Wels

Hello, are we the baddies ? Maybe better skulls than a rats anus flag lol hrrrm back to topic: Thrustmaster is certainly a very good one, but expensive (?) I would not buy a Logitech ffb one again, even if the feeling was right when this stick started smoking and stinking after an AA hit during a B17 raid with the Mighty 8th over the u-boat pens of Lorient lol. I also had problems with RedBaron, rudder stopped working, and sometimes it would somehow not initialize at all, which was bad with Windows 98 and having to reboot this all the time just for the joystick. But I take it they have improved ... I am since using a dated big Saitek Cyborg 3d which works since 5 years without any problem. Very good ergonomy, and absolutely solid. Only problem is there is no spring mounted with this older model, so even without ffb the spring load is being generated with the electric motors, but it's flawless and rugged. They improved the next generation and installed a spring, so i would go for a Saitek evo ffb : http://www.testberichte.de/test/produkt_te...rce_p45574.html In comparison it is almost cheap, and imho best bang for money. Greetings, Catfish

Hello, you should think twice before using a skull on your t-shirt, banner or wherever .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO5WoLnOOlU...feature=related Greetings, Catfish

Good sound despite youtube Greetings, Catfish

Hello Bletchley, thanks, that is also what i read in all forums, but i still wonder: Which engines or planes were able to fly inverted due to a special carburettor ? If you are fast enough the centripetal forces during a looping will even feed your engine when you are at the top flying inverted, but i do not mean that. I read of the Etrich Taube, where Hirth was able to perform stunts flying inverted with his "Taube" before the war. I heard of special carburettors his, and some other Argus engines were fitted with, and if i think of a pressured tank instead of a fuel pump, the engine should be able to be fed under almost all circumstances, assuming a special carburettor and second "inverted float" with a valve was installed (?) Also Udet writes about flying his Albatros inverted (which was it then, and was there some change to the engine setup?), but losing height quickly - certainly possible he just glided with stopped engine, but reading this it did not make this impression. This would not be possible with a small reserve gravity tank (in german "Falltank") used in some planes, but for the pump-pressured main tank. I also heard of this in-tank float and even have some drawings of the time, but it would not be too difficult to change this technically - did no one do it ? And what about rotary engines ? I think those were indeed fed by gravity, not pressure ? Thanks and greetings, Catfish

Hello, couple of screenshots .. Halberstadt D.II and "Drachen" D.II and windsock at the 'drome D.II wing damage Pfalz D.III and shot-down wreck E.III attacking B.E.2c E.III after attacking B.E.2c B.E.2c going down burning B.E.2c trailing smoke out of control .. E.III balloon busting 1 E.III balloon busting 2 what the ground crew saw ... Thanks for watching, greetings, Catfish

Hello Lehmann,, you asked whether Jagdstaffel 5 is represented. It is, but the dev team forgot to skin the green-tail Zeppelin Greetings, Catfish (Wels) J5_Wels had no chance to join online yet, we will be getting a decent internet connection in april 2009, and i will try again then - if they don't court-martial me before

Hello, you HAVE a chance from the right, because he always seem to look to the left - it was the other way round in the old SOH forum - it's a trick ! Anyway i won't be afraid since he's flying for our side of the trenches Anyway great montage Greetings, Catfish

