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Wow, mild violence and you get a stripper as an ally. Not bad. Really though.....the Nazi Zombie add on for Call of duty is worse gore-wise, but hey, they're Zombies......so who cares!!! ZZ.

On either side there would've been a whole lot of this going on: But even more of the "woodworking" aspect needed on the German side I imagine, with fuselages clad in shaped plywood. Small damage could've been repaired in frontline shops. More heavy damage, and the machine may have needed to be sent somewhere else for more involved repair. Imagine though the amount of work (as exampled in the video...."skip through the talking bits and you get some rather nice shots of it") involved in maintaining a whole fleet of planes, not just the one seen here. Amazing. I'll bet there was a dearth of mechanics and woodworkers back home!! ZZ.

Wow Creaghorn, you opened a good can of worms here.....sooo many choices. I'm glad you did though, and I've been following it closely, because I am contemplating doing the exact same thing. It will be nice to watch your progress in construction, (if you will be so kind as to post it) as you will be paving the way for the rest of us who are thinking of doing this same personal build, but have hesitated till now. ZZ. PS. This well could be the inception of a thread based upon custom building the perfect "OFF" rig. I think it would be a great addition to the OFF forum, where all of the parts and components are listed (advisable vs. not) and various configurations and thier components are outlined to aid those who are seeking to build rigs geared mainly towards the best (and most economical) peformance in OFF possible. PsPS. My goal (after of course building a rig that will run smooth as glass in large furballs with the sliders set near or at max) is to use my basement wall (around 8' x 11' of it) as my monitor with a projector, and some large speakers. That'll give some immersion!!! But thats "Phase-2". Phase 1 is building the darn thing! So I'm watching with anticipation.

Well, this is kinda how its supposed to be. I mean after all, they aren't up there for a picnic lunch. And the Roland CII is a formidable and versatile fighting machine. The tactics best employed are as follows: Use diving attacks from above, or even better, from in front and above. Streak through the formation and try to shoot up the last man.....tail end charlie. Hopefully you can damage him and he will slow down.....then you can focus on him alone without his buddies to pester you. (in many instances, if this failed, many pilots would just find easier prey, as a formation of these battleships is quite dangerous once you have lost the element of suprise) If however, through diving attacks and persistance you succeed in culling one from the "herd', then try shooting him up from underneath, bobbing up and down so as not to get in his gunners sights. These are your best chances. Its not easy......its not supposed to be. Good luck. ZZ. PS. If however, they break up into a swarm after the first attack, like angry hornets, and your boys don't outnumber them, I'd leave......

Ok, this has little to do with OFF....other than the vintage (time frame), and the fact that like many WWI aircraft enthusiastes, racing was also an interest, as it was for Eddie Rickenbacker. http://cyclekarts.co...artGallery.html So now, added to buying a new rig to play OFF on, I now need to build one of these...........geeesh...the list gets bigger and bigger. If only my budget matched it! ZZ. PS: Some shots of a build: http://cyclekarts.co...leKart1001.html

Now thats an interesting premise... build the go-kart to go with the sim... so on Sunny days take out the kart on the cold wet day's go a-flying... Oooooh, Excellent idea. ZZ.

Also given that the average man in 1917 was likely 5-8, and weighed 110, its not quite the same as putting some 2010 vintage grain fed Iowa'n's up there after a lunch at Cracker Barrell. Secondly, (as with most promotional photos), who's to say they didn't slap on a special steel I-beam wing for the shot!? We are a very trusting sort, especially with the PT Barnum style of Anthony Fokker. All kidding aside though, it is a pretty amazing image.......if only every fighter that rolled out of the factory was built to the same consistent standards as this one, I'm sure the confidence level of its pilots would climb. ZZ.

Oh well. In a more positive light, did you guys ever see the last (and most advanced) attempt of the Imperial German Army's use of lozenge camoflage before the end of WWI? ZZ.

