TaillyHo

No, I'm not that much of a rookie! Just meant that the pilot in that pic had died in a later mission.

My first pic post - of my first pilot (RIP) 'confirming' the demise of his E.III opponent. Bruay, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, 21 June 1915.

A terrific resource, Lou. Many thanks. Wondering how best to 'read' these now. Do any of you chaps use a 'tablet' e-book reader (eg. Amazon 'Kindle') thingy (or iPad)? For eye-strain reasons I don't like having to read too much on my desktop monitor - but I can see a heck of a lot of printing necessary to get these wonderful titles the old fashioned way. Do the purpose designed tablets allow an easier 'eye-friendly' reading experience?

Hear Hear!

Greetings! New chap buying a round … I’m new to OFF, but very happy with my recent purchase, delivery and installation experience. Also impressed with the supportive and immersive character (not to mention, characters!) of this forum – it certainly adds some real-world ‘banter’ to the simulated action: A top show … with some capital fellows! Brief flirtation with EAW back in the day, otherwise most of my sim-ing career has been behind a steering wheel rather than a joystick. This year with FS9 + Golden Wings mod, started reading up on early (civil) aviation history and clocked some virtual 1920s hours in ex-military DH.4, F2B + early passenger craft like Vimy Commercial and Handley-Page W8. Now to the boom-crash opera that is OFF - with precious little ‘combat’ experience, but at least some familiarity with cross-country flying and (more usefully) successfully landing bi-planes of the era - I’ve joined the chaps at RFC 3, Chocques, summer of 1915 – on the eve of the ‘Fokker Scourge’. We’re equipped with the seemingly un-loved Bristol Scout (the one with the cock-eyed single Lewis) … poised (bravely/ foolishly?) to join battle with the forward-firing Eindekkers only a week or so away from introduction (1 June 1915 seeming their earliest assignments in OFF). Some 14 hours up and slightly more vanilla recce missions (good for tweaking settings and generally learning to fly in OFF), Frank Clement has recently been promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and ‘led’ his first flight earlier this week. I’ll report back when there’s a little more air-action on the front. ps. just ordered TrackIR, based on the consensus here that it’s a must have for OFF. cheers !

Cheers, chaps! (TaillyHo - hiding in the 'Old Speckled Hen', pouring over his maps) Quite overawed at the level to which you guys are taking this sim (and this thread!). After my near-death experience (post #20 above), I haven't climbed back into the Scout - and it feels somehow appropriate to have a brief pause to acknowledge the 14-day hospitalisation period. Reading these last few posts I feel both thrilled at the prospect and depth of experiences still to come in OFF, and intimidated by the steepness of the learning curve. With the maps, are you guys approximating the TAC-defined mission routes and 'waypoints' to the extent that you still 'complete' missions (I understand you have to do that to get promotions etc) - or does the route you take to and from not matter too much, so long as you reach the 'target'? I mean, on Lou's embedded map above - does the red route marked exactly represent the lines and waypoints one would otherwise see on the TAC for the same mission, or have you (Lou) determined your own route based on observable physical features you expect to be able to match between your map and what you actually see in the OFF world? BTW, I've seen talk about reality settings of up to 140% (?) How or where does one 'see' what the current settings translate to in this regard? I'm not brave (stupid?) enough to dive in to a full DiD 140% campaign, but I would like to know - in effect - how big my 'training wheels' currently are, and work out a path I can start taking baby-steps along as I get more experience/ confidence. Thanks for the great stuff above - and yeah, Lou I can see why you might be a little proud of your 'cockpit' there!

Agree, Dej - thinking about this more, it does argue against having the TAC 'on' even when not actually engaging EA, because it's information you wouldn't have in reality (unless you were close enough to see the EA take damage - presumably from ground fire) - and therefore should avoid utilising in a true 'simulation'. My temptation was less about 'bagging' the black plane as it was knowing the numerical odds were about to double in my flights' favour. On the Scout - yes it is well-behaved and nice to fly ... and can certainly out-turn the E.III. On paper, it should climb better and fly a smidge faster too - so you get the 'run-away' option as a bonus (handy for a newbie!!). My 'lucky' pilot (with 1 confirmed 'kill' and 26 hours up) hit the ground in his latest mission, after a violent mid-air collision seemed to slice the little Bristol in two. I red-ed out and thought I was dead - immediately feeling shocked and deflated at my virtual demise (perhaps a sensation I shall get used to?!?) ... but happily, 14 days in hospital and it looks like I'm back in the saddle! Better yet - I got to put in a claim for my less fortunate 'dancing partner'! Even if I get the claim, I don't wish to employ that particular combat strategy again! Hopefully TrackIR will help ... now I just have to survive til it arrives.

