A few OFF questions…

[vonOben 55]

Hi

 

I’ve been flying BHaH and HiTR campaigns for quite some time now and I have a few questions:

 

* A few times when I have landed on friendly ground according to the in game map I have been captured. Isn’t the frontline correctly drawn on the map?

 

* I have never been injured or hospitalised by enemy (or friendly) aircraft machineguns, which I find slightly unrealistic.

 

* I have never been injured or hospitalised when crash landing although rather nasty crashes, doesn’t that happen in OFF?

 

* I find it rather difficult to make decent landings when the engine is dead. Any advice how to improve landings without the engine running?

 

Cheers

 

vonOben

[RAF_Louvert 101]

.

 

Hello vonOben,

 

Yes, you will have stays in the hospital from such incidents as you describe, depending on what setting you are using in the workshop. If I remember correctly the Normal Die Roll setting should do it. As to landing with the motor off, you need to know the glide angle of your plane and then pick a spot on the runway to glide to. Each plane is different so practice finding the stall point without power. You can burn off speed by side-slipping and/or circling as well in order to get lined up. It's really all about a bit of practice. Enjoy!

 

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[Olham 164]

A few times when I have landed on friendly ground according to the in game map I have been captured. Isn’t the frontline correctly drawn on the map?

The front line in WW1 moved forth and back many times, and the ingame map doesn't show all these changes.

My advice: if any possible, don't land close to the line; fly further into your territory.

 

I have never been injured or hospitalised by enemy (or friendly) aircraft machineguns, which I find slightly unrealistic.

I have never been injured or hospitalised when crash landing although rather nasty crashes, doesn’t that happen in OFF?

Yes, I also observed this - I think there were more injuries before the last patch (not sure).

 

I find it rather difficult to make decent landings when the engine is dead. Any advice how to improve landings without the engine running?

A WW1 aircraft without it's engine pulling needs another way to produce forward speed/energy, to keep the airflow over the wings carrying it.

If the airflow is too little, you are short before a stall, which makes your craft far less controllable.

You may be frightened to crash the craft, and keep it too much in a horizontal level, which means loss of airflow.

So, against all fears, you need to keep the nose low enough to keep up the right airspeed.

You will have a good airspeed, when your controlls like ailerons and rudder work fine.

A heavy craft like an Albatros may request a steeper landing approach angle than you would like normally;

and only short before touch down, you bring the craft to level.

 

I don't know advice for the light Sopwith types though, there must be other specialists here. But it should be similar.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Olham

[Olham 164]

UncleAl: ...while the Albatros without it's engine, is akin to gliding a cinder block

 

The Bordeauxred Baron: "Bleech! You ignorant rotary fan! Der Albatros glidez fine, when you know how too doo itt!"

[Burning Beard 14]

With the Sopwith Triplane the float is so bad you have fly over the field once to get your mechanics attention then on the second pass he'll throw you a rope and reel you in.

 

 

Beard

[77Scout 3]

The in-game map does have some inaccuracies. In some places it is very obvious...you are flying over the front line but on the map the front line shows some distance away. You can also see the same regarding some cities...the map shows you are over a city but from the cockpit you see the city is actually some distance away. It is just something to be aware of and deal with. In real life pilots didn't have a magic "you-are-here" map and had to figure out were they were for themselves, so if you want to be truely realistic try flying with paper maps. It adds a whole new layer to the realism and depth of the game.

 

I agree that it seems the player cannot be injured by bullets (or perhaps the loss of 'health points' happens but just has no noticeable effect in the game). I would be sweet to see this tweeked in Phase 4. Ideally it would be like Red Baron 3D, were you got injured, the screen would go reddish and fade in and out to indicate injury, and you only had so much time to land or you would bleed to death or pass out. However, I have my doubts if CSF3 has the machinery to do any of this. A mechanism to record a trip to hospital based on seriousness of bullet injury (like we have for crashes) would be a great addition to the OFF Manager, if do-able.