Hey, don't diss the Romans. They kicked almost everybody's ass back then. It wasn't their fault those brilliant generals of the late 19th and early 20th century thought there's nothing better than marching in columns and lines against quick firing rifles and machine guns and field artillery. They did learn, eventually (infiltration tactics and all that) but the learning process cost the lives of so many people... Sorry H-W, I couldnt' resist. ZZ.

Pretty much says it all. ZZ.

Yeah, I thought they (the Germans) claimed to have buried him, but the site was horribly shelled thereafter, and the exact location lost in the mists of war. ZZ.

Hey guys. I've noticed something. And if its necessary to throw out all my machine specs, I will, but thismay be a more general tweak that is needed here. Here's what happens. The way I have things set, the game runs smoothly and like clockwork. the only time I get a hang/lag, is right when an enemy patrol appears. I can't even see them yet, but all of a sudden, I know they are there because the game jags a few times...blip..blip....you know, and then goes back to normal. Occasionaly its done it over complex terrain loading, but nine times out of ten, it alerts me to danger when it happens (it doesn't ALWAYS happen) but when it does, it kinda gives me an unrealistic awareness if you will. So.....what setting should I focus on to elleviate this? Any ideas? Thanks, ZZ. PS....it aint the end of the world or anything, I'd just like to minimize it as much as possible.

I may give it a go. How exactly do you back up your exe. file? Location etc....I assume you just make a copy and save it. ZZ.

Interesting. Can you explain to me exactly what this does VP? I'm a bit unfamiliar. Thanks, ZZ. PS, that may help. I actually have 4 gig of Ram in the machine, but apparently XP only uses and or recognizes 3 gig of this 4. Will enabling using the entire three gig mess the machine up as this is all it seems to recognize?

Alright, more data. Here is what info I could derive about the drive. It is a WDCWD 1600JS-75NCB3. I also did the atto and bench mark tests and have the files from that saved, so I can send them to you if you can interpret them. I couldn't . ZZ. PS. Another thing I discovered is that if you increase the size of the "Paging File" the game smooths out considerably. I'm playing with that setting as well....I've got it around 7000 MB right now, and it seems to help. Again, a faster Hard Drive may assist this as well. I did find this: Specs Western Digital a.k.a. Western Digital WD1600JS75NCB3 and other part numbers OverviewController TypeSATACapacityCache Size8 MBDisk Storage160 GBDetailsDetails (continued)Drive TypeInternalRPM7200 RPMDimensionsDrive Width3.5"

Thanks Tamper! I'll try to download those performance testers ASAP, as well as get you the code and data you mentioned. That way we'll know exactly what were dealing with. Its to the point where I have to make a decision of whether any upgrade will rally help that much, or if I simply need to get a better system. The I'll start a new thread on what system is the best for OFF!! In the meantime, like you said, If I can de-bug and refine this one effectively and cheaply enough, it may be viable. Some items of note. I can usually play with the Terrain slider on 2 in most missions, but if there his heavy action, and near the front, it bogs down to 6 to 10 fps, basically unplayable even set to 1, and this is with all other sliders on 1 or 2. As I mentioned, I have an ATI graphics card. If I employ the Overdrive function, (after having the ATI system auto configure my clock speeds) the game will lock up after the first 25 to 30 seconds of play, and flash to a wierd vertical barred screen, or black, and I must restart the machine. So I think there's the possibility that adjusting settings in a few areas (and debugging) might show some improvement. ZZ. I'll get back with the DELL #. By the way, heard a guy talk about creating a RAID of RAPTORS. No its not a new video game!! Sounded cool, but of course, ridiculously expensive, I might as well buy a new machine. At this point it would be a RAVED...Random Array of Very Expensive Drives.

Already there. Perhaps if the processor is inadequate, a new machine is in order. Was thinking though that a RAID array may give the small extra boost needed(cause the slow down/hangs seem to be due to loading speed), as I have a feeling the speed of the drive is likely limited. But if the processor is enemic, what good will any of it do? ZZ.