Hhhmm, a Srutter being strutted, eh! Jolly good show, Slarti and Lou.

Ah Dej - the arrival of the serious drinkers! Good to meet you, too. Thanks to you and Olham for explaining the white to black squares on TAC. It did seem to fly on despite turning black, so I presumed wounded rather than 'dead'. It was one of two Einies flying well below and diagonally across our path. This was on the very next mission after I'd survived my first scrap. I was tempted to turn and dive, but it was on the outward leg and I elected to be patient. Just as they were getting towards the edge of my TAC view, one turned black (now that's what I call going over to the dark side!) On the hunch that this might signal a problem, I was once again tempted to chase them down and pick a fight - but I didn't know what it signified, so again opted to stick to my script. They won't be so lucky next time ...

Just a quick update to say June (1915) has arrived for my rookie Bristol Scout pilot - and the scourge has begun. (now) Lieut. Frank Clement engaged his flight of 3 Scouts against 2 Einies on the return leg of a long-ish recce mission on 1 June. Both enemy aircraft were destroyed (looks like 1 from AA fire), and the 3 Scouts returned to their home field. Clement has a claim pending for one of them. 24 hours now logged, but enemy aircraft sighted on all 3 outings since 1 June - things warming up here in summer 1915! BTW, can anyone tell me what it means if another aircraft showing as a white square on the TAC suddenly turns to black? I wondered if it was signifying that it had taken damage (?), but I wasn't able to investigate to find out. Thanks Olham for your reply re: map flying. I'd also like to buy Homeboy a drink to say thanks for his nvidia settings info - I've applied this wisdom and am very happy with the results.

Thanks all for the warm welcome and helpful tips. Yes, uncleal, I'll stick with the Scout for starters - kinda payin my dues as a new OFF/WWI pilot. Yes, I can shoot down Einies in QC with this plane, so just hoping I can translate this into the 'real world' pressure of campaign mode ... and that I don't end up looking like camel jockey's avatar! And thanks, Olham for the directions re: pilot enlistment info. I am conscious of Bullethead's much earlier advice on avoiding poor and elite squads and chosing locations based on historical action (rather than how pretty the scenery is!). On the scenery aspect, I was going to ask in response to your post a couple of weeks back on flying using a paper map, what sort of altitude were you flying at to best see the roads and rivers you were following? cheers / prost

Yes, Olham - already have the Halberstadt in mind - and judging from your older posts, Jasta 3 or 4 are "good" (rated) squads to start with from August 1916.

Thanks for the welcome, lads - nice cheap round for me so far! A naval squad with the Strutter was a very attractive option, Slarti. But figured if I didn't start with the Scout's quirky perspective, I'd not choose to fly it after experiencing more conventionally 'aim-able' craft. That & the fact I can get some quiet time (to make a few rookie mistakes) in 1915. Thanks for tips, Si & Lou - I've run a few QC scraps against the E.III now in anticipation (even tho QC feels a bit staged compared with 'campaign'). First couple were certainly "quick" with next to no "combat" LOL, but now I can get the better of 'veteran' opponents by out-turning once they've got down to the roof/ tree tops (so long as I don't get too keen & stall it when there's no altitude to recover in - crash!) As to preparing the inevitable 'next pilot', joining Bullethead in the 'Fee' might be another 'unique' plane experience best tasted on a relatively empty stomach (!) But I'm quite keen to build a rounded experience of the war - so I'll be looking for an early entry into the Kaiser's service too (hello Olham - will PM my whereabouts shortly). Nearly 2 years after its release, I've got a whole lotta catching up to do with OFF3 (not to mention HiTR) before I'll be getting impatient for OFF4. cheers/ prost