Lolwaffles: DCS

[Oberon]

http://media.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_Ka-50_Black_Shark_Front_lg.jpg

Black Shark

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/data/3103/medium/A-10-afghanistan-liquid-oxygen.jpg

A-10C 'Hog

FOOTAGE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q15BDM0BlTg

[Arclight]

Brilliant. :yeah:

[Dowly]

Nice! :yeah:

[Schroeder]

Well, guess I'm out then. I don't have the time or patients at the moment to learn a highly complex new sim.:(

[Raptor1]

Traitor! :stare:

Only A-10C is really that complex. The Black Shark is surprisingly simple to use after you stop crashing into the ground and breaking your rotors, and you even have the cheat to start it up automatically...

[HunterICX]

Well, guess I'm out then. I don't have the time or patients at the moment to learn a highly complex new sim.:(

Oberon flew with it in less then a day :03:

The first thing you'll have to learn is the start up sequence, Lionclaw made a nice cheat sheet which I've been using for quite a bit:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=170158

Trimming the Kamov is a bit tricky but eventually you'll get it.

HunterICX

[Dowly]

Aye, BS is easy to learn and now's a good time to get it as it's on sale. :03:

[Schroeder]

Does BS come with any nasty stuff like starforce, always online etc?

[Dowly]

Does BS come with any nasty stuff like starforce, always online etc?

AFAIK, Black Shark uses Starforce ProActive, but this is what their FAQ says about it:
Also note that both the download and boxed DVD versions use StarForce ProActive which doesn***8217;t install drivers or other system modulesCopy protection FAQ: http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=568704&postcount=3

The Steam version uses Steam as copy protection I THINK.

[Raptor1]

It has some Starforce online activation thingy, but it doesn't install drivers like the old Starforce did. The only problem with it is limited activations and deactivations, but it has so many that you'll probably never run out, and if you do they refill them (A-10C's even refills them automatically after you run out).

EDIT: Damnit, Dowly!

[Dowly]

EDIT: Damnit, Dowly!

http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2010/12/2/98330987-4fb4-420e-91f5-dfbdcb185dbc.jpg
:cool:

[Arclight]

Not a bad system, though I'm definetly no fan of limited activations. This is the only game I've made an exception for.

Recently uninstalled BS and reinstalled. Didn't even ask me to reactivate, so you'll really only use new activations with major hardware changes.

[Dowly]

Recently uninstalled BS and reinstalled. Didn't even ask me to reactivate, so you'll really only use new activations with major hardware changes.

Yes, noticed this when I reinstalled A-10 last week or so. :yep:

[hawk2495]

Well it seems unless you do a complete sweep of the registry for the DCS files, it saves them so the CP just acts like nothing has happened. Yeah I don't think I've dropped below 7 activations on A-10, and I've reinstalled it several times on both my old, and my current computer.

Now the Steam version still installs the SF ProActive. They can't actually use the steam Copy Protection, as Steam still doesn't have 64 bit binaries.. I remember Nate-IRL- saying so in the A-10C thread, but I could be mistaken. I know Wags has mentioned it on the ED forums.

[Task Force]

After i get my PC sorted out, and Everything working, ill be back flying.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Wow, late to the party on this one, but I approve of this thread and vid. :yeah:

A-10 is only complex if you want to destroy things, auto-startup and taking off are easy. For me the BS weapons system is the biggest wall :damn:

[Raptor1]

I just came by a random gaming store (which had all sorts of awesome stuff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Scope)) and grabbed myself a copy of LOMAC. Should be able to get Cliffs of Flaming 2 now.

Wow, late to the party on this one, but I approve of this thread and vid. :yeah:

A-10 is only complex if you want to destroy things, auto-startup and taking off are easy. For me the BS weapons system is the biggest wall :damn:

The Ka-50's weapons system isn't complex at all (The A-10's is), it's just that it's worthless and can't aim at anything unless you're hovering and not getting shot at.

[Herr-Berbunch]

The Ka-50's weapons system isn't complex at all (The A-10's is), it's just that it's worthless and can't aim at anything unless you're hovering and not getting shot at.

Ah, I'm crap at hovering, Auto-hover just tips me up all over the place even if I'm already stationary. I can't even hit the trucks in the free-fire zone on a Wednesday evening with anything other than my rotors!

I can fly south low level and draw fire away from others though. :D

But not for long. :cry:

Whereas with the A-10 I can try all my weapons (lots a guides printed out - all to hand) and if I screw that up then I'm quite a sure-shot with the old farting 30mm.