Hello, " ...I have a couple questions: (1) How do I completely ditch the "HUD"? (2) I understand you can turn off the red damage reports. How do I do this? (3) I understand there are three manuals. Where can I find them? OFF isn't anywhere in my Vista Program Files. (4) I disengaged brakes from from the pedals in Options but I still see "brakes" most of the time when using my pedals in the air. (5) Can you reload the Lewis Gun? ..." Thank you. 1,2,3 start OFF, go to workshop, run CFS3config, then windows and custom settings - there you can en- or disable the HUD or Tac screen completely, along with red or blue warning messages, chat and all that along with some graphic things. (edit: oops forgot 3 - Readme is in the OFF main directory, then there are a lot of infos at Polovskis FAQ page. As well look in the stickies for lists of what OFF does with which keys etc. Unfortunately no real big manual - maybe someone should write this sooner or later. Maybe this would even help selling it - there are hundreds of people who seem not to know how to setup their game or "micromanage" it - but the stickies are well worth a look.) 4 no idea - but when at the aerodrome, or in the air (be it single mission or campaign) press Escape, click "controls", and customize your pedals or whatever to your liking via changing the "Mine" control settings file. You can also change anything else here to your liking, command-key wise. Just DO NOT use "Ctrl-Shift-E" or "Ctrl-Shift-R" for anything personal, otherwise the in-game acceleration (and deceleration) will not work, and you will not get it back until a complete new install of OFF. 5 This is operated via Ctrl-C (open or close canopy in the original CFS3) or so i think, but it is only an animation to pull it down - the Lewis gun will have as many shots as were there in all the magazines without you having to reolad it. Good luck! Catfish

Hello, apart from the setting "always lead", are you in the rank to give commandoes ? My wingmen did not listen until i was promoted ? Only an idea, there indeed seems to be something wrong sometimes - but i take it as it might be in reality, where other squadron members do not hear or see your helpless pilot gesticulating ... Greetings, Catfish

Hello, I wonder whether there's a downloadable Rodan for OFF ? ... Greetings, Catfish

Hello, i still look at the original RB2 manual at times, much good info, and a real booklet ! RB3d, well i downloaded this later, but it only developed into real good sim after "Charles de Thielt" and Ren had figured out how to access some inner file stuff. I flew some times online as "Catfish" back then, but so few time in the last years. I have to say i played it more with single campaign, and maybe 5 percent for the time online - but it was great. I am not sure how this online play develops OFF-wise, but the "Boys of 60" fly a lot online, there's Stumpjumper here, Nio and lots of others. Anyway welcome to Over Flanders Fields, you will now have to learn how to really fly a plane, bit different than in the good old RB days lol. Greetings, Catfish

Hi, this is the windex used in P2, One in standing position, the other during flight, but it is WW2 style and does not indicate any speed, so maybe this is the reason why they did not use it in P3 - but i would still like to have my question(s) answered .... Pol ? Thanks and greetings, Catfish

Hello Pol, thanks, i certainly will sooner or later, just ... need .... time I saw in P2 that the indicator was attached upside down, however i saw on a photo it indeed was positioned in the strangest positions on various planes to somehow fit to the struts ! Why did you leave this out in P3 ? Another question, just saw a preview movie here http://pop.youtube.com/watch?v=v5p1A7SawZ4...re=channel_page At 2:40 there is a Morane ? Or does this belong to another sim ? Thanks and greetings, Catfish

