First time online in AH

[Wardog]

LOL Bullgrit..

Allmost all of your problems are of your own creation.

Yes, you came in AH knowing ACM, but ACM is useless if you dont read the Help file, keyboard commands, stick mapping, keyboard mapping, calibrating.

This is the biggest reason why new players get fed up fast, they cant be bothered reading the help files AH has on there web page.

It may seem nice to jump into it and wana fly right off. But that will just get you dead. Spend 30minutes to read the help files, AH will seem so easy to use then.

Dog out.....

[iculus]

You can also call friendlies on the radio, and see if any are near the area that you see dots.  

If I'm on, add me to the list of people offering to help!  

IC

[Snoopi]

Bullgrit: Hang in there...it will get easier.

I do have to say something in Bullgrit's defence.
The Help docs are not that great.
They are more like "Reference Docs" than help docs.
For a former WB player etc.  they are fine.
But for true newbies they are not perfect.
(since the last time I looked at them)

Since most newbies wanna "login and fly" a short "Essentials" Doc. would be great.

A simple walk-through with:
- launch AH
- selecting video settings
- Setting up your stick
- go offline
- selecting the AC
- Selecting fuel and drop tanks and loadout
- Go to the runway
- setting your seat position
  and how the views work
- setting your radio(s) up
  and how they work
- start engine
- drop flaps
- throttle up

then "auto takeoff" helps them out.
(explain that "Auto takeoff" is an option)

- attack a hanger at your home field
  (no ack to deal with)
- then shoot at the offline drones
  (after dumping drop tanks)
- Throttle down drop flaps and gear and land.

(maybe the bail/open chute somewhere in there)

Having the offline drones flying 4 miles away
from the field and being a mix of enemy and friendly would help learn how the radar "works".

A document that:
-lets them fly almost right away
-steps them though actually doing the basic
 "things"


Regards,
Snoopi

[LLv34_Snefens]

I must say people really try to help you Bullgrit. LOL, I picture 10 people typing like crazy for 30 minutes (90 for Hamish  ) answering the questions/remarks only to realize they have typed in vain.
So I'll just comment on your reply:
 
The icon situation: I did see icons when within the 5.0k range, but there was always a gaggle of dots outside that range that I had to investigate up close. It almost always turned out to be 5 or 6 friendlies, sometimes with one enemy. Makes for a waste of time and lost altitude.

Its true that you have to be within 6K to get icons on, but it is possible to get a good clue about what the cluster of dots ahead consist of before going close. Take a look at the radar. Often you won't be able to see the red dots because you are not close to any of your bases, but you will always see the greens. So if you for instance see 3 dots ahead but radar only shows one green dot, you know that its most likely a friend fighting 2 enemies etc.
These conclusions I make almost without thinking about it anymore.

[Rickenbacker]

OK, trying hard not to flame  , but if you'd read the help files/HTC web site help before flying 90% of these problems would have been nonexistent. The remaining 10% could probably be solved by making sure you have the latest version of DirectX and/or joystick drivers.

AH is a game, but it's a fairly complex game. You can't expect to master it instantly without reading up on it a bit...


------------------
        Rickenbacker (Ricken)

                -ISAF-
the Independent Swedish Air Force

[Snoopi]

 

Originally posted by Rickenbacker:
OK, trying hard not to flame   , but if you'd read the help files/HTC web site help before flying 90% of these problems would have been nonexistent. The remaining 10% could probably be solved by making sure you have the latest version of DirectX and/or joystick drivers.

AH is a game, but it's a fairly complex game. You can't expect to master it instantly without reading up on it a bit...

Very true....
But a lot of people just want to fly NOW ..

I still think a quick walk-thru would let those people do it as quickly as possible.
Some users read "reference style" manuals and their eyes roll back.  

Eventually they would read for more detail.

I think the trick is to get the "2 week" trial users up to speed so they can enjoy the game as fast as possible.

Ask anyone in a IT tech support job...
Everyone is different in learning styles and speed.