[Dowly]

The Ka-50's weapons system isn't complex at all (The A-10's is)...

I agree. For the default loadout (Vikhrs, rockets, cannon) you use the same
method to shoot (i.e. pick target, lase & lock, align reticles, shoot) with every
weapon. :yep:

...it's just that it's worthless and can't aim at anything unless you're hovering and not getting shot at.Which is why you hover in a safe distance and pop the targets from 7+ km. :hmmm:

Ah, I'm crap at hovering, Auto-hover just tips me up all over the place even if I'm already stationary.

Uh... that sounds familiar... which stick you have?

[Raptor1]

Which is why you hover in a safe distance and pop the targets from 7+ km. :hmmm:


Oh, yes, that's how it's meant to be used, but then you find yourself engaging moving targets, or targets surrounded by mountains, or just drifting way too close, at which point it's next to impossible to hit anything quickly enough.

[Dowly]

Oh, yes, that's how it's meant to be used, but
then you find yourself engaging moving targets, or targets surrounded by
mountains, or just drifting way too close, at which point it's next to
impossible to hit anything quickly enough.

"Observe everything, admire nothing." aka Situational Awareness should be
enough to prevent most of those situations. :03:

For targets in the valleys, there's not much to do than try and creep along
the sides and hope you get the shot off before the enemy does. :doh:

If all else fails, there's always the good ol' "run like hell" tactic. :DL

[Herr-Berbunch]

Uh... that sounds familiar... which stick you have?

Only a very old Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2 -

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KdblSBUlRzA/S_Qc7oLWkAI/AAAAAAAACog/sBNmFfdmHus/s1600/MicrosoftSidewinder.jpg

I knew I'd regret flogging the X52 Pro :wah:

[Dowly]

Only a very old Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2 -

Ah, thought you had one of the sticks that got attitude problems when playing
Black Shark. (EVO, I'm looking at you, youuu sonofabiiitch)

You got enough altitude when entering autohover? The speed is showing in HUD (ie. INU's working)?

[Herr-Berbunch]

Sticks fine in normal flight (anything other is just operator error), alt is reasonable - iirc between some 10-50m and I wait till all forward movement has ceased! Hud showing airspeed ok.

Maybe I need to retrim again?

Or maybe I need to RTFM. :hmmm:

[Dowly]

Mmm... it should kick in just fine if you have trimmed the helo so that when you
let go of the stick it doesn't go totally ape****. :hmmm:

Sideway movement seems to be the biggest issue that AH can't stand one bit,
so make sure if you are drifting, that it's either forwards or backwards before
engaging AH.

Also, when you engage AH, the altitude hold channel kicks in, so check if your
collective is too high/low, which might cause some silly behaviour.

Last thing to check is whether the Flight Director channel is enabled,
it should be off for AH.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Will do, thanks :up:

[Schroeder]

Could regret buying the German Version?:hmmm:
It's just 18,99€ compared to 18something BP on the British Amazon.

[Dowly]

Could regret buying the German Version?:hmmm:
It's just 18,99€ compared to 18something BP on the British Amazon.

YES

Hunter had to wait for ages for the 1.0.2. patch to be available for his spanish copy. :doh:

Gamersgate.com has DCS:BS for 23,42€ :up:

[HunterICX]

Could regret buying the German Version?:hmmm:
It's just 18,99***8364; compared to 18something BP on the British Amazon.

Not that I can see as I own a Spanish Version.

the only downside is/was when the latest update for Blackshark was out I had to wait a while!!! before the Spanish version of the update was released.

DAMN YOU NINJA FERRET! :stare:

HunterICX

[Oberon]

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/914/lolframeferretninja.jpg

[hawk2495]

http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p350/hawk2495/Ninja_ferret_by_wulfnstein.jpg

It says it all.

[Oberon]

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/397/screenshot038e.jpg
Left Engine Fire...

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/3443/screenshot039ib.jpg
Mid-course correction burn....FAIL

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8011/screenshot040p.jpg
Commissars use helicopters these days...

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/1750/screenshot041k.jpg
Make up your mind!

http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/8623/screenshot042d.jpg
Great Success!

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/8938/screenshot043wk.jpg
Hello!

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1053/screenshot045s.jpg
Not the most encouraging thing to see just after you respawn...

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9569/screenshot046t.jpg
Check EKRANS

[Arclight]

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj2/EZatHome/DCS%20Ka-50/ScreenShot_008e.jpg
Comrade Raptov heads home after a scrape with a SAM.

