Gaming Digital Combat Simulator Thread

[astrosammy]

BTW, is there any info on speed/position constraints for the sling loads to hook up? Looks like I still need a lot of training with the UH-1.


Nothing planned for the weekend, I'd be availabe on Saturday.

 

[astrosammy]

Well, that was fast...

 

[ex-orbinaut]

Flying directly towards them at low altitude without countermeasures. Getting hit and continuing to do the same thing. (I'm real good at getting hit by SAMs)

:lol: Well, there is a point during SAM evasion during which you "don't just do something, sit there", but it is not that one! I meant by my previous questions that you might consider what phase (or conditions) during your SAM shoot-downs was not being properly managed, but the following says it all in a nutshell, really...

Turn left or right until your wingtip points at the SAM site and activate countermeasures program as recommended by semi-auto mode while already turning. if your opponent is radar guided and the missile has already been launched, activate ECM for some seconds (don't leave it on forever - there is a technology called home on jam)

The treatment given SAM evasion in the FC3 manual is well worth a read, too, and evasion is generally the same for all aircraft. Go 2D on the SAM (right angles to its trajectory). Once you have established the optimum evasion angle, keep it. Wild gyrations and snappy maneuvers will not help.

No, I do not propose that I am an expert (far from it), but I do find jousting with SAMs a lot of fun in DCS. It is simply a procedure, executed with a cool head. Probably not text book perfect, but here's a "test tube" example of "spoofing" some Geckos in an SU-25A, without ECM pod and using only chaff, to get an idea...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Db_Fz-3tz0"]SA-8 Evasion Su-25A - YouTube[/ame]

The whole episode was 10 minutes long, shortened to five here.

 

[JSwift]

The last time I seriously checked on DCS it was still in the early Black Shark days and I was fully immersed in the Falcon 4 Allied Force campaigns. Things have certainly changed with DCS!!

After reading this thread and with a new gaming PC coming my way in a few days, I think I'm about to waste spend a whole lot of time on this. Hopefully I can get up to speed on some new aircraft and join some of you online at some point - what I've seen so far looks awesome.

Any specific PC hardware to avoid?
Never used it but is TrackIR a must?
When do you think the next DCS sale will happen?

 

[Fabri91]

• Avoid AMD graphics cards: apparently they do not play too well with DCS (lower performance).
• TIR is definitely a must. It's glorious.
• DCS sales appear to happen more or less once every season, plus major holidays sometimes.

EDIT:
And you'll want an SSD, at least for DCS. Otherwise loading times will be like running it on a potato.

 

[Ripley]

An SSD only for DCS? Holy cow!

 

[Urwumpe]

An SSD only for DCS? Holy cow!

I wish I would have done that. My 120 GB SSD is already reserved for Windows, Office and Visual Studio, but DCS would also still fit well there.

 

[astrosammy]

I see a huge difference in loading times compared to my laptop, even on a HDD.
I had to wait five minutes for Huey missions to load, now it's down to one or two.
My 120 GB SSD is reserved for Windows and the real long loaders like KSP.

As there's still space I've just moved the 11 GB "Bazar" folder over to the SSD. Quick test, less then 30 seconds loading time.

I feel quite happy with using my Joystick's POV switch and the Mouse (when I don't need it for clicking switches) for views.

 

[Fabri91]

An SSD only for DCS? Holy cow!

No no, big misunderstanding! What I mean is it is advisable to install it on a SSD, even a small one without the OS if budget is tight. But 64GB drives are nearly not available anymore, and 120 are enough for the OS and DCS.

 

[Richy]

This looks like you need to be really lucky to get a Mav into range. :blink:

Last time I was quite successful with using a AGM-65H in Force Correlate Tracking Mode. This way it is possible to launch these on greater ranges. But it needs some skills flying low and using terrain to mask you from the radar.

 

[Urwumpe]

Last time I was quite successful with using a AGM-65H in Force Correlate Tracking Mode. This way it is possible to launch these on greater ranges. But it needs some skills flying low and using terrain to mask you from the radar.

Also you need daylight, with the H model.

 

[Hielor]

TIR is nice but not super-necessary. I have three monitors, and haven't really used my TIR since I got my three monitors set up.

I have all my games running on a WD Velociraptor, and loading times are fine. An SSD isn't absolutely necessary.

 

[JSwift]

• Avoid AMD graphics cards: apparently they do not play too well with DCS (lower performance).
• TIR is definitely a must. It's glorious.
• DCS sales appear to happen more or less once every season, plus major holidays sometimes.

EDIT:
And you'll want an SSD, at least for DCS. Otherwise loading times will be like running it on a potato.

Thanks for the feedback. The main drive is a 250GB SSD for the OS plus whatever else. DCS will certainly claim it's place on there. There's also a 2TB WD Black drive which should be ok for other apps (Orbiter2014 looks like it will take up a lot of space with the new high res textures).

I think I'll start without TrackIR but will probably get it later. I'm used to looking around in Falcon with the POV hat so that should be fine while learning.

 

[Melvin]

Started new thread. Please disregard.

 

[Richy]

So, anyone up for a session next saturday?
Urwumpe, like to try your tactics at these enemies?

Any suggestions about the weather and time for tomorrow? I is still morning of a warm summerday with some clouds and light wind.

 

[Urwumpe]

Any suggestions about the weather and time for tomorrow? I is still morning of a warm summerday with some clouds and light wind.

Well, I won't fly... will celebrate my fathers birthday. But some friendly weather isn't that bad. If you know in advance, that you will do a night mission its also OK...

I just dislike fog as A-10C pilot... makes it really hard to find targets.

 

[Richy]

Server now open!

Richy's Pirate Flight School
No password

Default weapons training mission, incl. Huey cargo missions + TF-51D.

Scenario-Weather: as usual
Scenario-Time: 0900 LT

---------- Post added at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:55 PM ----------

ok, server crashed... again...
possibly too much assets active. Or just an other bug in the UI as it happend exactly when I tried to move a target of a ground unit.

 

[Quick_Nick]

My computer works again, and it's summer.
So maybe, just maybe, I can fly online sometime. :lol:

 

[Hielor]

As a hypothetical question, what would it take to have a dedicated server running?

Is it possible to have something that "cycles" through various missions? Or maybe to have stuff "respawn" regularly?

I looked into this a few months back and the dedicated server capabilities seemed somewhat lacking...just curious if it's changed since then.

 

[Richy]

I have the server open again (but I don't know for how long). So, If anybody is interested he may join me.
Same name, same password.

--

Right at the moment when your plane crashed, sammy, the server crashed. But I intented to shut it down anyway. ^^

Some of the impressions:
-------------------------

Formation Take-Off with Sammy:




Lehmann hauling cargo: