themightysrc

Ay up, duck! Thanks for that - I'll start ploughing away after I've read the endof the help thing. Cheers, Si

Hi Gromit, Lovely cheese, eh....? (sorry couldn't resist!) Anyway, I use TIR4 and it's transformed how I fly. Simple as that. You do what a pilot would do - you look around for friends and foes. It's reliable, quite easy to set up and doesn't seem to present any major overhead to the system. The only downside I can think of is when you want to take a gulp of beer whilst flying, you end up with your gaze careering wildly round the sky for a moment (disconcerting). Otherwise it's a staggering good investment, IMHO. Wait. No, there is one more downside: you look like a complete prick sat in front of a PC wearing a baseball cap that has antennae. But this is a small price to pay, unless your family are particularly sadistic.

I'm afraid that I'm terribly pedestrian compared to the multifaceted posters here. I play OFF (natch). I'm a history fiend for more or less any period of history, but, I have to say, with some emphasis on the period covering 1639-1715 - the English Revolution allegedly. I love seeking out new and interesting places to eat and drink, as a fan of real ale and proper food. I occasionally bob down to see Bury FC get pasted. I read reams of books - there are about 5-6 sat by my bedside, and a reappraisal of S.R. Gardener's History of the Great Civil War is looming. Basically, I'll read anything - I strongly recommend Rubycon by Tom Holland, if anyone's looking - but obviously my reading habits reflect my recent activities. For good or for worse, I'm the secretary of the local Labour paty branch - which I'm sure will immediately snuff out some potential friendships on here - not because I'm a Blair/Brown fan, far from it, because my politics are somewhat to the left of that. Shocking stuff on such a forum. I probably won't mention it again, but it does seem to take up a ridiculous amount of my time, which would probably be better spent hunting enemy aircraft... Aside from that, I think that I'm utterly average and dull. Certainly, my collection of Indo-European nose flutes isn't going to raise interest here, still less my indexed reference library of references to haddock in the period 1000-1500, so there's no chance of my mentioning them here.

Bravely bold Sir Robin Rode forth from Camelot. He was not afraid to die, Oh brave Sir Robin. He was not at all afraid To be killed in nasty ways. Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin. He was not in the least bit scared To be mashed into a pulp. Or to have his eyes gouged out, And his elbows broken. To have his kneecaps split And his body burned away, And his limbs all hacked and mangled Brave Sir Robin. His head smashed in And his heart cut out And his liver removed And his bowls unplugged And his nostrils raped And his bottom burnt off And his pen-- "That's... that's enough music for now lads, *** there's dirty work afoot*** ???." Brave Sir Robin ran away. ("No!") Bravely ran away away. ("I didn't!") When danger reared it's ugly head, He bravely turned his tail and fled. ("no!") Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about ("I didn't!") And gallantly he chickened out. ****Bravely**** taking ("I never did!") to his feet, He beat a very brave retreat. ("all lies!") Bravest of the braaaave, Sir Robin! ("I never!")

I've found that one of the most rewarding gigs in OFF is two-seating in early war aircraft - Strutters and FE's spring immediately to mind. There's little to compare with the pleasure of persecuting EIII's from the front seat of an FE as they slowly plod up behind you and attempt to bring you down as you hunker down behind that enormous engine and paste them with machine gun fire. They might as well assault you with harsh language, so ineffectual are they. Once into the later war, life becomes exceedingly short and brutish, as my brief existence as a DFW pilot/observer proved. Brevity is indeed the word applicable to such careers, although having said that I'm having a splendid time as an RE8 team in 1917 and have managed to rack up about 9 hours thus far. Not bad for an aircraft that had a reputation of being something of a deathtrap for crews. If you've not tried life as a two-seater pilot, then you've really not explored all that OFF has to offer in the way of game experiences. For those of you who need weaning off fast and agile scouts, a great transitional aircraft is the mighty Brisfit, a plane I will happily take into a fight against all comers - twin rear guns really are quite a fearsome weapon...

Hi All, I wouldn't usually post about multiplayer here in the General Discussion folder, but seeing as it's where most people gather, and given that not that many seem to wander into the MP folder, I thought I'd do it anyway (dodges bricks...). At the moment, there's a small but dedicated bunch of players who are doing multiplayer, mostly Stateside, with games hosted by Vasco, who's UK based. A while ago, he offered in the MP folder to run midweek sessions for anyone over on this side of the pond (ie, the murky wet one with good access to continental cheeses and wines), and players on mainland Europe. The response was pretty underwhelming, except for a few American players who already do Sunday evening sessions. Come on chaps - here's your chance to show off your flying and fighting skills/make a complete arse of yourself** flying for the King/Kaiser/Republique! If you've ever fancied finding out whether mulitplayer is for you, here's the perfect opportunity to find out. Set up is straight forward and flying with other people is a sublime pleasure. So take the chance, and see if you can survive Over Flanders Fields, in the company of like minded people... ** delete as appropriate

