General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Eagler on May 08, 2025, 06:58:26 AM
Title: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Eagler on May 08, 2025, 06:58:26 AM
https://il2sturmovik.com/bom-free/
Eagler
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: AKIron on May 08, 2025, 08:05:58 AM
It ain't free but it's cheap. Well, maybe it's free. You must own Battle of Stalingrad which is on sale for $10. Maybe that's included?
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: AKIron on May 08, 2025, 08:14:39 AM
Maybe they removed the prereq. I already owned it so can't tell.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Spikes on May 08, 2025, 08:20:28 AM
BoS is still required.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: AKIron on May 08, 2025, 09:25:18 AM
Battle of Stalingrad (Great Battles) is more than 10 years old now but has held up well. I've bought the various versions of IL-2 going back more than 20 years. One of these days I'll get around to spending time in them. ;)
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: icepac on May 08, 2025, 05:14:28 PM
I remember a Finnish server for IL2 and I played On a russian server shortly before coming to aces high.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: AKIron on May 08, 2025, 05:36:08 PM
Youngest son had a girlfriend who moved to the US from Russia when she was 10. Her grandfather was a tail gunner in the IL-2 during WWII.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Dadtallica on May 08, 2025, 06:14:40 PM
Playing the single player IL2 career modes and other missions have helped to improve my A2A skills greatly. Every time I start to fall back into old habits here I make sure to spend a day or two each week doing some IL2 missions. Usually helps right my ship not sure why.
I’m picking up the TA152 for $4!
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Devil 505 on May 08, 2025, 07:41:53 PM
I've been playing it for a while. Wish AH looked this good.
While it looks good. I still don't think many can handle the complexity of AH plane choice and being in an arena thats "not fair" regarding plane choice. It make AH main arena very unique. Il2 still doesn't provide the same war strategy concept that AH does.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Spikes on May 08, 2025, 08:56:51 PM
How is AH "not fair"? You can fly whatever plane you want, having an unequal matchup is a product of your own choices.
Also, likewise, I doubt the vast majority here could handle IL2s flight model complexity. You can't just firewall the throttle the entire sortie without blowing your engine up.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: AKIron on May 08, 2025, 09:04:05 PM
Variety is the spice....
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Animl-AW on May 09, 2025, 08:30:39 AM
You should do that
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Animl-AW on May 09, 2025, 08:42:25 AM
Ya I look at that last week
Saw coding notes in Russian Too much scripting Too much AI Questionable FM, like missing torque
Pattern has been, the better the graphics the less fun. Everyone is into the graphics and engine management over game play.
No one is nailing the whole picture.
Now if they had a massive multiplayer arena I’d be there the next day. They don’t so….it would just be a time killer with eye candy for me.
Nomads looking for a home replacement that isn’t there
Kinda like Irish Setter bouncing from yard to yard digging holes looking for a bone that isn’t there.
Yet, end up here to converse about it.
I also see blooming jack if all trades, masters of none.
I’m here until the rest pull their heads out of their butts. If not <shrug> I’ll go play golf with the rest.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: DmonSlyr on May 09, 2025, 11:16:26 AM
How is AH "not fair"? You can fly whatever plane you want, having an unequal matchup is a product of your own choices.
Also, likewise, I doubt the vast majority here could handle IL2s flight model complexity. You can't just firewall the throttle the entire sortie without blowing your engine up.
Well my point was that if you don't choose the best late war plane in AH, your automatically at a unfair position relatively speaking. Where as these other games are AVA in the same time frame so everything is more relative. That being said, In furball situations, the allied (P51s and P47s) are generally at a disadvantage because they weren't designed for furballing really. But I find that many have probably left AH becasue it's quite the challenge having to fight against better planes (if you dont chose to fly them, and then being ganged by them.) On top of having to fight all axis and allied planes at the same time.
