Hellshade

Very impressive my friend! You are a natural predator of the skies. I myself have never been able to get more than 3, I think. I do much better in a DVII, but the DR 1 is just to quirky for me. I can't seem to get the hang of it. Obviously you have. Outstanding display of aerial combat skills. /salute Hellshade

So I'm flying for the bosche and trying to get the right amount of lead for a solid deflection shot on an Spad XIII. I get a few small puffs on him but for the most part he is slipping through my gunfire without any problems at all...until a German flak gun crew got tired of watching me miss and decided to slow him down a little. Have I mentioned how intensely fun and incredible this flight sim is? You definately need to be prepared for anything. My guess is the base commander doesn't like me and decided that rather than have to deny me another Claim, he'd just deny me the Kill outright and ordered the flak crew to shoot down the Spad XIII. I could have sworn I saw him smiling at me as I walked past his office earlier. Bastard. /salute Hellshade

Judging by the specs of your rig, I'd say the problem is that you caused a brownout in your city and popped a nuclear power plant off-line somewhere everytime you fire up your machine. If by chance that isn't the case, you might want to look at your monitor refresh rate and resolution. If the menu buttons are all "below" the bottom of your monitor screen, it can mean the refresh rate of your video card isn't synced well to your monitor. Just a guess. /salute Hellshade

I usually wait until I am within 50 yards or less to open fire and it's even more rare that I bother to try a deflection shot at all. I just got impatient. /salute Hellshade

Here is a video of me shooting down a plane and when the pilot bails out, he falls past my right wing close enough to almost shake hands with. Poor Fellow. /salute Hellshade

What a great flick rabu. Thanks for sharing it. I can see why it won so many awards. /salute Hellshade

I switched the flight model to easy,turned off auto rudder and built up some speed...still can't do it. Though it certainly turns in an amazingly short amount of space if you can keep it under control. Maybe with flight pedals? I'd rather fly a Fokker DVII anyways, so it doesn't matter much to me but I don't think it was "poetic license" though when they said it could make an uncoordinated flat 1/2 spin turn. That description was right from the diary of James MCudden who was in the fight. To me what's far more interesting is to put everything on "DiD" standard and set up a QC with a lone DR 1 vs 6 SE5as having Ace flying skills. Give them the advantage (because McCuddens flight dove on Voss from behind) and see how long you survive. No radar. No target cone. limited fuel. limited ammo. All guns and FM set to realistic / hard and preferably with the normal Damage Model loaded. I think Voss put a total of 4 out of the fight (including the two before McCuddens flight showed up) before he died. There's no way to give yourself an Alb DIII wingman, unfortunately. But Voss also had additional EA showing up against him as well. I think they were at 15,000 feet. Maybe 10k. Anyways try that and see how long you last. I've only killed 2 before I died. Damn hard!!!

I feel your pain Olham. I lost one of my allied pilots to ground fire too. I swooped down on a very low flying Albatross to finish him off, and I did. Bad decision for me. He was the last life I took, besides my own. Too low over the front lines after he spun in, the ground fire erupted with staggering ferocity. If it had been night, I still would have been able to see clearly from all of the tracer fire directed at, and hitting, my plane. My SE5a filled up with lead faster than a circus dwarf fills up on beer. Down I went hard on the wrong side of the lines and that was the end. Realistic AI gunfire is brutal. I even have video of me chasing after a Spad XIII (with my bosche pilot, of course) and as he flys low over the ground, tracer fire hits him near head on and his plane just explodes, stealing my kill! I tell you, someone needs to let those buggers down below know that they have their own war to fight and leave us fellows up in the sky alone. I'm with you though. I decided I'm not dropping below 1000 feet anywhere near the front. I'd rather lose the kill than my life. Does anyone know what altitude machine gun fire actually kicks in at? Hellshade

71 confirmed kills is extremely impressive. Were you flying DiD standard in QC, with guns all on realistic, Outcome to Dead is Dead, etc? I cheat and use unlimited fuel in campaigns and sometimes if the battle gets too many planes I cheat some more and leave the TAC turned on to 1 mile radius just so I can find everyone. Hellshade

