What Period Should I Start In?

[Kingkat 1]

Have been flying a little. Mostly quick scenarios and combat, and now I would like a little more realism. I already have my skill level set abouve 100, (sort of DiD stuff) but want a little more acrtion.

 

Have been flying the SE5a. Great kite. When should I start? 1918? Which Squadron? Any suggestions?

 

I prefer a little later in the war, as the Americans begin to arrive. Besides I would like to play several scenarios for each of the services. A little RFC/RAF, German and Americans.

 

I tried a Campaign today, but had very little luck. I think I got a little anxious, and hit the "X" key too often, and the program quit. Never found any enemies, or got to complete the mission.

 

All of you here seem very knowledgable about how this game works. Thankyou for the help.

[Dej 17]

Welcome Kingkat.

 

Well, if you're breaking yourself in gently in BHaH you'd want to avoid 1918 initially.

 

If you like the SE5 I'd suggest joining No. 56 Sqn. RFC in early 1917, just as they arrive in France. You'll get enough action - weather allowing - but should be able to get on top of your adversaries who'll be flying Alb DIIIs and later DVs, both of which the SE can handle admirably. Alternatively, if you want to feel god-like, join the RNAS with Naval 10 in May 1917 and be amazed at how your Sopwith Triplane runs rings around the Alb. DIII opponents, negating their firepower advantage. Then a little later with equal firepower your twin Vickers will rip them to shreds... only for a little while alas!

 

For whom to fly with amongst those German gentlemen I'll defer to Olham, who not only has 'been there and done that', but has a large collection of virtual T-shirts to prove it.

 

Have Fun!

[Bullethead 12]

Welcome aboar Kingkat! New guy buys the drinks .

 

In general, there are 3 phases in OFF, although they overlap somewhat. The Germans tend to get better stuff a few months sooner, but then keep it until the Entente surprasses it, so the advantage swaps back and forth in terms of plane quality. Anyway, the general phases are as follows:

 

1. pre-1917

All planes are anemic. Some are total crap and very dangerous to fly. Fights are rather rare (less than 1 per sortie on average) and are between relatively small numbers of planes, and there isn't much flak. Towards the end of 1916, however, the Germans get the Alb D.II, which stomps all contemporaries.

 

2. 1917

While there are still a few old clunkers in service, most planes have decent performance and are pretty safe to fly. Fights are rather more common than before (average of slightly more than 1 per sortie) and involve somewhat more planes than before. Flak is noticeably more common than before. Early in 1917, the Germans get the Alb D.III which stomps all contemporaries, except the 1st few SE5s and Brisfits which enter service in April. And of course SPAD VIIs are troublesome, too. As the year goes on, the Entente gets more SE5s, more Brisfits, and also Camels and SPAD XIIIs, so by the end of the year the Entente has better planes on average. And Alb D.V and especially Pfalz D.III really aren't improvements for the Germans, but the Fokker Dr.I is wunderbar, although there aren't many of them around.

 

3. 1918

All the old clunkers are gone and as the year goes on, the best planes in the game come into service or totally replace the old. Combat is practically constant from the time you leave the ground until the time you return to it in whatever manner. These fights are MUCH bigger than all that's gone before and the flak is intense and ubiquitous. The Germans face the classic late-war line-up of almost nothing but SE5s and SPAD XIIIs with a few Camels still in service here and there. They have to soldier on with the Alb D.V, the rather clumsy Pfalz, and the aging Dr.I until summer when the Fokker D.VII shows up and the plane quality advantage begins to swing back to them. However, by then they're rather outnumbered.

 

NOTE: The above assessments of fight frequency and intensity assumes you're in the hot sectors where major ground offensives are happening. If you fly elsewhere, things are slower. But IMHO, better a Hun on your 6 than no Huns at all . Also, I only use heavy air activity.

 

So...... To answer your question, IMHO 1917 is the best place to start. Most planes aren't out to kill you by themselves (without the enemy lifting a finger), there are enough fights to keep you occupied, and you can get the feel of WW1 ACM in a relatively benign environment. Once you feel comfortable there, you can go earlier or later in time.

[Olham 164]

Hi, Kingcat

First: would you please tell me your hometown in Tennessee, so I can add you to our OFF Pilots map?

 

Second: If you want hair-raising action, fly 1918. I had crazy furballs with 93rd Aero against Jasta 18s DVIIs.

