Must Have AH2 Add-On's?

[Supaf1y]

I have downloaded and installed the hi-rez texture pack and RangerSounds 2. Is there anything else that is considered "must have" add-on's. Sorry for the noob question but hey....I'm a noob.

Thanks!

[Supaf1y]

Please...slow down with all the replies! Information overload. I'm overwhelmed by the AH community spirit here.

Just kidding of course. Must have been a dumb question so sorry about that. I'll move on.

[Krusty]

Folks only reply to what they see. Have to give it time sometimes.


The high-res pack gives you the default textures at high res.

For me, having the skins downloaded is a must. I can live without high-res, as long as I can choose the skins I please

Best (but slowest) way is to enable the "download skins" checkbox in the hangar while online.

[Tigger29]

First off, you HAVE to download HI-RES if you want to enable 1024 textures (if you don't, even though you select 1024, you'll really only have 512).  If you select 512, the HI-RES doesn't make any difference.

As far as soundpacks go, there are many you can choose from... personally I use the MITSU soundpack, but there are several (Just do a forum search for Sound Packs).

Then there's the Map Editor utility.. pretty much useless now that 8 player is no more... and I've tried playing around with it a few times... it's just too confusing for me.

And lastly, there is a Pilot Stats/Aircraft performance software you can download that will pull info off of the servers and graph everything out all pretty for you.  I just got these the other day, haven't had a chance to really do much yet (You can download these HERE .

[Motherland]

As far as soundpacks go, IMO, Mitsu's is the best. But Twinboom has better engine sounds, so I suggest you use a combination of the two.

[715]

I have a question about the HiRes pack.  I've never downloaded it yet I have both the 512 and 1024 .TCA files, the 1024 ones are 4 times as big as the 512.  Does AH just up-res the 512 by doubling x and y pixels to generate the 1024 textures if you haven't downloaded the pack?

[Krusty]

I believe that's what it does.

When you rebuild the cache, it's taking your largest size (default game comes with 512, hi-res gives you 1024) and resampling it.

That's why it starts looking crappy in 246 texture resolution, because it's down sampled so much.

[Bruv119]

Don't forget Waffles I still use his mainly and some custom ones for special things like puffy ack and machine gun sounds.

I suggest you download all of them and spend many hours deciding which ones you like best and come up with a hybrid.

I'm too lazy to try any of the newer ones because i'm used to the wind/stall sounds of my current one.  If you have ample time play around with it.  

AH doesn't apply AA settings in game, if you have an uber PC start with 4x AA on desktop or use a program that saves profiles.  Hit shift + F1 for full vis range in game.

The clarity of having AA on with the hi res pack will make it look much better than the default game.

[The Fugitive]

So basically what they are saying here is there really isn't many "add-ons" for Aces High. You can change the sounds, there are a few "head positions" files around (in stead of setting your head positions in each plane and saving them you just load this up.) There is nothing else you can alter in the game.

There are no "mods" and such. HTC keeps a very tight grip on his software, which helps to keep out hacks and "cheat codes".

Players are allowed to contribute both skins and maps, but under very strict rules which are posted in the "Terrains" and "Skin and sounds" threads.

[Krusty]

I would also suggest that 1024 (hi-res) textures are almost useless on resolutions up to and including 1280x1024. Most monitors stop at this resolution (sadly, so does mine). There just aren't enough pixels to use all the pixels on the textures themselves, and when they down-sample/down-size to fit the physical pixels on your monitor, you get shimmering on buildings and many other objects.

512 looks acceptable to me. The only place you can notice a difference is on your own plane, and more so in bombers than in fighters. Plus, 512 texture resolution uses 1/4 the video RAM, allowing me to crank up other settings on my vid card.

[Supaf1y]

Great info everyone and I appreciate it. I too see little difference in using the 1024 hi-res setting @ 1280x1024 resolution. The ranger sound pack sounds pretty good although I'm not too sure I like that music that seems to start up at random times during flight. I will have to try different or a combo of sound packs as suggested.

I will also give that "Pilot Stats/Aircraft performance software" a try...sounds interesting.


I didn't think there were really "mods" per say but had to ask just in case. Wasn't sure exactly how different things were here compared to the IL2 community.

Thanks again!

[Krusty]

You can see the difference when looking at your own plane's wings. The panel lines are a bit more refined (and little details). In the cockpit, the text on labels in the instruments is crisper.

On B24s/B17s it's MUCH more noticable in the cockpit bitmaps.

Outside that, not much noticable difference.

[USRanger]

Don't forget Sketch's gunsight collection, found in my sig.

[uptown]

Don't forget Sketch's gunsight collection, found in my sig.

YES! sketch's gunsights are a must have, as well as rangers sound pack. I won't play the game without them anymore...ever!

[Newman5]

Great info...thanks all.