Hi Vasco, Excellent report, although my lack of input is only too noticeable - I'll either try harder or go back to SP: we'll see! "I've also posted this report in the 'OFF BHaH: Reports from the Front' thread to make sure the SP-only flyers can see what we're up to." Can I suggest that you also post them at SimHQ on the OFF forum? There seems to be the fixed idea there that OFF isn't MP, and it would be most amusing to read the incredulous reactions of simmers who've spent years slagging off CFS3, only to find that an MP is there to be had... Cheers, Si

I have to say, my enjoyment was somewhat marred by the crap CFS3 MP interface - I just couldn't get it work as it usually does - which subsequently led to me flying aimlessly around, pounding various keys to get the TAC and map working. Deeply, deeply frustrating. I couldn't even get onto the airfield for the mission that Vasco led off, which I'm sure just made me look even more useless than usual. Oh well, assuming that my rock vibe has recovered by Sunday evening and that I don't have too much on (very busy domestically, for various reasons, at the moment), I'll be back to provide my usual counterpoint to the advanced flying and gunnery skills demonstrated by everyone else...

Vasco, Thanks for the kind words regarding the 3rd flight. I'm sure the chaps would have made a good fist of it regardless of who was leading! I really must break my duck in these MP gigs - I've not shot anything down yet, and rarely do anything other than achieve something like 1-2% hits. I can see that I would have made a pretty dreadful pilot in WWI. Thanks to everyone else for overlooking this!

Ah, you colonial heathens... Despite all attempts to traduce the reputation of Spam - also commonly known, I'm reliably told, as The Breakfast Of Champions - it's still there in shops, squatting in its own inimitable, indigestible way. Believe it or not BH, there's recently been an advertising campaign on Briddish telly which shows happy enthusiastic Spam worshippers doing, er, interesting culinary things with Spam - although mostly frying it, IIRC. And all to the memorable little ditty: "Spam upppppppp... for the taste of it! Spam uppppppp....." So, yes, Spam is alive and well in Blighty. Mind you, given that I live near Bury (pronounced Buuuuuuuuury), the centre of the universe in terms of black pudding, I really can't express too much surprise at this being the case. Me? I'm more your chateaubriand sort of champagne socialist, but there you go. Actually, champagne is overrated fizz and real ale is the answer to all our problems. YMMV.

Hi BH, This is something that I really should explore. I can't grumble about certain kites being missing from OFF unless I take some steps to rectifying the situation: most people know I'd kill for a SS DIII/IV, Big Ack, etc, so I suspect that it won't really harm my cosmic soul to do a bit of work! Can you tell me where I can get hold of the software involved, and what sort of PC spec you need to run said software? Cheers, Si

"No one here seems to be offended, but, taken out of context, I'm sure there are some who would be offended by and more than willing to whine about such terms as "Hun, Bosch, Limey, or Frog"." Well, I'm pretty sure you can extend that to an awful lot of epithets. I think the general rule should be that you don't chuck round any names unless (a) you're confident that the company you're in won't raise objections, (b) if they do, you can explain you view without offending them further and © you haven't got an ulterior motive. I've used the phrase 'ghastly Hun' in previous posts here because I'm pretty sure that chaps like Olham will see that as window dressing on what is, after all, a recreation of the first world war - complete with stupidity and jingoism on all sides. I would be horrified if it weren't seen in the Blackadder-esque sense that it was used, and if any of our German friends objected, I would simply stop using the phrase. The main reason why I use it is because it encapsulates (more or less) the somewhat paternalistic and simplistic feeling that seems to have permeated the RFC/RNAS during the period, and also because there is - given the lapse in time from the events aboutwhich we speak - a certain distance which renders both the attitudes of the Briddish and their opponents (to simplify matters) anachronistic. For example, I'm a passionate pro-European, in the sense that I - as a Brit - see the benefits to all concerned of the EU. Whoa! Political point!! But that's my take on politics - from, admittedly, a left wing stance - but it doesn't mean that I can't enter into the spirit, as I perceive it, of a long bygone aerial war, but leavened (I hope) with some sense of the absuridty of what happened when empires collided nearly 100 years ago. So, bottom line - keep that sense of perspecitve, but be cognisant of other peoples' sensibilities. That's an unconscious mantra that everyone on the CA OFF forums seems tokeep anyway, so I'll just shut up and figure out how not to get my next pilot killed.