[Dowly]

Probably flying on autopilot. :O:
http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/Dowly/Raptor1.jpg

[Raptor1]

That thing might even fly better on 1.5 wings than on two. :dead:

Sorry about accidentally shooting you down Berbunch, I was trying to save the world from Oberon's wanton destruction...

[Herr-Berbunch]

That thing might even fly better on 1.5 wings than on two. :dead:

Sorry about accidentally shooting you down Berbunch, I was trying to save the world from Oberon's wanton destruction...

No probs, I know it's coming, I just don't know who or when! :O:

IIRC Oberon was stationary at the time, I probably crossed your path. :roll:

And I too notice an improvement in your flying once you lit the wingtip afterburner!

[Dowly]

Raptor1 & Arclight preparing to take off
http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/Dowly/20_08_1.jpg

Arclight touching down at the freshly captured Gudauta airfield
http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/Dowly/20_08_2.jpg

There's the cool guys, then there's the Frogs... we don't hang out with the Frogs. :O:
http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/Dowly/20_08_3.jpg

[Arclight]

Bloody fighter jocks, don't like 'm anyway. :shifty:


Never a dull moment:

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj2/EZatHome/fcScreenShot_000.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj2/EZatHome/fcScreenShot_001.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj2/EZatHome/fcScreenShot_002.jpg

[SgtPotato]

Well, I got to buy the new joystick, let me check my wallet...


http://blog.intronis.com/Portals/64619/images/empty_wallet_2.jpeg


http://www.jappleng.com/jSpot/Sekai/gallery/general-images-a38/okay-meme-face-i10150.jpg

[Dowly]

What sort of trickery is this!? :stare:
http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x462/Dowly/trickery.jpg

[Oberon]

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7977/screenshot001tj.jpg
Raptor and Arclight on take-off while I buzz them

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1230/screenshot002zs.jpg
Turn too wide leaving hangar, break aircraft.

Oberon: Well...that wasn't too bad a landing...although I think something came off...got a warning light and buzzer.
Arclight: Yeah...I think something fell off too...
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/401/screenshot003zb.jpg
Oberon: Oh...erm...that'd do it...erm...anyone give me a push?

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/4765/screenshot004uo.jpg
Raptor on attack run

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/5198/screenshot005mz.jpg
Raptor after attack run...

[Herr-Berbunch]

So has Wednesday's DCS:Flight Night officially become Flaming Cliffs 2 Night yet? :o

I don't mind, I'd just like to know :arrgh!:

[Oberon]

So has Wednesday's DCS:Flight Night officially become Flaming Cliffs 2 Night yet? :o

I don't mind, I'd just like to know :arrgh!:

At the moment I believe the current rule of thumb is Raptor gets his magic dice out and we play whatever it lands on, which is sometimes DCS. However Wednesdays have kinda evolved I think into DCS:BS plus Flaming Cliffs XD
I think I shall probably pull out the Ka-50 next time and practice with hovering...probably into a building.

[Raptor1]

Well, they're pretty much the same game, just different aircraft.

I've been playing FC2 for the last few times we played because flying the same thing all the time gets boring after a while, but I think I'll go back to the Ka-50 as the main aircraft soon enough.

[Herr-Berbunch]

... Ka-50 next time and practice with hovering...probably into a building.

Hey - get your own method, stop stealing mine! :O:

[Raptor1]

I think I shall probably pull out the Ka-50 next time and practice with hovering...probably into a lighthouse.

There, I fixed it.

[Oberon]

There, I fixed it.

:yeah:


Well, the first thing I need to learn is patience. Patience to not fly like a bloody madman at max beep beep beep beep speed to the target and then get a blade strike when two thirds of the way there.

Of course, the primary problem is by the time I do get there, everyone is dead. :hmmm:

[Herr-Berbunch]

:yeah:


Well, the first thing I need to learn is patience. Patience to not fly like a bloody madman at max beep beep beep beep speed to the target and then get a blade strike when two thirds of the way there.

Of course, the primary problem is by the time I do get there, everyone is dead. :hmmm:

Not me! :yep:

As I'm either very late online, spinning above the airfield out of control, or slowly drifting into a hillside in the free-fire zone whilst having my head down flicking switches or re-reading a weapon's Noddy-guide.

[Oberon]

Not me! :yep:

As I'm either very late online, spinning above the airfield out of control, or slowly drifting into a hillside in the free-fire zone whilst having my head down flicking switches or re-reading a weapon's Noddy-guide.