Poor visibility unless you get to fly the Viper version of the SE5a, which had a much better view behind and didn't have the targeting cone up front either. Other than that, I believe the planes are technically identical. I believe thebirtish RFC-92 squadron flies them. Try one out there or in QC mode and see the difference. It's my favorite plane, followed closesly by the Fokker DVII for the bosche. Hellshade

I know there will be no new features in BHaH, but perhaps if there is a Phase 4 in the works you could add a column on the Pilot Dossier that says "Number of Crashes". Even MVR crashed a few times and I think it would flesh out the "reality" of the pilot a bit to see not only where they succeeded but also the times they didn't make it back to base. Especially if you could break it down (I doubt this would be possible) to # times shot down by ground fire and # times shot down by EA. If the pilot survives, maybe we could even have to fill in a "Crash Report" detailing what happened to us and if the pilot doesn't live, fill in an Obituary. Now I bet THOSE reports would be fun reads if posted. Always interesting to find out how someone "zigged" when they shoulda "zagged". ha. /salute! Hellshade

I flew Dead is Dead outcome for the pilot Realism was only 70% because I had unlimited fuel turned on so I wouldn't run out when I warped. Everything else was turned on to realistic or hard mode and I used the Normal Damage Model. You should probably ask to see which DM most people are using too. Its a lot harder to get shot down in Hardcore than it is in Normal DM. Hellshade

1. SE5a Viper 2. RFC-92 BrayDunes airfield 3. 7 confirmed kills 4. 3.35 hours 5. 70% realism (unlimited fuel was turned on)

I realize that there is always a tiny chance of survival even when playing on "Dead is Dead" outcome. However a previous "should have been fatal" crash, plus one I just survived tonight is telling me that perhaps since 1.30, DID outcome isn't working properly anymore. In a duel against a pair of Fokker DVIIs just SE of Ypres on a routine patrol behind our lines, I shot one down. In pursuit of the other, suddenly my top wing ripped off during a dive (no creaking sound aka excessive g-force warning at all) and no gunfire either. Regardless, I was 6,400 feet up without the top wing to my SE5a and headed earthward and a high rate of speed. I was actually able to manuever a little bit and for a moment thought I might somehow be able to bring it in for a crash landing in a field somewhere. Then it all went blank and changed to the claims form. My pilot did NOT die or even get injured. I think somethings skipping the DID check somewhere after exiting the in flight combat mode. Just an FYI to the Devs. If anyone else is being saved by "the hand of God" a bit too often in DiD outcome mode, post it here please. Lets see if we really do have a bug. and can I just say, one more time, damn the new AI freakin rocks! This is the most intense game ever against AI opponents. Outstanding work, OBD. Hellshade

In my DiD campaign, well over a month has passed since my initial 2 kills and several more since then and they are ALL still Pending. I don't care if they are credited or denied so much as just wondering if it really takes more than a month to get ANY kind of a response back. If this is normal, that's fine too. Just didn't know if maybe I hit a bug or something. I am using Realistic Claims in workshop and they all still say Pending. So can any of the veteran campaigners or Des shed any light on how long it usually takes to get claims credited or denied? Hellshade

I don't know if that's true or not. It's just one days experience for me. Maybe if I would have flown one more mission on that same day, HQ would have gotten back to me. Couldn't tell you. I'll keep flying multiple missions in a single day when I can and see what happens. Hellshade

I couldn't agree more about the quality of the AI. With the low level fixed, I feel completely immersed all the time. As I said once before, I'm not a great VR pilot, so I'm not suprised that I find myself viciously fighting for my life. What blows me away is that looking out into the sky filled with planes and watching them fight, it's the first time I ever felt like THEY were desperately fighting for their lives too! They fly with the skill, determination and desperation of men fearing for their lives. It's the ghosts of Jastas out there again, and they fight and fly like there still is a war going on. I keep telling myself I'm going to restart Oblivion again, or maybe log on to Lord of the Rings Online and level my Warden. Nope!!! Can't resist grabbing the joystick and becoming one of the flyboys!!! Even when I die, I never feel "cheated". It's not some 1,000 yard cheap snipe shot from the AI that kills me (unless it's flak...those damn AA guns!!). It's a jasta pilot who skillfully or by chance found himself in the right range and position to fill my plane full of holes. Usually it's two or more working in teams to trap me into following one so the other can get into position behind me! I have to watch me 6 all the time. It's awesome. No game is ever technically perfect. Especially one that's a total conversion of a 7 year old game engine. But OFF is perfect fun. No matter how casual arcade or hardcore realistic I want it...no matter if it's quick combat or an extended campaign, BHaH lets me enjoy it however I feel like playing it at that moment. If that isn't pure gaming goodness, what is? Hellshade