My biggest issues with IL2 and DCS multi-player right now is there is no action on the map and it makes it very tough to find where the action/fight is. And then it's no icons so I have to go blind trying to figure out which one is friendly vs enemy in the furball. By that time my SA is already compromised. Something I'm still getting use to. I stare at a computer all day so staring more at planes with no icons is tough for me.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Dadtallica on May 09, 2025, 11:24:20 AM
There is no way Animl doesn’t play IL2.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Shane on May 09, 2025, 12:49:00 PM
My biggest issues with IL2 and DCS multi-player right now is there is no action on the map and it makes it very tough to find where the action/fight is. And then it's no icons so I have to go blind trying to figure out which one is friendly vs enemy in the furball. By that time my SA is already compromised. Something I'm still getting use to. I stare at a computer all day so staring more at planes with no icons is tough for me.
This right here has to be a big disincentive to players who are:
a) capable of handling a fm from whatever modeling engine b) looking for fun action vs live opponents, not offline missions
It seems to be more work than play.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Animl-AW on May 09, 2025, 01:03:29 PM
This right here has to be a big disincentive to players who are:
a) capable of handling a fm from whatever modeling engine b) looking for fun action vs live opponents, not offline missions
It seems to be more work than play.
Agreed
Not as bad as DCS, but as Allan Watts says “…it’s all wretch and no vomit”.
Some like watching pretty fireworks, I like firing them off.
I guess as an absolute, no way out, last resort, I guess I’d play golf and in a pretty golf course. But, giving money to a Russian company seems like voodoo.
DCS does ZERO for me for over 20 yrs now. Its not new.
A shame we’re in suspended animation quagmire. <shrug> don’t tip a bad waitress.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Leisure on May 09, 2025, 01:32:48 PM
My biggest issues with IL2 and DCS multi-player right now is there is no action on the map and it makes it very tough to find where the action/fight is. And then it's no icons so I have to go blind trying to figure out which one is friendly vs enemy in the furball. By that time my SA is already compromised. Something I'm still getting use to. I stare at a computer all day so staring more at planes with no icons is tough for me.
I haven't tried the newer IL-2 stuff but is it not an option to build your own server any longer? If it is possible, maybe a server with icons, all the micro management stuff toned down or turned off with settings similar to AH maybe? I don't know. I know I do prefer to find battles, not have to micro manage everything.....although, I think it'd be cool if you couldn't fly around all day with the throttle at 100%. Anyhow, point being, maybe there's a way to get something similar to what we have here with a server and settings.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Dadtallica on May 09, 2025, 01:39:41 PM
I’ve never played IL2 online I just do the single player.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Animl-AW on May 09, 2025, 02:04:09 PM
I’ve never played IL2 online I just do the single player.
When AW came out with MMP arena it was a step forward in gaming/sims, because all games seemed single player at the time. It was new and impressive, hook in mouth.
I view AI as a step backwards. I didn’t even like the AW C-47 drones. I don’t care for the 2 buff drones, I miss B-17 Death Stars.
I’m not going to step backwards and like it too.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: horble on May 09, 2025, 02:05:18 PM
I tried a long time ago and had a hell of a time getting my snap views set up the way I wanted, I guess they figure everyone’s moved on to Trackir/VR or I’m just bad at setting things up. I’ve always appreciated AH’s low cost/equipment barrier for entry.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: AKIron on May 09, 2025, 02:37:29 PM
Not sure about every version of IL-2 but at least some have snap views.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Spikes on May 09, 2025, 02:38:29 PM
My biggest issues with IL2 and DCS multi-player right now is there is no action on the map and it makes it very tough to find where the action/fight is. And then it's no icons so I have to go blind trying to figure out which one is friendly vs enemy in the furball. By that time my SA is already compromised. Something I'm still getting use to. I stare at a computer all day so staring more at planes with no icons is tough for me.
I don't disagree there. No icons is kind of unfortunate and worse as a VR player with an entry level headset. It's very difficult to ID planes and often can't tell until you're at the merge with them. My only wish for Combat Box is to have some sort of icon that identifies friendly or enemy. Like, all I want is a blue dot over a plane so I can tell that guy's on my team. The game does tell you when certain targets are being attacked, and when enemies are close to airfields, that appears on the map. But there is no AWACS radar like Aces High. Actually, I take that back as some setups have the A-20 or Ju 88 with literal radar onboard that you can fly around and provide dot-dar for your team.
