TaillyHo

Would be great to get a better handle on this problem, Javito. Nothing worse than sweating over the challenges of a particular mission (not to mention putting in over an hour of virtual flying time) - or (as Olham has found recently) rack up a few solid 'claims', only to have an internal (ie within OFF) 'crash' remove all data related to that mission. I've had one occasion where this has worked in my favour (a mission where my Bristol Scout was comprehensively shot down by Max Immelman, only to revert back to the pre-mission menu screen!), but a number where I was either robbed of a claim, or just a few more hours (of mere 'survival' in a B.E2c!). On advice I was focussing on graphics settings, and was even making a point of ending my missions 'looking' (with TrackIR) somewhere to maximise the frame rate at the moment I 'ended' the mission. Seemed to help a little (!?), but didn't remove the problem. I'd also seen on the official FAQ, that simply re-enlisting pilots would sometimes work around certain squad/ date problems (tho this seemed to apply to earlier versions of OFF 3) and I discovered a weird bit of double-counting in relation to the history of RFC-6 (scroll thru from June 1915 and you find you get to sometime in September and then it jumps back to June again!?!), but I was also having problems at this stage with my RFC-1 Bristol pilot and could see no such issue with that squadron. Last few mission with my new RFC-8 pilot, I've been adopting your 'exit-while-still-rolling' tactic with no problems, but obviously if you do this and still have some crashes, it's not a total solution.

Sorry to read of your loss, Wayfarer. Although you haven't written much about your B.E2 pilot, Arthur has been an inspiration (along with Si's Victor Timm) and I have been working on a B.E2 campaign for the last few weeks. Some technical issues (seemingly random end mission crashes within OFF) have frustrated my initial attempts to get a campaign underway at RFC-6, but (touch wood) I now seem to have a more stable career (half a dozen missions with no glitches) at RFC-8 starting 1 June, 1915. With a bit of luck, I will be able to post a 'report from the front' in the coming days. How long did Arthur's 52.73 hours span in the war (in terms of days/months)? I have the impression you started early in 1915 and guess you lasted until September or thereabouts (?). My other query would be, what will you fly now? I think you mentioned a Strutter in one post recently. Do you have a pilot up and running in one already?

Javito, sounds very much like a problem I sometimes have. Posted a 'help' over at the BHaH General Help forum and got some suggestions re: settings (especailly graphics), but despite being able to manage it to some extent, it still happens sometimes. Weird! I might try your exit while still rolling trick. Hope you get some more useful suggestions from the good folk here.

Excellent post, Bullethead. This will be printed and filed alongside your seminal advice on choosing squadrons, craft and timeframes. Thank you, Sir.

So do you not get tired of having to lean the stick to the right all the time in the Walfisch, Olham - or do you just accept that as part of its 'character'?

Ah, das ist gut to know the D.II is fully 'diveable' at least, Herr Oberleutant. I shall pass on that intelligence to Offizierstellvertreter Breckheimer at Jasta 6 right away.

Same here.

See my post under your survey thread as to why I don't fly the 'Walfisch', Olham (!) In recent times, my longer-life pilots have respectively 'graduated' from Strutter to Pup; and DFW to Albatros D.II - in both cases I can appreciate some benefit in manoeuvreability of my craft, but I'm not sure it's worth sacrificing the added sense of wellbeing (and firepower) that comes from having a rear gunner (especially as good as my Strutter observer was in this capacity!). Also, strikes me that the DFW both climbs and dives better than the Albatros - but I'm sure I'm buying into an argument by saying anything against your favourite 'bird'.

Well I imagine Olham means how many mission between when you enlist a pilot and when he gets killed. The fact you might resurrect a 'dead' pilot's identity and continue on in the war would count as another 'new' pilot and for Olham's survey purposes, you'd start your count of missions from 1 again. In effect, he's asking how often (as measured in missions, as opposed to flight hours logged) we lose a pilot.

I was surprised by the Roland's gyro qualities too, Lewie - no amount of trimming will get it flying straight, so I gave up and don't fly it at all. Seems a shame - and I've always wondered what a bit of 'air-wrenching' would throw up. But until now, I've never seen anyone else comment on this, so presumed it was just some weirdness in my installation. Haven't been brave enough to try the Camel yet (that and I haven't got that far into the War). Will complete Olham's survey now ...

A fave from my Strutter file: .

Missed this little bit of news at the end of your op, Olham. I will be interested to see where you pick up your Pup ride! RNAS-3 gets em first, but you would probably consider life to easy in mid 1916 with only EIIIs to beat up. If you wait until late 1916 (RFC-54) or ealy 1917 (RNAS-4) you would have to psych yourself up for battles with your beloved Albatros!

or F3 sure you might be losing a moment's 'full immersion' by changing the view, but if you're only doing so to add the greater immersion factor of flying by a map, it would seem a reasonable trade-off. IMHO

. . . and a note on how even a small change can make a big difference: I lost my Bristol Scout pilot last night (after 15 missions; 11 hours; 10 kills confirmed; 25% accuracy). A mid-air collision with EA (the usual story) - always a greater risk with the cross-eyed flying/firing situation for this particular plane. I had just increased the challenge (admittedly with my more experienced, straight-shooting pilots in mind – ie Pup & D.II) by switching gun accuracy to ‘least’ (ie harder to hit/ be hit) - and was very conscious of needing to get in closer when attacking so as to minimise the wider spray of bullets. Seems my learning curve in the Bristol has gone from being able to line up a single shot – to building an attack on a moving target – to sustaining an attack (long enough, or with enough accuracy) to actually put an EA down(!). Seems I'm now able to mostly gain the upper hand in a 1-on-1 with an EIII (heck, I even shot Boelcke down in this crate a couple of days ago) but I've still to refine my positioning so that in pressing home a close® attack, I also need to think about an ‘exit route’ that avoids potentially fatal contact with the EA. This 'skill' obviously applies to all craft - Hellshade being an obvious master - but warrants special mention in the (as yet unwritten) SiA pilot's guide for the Bristol Scout. BTW, great tips in your op, Olham.

Only 4 months of OFF-ing here, still plenty for me to learn and experience in this wonderful sim . . . and then there's still HiTR I could add before I get to P4.

Very nice work, my friend. At first I thought a colour version would be better - but having seen it, I think your sepia shot adds some class (by muting the camouflage 'spots' and the bright green tail) and the smaller resolution sharpens everything up too.

Wayfarer is doubly cursed. Not only can his observer not follow the map - but his big head makes it near impossible for his pilot to see where he's going either!!

I'll drink to that, VP But the forum does look like some longer term OFF-ers have throttled back . . . like maybe just waiting for P4 !?!

Like your new sig pic, Olham - a lovely looking specimen.

Wow. An 'on topic' thread - how rare!

Ah, an understandable mistake to make in the excitement of receiving one's first medal.

It does seem to vary - there are times when you think you may struggle for a witness and the claim form comes up - at other times, it doesn't. I tend to shrug and think, well there is a war on ... (but I know I would feel cheated if I'd bagged 5 and couldn't even claim 1) Better luck next time, old chap!

Nice shots from your Jasta 5 mission, Olham. I like the one from the Tripe showing you and the ex-balloon - nicely framed. Pardon my ignorance, but what is the "EK 1" you refer to?

lack of witnesses?

Excellent stuff, as usual, Lou - some nice pics too!