAT]

15 hours ago, Magnum-in-parvo7 said:

It's 12-15 years since I last flew Il2. A young family and increasing work commitments put paid to my fun. I used to fly online full real with the RAF238th on Warbirds of Prey. I now have more free time and watching various Il2 videos on YouTube has been whetting my appetite.

 

I'd like to fly all the earlier versions I remember including the original Il2 Sturmovik, Cliffs of Dover, Forgotten Battles, Pacific Fighters, Il2 Sturmovik:1946, etc., but also the more recent developments including the WWI aircraft.

Are any of the older iterations still played online?

Which are the best servers for full real play for UK players?

Can one download the various iterations, old and more recent, with all the updates? (I finally gave up Il2 all those years ago when I was spending the hour or so I might have free after work downloading and manually installing updates rather then playing.)

My ageing laptop may struggle so that's an excuse for a new gaming PC ? and monitor. Any must haves?

I still have my CH Products force feedback joystick, throttle quadrant, and rudder pedals which I hope will still work. My Track IR is probably hors de combat. 

 

Any helpful advice would be much appreciated.

 

I hope to see you in the skies before too long. ??

 

 

 

 

 

Like Bussard mentioned, better to ask for details in the dedicated forum sections. 

Great Battle series is the current il-2 game and the most popular. You will find some two or three full servers pretty much every night. 

WW1 iteration is Flying Circus which is great, specially in VR. It is part of the Great Battles series (Stalingrad, Kuban, Moscow, Bodenplatte etc.).

 

Can‘t answer for 1946 but CloD with its expansion Tobruk is still played online on the TWC server (25 players most UK nights).

[Magnum-in-parvo7]

Thanks both ?.

New desktop, downloads, set up, then play. Looking forward to it.

I forgot to ask which in-game voice comms people use. ISTR using Teamtalk in the past.

[=EXPEND=CG_Justin]

On 11/20/2021 at 10:55 AM, Magnum-in-parvo7 said:

Thanks both ?.

New desktop, downloads, set up, then play. Looking forward to it.

I forgot to ask which in-game voice comms people use. ISTR using Teamtalk in the past.

 

Discord seems to be the most popular these days, but some still use Teamspeak. You can also install SRS Comms for servers who have implemented it.

 

 

[354thFG_Drewm3i-VR]

Wait until you try VR...?