I haven't tried the newer IL-2 stuff but is it not an option to build your own server any longer? If it is possible, maybe a server with icons, all the micro management stuff toned down or turned off with settings similar to AH maybe? I don't know. I know I do prefer to find battles, not have to micro manage everything.....although, I think it'd be cool if you couldn't fly around all day with the throttle at 100%. Anyhow, point being, maybe there's a way to get something similar to what we have here with a server and settings.
Yes it's quite easy to host a private server (I do). Though, the mission/server editor is a different story. I've yet to dive into it much. I don't believe the icon system is very intuitive, at least not like all the various options we have with AH. As far as I know they're just sort of 'on' or 'off' and the icons in IL2 aren't great to be honest. Like I said above, I'd prefer just an option to put a little dot over a plane to denote friendly or enemy.
It's a bit different from AH in that you can't look at the map, find 20 red dots, and take off from that field. But, anyone who says they can't find a fight in IL2 has clearly never played in one of the popular Multiplayer servers like Combat Box. And yes - having to deal with some minimal engine management is an intriguing concept and is a nice breath of fresh air from the relative braindead gameplay of AH (that being auto-climb, full throttle all the time, etc, etc).
I tried a long time ago and had a hell of a time getting my snap views set up the way I wanted, I guess they figure everyone’s moved on to Trackir/VR or I’m just bad at setting things up. I’ve always appreciated AH’s low cost/equipment barrier for entry.
I found the view system to be not great but I also utilize the F8/pan function heavily in AH and that isn't really an option in IL2 as you need to cycle through the view options to reset it. I fly IL2 exclusively in VR which has its own issues (as stated above).
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: AKIron on May 09, 2025, 04:13:56 PM
Web cams can be had for cheap and head tracking software is free. Makes any flight sim better.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Devil 505 on May 09, 2025, 04:30:48 PM
I tried a long time ago and had a hell of a time getting my snap views set up the way I wanted, I guess they figure everyone’s moved on to Trackir/VR or I’m just bad at setting things up. I’ve always appreciated AH’s low cost/equipment barrier for entry.
I use a hat for snap views in IL-2. Very similar to AH with three notable differences. Two good, one bad.
Good #1. When configuring your head position for a specific view, you can use the mouse to get a custom angle for that specific hat position. Let's say you want your 3 O'clock view to really be centered at 4 O'clock. you can do that. In AH, 3 O'clock is always 90 degrees to the right,
Good #2. You can have a different level of zoom on each head position. For example, I have a button set as a "look down" modifier to give me view angles to the low 1,4,7, and 11 positions. Since looking down onto the wing is useless, I set the 3 and 9 hat positions with "look down" also pressed into zoomed 3 and 9 views on the horizontal. I do the same for "Down + 12 hat" for a zoom over the nose to aid in spotting.
Bad. Saving a 6 O'clock view also saves which "shoulder" that view looks over. You can use the mouse to set whichever side you want saved, but 6 hat will always be from that side. Rotating from 5-7 across the 6 will force the view to snap around through the forward positions to get to the opposite shoulder. For example, if your 6 hat is saved for a right shoulder view to 6 O'clock, you will transition from 5 to 6 without issue, but 7 to 6 will always rotate around the front. Vice versa if 6 hat is saved to the left. More realistic than AH's "Linda Blair" views, but much more annoying because you WILL lose sight of enemies crossing behind you.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: horble on May 09, 2025, 05:40:35 PM
I found the view system to be not great but I also utilize the F8/pan function heavily in AH and that isn't really an option in IL2 as you need to cycle through the view options to reset it. I fly IL2 exclusively in VR which has its own issues (as stated above).
I've never really messed around with pan views but having to cycle through stuff would definitely drive me nuts.
I use a hat for snap views in IL-2. Very similar to AH with three notable differences. Two good, one bad.