All right gentlemen, here's what I have found as far as Specs: Dell Dimentia (thats my little sarcastic pet name, its a Dimension) E520 Graphics Card: Ati Radeon HD4670 running: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Medis Center Edit version 2002. Dell Dimension DM061 Intell Pentium D CPU 2.80 Ghz 2.79 Ghz 3 gig Ram This is the standard Hard drive, and even though I didnt see a specific HD mentioned, its gonna be whatever Dell sticks in these standard....unless you guys can point me to where i might find the specs, then I will do so. One other item of note, this regarding the possibility of RAID. I went to the list of hardware and found this listed: Intel ICH8R/DO/DH/ SATA RAID Controller. Does this mean it has the capacity to run a Raid array? Thanks Guys! ZZ. PS. The Ram I added in after market, also the Ati Graphics Card, other than that , its all stock.

Wow. You got schooled. Priceless moments, and darn funny to boot. But you do know what this means don't you? Escalation time. So now its time to do what we did as kids. Use electiric wire for your kite string, and put two straws on each side of your new kite. I say NEW kite cause she obviously trashed your last bird! Then , in each straw you slide in a bottle rocket. Wire these with solar igniters and light wire to your main kite string flying wire, and you are all set. When she's floating above you next time. Touch both ends of your "Kite string" to the terminals of a 9-volt lantern battery, and TAKE HER DOWN!!! Ok, on second thought, maybe your wife should be on the other kite.....ok on third thought, the outcome would likely be the same there too. Pouting and crying.....and then running for your life. Forget I said anything. ZZ. PS..Did I metnion we had A LOT of free time when we were kids? ummmm, and power tools.

Wow, absolutely, thats great and helpfull info. As I mentioned to V-P, I've been a bit busy this week, but will pull down those specs and get them up here very shortly. ZZ.

Thanks V-P. Good point. I'll write the specs out and get'em to you. ZZ.

Yay! This has become an interesting topic. No need to apologize for any hijacking, I believe this is all at the heart of what I'm attempting to accomplish here....help improve sysytems so they run OFF better. And the hard drive IS a key element. I will get my specs and post them soon. In the mean time, Tamper you brought up something I came across and know little about, and that is the RAID array. I'm a neophyte re- this, so my question is with RAID or SSD (are these related?) can I simply ADD another hard drive to my pre-existing one, creating the array? Or do I need all new ones? And whats the general outlay and technical barriers here...(very general of course). As per my personal machine, its mid to low end, (like I said I'll get the specs) but I run with the sliders pretty far down in the 2's and 3's, and its never seen 60 FPS in OFF in its dreams. Usually runs around 25 to mid 30's max average. So....cost effective thinking and not re-inventing the wheel...a newer,faster hard drive will likely give that extra performance bump that will keep it "in the game" if you will...smooth out the (very minor) only occasional glitches a tad, and without having to totally upgrade. Who knows, may even be able to bump the sliders up a tad after a faster H-drive install. ZZ.

Thanks uncle, I will verify that. I changed one out on a Dell not too long ago and it was pretty straight forward. I will double check this model as you advise to be sure. Never can be too carefull. ZZ.

p.s. that "blip, blip" enemy alert isn't covered in the DiD Campaign so it's not a cheat....lol. Thats right! I hadn't thought of that. hehe, unfortunately, most of the times I've been shot up was when it DIDN't happen, so its really a set-up for death I'd like to be rid of altogether! ZZ. Ps, do you have a link for the drive you were recommending by any chance? As a guide, I'm trying to stay in the 50 to 80 bucks max range. TIA

Any opinions on this particular drive? http://www.tigerdire...&Sku=TSD-500AS7 thanks for the help! ZZ. Guess I should get around to posting some of my specs, as they are pertinent in this respect. I'll do so soon. I think the machine is a Dell Dimension 5200. Its got the stock drive and motherboard, but i have switched out the vid card for an ATI re Parky's advice, and it helped considerably. And its got 3-gig of Ram.