New aviator
 

Hello, recently, I came across IL 2: 1946 for a reasonable price. I thought of getting it, but decided against it because I did not know enough about the game.

1. How hard is the game to play without a joystick? I own one, just don't have it on me (On vacation, will return home in about 3 days).

2. How is the multiplayer community? Are they generally helpful and laid back? (I've had times I've been discouraged from flight combat sims because of "Pro hardcore" gamers)

3. Are the skins of your plane customizable? I'd love to fly a plane with Swedish colors ;)

Thanks in advance,

SwedishSubmarine

Hello, and welcome!

1. Very hard. Some people do it, but if you want to enjoy the game and even be succesful in the process then use a stick. Preferably one with a throttle, and, not everyone agrees on this part, force feedback. For me the force feedback is a necessity.

2. Generally they're quite helpful. There are always a few jerks around no matter where you go, discounting our coops, but they're definitely a small minority. In any case it's a good idea to get a grip of the basics before jumping online. I think taking off and landing in one piece most of the time qualifies you for online flying, since people don't generally like if someone "wastes" aircraft. Our coops are again somewhat an exception :lol:

3. Yes they are, and the good thing is even online everyone sees your skin if they have the necessary option ticked from the menu(Custom skins download). I'm sure there are already a few swedish skins around. Check this site: http://mission4today.com

Playing the game with the keyboard is possible, so if you have to use it for just 3 days it's fine (Been using it for a while until I got my new joystick...)

Hello and Welcome:ping:
2: Then you're in the right place :arrgh!: we may not be big but we try to help eachother in whatever we can. ''Pro hardcore'' :roll: well, we are defently not that :rotfl: we may be experienced but we still have some good old mess ups with our online campaign sorties.
we fly together for fun and to spend some good time, thats what matters in my opinion.:up:

HunterICX

Thank you for the replies. I will be purchasing the game today, and will deal with a keyboard for the few days I have too. :rock: After I get back home to my joystick, I'll be able to go online :up:

Swedish_Submarine

Hi Swedish Sub :sunny:

Welcome Aboard. :up:

Youwon't regret buying IL2 1946. It's the whole IL series wrapped in one package.

You can use this time to get familar with the game.

Curious, What kinda Stick do you have ?

Regards FIREWALL

Welcome to the Lolwaffles! :up:

Unfortunately the store sold the last copy :huh: . I'll look when I get home. So, what other flight sims would you recommend?

For Online : IL2 1946

for Single player Campaign : Wings of Victory - Battle of Britain II

HunterICX

For my 2p, I would add a few more "very's" to the "very hard" bit.

As for FF, I would have agreed with Fincuan until I was forced to play on a non-FF joystick for a while, and I found that actually the game provides plenty of feedback by other means - mostly audio, and some visual (the cockpit starts to shake and shudder when the plane is pushed hard) and now I can fly without FF just as well as with. It does take some getting used to, though.

Amazon?
Ebay?
Plenty of cheap copies of 1946 to be found. :yep:

True, but with FF you feel things you cant see. For example, the stalling (You know, when the cockpit starts to shake) starts abit earlier than the screen starts to shake. So, with FF you can feel the spot and fly just under it for best turn speed-wise.

Above that, with FF, you can adjust the stiffness of the spring. This is great for planes that are very sensitive to controls (190, P51 to name few).

Just my 2 cents, I started with a non-FF stick, and now have FF one, wouldnt change it to anything! (Tho, I'm thinking of ordering the X52 in the end of the month. :hmm:)

I've had the X52 since it first came out and love it.

Haven't had any probs and is just sweeter with the rudder pedals.:yep:

I started with an FF stick, then after several years of absence from the game restarted with an X52. Just for ****s and giggles I then retried the FF stick, and haven't looked back ever since. The X52, even though being great for modern jet sims, is imho way too slack for prop sims without modding the spring. Even with some kind of spring mod it just doesn't compare to MSFFB2 :up:

Logitech Attack 3. Friend in America shipped it here, told me it was a good starter.