 

 

[Olham 164]

...if you want to be truely realistic try flying with paper maps. It adds a whole new layer to the realism and depth of the game.

I know, that RAF_Louvert and you are doing this. Would you say, that the towns, roads and rivers in OFF are accurate enough to

follow them with a paper map?

 

I agree that it seems the player cannot be injured by bullets (or perhaps the loss of 'health points' happens but just has no noticeable

effect in the game). I would be sweet to see this tweeked in Phase 4. Ideally it would be like Red Baron 3D, were you got injured, the screen

would go reddish and fade in and out to indicate injury, and you only had so much time to land or you would bleed to death or pass out.

 

I'm pretty sure I had such a screen recently. In the center, I still saw everything in front of me, but the edges were red.

But that was, when I had crashed into a wingmate in midair, and I was regarded dead or dying; aircraft out of control.

I also sometimes heard my own cry from the pain of an impact. When I then looked at the health points, they had sunk.

But as you say - it doesn't seem to have any further effect.

I also think, injuries by bullets should appear more, and depending on the lethality of the injury, you fade out sooner

or later through the loss of blood.

[RAF_Louvert 101]

I know, that RAF_Louvert and you are doing this. Would you say, that the towns, roads and rivers in OFF are accurate enough to

follow them with a paper map?

 

Olham, the rivers, lakes, and rail lines tend to work the best when navigating in OFF by paper map. You can do it with some roads, but there are so many that it can get confusing rather quickly. I use the maps available in the OFF downloads section and always begin a new campaign with a "Cook's Tour" of my AO, making notes of various landmarks and such. It might seem a bit intimidating at first , but after a few flights you will get the hang of it. And just like our RL counterparts experienced, as you become familiar with your particular area you will be able to find your way around simply by looking down at the scenery. I highly recommend it.

 

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[Olham 164]

Thanks, Lou - I think I will give it a try with my 1916 Halberstadt ace - then it's not yet so crowded in the air.

[77Scout 3]

I know, that RAF_Louvert and you are doing this. Would you say, that the towns, roads and rivers in OFF are accurate enough to

follow them with a paper map?

 

Hi Olham:

 

For my part, I mostly navigate using just aerodromes and the front lines. They are both visible from a long way off so with little more than that it is relatively easy to know where you as you fly along.

 

One must keep an eye on the compass of course so you have an idea where you are going and what landmarks to be looking for as they pop into view ahead.

 

I haven't had great success with historic maps, as they usually don't show the front line or aerodromes. Instead, I usually just print a screenshot of the OFF-map (from the mission briefing) and use that because it has the frontlines and the aerodromes shown (my most-used landmarks). Roads and rivers don't really show up well on the OFF-map as we all know (one drawback) but if I live long enough, I soon learn the roads and rivers in the area by memory, and they eventually become useful landmarks.

 

Cities are easy landmarks to spot too, but are sometimes not where the OFF-map shows them as I mentioned above, so you have to adjust for that.

 

I will be interested to hear if you give paper maps a try, and what you think of it, good or bad.

[themightysrc 5]

" so if you want to be truely realistic try flying with paper maps"

 

Google maps is also your friend.

[Mr. Lucky 0]

I use Encarta maps as mentioned in the stickies. They're 99% accurate with the terrain and scenery in OFF. RR's, roads, rivers are spot on. OF course, you'll have to note where the airdromes are yourself. Also, the items on the briefing maps are off about 4 miles to the southwest when comparing to paper maps and in-game scenery. Landmarks become more critical when flying for the French and US when there are no compasses.

 

I have found, due to their weight, the inline planes need a fair amount of nose down to keep the airspeed up compared to their weight which requires a significant flare before touching down. Power on landings are a breeze though.

 

Rotaries tend to float and even fly in ground affect at idle. I took a page out of a book I read (one of Lewis' I think?) and switch the engine off on final when the airfield is made and set them down nicely for a three point full stall landing.

