Views and eliminating blindspots

[B4Buster]

Howdy,

Returning to the game after years of inactivity last night, one of my main frustrations was quickly remembered. I'm using a joystick with an 8-position hat switch and even when I was playing everyday, always struggled to find views that would help eliminate blindspots.

Is there any magic mapping that would help this? Anyone else with a similar setup care to share their mappings? I've changed my view settings dozens of times over the years but could never come up with anything optimal.   

[Zimme83]

Depends on FOV settings, a larger FOV makes the different views to overlap and makes it easier to track an enemy. Depending on plane you should move the head position for each view so you get the smallest possible blind spots. (this is mostly done by default in AH 3, unlike AH 2)

[B4Buster]

Depends on FOV settings, a larger FOV makes the different views to overlap and makes it easier to track an enemy. Depending on plane you should move the head position for each view so you get the smallest possible blind spots. (this is mostly done by default in AH 3, unlike AH 2)

I guess I never knew about FOV settings? these can be adjusted?

And yeah I know how to move the head position around (and did notice that AH3 now optimizes for you - nice feature). I guess I'm having difficulty picking up targets in the 45 degree range.

thanks for the input!

[Max]

Open AHIII to the front splash screen. Click on Video settings. On the new window, upper right, you'll see FOV options. I use the custom setting of 110. AHII was set to 106.

[B4Buster]

Will check that out - thanks Max!

[popeye]

One option is to program a button as an "UP" modifier.  For instance, if one hat position is back-left, you can have back-left-up by pressing the hat and the UP modifier button.  You can also program a button to switch "modes" so you can double the number of views selected by the hat.

[Bizman]

Adjusting FOV can help you seeing things, but a big FOV number will also twist the way you see the world around you. For AH3 it was decreased to 80 for the most common monitors, the way it is in most other flight sim games, later it was increased to what it now defaults. If you increase it to 150 you'll see your wingtips in front of you like Superman's fists and both your gunsight and the target you're aiming at through it will be farther away and smaller.

You can also use the F7, F8 and F9 buttons to temporarily change the way your hat shows the view. F1 will reset the default setting - which in turn can be modified to suit your liking.

An UP button is very useful as popeye said. I've also grown accustomed to a dedicated Front-Up button for chasing an enemy.

Play with the settings to find what suits you best. There's quite a lot you can do.

[B4Buster]

Thanks guys - I think I have a few things to go off of. I never realized how much it frustrated me until I returned to the game yesterday. I do have a triple-monitor setup which I opted not to use for AH. Maybe that would help a bit too.

[Dobs]

So to tag onto this....

I have a button which (when in mode 1) toggles to mode 3, and when in mode 3 toggles to mode 1.  Mode 1 is my level views, mode 3 is my high views.  Rest of HOTAS is the same....enables me to toggle quickly and not have to dedicate a finger to holding down a button while fighting/talking etc...


Why modeset 3? Well since I just started the game a few months back, wasn't sure what the mode 2 preset was all about (what with the vehicle and boat label), so I went to 3...only reason:)

[Randy1]

Then there is the tech side.  TrackIR and the up and coming VRs.

[FLS]

I guess I never knew about FOV settings? these can be adjusted?

And yeah I know how to move the head position around (and did notice that AH3 now optimizes for you - nice feature). I guess I'm having difficulty picking up targets in the 45 degree range.

thanks for the input!

I'm glad you like the optimized views. 

I second popeye's suggestion that you program an "up" view to a button you can use while using the 8 way hat. that also gives you the option of looking straight up.

The default FOV is 90 degrees now. In AH2 it was 106.

[B4Buster]

I'm glad you like the optimized views. 

I second popeye's suggestion that you program an "up" view to a button you can use while using the 8 way hat. that also gives you the option of looking straight up.

The default FOV is 90 degrees now. In AH2 it was 106.

Oh was that your doing? When I launched my first sortie I remembered that I would have to adjust views (as you did in AHII). I was confused when it was already adjusted for me  but a nice surprise!

I did change the FOV to 106 as you guys suggested and that definitely helped a bit. I will try the "up" button as you folks suggested, too.

Again, thanks for all of the suggestions. This had been one of my biggest frustrations when I was active.

[FLS]

Oh was that your doing? When I launched my first sortie I remembered that I would have to adjust views (as you did in AHII). I was confused when it was already adjusted for me  but a nice surprise!

I did change the FOV to 106 as you guys suggested and that definitely helped a bit. I will try the "up" button as you folks suggested, too.

Again, thanks for all of the suggestions. This had been one of my biggest frustrations when I was active.

It was HiTech's idea, I was just the volunteer.  AH3 had an 80 degree FOV in the beta and the views were optimized for that but they work for 90 or 106 too. The front view was also tilted down a little but that can be restored with the Home key then F10 to save if you don't want the full instrument view.

[Marco]

One option is to program a button as an "UP" modifier.  For instance, if one hat position is back-left, you can have back-left-up by pressing the hat and the UP modifier button.  You can also program a button to switch "modes" so you can double the number of views selected by the hat.

Exactly. I have a separate button for looking directly up and it is used in unison with my various hat-views to provide even more view options.

The right plane helps too, like the P51D. I'm not the best pilot in one, but man the openness of its canopy is lovely.

[Max]

My current FOV is 110 and I use a 24" monitor. Given the optimized views of AHIII, should I be using a different FOV?