Good #1. When configuring your head position for a specific view, you can use the mouse to get a custom angle for that specific hat position. Let's say you want your 3 O'clock view to really be centered at 4 O'clock. you can do that. In AH, 3 O'clock is always 90 degrees to the right,
Good #2. You can have a different level of zoom on each head position. For example, I have a button set as a "look down" modifier to give me view angles to the low 1,4,7, and 11 positions. Since looking down onto the wing is useless, I set the 3 and 9 hat positions with "look down" also pressed into zoomed 3 and 9 views on the horizontal. I do the same for "Down + 12 hat" for a zoom over the nose to aid in spotting.
Bad. Saving a 6 O'clock view also saves which "shoulder" that view looks over. You can use the mouse to set whichever side you want saved, but 6 hat will always be from that side. Rotating from 5-7 across the 6 will force the view to snap around through the forward positions to get to the opposite shoulder. For example, if your 6 hat is saved for a right shoulder view to 6 O'clock, you will transition from 5 to 6 without issue, but 7 to 6 will always rotate around the front. Vice versa if 6 hat is saved to the left. More realistic than AH's "Linda Blair" views, but much more annoying because you WILL lose sight of enemies crossing behind you.
Good to know! It's been a long time but I remember messing around with views forever messing with that stuff only to get into a fight and miss several chances to fire at an enemy because I was trying to make sure they WERE an enemy only to be shot down by a friendly who couldn't be bothered to check. I'll have to give it another go sometime.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: xanax on May 09, 2025, 11:26:00 PM
IL-2 1946's work exactly how I like them, and I still play that game because it's great (even better after you download 90 gigs of mods).
Yeah, it's great with all the mods. Hell, I even like the graphics. However, I was adding some skins recently and screwed my entire build up. I'm in the middle of reinstalling everything currently. Damn, I had all my controls and stuff mapped perfectly.
Some dudes are working on CLOD and it's pretty good too.
None of them match AH for me but it's good to have something to fall back on I suppose.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Prayer on May 09, 2025, 11:57:49 PM
If IL-2 had the numbers of online players when AH was in its prime id take the time to learn it. Sad numbers are fading here, sad. Hope a new sim shows up worth playing or AH gets the love it needs
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: hazmatt on May 10, 2025, 01:08:36 PM
Playing the single player IL2 career modes and other missions have helped to improve my A2A skills greatly. Every time I start to fall back into old habits here I make sure to spend a day or two each week doing some IL2 missions. Usually helps right my ship not sure why.
I’m picking up the TA152 for $4!
I bought the 152 when it first came out. I really liked it.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: hazmatt on May 10, 2025, 01:13:43 PM
How is AH "not fair"? You can fly whatever plane you want, having an unequal matchup is a product of your own choices.
Also, likewise, I doubt the vast majority here could handle IL2s flight model complexity. You can't just firewall the throttle the entire sortie without blowing your engine up.
Some of the planes in IL2 are downright difficult to manage the complexities of for sure. I try to stick with plane with more automation as I can destroy the engines in some of the others while still in sight of the airfield :(
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: hazmatt on May 10, 2025, 01:17:04 PM
Well my point was that if you don't choose the best late war plane in AH, your automatically at a unfair position relatively speaking. Where as these other games are AVA in the same time frame so everything is more relative. That being said, In furball situations, the allied (P51s and P47s) are generally at a disadvantage because they weren't designed for furballing really. But I find that many have probably left AH becasue it's quite the challenge having to fight against better planes (if you dont chose to fly them, and then being ganged by them.) On top of having to fight all axis and allied planes at the same time.
My biggest issues with IL2 and DCS multi-player right now is there is no action on the map and it makes it very tough to find where the action/fight is. And then it's no icons so I have to go blind trying to figure out which one is friendly vs enemy in the furball. By that time my SA is already compromised. Something I'm still getting use to. I stare at a computer all day so staring more at planes with no icons is tough for me.
