Aces High Bulletin Board
Help and Support Forums => Help and Training => Topic started by: sidneylopsides on May 13, 2007, 01:48:43 PM
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Hi guys, I downloaded this game a couple of days ago and have been slowly working out how to play the game, when I first tried it with keyboard controls I had no throttle control, the keys were mapped correctly and everything else seemed to work ok, just couldn't throttle up to take off.
I found my old Wingman Force 3D and set it up, remapped the controls and got myself in the air.
The thing that is confusing me is that I'm not sure the throttle range is right, I've re-calibrated a few times, full throttle on the stick seems to be around 45% in game.
If I start in a fighter it gets in the air ok, it seems to be fine but even leaving it straight and level for a while the speed never increases above just after take off, and I can hardly gain height at all, the alt-x thing does it ok though.
I also seem to be flying on the edge of a stall, any turn causes the stick to rattle and a buzzer to sound, I assume that's a stall warning?
In a large bomber I can only just get off the ground, for example the Lancaster will get off the runway with the flaps down, it only gets to 10m or so in the air and stalls if I try to climb. If I raise the flaps it drops straight out of the sky, speed never gets above 120ish.
The following aircraft always pull up before I can and gain much more altitude at a much great rate of climb than I can hope for!
I've tried looking though the help and around these forums but I haven't found anything, and as I'm totally new I don't know what half of the abbreviations mean :p
If anyone can help me out it would be fantastic, thanks!
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Welcome, Sidneylopsides!
There are many issues to cover in your first post. Almost all of them will be covered at the Aces High II Trainer Corps Webpage (http://trainers.hitechcreations.com/)
As I am short on time right now just one little tip when flying Lancs: Don't take more than 25% fuel, don't take off towards a hill. Retract flaps (hit Q key twice). And let autotakeoff to the initial climbout for you till you gained a few thousand feet.
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These are not jets, you have to give them time to build speed for maneuvering. A bomber for example can take a good 10-15 minutes to build enough level speed to really start pulling up.
When in the air, click the E6B on the clipboard to see your speed in digital form. Easier to read and see whats happening there.
Welcome to AH2 !
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Make sure you are bringing the gear up (I know it's obvious, but I have to point it out). If that's not it, tell us what planes you are flying and what the engine RPM and manifold pressure are at full throttle. Someone will know if the numbers are what they should be.
You can try the + and - keys on the keypad to raise and lower the RPM. The throttle controls manifold pressure.
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Thanks for the replies guys, dropping the fuel load etc seems to have been it
The only other experience I have is from IL2, the planes on there feel like they have more lift :-/
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as previously stated I'd go to the trainers site (http://trainers.hitechcreations.com/) first then go over to netaces.org.
Pretty much everything that needs to be covered can be found at one or the other places. Also make sure you calibrate your stick in windows first then in game.
I found out I had been flying at about 90% a month after I got my CH gear.
Good luck and welcome aboard :aok
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If you're good at landing planes in IL-2, landing planes in this game should be no sweat. Btw, don't forget that the auto trim feature in this game lifts your nose up a lot at low speed, doesn't happen in IL-2. Instead, you're pushing your nose forward since elevator trim is set at 'full up' for you. In this game, the auto trim combined with the flaps causes your nose to point skyward as you lurch off the runway. Essentially you're gaining very little speed with flaps uber down so attempt only a max of 30 degrees (3 notches). I find that it helps me get forward speed first by getting my nose pointed downwards a bit, THEN retracting flaps and gear and then climbing at a suitable speed.
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if you're using a keyboard, the best way to know if you've got full throttle (well, any controller, actually) is to hit the WEP button (default "P"). If you get a boost in manifold pressure, then you have full throttle mapped correctly.
N.B.: not all aircraft can use Wep...I don't think any bombers have WEP...and some fighters don't. To test your calibration for throttle, use the P40E
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Thanks guys, I think I'm getting it.
I've been mainly sticking to bombers so far, I can now get a fully loaded Lanc with 100% fuel up without getting near to a stall (the vibrating stick thing).
