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Hi RGJ, Fab - have you let Olham know who and where you are? He'll add you to the player's map. You probably want to read the MP essentials sticky and then PM Vasco - he made getting online really easy for me. Cheers, Si

Hi Stump, I think Vasco means that the European MP would run on a weekday evening (European time) which would make it 2pm Yankee time - is that right, Vasco? Cheers, Si

Hi Vasco, Sounds like an absolutely superb idea - count me in big time <gets enthusiastic at the idea of flying with real tommies and ghastly huns>

Olham, "My most famous victims so far were Albert Ball and Hermann Göring." Good grief. I trust that was two separate pilots!

"It's the difference between buying a Ford Focus and finding it reliableand comfortable and buying a Lexus and finding broken functions, poorreliability, bad mileage, etc. You expect more from a higher-endproduct, not the same as the lower-end with just a shinier coat ofpaint (or graphics and FM/DM in this case?)" I suspect there's a lot of truth in that. One major difference between OFF and ROF was the underlying hype, or lack thereof. OFF has long laboured under the mistaken idea that it's going to be shackled by the CFS3 engine, which as I think most people would acknowledge was hardly a standout example of how a combat sim should be done. Consequently, even though I'd never heard of CFS3 (seriously!) prior to looking at OFF, the impressions conveyed were negative. There was no hype, because the CFS3 thing was a warning to stear clear, whilst the reports of P1 and P2, whilst mostly favourable still dewlt on the failings of CFS3. As I think we all know, OFF:BH&H (phase 3) transcends its CFS3 origins and limitations to a degree that most gamers become massively enthusiastic having experiencd the game - there's little relation to the original M$ abomination, and one is both surprised and delighted by OFF. ROF, by contrast, came in from another angle. It appears to have been massively hyped prior to release - and let's face it, it was a long gestation - and the beta test reports and screen shots simply encouraged sky high expectations within the community. Here it was, at last: the long awaited true successor to RB3D. With expectations that high, it was probably no great surprise that ROF generated as much adverse reaction as it did praise. I've followed the progress of the game since its release, and my impression is that many owners (or renters) of the game have concluded that (a) it's massively incomplete, (b) the developers aren't responsive enough to demands for fixes/changes and © basically it's porked as a WWI combat sim, regardless of how beautiful the aircraft/FM/DM are. It seems to me that iff you can't satisfy the SP people, or MP people (of either co-op or DF varieties), then you're reliant on the reviews drawing in new players who haven't played other WWI flight sims, or perhaps those who are satisfied to simply fly around in a fairly limited universe. I personally had high (but not, I hope, unrealistic) hopes for the sim - a dynamic campaign system a la OFF, with a reasonable choice of planes that I could fly without an intrusive DRM model - but my overriding impression from feedback I've read elsewhere is that my money is best remaining in my wallet until we see how things pan out, and how the bugs and omissions are handled. If it all works out as the ardent advocates at SimHQ say it will, then I might well buy a copy. If it doesn't (which is my suspicion), then I will probably be glad I haven't bought a forty quid drinks coaster.

Hi Godz, I'm reminded a little of FE and its fate as the WWI sim of choice - or not, as the case may be. Released with only a few flyables, with a UI that was frankly rather naff - my first British pilot had stick time in the DVII! - nice graphics (although not when on the ground), a paucity of life below and no SP campaign to speak of. FE remains on my HD as I managed to download some excellent 3rd party goodies - some of them Peter01's (a very helpful bloke) - such as the Bloody April campaign, modified scenery that looked miles better than stock and some lovely fan produced planes such as the Martynsides, SSDIV, Hanriot, etc. But I can't remember the last time I fired it up. Why? Because the immersion - whilst immediate - didn't really last due to the UI and lack of a plausible dynamic SP campaign. Why do I mention this? Because I was on SimHQ yesterday discussing with an ROF fan about campaigns, and the only campaign available is apparently the canned SP one. That, allied to the lack of flyables (particularly if you wish to do RFC, or anything prior to 1918 - another similarity to FE), and the absence of a dynamic campaign with depth and immersion, means that ROF is unlikely to make an appearance on my PC any time soon. And that's not even taking into account the pay-to-buy planes, permanent internet connectivity, inability to resell, and concerns about development of the sim and continuity of play if NeoQB were to pull the plug (or go down it). TK's vision for FE was clearly that modders would get behind it and enhance - and they certainly did, as the list of downloads above attests. That NeoQB are now throwing their arms open to modders is probably a good thing for ROF, but at the back of my mind I can't help feeling that NeoQB have overstretched themselves, and this is tacit admission of that fact. Given that a dynamic campaign for ROF seems to be a distant prospect, according to the guy I corresponded with at SimHQ, I suspect I've now seen enough to guess the eventual fate of the game.

Hi SD, I make it that 16.10 BST (British Summer Time) is 11.10 American Eastern Time - what I presume EDT stands for - so I suspect that weekday games would have to start unacceptably early (for you) to enable me and t'other Europeans to clock in. My preference is about 8 in the evening, but I'm fairly sure that those of you in gainful employ will not be too keen to kick off a game at 3 in the afternoon! However, all is not lost - I suspect there are other plans afoot......mwuhaha....

Bah! Unfortunately, the time difference between the States and the UK renders weekday evenings (your time) as impossible for me - I can't justify kicking off an MP game at midnight or thereabouts on a school night.... I know that Saturdays are tricky for most people, due to RL commitments, and Sundays seem to be an issue when it's NFL time. Are there enough UK and mainland Europe players kicking about to justify a UK/Europe based MP game? Vasco - are you in the building?