A fine present - you're a lucky bloke! Just as an aside, I've offered my other half the opportunity to learn to fly a couple of times (she likes a challenge and is into fast cars) on the basis that she wouldn't object to my sacrificing DIY time if she 'got' PC flying, but, sadly as yet, to no avail. Is flight simming - and WWI combat simming a uniquely male thing? I know that Womenfly2 is a flight simmer of some repute and dedication, but that's where the list seems to conk out... Anyway, RD, have fun with the new kit - it turns dogfights into a much more equitable prospect.

Good advice Al. I'd say read up about the aircraft you fancy flying, as OFF models the flight characteristics rather well. If you have a good sense of the historicl background, you'll find it easier to find the period where you want to start flying....and you're off to the races. Basically, all the usual combat stuff applies, but with additional caveats with regard to the conservation of momentum - no aircraft in OFF is actually any quicker than a Ducati 900! - and diligent due regard for the flimsy makeup of these things. Once you've got all that lot sussed, and realised that the AI is not actually superhuman (even if it seems so to start), then you'll find life easier. Oh, and don't you be too eager to get into scraps. Running away is an honourable occupation, and I commend it to the house.

Hi Stiffy, Once you've got some time in one or two of the aircraft, you might want to consider straying into the multiplayer section of this site. I'd never played any MP before I tried the OFF MP experience, and I can tell you it's a laugh. Inexperience won't be an issue as even seasoned players make complete numpties of themselves, and all that happens is that you laugh about it and learn new tricks. Definitely a good investment in your spare time - but clear it first with dependents, as they're likely to see far less of you thereafter! Cheers, Si

Hi Tracers168, Welcome to the slightly obsessional world of OFF - wave goodbye to your social life, and prepare to age visibly in front of your PC... AFAIK, OFF doesn't come with a clean bill of health for Windows 7, however I'm pretty sure that there are more than one or two people playing it on W7 (which is unsurprising, given that it's a slimmed down Vista on steroids). If you're not sure, or haven't tried it, then get onto the OFF website and email the devs - they'll answer you, I've no doubt. In fact, they'll probably pop up on this thread and give you a definitive answer. They're like that. Omnipresent.

BTW Vasco - are we likely to see one of your excellent reports in due course?

I quite agree that we need new ideas and stuff to try, the only caveat I would extend is to make sure that we all know beforehand, and have whatever files are necessary - a bit like Vasco clearing the latest patch to ensure that we're all patched the same. God knows, there have been episodes in the not to recent past where mismatches have caused problems, and that can result in delays and frustration. So, no problem with experiments: let's just ensure that we're all in on it well before we gather to fly.

"i have no idea what ipx is..." IPX/SPX is, if I recall correctly from pissing about with network protocols many years ago, another network system, not unlike TCP/IP, but nowhere near as good or popular.

It's easy really. You start an RAF pilot called Roy Brown in 2nd week of April 1918, and then hang around where jasta 11 are likely to be. You then knock MvR out of the air, so he's properly croaked, and fill in the claim at the end of the flight. "Shot down the Red Baron" or suchlike as the narrative. You can then have the party to end all parties in the mess, whilst they verify the claim. Then you find out it's been credited to some bloody Ocker sat in a pit of mud with a Lewis gun.

Pol, Here's an idea - port OFF to linux and we can forget all this virus nonsense forever ;^) Cheers, Si

Stiffy, I can guarantee that when OFF:BH&H turns up and you load it, and run it with your first pilot you'll get a...er....thrill of excitement.

" actually even the newspapers knew it the day before and already printed the obituary the night before to announce the aces death at the very same day lol " Ah...if only they could do the Euromillions lottery results in that way... Knowing my luck it'd be the results for nineteen bloody seventeen, and I'd be in a forward trench, my ticket turned to papier-mache in my pocket. Anyway, if they print them the night before everyone would select the same damn numbers. And that wouldn't be any use either. I bet blokes in the trenches couldn't get the Berliner Tagesblatt or Daily Humbug on the day of issue anyway. I'm rambling aren't I. I'll stop.

Well, thanks to Vasco for running a splendid evening's entertainment - even if I did get matrimonial Archie for spending about 6 hours arsing about on the PC.... The missions were superb fun, and I'm only sorry I didn't manage to shoot anything down (well, not Hun, anyway..). Thanks to everyone else for putting up with my rather bizarre interpretation of 'flight leading'. Any chance of that midweek European bunfight, Vasco? Cheers, Si AKA Willy Coppitt

Hi Stiffy, I do hope you're excited at the prospect of getting OFF. <this has been a completely s**t double entendre, predicated entirely upon the excessive reading of Viz. Apologies to non-UK readers who won't have a clue what I'm talking about>