Tanyrhiew

I beg to differ, after doing more testing today, the culprit is the object shadows. I suspect that when cfs was originally released, using the cpu for generating the shadows was ok for the relatively small number of objects back then. With OFF the number of objects requiring shadows has been greatly increased. This explains why my fps fluctuated so much - it depended on how many objects were in view at the time. Now that I've determined that it was the shadows causing the problem, I have been able to bump the particles back to 'effects-5' levels. In fact I can set the object density in OFF manager to high with minimal impact on frame rate. Regarding clouds I will happily trade blocky aircraft shadows and no object shadows for a sky full of clouds and an AI that cannot see me - this is a flight sim after all, the sky is where the action is! Anyway now that I have everything running nicely, I'm off to try the campaign - wish me luck!

While waiting for my DVD to arrive, I've a few questions regarding the campaign and how well it simulates the air war: Will I see 60+ aircraft dogfights over Ypres in 1917? Do you see 100 aircraft scraps starting at ground level and going all the way up to 15,000 feet in 1918? Do the germans stay predominantly over their side of the lines? Is morale featured at a squadron level ala Rowan's Flying Corps were a demoralised squadron tended to stay well back from the front and show reluctance when engaging? Is the Allied numerical superioty represented in any meaningful way? Do you see multi staffel german circus operating together in 1918? Does the AI try to save itself when outmatched? Is it possible to stalk the AI flights ala Mannock/MvR et al? If the answer to a lot of these is yes I can forsee many hours with OFF. Although I tried phase 2 when It came out I've been holding off getting phase 3 due to seeing how ROF stacked up, a general weariness when it came to flight sims in general (playing il-2 from the demo days did that) and due to SES's naval games (Bullethead, so this is were you've been hiding!). I finally cracked after leafing through the screenshots thread and ordered. If OFF engages me as much as the first Red Baron did I will be very happy!

Cheers guys, your answers have me licking my lips in anticipation (starts uninstalling Il-2 after checking out the 4.09 patch, yup still soulless off-line). The DVD cannot arrive soon enough! While I wait which book do I re-read McCudden's Flying Fury or Yeates' Winged Victory? Think I'll plump for the latter. PS Bullethead, you won't get a pint out of me until that damned AI is fixed in Jutland, now get back to work (Ex) Marine! PPS The goose meets cattle prod is the funniest thing I've read in yonks. Definately the way you tell 'em :-D