The trim mentioned seems to be part of it, I have to force it to stay low to pick up speed.
I need to see if I can map turrets to the mouse as I find them really hard to aim with the joystick.
I've got a Logitech Wingman Force 3D, it's cool having the force feedback, but it has a massive loose area in the centre. I've had to adjust for a huge dead zone or the joystick just flops about really and makes fine controls hard.
I'm not sure fighters are a good idea with this stick as I either have over sensitive controls with no spring to them, or a massive deadzone making small adjustments harder. I might get a cheapo stick to compare against.
It also gets itself in a self-righting oscillation if you knock it to hard, swinging side to side until you grab it :p
Last thing, can you turn off the "don't move your controls so rapidly" thing that reduces your control effects? It keeps happening when I get hit or something as the force feedback makes the stick move quite a bit.
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Sidney, two points, if I may.
1. Unless you're planning on flying the width of the map several times, 100% fuel on a Lancaster is overkill.
2. Logitech sticks are notoriously terrible. Saitek makes pretty good low end gear; CH Products is unmatched for the high end stuff.
Good luck!
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I worked that 100% fuel was pointless straight away, but I still practiced on that, the theory being if I can do a max load ok, I can do anything else every better :D
I used to have a Saitek ages ago till it broke, and FF tempted me, plus I got it clearance from my old work. The best stick i remember owning was a Thrustmaster Topgun, the old big heavy black thing, really solid. Weigh a ton, my sister still managed to snap it. I got the newer version after that but it was no where near as good. I think I'll save for a good stick, I've been getting into my flight sims more recently.
Thanks for the tips though :D I just need to keep practicing, I'm really terrible in a fighter right now.
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As max said, Logitech are terrible and Wingman Force 3D is the worst of them. I had one and gave it away after a few days. I kept stalling with it and I'm not a newbie.
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I'm going to look for a joystick right now!
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Welcome Sidney,
My squad The Few are made up of Brits. I'm prepared to help new British players with the info needed and to answer any questions.
If you manage to get online in any of the arenas look us up. We usually play for Rooks but I dont mind swapping.
We also have a ventrilo server.
This game is the best online WW2 flight sim hands down so welcome to the addicton. ;)
Bruv
~S~
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Could only find a cheapo Logitech Attack 3 for £15, but I wanted to see if it was me or the Force 3D so bought it to try. Even though it's a naff stick the basic controls work so much better
I've actually shot something down now! I've taken down a couple of bombers, I've been in a couple of dogfights that came out as a draw. The only problem is this stick has no rubber and landing is really hard with it. I'll find a good stick in the next few days.
edit: anyone know what these are like?
Saitek X52 (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1866305538.1179680666@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckaddkmemlillcflgceggdhhmdfhk.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=687182&category_oid=-31829)
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The basic X52 is a good set-up, I have the same one. It can be set-up quite easily with the AH joystick programming, or you can use the Saitek software and really go to town. Although you can use it out of the box with the twist handle (rudder) you can also incorporate Saitek Pro Flight peds ($135usd) The X52 sells for about $110usd Saitek recently released the X52 Pro. As far as I can tell, there's not much difference other that a bit more metal in the construction and a 2nd tension spring on the joystick itself. Most folks find the single spring X52 to be a little too loose.
My two cents: If you buy the basic X52 only, you're getting a very good HOTAS for the money. If you add in the peds or go for the X52 Pro, I'd steer you towards a complete CH HOTAS - Fighterstick or Combatstick, Throttle USB and Pro Peds USB. A little more money but like I said, folks who use CH gear swear by it.
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What about the HOTAS Couger? That looks good, and for £30 more than a CH Combastick I get the full HOTAS.
I think it's that or the X52. Just sold an expensive phone on ebay so will use some of that for the stick now!
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Shortly after the Cougar was released a few years back, I parted with $265 and bought one. Within a month or so, I was experiencing drifting and nose bounce...constantly...even after calibrating the stick in the game and in Windows.