Here it is. Sgt. David Ian Darks - formerly of the RFC-92 squadron.

Thank you. I tried taking a screenshot of my pilots log, but I can't find where it gets saved. I'll post it if I can find it. Realism was at 70% because I had unlimited fuel on to make up for the warp issue.

Olham, You may be on to something. All of my flights were in the same real life day, yesterday. Today I log in and 7 of the 10 claims have been confirmed and 3 were denied. 70% claim success on realistic claims level is excellent. I'm happy as can be with that. Except the victory was short lived. On a troop strafing mission over the front, my flight was set upon by a squardon of bosche in Albatross DVa (200s I think). I picked off one EA who had drifted away from the action by swooping in behind and delivering a well placed burst into his engine. She dropped like a stone from the sky. Then I turned my attention on another Alb who was in the midst of a duel with one of my wingmates. I think my wingmate had wounded the bosche pilot though, because he wasnt taking evasive actions at all. Still, the SE5a was smoking and having trouble lining up again for another shot. Coming down on him from over the top I zoomed past his right wing, a burst of allied anger ripping into the cockpit. I heard his agonizing scream as I dove past. Perhaps a round or two hit his engine as well, for a smoke plume puffed out and a long thin black wispy tail trailed his craft now. Still, he flew on straight and level until I was able to come around for a second pass. A few short pulls of the trigger later and his fate was sealed. He made a long, slow spiraling descent to the ground. I didn't see the impact, because I turned to find my next adversary, knowing the last hun was already doomed. When I spied my next opponent, he was below me by at least a thousand feet and I dove straightaway. I zoomed past him, spitting lead into the wooden frame of his craft and then pulling up to maintain an altitude advantage on him. But fate turned against me. As I used my momentum to turn my SE5a over in a barrel roll so I could keep my eyes upon the hun, a flak burst struck directly under me and my craft shook from the impact, even though I was able to finish my manuever. It seemed to me that I had literally barrel rolled around the flak burst. Still, my engine shuddered and began to make the most terrible racket. Flight controls were not as responsive and a quick turn of my head saw the hun zoom climbing up in an arc to take a position behind me. Though I wrestled with the controls, I couldn't turn fast enough to escape his guns. Like a mad hornet he stung me several times and soon I pitched earthward. Unable to control the descent, the last of my cables having been shot away, I plowed into the ground, engine ablaze and all went to black. Sgt. David Ian Darks died today, 12 claims, 7 confirmed kills and countless adventures after starting his career with the RFC just a month before. Hellshade

Wow. I just watched that last night while I was ironing my clothes for work today. I can't say for sure what the reason is why he didn't get the extra two claims, but my guess is it that it had something to do with lack of visual confirmation from the army or wingman. Remember, at the beginning of the fight he flew off over the top of his flight leader in order to take the DVIIs head on and immediately got seperated from the rest of his group. They still had 4 DVIIs to deal with, keeping them a bit busy while he was fending off 8 on his own. They may not have had time to see two of them go down. Anyone with better history knowledge have a better understanding of why he didn't get credit? I personally haven't been able to master the Spad VII or XIII. It just cant turn like a DVII so I am amazed he was able to keep them off his tail. Hellshade