If you want it a little less crazy, as a German, start at Wasquehal in May 1917 (Jasta 10, Jasta 28w) -

they see good action against Pups and Triplanes (but you have to be good, cause the Albatros DIII early is

not superiour, except for the two machine guns the others don't have).

With Jasta 6, you can fly the eary Fokker Dr.1 - a real devil of a turnfighter; you got to get used to it, as it's

an "instabile" craft: it just does anything you do on the stick. If you know how to fly it well, you will be a

"Reaper with three wings". Good action against Camels and S.E.5a guaranteed.

[Hasse Wind 46]

Well, you really should start as a Pfalz D.IIIa pilot in 1918...

 

...if you have a deathwish and like to lose pilots a lot.

 

 

Seriously speaking, 1918 is a Bad Year for OFF newbies to start with, especially in the northern and central sectors of the front. There's just so much action everywhere against deadly planes that it can be quite overwhelming even to experienced pilots.

 

SE5a is a great beginner's choice - easy to fly, fast, two machine guns, and it can easily give the Albatros pilots some serious headache, particularly when flown in a campaign game that starts in early to mid 1917. For Germans, the Albatros D.II is a perfect beginner's plane and really superior against most opponents when it enters service in autumn 1916 (it's also one of my favourite planes in OFF). For its time period (late 1916, early 1917) it has the same good qualities as the SE5a does a bit later. I think the Alb D.II is better for inexperienced players than the D.III, because the latter has weaker lower wings which can cause problems (ie. break off) if you don't know what you're doing. Otherwise the D.III is superior to the D.II in every way, and is a good plane to choose next in the learning process when flying for the Germans.

 

For Entente, the easiest and definitely the most enjoyable plane to fly beginning in December 1916 is the Sopwith Pup. The Nieuport 17 is more manoeuverable, but much more difficult to master because it has REALLY weak lower wings. I've had a lot of fun with the Pup in early 1917 British careers. Late 1916 - early 1917 is in my opinion the most enjoyable period to fly in in OFF. The mix between fierce action and peaceful, uneventful missions is just about perfect then. The earlier in the war you go, the more peaceful it will be because there aren't that many squadrons or planes on the front, and OFF is currently lacking almost all the primitive early war designs, with some exceptions. And 1918 is deadly, especially after the major offensives begin in March 1918.

[Kingkat 1]

The current home town is Franklin,Tennessee. Just a little south of Nashville.

 

 

I thank all of you for the great advice. THAT stuff needs to be written down and put on the forum somewhere. Great info. !!!!!!!!

 

I am very curious about the "few" Americans that were attached to the RFC/RAF as well. Always a great story there.

 

I also like to fly for the "other side" sometimes. With all the great machines and stuff................especially Richtoffen, Udet, etc.

 

I shall adjust the Workshop area tonight!

 

Thankyou all so very much for the advice I shall give an after-action report as soon as I am done flying..........or being shot down in flames!

[Ryan H 0]

Hi, Kingcat

First: would you please tell me your hometown in Tennessee, so I can add you to our OFF Pilots map?

 

Second: If you want hair-raising action, fly 1918. I had crazy furballs with 93rd Aero against Jasta 18s DVIIs.

If you want it a little less crazy, as a German, start at Wasquehal in May 1917 (Jasta 10, Jasta 28w) -

they see good action against Pups and Triplanes (but you have to be good, cause the Albatros DIII early is

not superiour, except for the two machine guns the others don't have).

With Jasta 6, you can fly the eary Fokker Dr.1 - a real devil of a turnfighter; you got to get used to it, as it's

an "instabile" craft: it just does anything you do on the stick. If you know how to fly it well, you will be a

"Reaper with three wings". Good action against Camels and S.E.5a guaranteed.

 

 

You really have been there and done that with this game havent you? :)

[Olham 164]

Sure! But which game? This ain't no game! The sooner you realise that, the better your chances, pilot!

Edited September 17, 2009 by Olham

[JimAttrill 24]

If you just want to practice flying, try a BE2 at the beginning. It's at least easy to fly, and there's nobody else about. I joined no 4 on 23 March 1915 and by 10 April have got 40 hours and am now a major. It's a bit boring though, and I am trying to learn how to loop properly. I can't seem to get it to roll at all, but will start practicing the Immelman turns which don't require much aerobatic ability on the part of both of us. Hopefully by the time I come across an EIII or two I will be good enough to shoot them down or at least do the 'Sir Robin' manoevre