Hello, some observations after my first 25 or so missions - all with the Fokker E.III. The E.III has a generally belivable behaviour, (however sometimes when slightly banking to the right, it will not roll back to the left at all, and this is not a reproducable behaviour, or connected to any speed, rudder or whatever. Has been improved by the last patch or so it feels). I wonder how this bird would have ever shot down anything at all. You have absolutely no chance engaging any two-seater with an observer and MG. Only plane that can be shot down is the BE2c. I manage to shoot down one 1 1/2 strutter at times, but almost immediately my engine will be damaged in a way that i have to land - and this brings me to the following list of observations: 1. Is there any way possible to change that OFF does not automatically finishes the game after an own crash landing, or landing at all in enemy territory ? So that you can have a look at the crashed plane, pan around it with the camera, and have your own thoughts whether you would have survived that in reality. Regardless where i land with a damaged plane, i am instantly drawn out of the game, and mostly the plane is described "destroyed", even if i made a perfect 3-pointer, and only engine or tank was punctured ! 2. Damaged enemy planes tend to crash-land almost always in forests, even if there was a clear strip some 100 feet to the left, or right. Thus they explode and "annihilate" in fierce explosions (overdone IMHO, WW2 or Hollywood style). 3. If shot-up enemy aircraft manage to land at an open field, they will not stop their engine but roll on until they finally reach a tree, or any obstacle, until they again explode in an unbelievable fireball. Would it be possible to let them stop the engine and just stop moving ? Like make an emergency landing, stop and that's it. I already hated this running-on forever in Red Baron hrrrm. 4. Enemy planes never stop their prop even with a shot-up engine or so it seems. Instead the white puffs/the black smoke will vanish, and the engine keeps turning on and on. 5. At least some enemy AI planes should try to break from a fight when badly damaged, instead of circling on and on until they simply crash - better break off or try an emergency landing. Some of the enemy planes (observed Nieuport 11 and BE2c, fly in a strange "hanging" way until they crash. 6. AI planes should not circle above enemy fields forever, but fly away as soon as their target plane is shot down, or if the situation allows it. The way it currently works is they circle until they are all shot down by the aerodrome's machine gun fire. They should develop hit and run tactics, and automatically evade machine gun fire getting away. 7. Enemy planes mostly attack from above, which is ok, but after a few shots they break from the fight and head directly for the deck, as well as my wingmates - but it does not make sense - shouldn't they try to keep altitude ? Diving away is ok so the enemy might lose them, but it happens too often. 8. All questions regarding AI planes, own (wingmen) and enemy: a) Do they have unlimited ammunition ? If yes can you change this ? And they should run away when out of ammo. b) If developing a white trailing smoke after being hit, will their engine overheat at some time, and lose performance, or fail (burn/prop stop)? c) Same question for black smoke ? d) Will the AI plane's engine develop flames after some time of running too hot by itself ? Or will it rather stop its engine trying to glide down to a landing ? e) Will the AI plane try to land or get away when trailing white (water) or black (oil) smoke ? Asked b) and c) because i saw numerous planes which stopped smoking after some time, flying on and on. Same with burning engines - plane flies on without falling down, observed a lot of BE2cs. 8. Will your own engine be prone to failure by chance (without being hit, just the usual component failure) ? 9. Do enemy AI planes at their enemy aerodrome react to my presence ? I mean does some AI plane or squadron start when my flight comes into sight ? Thanks and greetings, Catfish

Hello, does not the Hannover reconnaissance plane indeed have this indicator ? It had it in P2 (left outer struts), however i did not try it yet with P3 .. Greetings, Catfish

Hello, Follow me, or ... Greetings, Catfish

Hello, yes i just had some unbelievable fight myself - i would not shake them off, ran out of ammunition and finally out of fuel lol. This was so intense, it was really enough for the day I take it you will not be credited with "kills" if being shot down and dead, or captured - maybe this should be changed ? Anyway you got at least a promotion sent to your POW camp ! Thanks and greetings, Catfish

Hello Hertzie, if you have OFF Phase3 (= BHAH) you only need the CFS3 disk for installing OFF - no need to install the CFS3 game. With phase3 you can keep an existing CFS3 installation, or deinstall it, it will not change your OFF install. Only difference is: If you have the CFS3 CDs you have to have the second one in the tray to play OFF, if you have the CFS3 DVD you will not even need this to play OFF. There is also a workaround for the CD , but ... i did not tell you this Greetings, Catfish

Hello, i did not post those observations out of the blue. I got my OFF DVD relatively late (due to late ordering, no problem mail-wise), so i had only three weeks to "test" it, and write down what i thought would be nice to improve, until P3 is now considered finished, and any work on it stopped. I only wrote down what i experienced and saw, just to make it heard by the dev team. Some small issues troubled the sim since phase 1, and i made some lists of issues before, regarding phase 1 and 2, as you will probably remember. There were a lot of points i wrote back then, from what you said would never be possible to improve due to "the CFS3 thing" - but contrary to this statement i found almost all issues have now been cured in phase 3, along with further improvements i never dared to dream about. This is the best and most realistic simulator i ever saw and played. There is indeed not one that comes even near, and compared to phase 2 (which was not "bad" at all) it is a quantum leap ahead. So i did not write this to downsize this sim in its third iteration, it is only that this is a relatively short list - had i wrote a list with what i liked this would have probably blown up the forum - i will reserve this for a review ;). @Winder: No i did not read this post you mentioned via link, sorry, not even me can read all most of the time lol. Anyway after reading the link to the "current state of P3" post i understand your first answer, even if i found it a bit impolite. Well those who stayed "through the phases" are used to it, and after all this time i'm sure you don't give a damn lol . @Pol: Thanks for taking the time, and thoroughly answering. Those points are no show stoppers, just might be worth thinking about along the line. I do not care whether you improve the sim with a patch for Phase 3, or in a new pay-for version, be it numbered 4 or whatever - just make sure you keep up the good work ! Maybe this intention of mine did not show through well enough .. Thanks for reading and greetings, Catfish