Some research on the nose bounce led me to a Cougar web forum at http://www.frugalsworld.com It seems, back then anyway, a LOT of Cougar owners were having the same problem. So much so that a few enterprising souls were selling repair kits for $125, which replaced the potentiometers and joystick base gimbels that shipped with the Cougar. Rather then spend my hard earned money fixing defective parts, I sold the stick to a guy in Croatia, warning him of the porblems. You'd be well advised to check the website I mentioned to see if Thrustmaster has resolved that issue.
The Cougar has no provision for rudder input...no twist handle. TM was talking about companion peds...dunno if they ever did anything. While you can add in a set of Saitek or CH peds, you're talking another $100 minimum.
Bottom line, I wouldn't touch another Cougar with a 10 m pole
:D
Having been to several AH Cons, in a room of 100 players, 65% use CH Gear, 25% are using the Saitek X45/52 stuff and the rest have the various stuff available on the market. The Siatek X52 does seem to be gaining in useage/popularity.
Why not post a little poll in the Hardware/Software forum, asking who uses what and why? Also, if you have access to a store that sells this stuff, wrap your hands around different sticks...there's a pretty wide difference in height, width, tension, etc.
Good luck!
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Max, thanks for the reply! This is already turning out to be one of the best forums I've joined!
I'll try that poll, I'd had a search and not seen many threads about the gear people use.
The only thing stopping me buying the X52 straight out is the colour scheme, I know it's petty but my 'rig' has a colour scheme, black with red highlights. The Saitek just doesn't fit! :-p
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CH is the best you can get. If your thinking of spending the money on a cougar, get the CH products instead. Do a search on these boards for "joysticks" and you'll get a ton hits. If you plan on spending more than 6 months flying sims, invest in CH stuff. Solid equipment, easy to program (supported in AH2), lasts forever. But should you have any trouble with them, CH has great support.
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Originally posted by sidneylopsides
The only thing stopping me buying the X52 straight out is the colour scheme, I know it's petty but my 'rig' has a colour scheme, black with red highlights. The Saitek just doesn't fit! :-p
The X52 Pro is available with red, amber and green colour schemes :)
Not to be cute but you're probably going to be too busy staying alive to worry about colours. 8^/
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Hehe, it's when I',m not using it that I'll bother about the colours :p The X52 Pro looks the better option, as well as being darker with illumination choices, it's stiffer, which I prefer. The CH would cost too much, I'm looking into the Cougar to see what they are like these days.
I can't see how to post a Poll either.
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Originally posted by sidneylopsides
I can't see how to post a Poll either.
I meant to post a query in the Hardware-Software section of the forum, which you'll find half way down the list of General Forums.
Someone did include an actual poll in a recent post. I have no clue how that's done.
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I've got myself an X52 Pro, it's fantastic! I've managed to survive a few fights in fighters now, I can fly much better. I just need to practice my aim now.
Spent hours just working out what to make the buttons do, still not totally happy so need to tweak things.
Thanks for the help!
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Glad you have taken the time to com here. Not alot of people take the time to research the game, just jump right in. In some games that might work, but this one has a fairly steep learnign curve. If your into Bombing I can help you out there. Im on the knights, and we use vox 144. So if you ever want any tips, by all means fire away.
Cheers and welcome to the show.
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Coo, thanks :D
Once I work out comms I'll take you up on that offer.
I guessed I'd need some help when I first tried to fly and couldn't get the throttle up!
I'm enjoying this quite a bit now, my main focus for learning now is aim and dogfighting techniques, knowing what my plane does that is better than whoever is shooting me etc.
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Lopeside, I have had an X52 setup for about a year now. It worked flawlessly for the first 6 months,then I noticed the twist axis started to spike. At first some simple adjustment seemed to work but it got worse.
I solved the problem quite eazily,bought a set of rudder pedals and disabled the twist axis.
Saitec has a good warranty,the problem is you have to send your rig to them,turn around time can be weeks to months depending were you live.
Overall I'm happy with this setup,went through 7 or 8 logijunks in a 2 year span so to have the X52 last this long is a good thing......:aok