That sounds curiously familar...are we perhaps related? :haha:

[Arclight]

I'd say use a little more organisation. If you look at the callsigns, they're set up in 2 4-ship flights. Set ID accordingly and I'd suggest flight leads mainly spot and tag targets with the data link. Air defenses generally aren't targets, but it helps to know where they are. Primary targets are tanks, with light armour second, prioritise anything that can launch an ATGM.

Ussualy when I pick a #1 position, I'm cruising to the target at 180-200 and you lot overtake me halfway there at breakneck speed, and half of you is shot down by the time I get there. :haha:

So yeah, patience.


I'll see about more missions. Su-25T for SEAD and/or precission strikes, Mig-29, Su-27, Su-33 on CAP, Ka-50 on CAS/strike.

Problem is just that we then need people to actually fly SEAD and CAP. Ka-50 can't do it.

[Raptor1]

It's not a problem, if no one is willing to do it just load up a version of the mission that doesn't have the radar-guided SAM sites or enemy aircraft.

We need more missions anyway, can't run the training mission forever.

[Arclight]

No I was just thinking untill people are somewhat capable. :O:

Seriously though, untill people can at least fly somewhere and establish a hover, anything more demanding just becomes frustrating. In fact, I think we should do more flight training specifically. Do some hopping from base to base, practice landing on FARPs, flying a rough formation (staying in visual contact with a flight lead is good enough).


I could do a video on a simple take-off, trimming for cruise, basic handling, establishing a hover and rough set up for an attack. Might be a good idea actually. :hmmm:

[Herr-Berbunch]

I think we've got the take-off and very basic handling, but I would really appreciate help with the hover and weapons. :yep:

TrackIR coming soon :yeah:, yet another excuse to crash!

[Dowly]

^ You could try and fiddle around with the axis' sensitivities. Think I have the
slider on 25 for pitch, roll & rudder atm and it's much easier to fly. :yep:

[Oberon]

^ You could try and fiddle around with the axis' sensitivities. Think I have the
slider on 25 for pitch, roll & rudder atm and it's much easier to fly. :yep:

By Axis sensitivities do you mean Deadzone, Saturation X, Saturation Y or Curvature? :hmmm:

[Arclight]

Curve I think. I'm using 15 for BS iirc and 20-25 for the hog. Twitchy bugger that one.

[Dowly]

By Axis sensitivities do you mean Deadzone, Saturation X, Saturation Y or Curvature? :hmmm:

Curvature. :yep:

A bit of deadzone (3-5) to rudder helps too. :up:

EDIT:

Problem is just that we then need people to actually fly SEAD and CAP. Ka-50 can't do it.

I'd be happy to fly CAP. :yep:
(not that I'm perfectly familiar with the A-A systems, but I've managed to shoot few things down)

[Oberon]

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/953/screenshot083l.jpg
Another successful landing! :rock:

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/1649/screenshot084ka.jpg
Hunters indestructible Black Shark

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/9803/screenshot085uy.jpg
Task Force tries to figure out how to kill it.

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/7544/screenshot086x.jpg
By using the weapon of heroes, of course!

[HunterICX]

I was wondering why I was going down like a brick:
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1516/screenshot031al.jpg

*hic* I'll get them this time! *hic*
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/209/screenshot032kok.jpg

1:1 Kamov Ka-50 model kit
made in Russia
may not be complete
(glue not included however as a bonus pilot or whatever is left of him may be shipped at no extra charge!)
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/8341/screenshot033cq.jpg

HunterICX

[Schroeder]

OK, you guys have lost me now completely. What are you actually flying. Blackshark? Flaming Cliffs? Rise of Flight or all of the above mentioned?:timeout:

[HunterICX]

OK, you guys have lost me now completely. What are you actually flying. Blackshark? Flaming Cliffs? Rise of Flight or all of the above mentioned?:timeout:

Blackshark (I don't own A10C nor Flaming Cliffs 2)
but since Blackshark and Flaming Cliffs 2 are compatible with eachother sometimes missions are made where some that do own Flaming Cliffs 2 fly the Fixed wing aircraft to support the Blacksharks.

Get Blackshark since we all own it as for Lock On: Flaming Cliffs 2 you'll first need the original LOMAC (Lock On Modern Air Combat) and A10C doesn't seem to work for Oberon yet due his 32bit OS or some other form of sabotage.

as for Rise of Flight:
iirc Arc, Raptor and TF where just trying the DEMO
http://riseofflight.com/tryrof/en

HunterICX

[Herr-Berbunch]

I wondered why Oberon hadn't joined in with A-10 yet. :cry: I thought he was just practicing until perfect and then joining us.