Hi, Well, thanks for your well-thought and witty answer. Your charm has never failed to amaze me. Bye, Catfish

Hello, what Gaw said it is all there, however the M$-pre-programmed keys for changing views etc. are a chore and you have to be an octopus to press 3 buttons for another view, or engine setting. But you can adapt every action to a key of your choice via the control settings menu in OFF. Greetings, Catfish

Hello Winder, this is a good option. I have to say i did not vote here, because the question is somehow not to the point - there are different planes which have (or so i think) different damage models, so it is not so easy to vote. I think the current dm is quite realistic, if a bit too hard for the Eindecker, not much experience with other planes yet. But following a two seater one shot in the engine is enough, engine coughing, and down you go. As well a few shots in the wings and the plane instantly becomes soo hard to fly - but there was seldomly a cable, or a lever/link damaged, most shots just went through the fabric and that was it. To the DID and "realistic" folks: I do not think that a sim should be unnecessarily or unrealistic hard, to make it look right for some people - it should be as close to reality as it really was, not how simmers feel it should be - hope s.o. understands what i mean lol. If it WAS easy to get a kill with an SE5a, or a Camel, or a certain plane compared to its prey, it should be modelled that way in the sim - "simple" as that. I am certainly aware that this is not "simple" at all, since none of us ever flew such a craft in reality, let alone in combat - this is all written stories and hearsay, together with the raw data of the planes' capabilities regarding service ceiling, climbing abilities a.s.o., and trying to put all this into an electronic simulation. So i take it Winder's proposal will most probably be the best of both worlds - Thanks and greetings, Catfish

sorry, double post - please help Olham .. Greetings, Catfish

Hello Olham, no idea - but then where are your reports, and where can you read them ? If i fill out the form, there is oly a small line to enter my text, so if it gets longer i have to "scroll" through this small band to reread it - is there any form where the whole text is visible ? And where can i find this "pending" number ? I seem not be able to read my report after sending it off to the bureaus for evaluation ... I guess there is something wrong with my install ? B.t.w. this claiming is a phantastic idea - don't get me wrong ! One of the best features for immersion, and for this "real" feeling. Oops, my bad - it certainly is under "Pilot dossiers", and then "claims" - dumb me ! Thanks and greetings, Catfish

Hello, today i was able to shoot down a BE2c (what else lol), and i survived the AA fire. Then i filled out the report, and after two more sorties it has been acknowledged . It IS possible ! The second sortie i was alone, no enemy in the sky - and boy this is the first time with a sim i was glad about it The third sortie was something special: I got a special message while going to the briefing, saying something like "you have to go to a certain position over the front. Since all two-seaters are busy at the moment, your wingman with his scout will for once carry a camera, and make photos of the area, protect him by all means ..." Oops i thought, thinking of evil flights of hords of Bristols or whatever, shooting us 2 down in a second. So i swore to be VERY careful this time. And then ... (i am flying in july 1915, with FA62, and will get a Halberstadt not before mid-1916, will be a hard time) .. i was at the aerodrome, and there was Immelmann AND Boelcke with their E.Is/E.IIIs(?). So we took off together, and i felt a lot better. They had the same course, so we made our flight together, until 4 Bristol scouts appeared, and attacked. While i was still turning, my flight had shot down three of them in the first 30 seconds ! The fourth seemed to run away, but i stayed with my wingman. I felt really good when the whole flight made it back without a scratch. :yes: This special missions thing is great ! Even the Eindecker seems to behave a bit better now, maybe due to the change in patch 1.28. I am looking forward to more of those special orders ... Thanks and greetings, Catfish