In IL2 and WT sim I look for contrails tracers or wingtip vorticies :)
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: hazmatt on May 10, 2025, 01:19:20 PM
I haven't tried the newer IL-2 stuff but is it not an option to build your own server any longer? If it is possible, maybe a server with icons, all the micro management stuff toned down or turned off with settings similar to AH maybe? I don't know. I know I do prefer to find battles, not have to micro manage everything.....although, I think it'd be cool if you couldn't fly around all day with the throttle at 100%. Anyhow, point being, maybe there's a way to get something similar to what we have here with a server and settings.
You can still host your own server with a dedicated server account. (free for the asking)
There are server that you can fly on that do have icons.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: AKIron on May 10, 2025, 01:54:31 PM
Yeah, it's great with all the mods. Hell, I even like the graphics. However, I was adding some skins recently and screwed my entire build up. I'm in the middle of reinstalling everything currently. Damn, I had all my controls and stuff mapped perfectly.
Some dudes are working on CLOD and it's pretty good too.
None of them match AH for me but it's good to have something to fall back on I suppose.
The new BAT mod update broke 46. I haven’t gone back to fix it yet.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Eagler on May 11, 2025, 07:33:00 AM
Though the two - il2 and dcs - have better graphics than AH I see planes/bogies worse in both in vr which makes them much less enjoyable imo
Eagler
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Shane on May 11, 2025, 08:17:39 AM
Though the two - il2 and dcs - have better graphics than AH I see planes/bogies worse in both in vr which makes them much less enjoyable imo
Eagler
I never totally understood why combat flight sims expect us to play like we're legally blind in the name of "realism." My r/l fov exceeds even the size of the monitor in front of them.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: Devil 505 on May 11, 2025, 09:00:50 AM
I never totally understood why combat flight sims expect us to play like we're legally blind in the name of "realism." My r/l fov exceeds even the size of the monitor in front of them.
I agree.
I hate the elitism present overall in those player bases in regards to "realism". They can all STFU unless they are playing on full fidelity sim pits with motion control seats in a projector dome. If I can't learn to fly the real plane using their rig, they're still just playing a game.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: xanax on May 11, 2025, 10:30:19 AM
The new BAT mod update broke 46. I haven’t gone back to fix it yet.
Yeah, My BAT on top of 46 is what's broke for me. I deleted the whole thing in disgust after trying to fix. I'll give it another try when I get really bored.
I will say that it's quite a compelling game when it's working. The gameplay and graphics are really good despite their age. Folks are really making nice efforts to keep 1946 going.
Title: Re: If it's free..it's for me
Post by: DmonSlyr on May 11, 2025, 11:38:04 AM
I hate the elitism present overall in those player bases in regards to "realism". They can all STFU unless they are playing on full fidelity sim pits with motion control seats in a projector dome. If I can't learn to fly the real plane using their rig, they're still just playing a game.
I'm with you there. Its never gonna be "real" unless it's real. You are always at fualt with the games mechanics, flight model, and view restrictions ect. Even the furball situations I've seen on servers aren't realistic. Like, I wouldn't take my P51 into a full on unorganized furball pit. If you want realism, IMO, special events like FSO are the most real because it's mission based, based on real missions and strategic squad operations involved on both sides that creates true engagements. Other games just don't provide that. I don't need an Awacs radar, but I wouldn't mind my plane showing on the radar so I know where I'm at easier, and I wouldn't mind action flashing on the map so I know where the main battle area is. For me, the server based match play just doesn't provide the same war like concept as the MA either. I also agree with Spikes that a little blue or red notch over the plane would be extremely helpful.
I'm also with people in the views. I don't really like using trackir or VR becasue I cannot manage the look behind position to where I want. Like the F4u in AH for example. Just horrible if you cant set your look behind view right. It's so crucial to maintaining sight on the enemy. With no icons its even much harder. Like I'm trying to position my body and head to look at a certain spot and it doesn't give correctly, so that's something that can put you at a disadvantage. I know my hatswitch and views in AH are just like I need them, so it makes no sense to limit myself if I cant get the views I need.