[Raptor1]

The Rise of Flight 'demo' is now pretty much the full game but with only two aircraft. Not bad.

But in either case, the main game we play is Black Shark, as Hunter says.

[Oberon]

I wondered why Oberon hadn't joined in with A-10 yet. :cry: I thought he was just practicing until perfect and then joining us.

Alas it seems that A-10 is just one OS too far for me, it just won't load the multiplayer. Still, I have it now and one day I will most likely upgrade to a 64bit OS and then it'll be sorted.

Sorry chaps, but still at least you still have my presence in Black Shark...although since I seem to have found my blades perhaps that's not a good thing ;)

[Herr-Berbunch]

Alas it seems that A-10 is just one OS too far for me, it just won't load the multiplayer. Still, I have it now and one day I will most likely upgrade to a 64bit OS and then it'll be sorted.


Thought it was was ok on 32 and 64-bit OS :hmmm: Pull yer finger out, mug some end of seaon tourist and get a new OS :yeah:

Mugging FTW.



The author of this does not condone, nor encourage mugging for any reason. Unless it's for a new OS.

[Arclight]

It should be OK. I'm kinda puzzled why they took away the 32b .exe, used to be you could choose to run it in 32b or 64b. Guess the memory requirements just became too high to run a 32b .exe alltogether. :-?

[Oberon]

I know, it does seem daft, but there is a lot of stuff going on in the background so I wager that it was done to improve the ability of the sim to pull things up.

Hopefully when they merge Black Shark and A-10 they will have some form of balancing in the demand, hopefully.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Have you tried the 3Gb switch thing that gets so many mentions around here? (Take it you're on XP?) :hmmm:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1092529&postcount=38

[magicstix]

What kind of control setups do you guys have? Full HOTAS with rudders or just a simple joystick?

[Arclight]

x52 and tir. Started with just a simple stick on the Ka-50, but in the end that's what prompted me to get hotas and tir.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Simple MS joystick that's over 10 years old. And it shows :D

In the market for another X52 Pro - sold mine as I'd not really used it for years, and then... :wah: Wouldn't have the rudders though, but some may.

[Raptor1]

Cheap Logitech joystick, a keyboard and a mouse.

[Dowly]

TIR & X52 here as well.

[Oberon]

X52 Pro, no TIR but I hope to change that at some point.

[magicstix]

Wow a lot of you have Tracker IR... Is it really that epic?

[Dowly]

Wow a lot of you have Tracker IR... Is it really that epic?

For combat flight simulators, it's a must to keep constant SA.

[hawk2495]

mmmmm track IR... It is truly epic, to say the absolute minimum. You'll never look at a flight sim the same way again. Once you go Track, you never go back...:arrgh!:

[magicstix]

It seems a bit overpriced to me for something you can do with a wiimote and some IR reflective tape...

However, something like Tracker IR + this bad boy would probably be really insane:
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/tv-accessories/sony-hmz-t1-personal-3d-viewer-review-50005000/

[Arclight]

Epic? Er, kinda a nescesity in DCS to look around the cockpit and flip a switch. In anything related to dogfighting it allows you to keep an eye on what you're chasing, though a lot of sims offer padlock views that essentially accomplish the same thing.

There's free alternatives though, people say FreeTrack (http://www.free-track.net/english/) works a treat.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I got TrackIR in time for last Thursday's Flight Night, and it really is good! My flight back to base was done at low level following a railway - before I'd have to punch up more often than not but I could stay lower and for longer by easily turning my head to suit the situation. That said, I still crashed but that was because I'd got to external view. :damn: My next vally-busting flight will be much improved with it. :yeah:

The only downside to it so far, and it's probably just because it needs tweaking at my end, is in the cockpit I'll look toward a button I want to push and the slightest movement of my head then makes me have to chase around with the mouse - again :damn:, also looking at the bottom l/r panels (ground safe/lighting, etc.) was difficult - I had to really contort to view correctly - again it'll just need tweaking I expect. The first issue with full HOTAS wouldn't be a problem I expect. :hmmm: Just need to remember your button setup.


Previously I'd tried FaceTrackNoIR, which just uses some free demo (not time limited) software and a normal unmolested webcam - and it didn't work for me - the setup software worked and I could track head movement well but in game it didn't work despite having a specific DCS A-10C profile done by DCS, also it screwed my Steam install. I didn't try FreeTrack but a friend has and said it works fine - but he's still going to save to get TrackIR in the long run.

[Schroeder]

You can adjust movement speed and strength (is that the right word?) in your Track IR profiles.