Suggestions for FFG Beginner
 

Been playing for several months now. Learning DW without any SC experience was a bit challenging, but I think I have the basics of the Subs + Helo + Orion down.

Then there's the FFG.

I tried using the same approach to learning the FFG as I did the other platforms. (Read the manual, then some online tutorials, then some Quick Missions.) Unfortunately, the manual is obtuse, there are no good online tutorials, and I am overwhelmed after the first 5 minutes. (15 new contacts by 3 seperate modalities in the first minute???!?)

Any tips on how you guys learned to drive a FFG?

Use quick missions on easy, you should have one target.
Also, don't use ALL the sensors at once. First learn how to use radar and ESM on surface targets, then learn how to use TA and Active sonar on subs, then learn about buoys, then start to use the helo.
It's not that hard if you concentrate on one station only.

This is good advice. But how do we nubs know which mission has the necessary action for each station? ie some missions may have subs while others have airplanes.

If you know how to use the seawolf or other US subs then your ablity to learn the TMA and to use the towed array on the FFG is helped.

What's really new with the FFG is using the radar and other guns. Active Sonar on the sub is similar although not the same as the FFG's active sonar.

If you learned to use the P3C then you should know about grams and sonar buoys. This should also apply to using the Helicopter as a user controlled platform. And these two platforms should give you some skills in the use of torpedoes. At least the skills necessary to learn to set the ceiling and speed and pattern for the torpedoes. The FFG's torpedo station is a lot different so that will have to be studied.

What's really missing for the FFG is some short and easy tutorials for each type of station on the FFG.

I figure I will learn to use the mission editor and then make some easy misisons for the FFG. One mission with just a sub that tries to avoid me. One mission for a jet or other airplane that flys near my FFG so that I can learn to use the gun stations.

Trying to learn all stations at the same time is too much for one man, especially if using manual mode. I would set up most of the stations on Autocrew and learn one station at a time using the manual mode. Is that possible to do? I hope so.

That's where quick missions come handy. On 'easy' you have one target which class you can specify.

Sure .. full mission editor is always better and not so hard to grasp.

Also .. for missile practice .. learn how to start and command the hello .. then shoot the hello :rotfl:

Which, unfortunately, seems to be limited to ASW for the frigate.

The "escort" mission on medium and hard puts surface combattants into the mix. The hard missions are a little bit contrived in the sense that a surface combattant always starts off within visual range. That's okay, though. Since you're tipped off now, you can be braced for him, kill him quickly and move on to the trigger happy surface combattant firing cruise missiles at you.

If it was me designing quick missions, I'd put an enemy helo within visual range and have him spot for the cruise missile shooter, but nobody listens to me.

*shrug*

Hey SQ .. here we all listen to you :arrgh!:

...Or at least look at you.;)

Oh really?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Unless you have the FFG ship down pat using the hard missions would be ...too hard. A beginnner needs a slower game so that they can think about what to do for a while. Having an ememy already in range when the game starts is for the experts.

I did manage to get a missle fired and shot down one of my own helicopters. It took me a few days reading and asking questions to figure out how to start off a single player game with two helicopters on the FFG at the very start of the game. With help of some of the other forum members I figured out how to do that finally. Right now I am stuck. I need to read up on how to insert aircraft into a single player mission using the mission editor. Once I get that figured out I plan on learning to use the FFG's radars, missiles and guns to do some target practice.

It's contrived is what it is. I can play it, but only because I'm fast. I don't enjoy it because it's not really telling me anything about operations. Actually, you know what kind of surface engagement DW seems to do better than anything else? Small boats swarms. Small boats in DW totally rock because you can easily put enough randomness into the enemy to make them behave in a way that's really fun. Throw in some suicide bombers and shore based ASCMs for support and you've got a tough scenario. Each one might not be so scary, but in big swarms, in a high traffic area, they're deadly.