I love the whole Dead is Dead concept, but it's just not something I can reasonably do. Between my job, the wife and 3 girls (ages 5 - 15) I rarely if ever get 45 minutes to an hour to fly a mission without so many interruptions that I just can't keep my focus totally in the game. Apparently, I am the only self sufficient person in my house. So while I don't claim to have the skill or challenges of true "DiD Pilots", I came up with a "Dead is Dead for Working Parents" compromise. All settings are on realistic or hardest except I give myself auto-mixture and unlimited fuel. Why unlimited fuel? Because the only way to fly complete missions in a short time is to warp and that can quickly run a tank dry long before the mission is up...as I found out on my very first flight. I had to coast back down from 10k feet. Fortunately there were no bosche in the area at the time. Olham must have given them the day off. Anyways, other than that, I fly using all DiD rules. I created a british pilot in the 92nd named David Ian Darks - aka "DiD" and off I went. He had an amazing second mission where he shot down 3 Alb DVas (waiting to be confirmed...probably won't since my wingman didn't return home with me) and was chased back across the front at 200 feet between Lille and Ypres with 3 more Albs in tow at a distance. My guns had run dry and my plane had sustained very minor damage. Fortunately none of it was to the engine and I was able to stay out of the range of the guns of my "friends" from the other side of the war. Two gave up once we crossed behind our lines and the last fell into a trap. I flew straight past an allied air ballon knowing how heavily defended they are. I didn't see the actual hit but moments later when I checked my six there was a thin trail of smoke that lead into the ground and no bosche in sight. I failed my mission to patrol behind enemy lines. I failed to bring my flight or even just my wingman home with me. I will probably fail to get any of my kills confirmed despite the white knuckle flying and "balls" it took to stay in a fight that had us out-numbered. But I made it home alive. In the end, that's the only glory and recognition I need. The chance to fight again tomorrow means more than any ribbon, because dead men can't see what color ribbons they wear. It's too dark in the grave and their eyes are forever closed anyway. I'll fight on for them as long as I can. Hellshade

I am flying on Dead is Dead outcome and somehow survived a fiery crash into a line of trees from a little over 200 feet up. Seemed too hard a hit to live through myself, but it kind of adds a little to the game if there is once in a great while a miracle that spares a life. I'm sure it happened in the real war. Not that I have any intention of getting shot down again, but I'm sure at some point in the future it will happen and if I survive again, or perhaps a 3rd time in a row, it might be worth taking a look at. Regardless, I will continue to fly as if getting shot down and doing anything other than a controlled landing will result in my untimely death. In the meantime, I am just going to keep enjoying the hell out of this sim. The low level AI fix in the last patch has really turned Over Flanders Fields - BHaH into a combat flight sim beyond my wildest expectations. The white knuckle flying is addicting! I keep telling myself I'm going to go back and start a new character in Oblivion but I just can't bring myself to do it. I always end up grabbing the joystick and firing up my trust SE5a to help turn the tide of the war back to the Allies.

It should be Royal Flying Corps. Clearly my head was bumped during the last crash.

I'm flying a DiD pilot and shot down a few bosche on what was a railyard strafing mission. My aircraft took some damage during the furball but was still flying, sputtering, clunking engine and all. Moments after the last bosche bit the dust though, the fellows from the other side of the war down below decided I was low enough to have a go with and they began peppering me furiously with machine gun fire. It seems they took offense to my presence over their side of things, especially having just kicked 4 of their friends out of the war for good. My plane got shot up much worse pretty fast by the ground gunners and I immediately tried to bring her down in a contolled crash as close to my side of the lines as I could. The hits kept coming though and a moment later my engine was on fire. My situation was not improving and I was quite sure 4 missions would be all Sgt David Ian Darks of the RAF-92 squadron was ever going to see. By the time I was down to 200 feet altitude or so, all controls were shot and I crash landed pretty hard into a line of trees. Quite suprisingly, I lived. Not only did I live, but I didn't get captured or suffer any injuries causing me to stay in the hospital. While nobody can rightly question the fortunes of war, I must confess I believe I've been given another day to live that I didn't deserve. I double checked my settings and the Pilot Outcome is set to "Dead is Dead". I thought that ment if you crashed at all, your pilot was dead. Perhaps I am mistaken. None the less, I read Olhams account of survival and it made me wonder if perhaps something isn't working properly? Hellshade aka Sgt. David Ian Darks, Royal Air Force