Want to join us flying? Heres How

[TiG]

Figured that the Useful links could do with a few additions. So here we go...

How to get started.

Well first off you need the game.

Here's the box for il2 Forgotten Battles. You need this, its the standalone game that we started playing. NOTE this is not IL2 Sturmovik they are different, il2 Forgotten battles is like il2 Version 2.

You then need the expansion pack shown here at play.com

So you've got the game and installed this you now need the patches to bring you up to date..

http://www.il2sturmovik.com/games_elts/fb_updates.php

Currently there is only 1 needed at 102 MB!, from the above link which is essential as it removes some damn annoying bugs

Next - Joystick, Check the hexus thread here on getting a joystick because if you don't have one you are not going to do well at this game, as in the scheme of games this is hardcore...

Right, now you can practise all you like on your own, but thats no fun is it really, really this is an online game practise is jumping into quick missions and trying to kill one AI on veteran in different planes, practising your moves, Online against other Humans is where this game is at.

So we now need Hyperlobby (like all seeing eye for us pilots)
Hyperlobby

Its on this page and is currently client 3.5.60

And last but not least if you really want to join us Marlins online and for the best way of improving voice comms are essential.

Teamspeak 2 is what we use for this and if you speak to us on hyperlobby it may be possible to let you into rooms to have us all in.

Once you've got that and want to improve you've got two different things to learn imo...

Plane control and manoeuvers being the first and Tactics being the second.
Firstly plane control and manoeuvers - the reason i break this down is that these for me are used when in a situation, the tactics doesn't for me stop you using any of these.


Manoeuvers some great diagrams here explaining offensive and defensive moves.

Getting plane into position - Deflection Shooting - all be it WWI stuff.

Jet Manoeuvers Yes, I know they're jets, but the tactics are still sound, good description of the 'scissors' here too!

Tactics

Tactics employed by the Russians during WW2

Engaging Tactics - Rules to consider before engaging... might be the difference between greater or crater!


General Sites...

mudmovers Plenty of useful info in here on everything IL2 and more!

Netwings - nice forum here for news/il-2 related topics

Last but not least, although there are a lot of us that fly, this game is not easy, it is not an arcade game - when you first start be prepared for months of frustration as with the excellent pilots that play this game you will not be able to touch them, you will wonder how they get on your 6 so fast, I've been playing a lot since getting broadband nearly 2 months ago and i've seen lots of progression recently but it is something to consider.

Feel free to add, correct or change and then maybe we could update the sticky and point people to this when they want to get into the game

TiG

[Grey M@a]

Always been interested in these dogfight type flight sims used to play starlancer for ages online but that was the last valid dogfight type game I played. I am tempted to try this out. It aint a bad price for both of them, but how will it handle on a gf4 ti4680? essentially its a ti4200 tweaked and beasted by Albatron.

I don't have the money to blow on a new fx just yet so just wondering if there are still the odd few ti4200- 4600 users and if the game runs fine?

[TiG]

It will run fine on that Grey M@a - i used to run il2 fb on my inbuilt geforce 440mx on my shuttle without issue, sure not at full detail settings but with reasonable quality, never caused me a problem. Good point tho, probably worth adding to the guide...

Shall edit that later.

TiG

[IainB]

TiG - purchased FB at the weekend, need to get the patch and the add-ons and then 'hopefully' when Ive learnt to fly - will be up with you guys.....
But - I have a lot to learn, looks like everything I learned back in the days at BAL as an aircraft engineer (and the time in the 737 sim ) has all been pushed back to the deepest darkest corners of my memory

[Tumble]

(and the time in the 737 sim )

ooh... another bomber pilot ace!

[Zak33]

this is a VERY good thread...very good indeed

Nice work TiG...keeps it all together and fresh up to date

[Grey M@a]

oopppsss I seem to have ordered the forgotten battles and the aces expansion just been playing the demo here at work (shush don't tell the boss) has that feel star lancer did in the dog fight situation so I bought it will see you online shortly I guess

[wedge22]

I just purchased FB too so i will install it tonight and patch it up. Hope to see you all soon.

[TiG]

I need to buy shares in ubi soft

TiG

[ekundo]

im getting alot of 404's on those links btw

[Rob]

Just gettin some practice on 'Sturmovic' (Boy do I need it since MS Flight Sim 2000).

Just bought EVO stick, so I cant afford FB till next month
But, by jolly I will!

[G4Z]

nice 1 Tig, I have been wanting to get into this for a while but Im a little skint atm, I will get a joystick and stuff soon maybe Il join you guys then.

[klarrix]

I gotta say you have me interested, i was trying the demo of this a few months ago (IL-2 ONE not FB) and i at first found it too hard to enjoy, but when things went well it was a blast. I think i'll be getting it at the end o' the week as an exam finishing reward

[wedge22]

Has anyone got anysettings for a cyborg evo for this game?

[MAS]

I bought the game a couple of months back, so did Gubs. We thought it sounded like great fun, we bought the game, joysticks, the lot. We were well up for some online Hexus action. We read up on all the moves and stuff...played the tutorials...

But we gave up after 5 or 6 hours. We went back to it a little while later, played it some more, but gave up again.

Why? We just found it too difficult and not enjoyable enough. I like games with a learning curve, and we knew it wouldnt be easy. That was part of the attraction. But mostly we found that we really didnt improve over several hours of play (at all), most annoyingly, we would play custom missions....spend maybe 5 or 10 minutes flying to the dogfight, and then get shot down fairly quickly.

I got the hang of controlling the plane and defence manoeuvres, it was the offense I found hard. Deflection shooting

I have to say it would help if some other pilots could give some tips. Links and guides are helpful, but there's lots of small things they dont cover. I dont need spoonfeeding, would just be good if people could produce a rough dummies guide on how to improve your skills. And also, the quickest way to set missions up so that you spend more time actualy dogfighting and less time cruising along.

[luke313]

Right. You want a guide to improve your skills in dogfight and deflection shooting etc??
I'll get onto it tomorrow, sleep now...

Expect a thread or 2 - but for now watch that movie I made a couple of threads down, explains deflection shooting a bit