Hi Firecage, That's interesting: I'll try lowering the number claimed (even though I saw both of them crash, dammit). Unfortunately, said pilot was forced down in Tommyland yesterday, and has been incarcerated somewhere in the Bolton area, so it'll have to wait until his replacement, Kurt Remarx, starts to wreak havoc on the Briddish.

Hi Firecage, "I had this happen twice and I am still not sure what happened. I amguessing its wingmen not close enough, Witness name spelled wrong,Claimed wrong type of aircraft downed, or someting like that." My wingmen were lurking locally (admittedly there was also a snowstorm going on), and I quoted both their names separated by a comma in the top section of the form. Even in my excited state (read: dog with two dicks), I think I got the names right, and I'm 100% certain that the poor saps I sent to perdition were Quirk sufferers, so I'm at a loss to explain it. It does, I suppose, say quite a lot about my qualities as a pilot that it's taken me 6 whole months to dispose of two aircraft in one mission, and those the easiest and most defenceless aircraft in the entire game! Bah!

I'd love to be able to participate in a midweek do, but I'm afraid the time difference really rules me out. Vasco - if you're around - how about midweek do's for the European players? Surely to God there's enough of us to give it a whirl? Hmm. I might even repeat these thoughts in the General Discussion area....

" it's not our fault the engineers of the Royal Aircraft Factory decided the Quirks don't need the ability to defend themselves." Whilst said in jest, I really have to take issue with this. BE2s had - not infrequently, and obviously poorly sited - a rear facing gun operated by the poor sod in the front seat. BE12s only had a front gun, AFAIK, as they were meant to be (laughably) scout aircraft. To increase the bomb load of a BE2, the observer - and therefore gunner - was frequently omitted, and thus the pilot went sans defensive armament over the German lines. A brave act indeed. And do bear in mind that the engineers at the RAE were also responsible for that much less friendly or reviled device - the SE5a. That is all. Over and out.

Sorry Vasco, Real life intervened today (birthday party for 3 year old followed by trip to hossie for cancer treatment) intervened. I'd be happy to fly midweek - Wednesday evening would be fine - but today was a complete mare. Cheers, Si

Balders, Fabbo - get in there.

Hi SD, I'm on holiday for 2 weeks starting tomorrow, the first of which will be spent in Northumbria, drinking beer, eating fish & chips and playing Republic of Rome and Carcassone (you didn't need to know that, I'm just gloating), however the second week I'll be back chez nous so perhaps the Monday or Wednesday evening? Cheers, Si

Just as a matter of interest, and because I'm nosey, how many active MP servers are there left for RB3D players, and how many active squadrons? Any ideas?

"Personally I set a goal of 30 more minutes" Delete the 'more' and that's my ambition...

"Btw i´ve read about how you all are striving to reach 17 flight hourswith your pilots, what happens then? Are you relieved of duty? Can youchoose to keep flying?" I really can't answer this - i've never survived that long!

All very timely with, apparently, quite a few new players turning up on the forum. Do you run Nvidia, or something else?

"Very, very helpful people and developers here. Mate, if you have the slightest problems, ask here, and we will try to help." I'd very much second that view - you can even bend the developers' collective ear! If you check out the number of patches that have been produced since OFF came out, you'll probably realise pretty quickly that OBD are extremely responsive to their users' wishes, which has led to some fairly intensive work by the developers. The other nice thing about this forum is that you'll find enthusiasts, rather than fanbois, so if you find something not to your liking in the sim, people will actually discuss it without leaping down your throat. I've detected very little rancour in my time on here. So welcome to the legion of the lost (evenings & weekends), and look forward to accumulating a huge pile of dead pilots (like the rest of us...)

Hi OHO, and welcome to Death Row!! There are two ways of approaching this. One way is to pick the best aircraft comparative to what you'll be facing, at a time when you're not going to be overwhelmed by numbers - which is, I think, a good reason to avoind the late war. Hence, I'd recommend the Albatros DII. It's a pretty good aircraft, and certainly as good as anything that you'll be facing to begin with - I'm talking Sep/Oct/Nov 1916. Also, there are few blasted Tommies around to spoil your enjoyment as you wreak havoc on the BE2c's and FE2b's that you'll inevitably encounter (in reasonable volumes). The other way is to pick a neck of the woods where you can clock up hours and learn your skills to help your survival: if you fancy that, try enlisting in the RFC at a field where you're (mostly) out of harm's way - in other words, good old Blighty. Oh yes, Bullethead's right, BTW - the beer's are on you! Cheers, Si

CJ, It might still be available on the web, but if you want you're welcome to my copy - I loved RB3D in its time, but I feel that it's now passed, so if you want to make me an offer for FCJ, just PM me.

There's a thread over at SimHQ (he added mischievously) that mentions N23/24, N28 and DH5. You 'ant seen me, roight? <taps side of nose in conspiratorial manner...>

Hi all, Here's one for you to ponder. We currently have 39 flyables in OFF, with the promise of a few more to come in the indeterminate future. Of these aircraft, which ones should be the most flown on the basis that they served longest in WWI? Also - and this is probably more interesting, and will cause most rows - which aircraft *not* currently available in OFF should be in, on the basis of their longevity as front line aircraft? All replies will be gratefully devoured...

To be fair Al, there was a machine gun for the observer, if I've read correctly. Probably about as much use as a one-legged man at an arse-kicking party, but there nonetheless. I wish we had that in OFF!