Simulated Aerial Combat Roundtable

[CptTrips]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll pick up the 109K-4 or the Super Sabre in the next couple of days so I can try it out at some point.

And the huey.  You really need a huey.

[hazmatt]

That's where my grandfather and granduncles were. Two of them came back in coffin. Also, my aunt's husband acted there as a gunner in war booty T34/85. He made it in one piece.

They must have really given the Russians a bloody nose to make them decide that they'd had enough.

[GasTeddy]

They must have really given the Russians a bloody nose to make them decide that they'd had enough.

Well, like at Karelian Isthmus at summer 1944, Finnish StuG III G assault guns knocked out total 87 Soviet tanks and assault guns while own combat losses were only 8 vehicles. At least 3 of them were blown up by their own crew because of mechanical failures, to prevent Russians having them.

I spent a lot of time at my grandfathers farm when I was a kid and he never talked about the war, but what I heard from other sources, he had turned some Soviet tanks to scrap metal with some melee weapons. He was an infantryman.

[hazmatt]

Very impressive for sure. I'm doubtful there are many countries who have men like that these says.

True, most of the guys that were involved in something like this don't talk much. The only place I've been able to get vets to talk about the war is at the VFW and it's usually rather limited as to what they would say. I would try to ask them general questions and nothing specific to get them to talk.

The best way I can think of describing it after talking to many combat vets from various wars is that it was like a darkness. Sometimes they were willing to step to the edge of the darkness that they lived with every day. Most of the time they tried to stay away from it as best they could.

I have also found that most of these guys didn't have veterans hats and t-shirts and license plates. They tended to look down on anybody who "advertised" their veteran status.

Based on my experiences of talking to hard men like these and seeing the children of today I believe the US is screwed if we ever have to fight a real war.

[GasTeddy]

^ They were strong men in the real meaning of the word. Strong people like that turn bad times to good. Good times create weak ones, which create bad times. And because of that, strong ones emerge. It's a cycle and pretty easy to see, in which stage of it we are now.

[RichardDarkwood]

Thanks for the heads up. I'll pick up the 109K-4 or the Super Sabre in the next couple of days so I can try it out at some point.

After tomorrow there is no more discount for first time players.

[Tumor]

After tomorrow there is no more discount for first time players.

I'm going to take this move as a good sign regarding the future of DCS.

Could be the reverse, of course.  But I'm a glass half spilled kinda guy.

[hazmatt]

Bah. I got busy and hadn't messed around with DCS. I was going to buy that plane set I discussed before but it didn't happen.
Can somebody give me a recommendation as to what to buy? I'd like to get the best bang for the buck.
Also, do I buy them in the game or on the website like IL2?

[CptTrips]

Bah. I got busy and hadn't messed around with DCS. I was going to buy that plane set I discussed before but it didn't happen.
Can somebody give me a recommendation as to what to buy? I'd like to get the best bang for the buck.
Also, do I buy them in the game or on the website like IL2?

On sale?  I would recommend not buying unless on sale.  They happen 4 times a year.  Don't be dumb like me.

You can buy them on Steam or directly through the companies website.  I suggest direct.

Past that, it depends on what you want to do?  Modern jets? Cold War Jets?  Helos?  Warbirds?  You will not find an WWII AH like experience in DCS currently.  I think IL2 GB or 1946 would be closer, but I can't say, I don't fly there.  (Own them though. )

If you miss the sale, then I'd suggest DL the free client and start getting a feel with the two free airframes and download some of the better mods ( a couple of pages back) and just start enjoying them and acclimating to DCS while you wait for the next sale.  One every 3 mo. 

You can also use that period to do free trials of airframes and repeat the trials every 6 mo.

[Tumor]

Bah. I got busy and hadn't messed around with DCS. I was going to buy that plane set I discussed before but it didn't happen.
Can somebody give me a recommendation as to what to buy? I'd like to get the best bang for the buck.
Also, do I buy them in the game or on the website like IL2?

What do you want to do?  WWII, Korea, Modern?

Don't do Steam.  Dude, DO NOT DO STEAM.  No benefit whatsoever.  It's unified now (pretty sure) so it doesn't really matter.  All you get with Steam is an extra cog in the wheel with the possibility of hiccups>>>>like not having access to the latest A/C release until 6mo after the fact unless you dl a second instance of OB_DCS or convert to OpenBeta blah blah blah.

Download DCS World from the ED website.  No buying involved, it's free.  Now you will have everything you need to get started... Cockasses map & 2 Planes (TF-51 & Su-25T... I don't think you get guns with Pony, not sure on Frogfoot, doesn't matter).

You can buy individual A/C from the Website OR The in-game "Module Manager" (higly intuitive) will link you out to the Website for purchase of Aircraft. (you can buy each of them individually way cheap)

Flaming Cliffs 3 comes with a bunch of good aircraft, SIMPLE Flight Model, Non-Clickable Cockpits... it's a good purchase for the basics.

All the other aircraft are simply a matter of choice/preference.  Some are harder than others.

USE these: https://chucksguides.com/  <<<very, very useful

Lastly... give me a yell.  I can walk you through the tough spots, online/in-game if you like.

[Tumor]

.

[AKIron]

Seems Trips told me you can't do the trials through Steam. I have over 500 games on Steam including DCS but I don't play DCS through Steam. Don't be like Trips. 

[CptTrips]

Don't be like Trips. 

Usually sound advice.

Right, as far as I think I was told you can't do trials and you don't earn miles if going through Steam. 

Go direct.

[AKIron]

If you have any interest in Jets at all I'd buy the F-16 or F-18. Both are multi-role. I have both. I like the F-16 the best but I'm retired AF.

Carrier ops is much fun though.

There are many youtube videos showing how to everything in these planes. I made a few myself.

[Tumor]

Carrier ops is much fun though.

Yep. Carrier Ops adds an entire other level of goodness.  To clarify, you do not NEED/HAVE to have the SuperCarrier... you just won't get all the fancy deck-crew stuff with the standard ones.