Getting Clubbed

[SlidingHorn]

Hi All,

New member, here...I DLed the game a couple years back on a crap PC with an even worse internet connection.  I decided to practice a bunch offline, watch some tutorials & YT vids (Many thanks to Vudu15, btw...I'm open to suggestions of other channels, too), and peruse the forum & help/training dox before logging on.  After a while, I felt like I was confident enough to hop into the fray....

Wow, was I wrong.

Having a lot of fun, but I'm getting blown out of the sky constantly, and got one lucky kill through about 24 hours in the Main Arena (late war).  I'm sure most of it will boil down to "need to practice more," but I'd like to get some time w/ a trainer, too. 

Pretty sure I'll primarily be flying a P38-L (love the range-of-view on the 38s) if that factors in.  I obviously haven't been playing enough to have a "regular" time in the TA, so I'd be glad to block out some time.

Arena Name:  MusicMan
Time Zone:  Eastern (US)
Availability:  Evenings & Weekends

Thanks ahead of time, and go easy on the "Baby Seal" 

[Sunka]

Hi SlidingHorn and welcome.
It can take a very long time to really start to feel comfortable ,so don't feel discouraged .
First off try and get time with a trainer,they are used to teaching so tend to be best (but offers from many players should also be welcome).

I have a video on the merge,the first acm in any fight.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blQcADYuYfk
Watching that (might) help but flying with a trainer is best to start.
You can feel free to pm me in game and wing up anytime i fly rook. Or you can pm here and set up a time and i would be happy to go over some basic acm.
<S> Good Luck

[Muzzy]

Getting clubbed is part of the process.

See the thread that lists currently active trainers and pm one of them for a lesson. You might also want to post a request for a 38 trainer, since that bird has some specific challenges to it. Read up on basic ACM..."In Pursuit" is available for free on .pdf, and there are other great online resources to look at. Also, read up on the different planes in the game and try to learn their strengths and weaknesses. It helps to take other birds out for a check ride just to see what they can do, but make a solid commitment to learn the 38...fly it for an entire tour before you start shopping around.

I'd be willing to spar with you in the TA if you'd like some practice. PM if interested.

[FLS]

I'm available this Thursday evening Musicman. Let me know what time is convenient.

[mbailey]

If u want someone to shoot at in the TA P38 to P38 shoot me a PM......Glad to be your drone 

Welcome back Musicman 

[Pandora]

Getting clubbed is part of the process.

See the thread that lists currently active trainers and pm one of them for a lesson. You might also want to post a request for a 38 trainer, since that bird has some specific challenges to it. Read up on basic ACM..."In Pursuit" is available for free on .pdf, and there are other great online resources to look at. Also, read up on the different planes in the game and try to learn their strengths and weaknesses. It helps to take other birds out for a check ride just to see what they can do, but make a solid commitment to learn the 38...fly it for an entire tour before you start shopping around.

I'd be willing to spar with you in the TA if you'd like some practice. PM if interested.

The supposed trainers don't even bother to reply.

[SlidingHorn]

I haven't PMed them yet, but I've already gotten two offers less than 12 hours after asking for help.

I saw your chat in the Rook channel - did the new guy you're talking about try to schedule training?

[mthrockmor]

Musicman, some of the other readers will flame me for saying this but...

You must know that the 38 flies with a great big bull's eye on its wings. It is an excellent plane, and in the hands of the right person dangerous.

What I am saying, is if you feel like you are getting smoked hard realize when you fly into icon range where the bad guys see you, most of them are trying to get at you. It is perceived as the easier bird to kill. So given a choice of chasing a PonyD, Spit, La7, etc most will try to kill the 38, meaning everyone wants a piece of your Lightning.

If you want to learn the 38 you've had some good sticks offer. Just realize you are learning in a tough bird. What that ultimately means is when you learn it you will be dangerous yourself. I fly the Fw-190A5 most of the time and do rather well in it. I remember pestering Pervert (generally considered the best 190D pilot ingame) about lessons on the 190. He never did but gave me one very sound bit of advice...be prepared to die a thousand plus times before you learn it. At this point I'm well past that learning curve and kill far more than die when I get serious. You'll do the same. Just listen to Pervert and his messed up Irish sage advice.

Boo

PS The Headhunters squad specialize in the 38. To a stick really good at that plane.

[mthrockmor]

Clarification: Mbailey is one of those 80th Headhunter guys. They are the nirvana of 38 love,...and donkeys but I'll save that for another thread.

[SlidingHorn]

Musicman, some of the other readers will flame me for saying this but...

I don't see why...it's a valid point.  I've been reading a lot about it, and it's a lot of plane to aim for, it's not that fast, etc.  I had a pretty good idea I'd be shot down a lot to start...I'm definitely not bothered by it, but I certainly don't want it to continue forever!

Honestly, I kind of kept with it because I could see out of it better than the several other planes I've tried...not that it's helpful if you don't look around often enough, like me  

 

[FLS]

Have you adjusted your views? The default views can be improved, particularly the rear views.

[The Fugitive]

I don't see why...it's a valid point.  I've been reading a lot about it, and it's a lot of plane to aim for, it's not that fast, etc.  I had a pretty good idea I'd be shot down a lot to start...I'm definitely not bothered by it, but I certainly don't want it to continue forever!

Honestly, I kind of kept with it because I could see out of it better than the several other planes I've tried...not that it's helpful if you don't look around often enough, like me  

 

The 38 is very fast but you have to know how to handle her at speed. She will hold that speed/E better than most planes as well. The reason she is THE main target is two fold. One as you mentioned shes big. Two, more often than not she is being used as a bomb truck and the person flying her doesn't know how to do much else with her.

Morphine is a good trainer and spends most nights in the training arena, stop in and as him for some tips.

[SlidingHorn]

Have you adjusted your views? The default views can be improved, particularly the rear views.

I have, but for some planes I couldn't get a very good back-up or back-side-up view. 

Two, more often than not she is being used as a bomb truck and the person flying her doesn't know how to do much else with her.

Sounds familiar....nah...can't be.  I use rockets 

[Sunka]

The supposed trainers don't even bother to reply.

This sounds a bit harsh.
We have many great trainers that take the time out of there busy lives to try and help new players ,and in that helping the whole AH community.
Some are just inactive I'm sure.
I do agree we need 5 to 7 more trainers that are on regularly,but the ones we have don't deserve to be accused of ignoring new players that ask for help.
 

[FLS]

I have, but for some planes I couldn't get a very good back-up or back-side-up view. 

To improve the back/up view try moving your head all the way to one side.