[vonOben 55]

Hi guys

 

depending on what setting you are using in the workshop. If I remember correctly the Normal Die Roll setting should do it

I’m using “Dead is dead” setting. Do you get wounded if you use “Norman Die Roll” setting?

 

The front line in WW1 moved forth and back many times, and the ingame map doesn't show all these changes.

My advice: if any possible, don't land close to the line; fly further into your territory.

Well, I never land close to the frontline of I don’t have to. I do it if the engine has died or if my plane is shot to pieces and I’m hunted by a bunch of enemies.

 

A heavy craft like an Albatros may request a steeper landing approach angle than you would like normally; and only short before touch down, you bring the craft to level.

I try to keep the speed up at about 125 km/h and as you say bring the aircraft to level short before touchdown. But if the plane also is badly damaged it’s harder to control.

I’ll practice in QC!

 

I agree that it seems the player cannot be injured by bullets (or perhaps the loss of 'health points' happens but just has no noticeable effect in the game). I would be sweet to see this tweeked in Phase 4.

Yes it would be nice if this could be improved in OFF and I also liked the way it was displayed in Red Baron 3D.

 

Cheers

 

vonOben

[Olham 164]

Von Oben: I try to keep the speed up at about 125 km/h and as you say bring the aircraft to level short before touchdown.

But if the plane also is badly damaged it’s harder to control. I’ll practice in QC!

 

The plane can lose lift through damage. When the engine dies, you can push the nose a bit more to keep speed.

But I noticed, that I simply lose lift, when parts of fabric are ripped away - and then, nothing really helps very much.

[RAF_Louvert 101]

.

 

Also, be sure to stay relaxed when landing a dead and/or damaged plane. Try whistling the "Blue Danube Waltz" as you're coming in, that's what I do.

 

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[Olham 164]

What a fine choice of music, Sir, to accompany the ever-coming-up-again-question:

will I make the landing as well as the flying, or will my comrades have reason to burst into laughter and tears?

[77Scout 3]

I’m using “Dead is dead” setting. Do you get wounded if you use “Norman Die Roll” setting?

 

With either setting you will never be injured by bullets, as discussed above.

 

The difference between the settings is how it handles the odds of you dying versus being injured in a crash. As determined by CSF3, death is usually the outcome in all but the very lightest of crashes. Since it is a bit overdone, Winder put the 'death on die roll' option in. When this option is used, should CSF3 determine that you are dead then the OFF Manager will randomly over-ride that outcome and say you are merely injured, based on a 'dice roll' calculation.

 

Neither setting is perfect. 'Dead is dead' will often kill you even in a minor crash, while 'death on dice roll' will often allow you to survive even in horrible certain-death crashes.

 

The best solution I have found is actually to use 'pilot never dies' and then decide for yourself when you should be dead (i.e. after each crash) and manually kill off your pilot when appropriate.

[RAF_Louvert 101]

.

 

I prefer "Mostly Dead " rather than "Dead is Dead". Mostly Dead is still slightly alive. With Dead is Dead, well, with Dead is Dead there's usually only one thing you can do, go through his clothes and look for loose change.

 

Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.

 

 

 

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[Pips 5]

vonOben,

 

As regards dead stick landings the greatest danger is usually stalling short. The best way I found to practice is to climb up to around 10,000 feet, switch off, and play around with your favourite aeroplane. Work out your best glide angle (it does vary greatly), stall speed and stick warnings, side slipping, dives and level off to watch the rate of your forward speed bleed and so on.

 

Once your comfortable with that try a few landings with the engine throttled right back. Don't try to come straight in from any sort of height. Always spiral down, performing nice gentle circles over the aerodrome whilst losing height. If you are successful landing without having to resort to using your engine, your ready to switch off totally and give it a go.

 

It's fun.

[Olham 164]

Guys, the way you fly, it might be NECESSARY to cheat the devil more than once!

Mmuahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!!