Sounds like there is a lot of interest in this sim, maybe when its out some of us can hook up and test our skills in some cross channel dog fighting
IL2 has been fantastic off line for me, but could never find a decent on line site etc that compared to how the game played off line (ease of use,graphics, sounds etc) not to mention the difficulty of simply trying to work out HOW to get on line after having pressed the mulitiplayer button in game, I have a copy of 1946 IL2 with the relevant add ons if anybody can show me to the righteous path.
Nooooooooooo, you're missing 99% of fun.
Right, short introduction to FB online is in order.
-
http://hyperfighter.sk/modules.php?name=Downloads Download hypperlobby client (HL). You will access lobby for flying dogfight or coop missions (this is where all the action is, 1000 players online is nothing special)
Install.
Type in correct game path when game asks you where is ilFB.exe (if you mess it up - close HL, start it up again, then hold down SHIFT+CTRL or SHIT+ENTER to re-enter it, not sure. Nevermind, you'll figure it out).
You'll need to register too (pick "normal" name, don't go for Masterofdisaster or something stupid like that or else the whole HL will make fun out of you - on daily basis, starting about 2 secs after you join).
-
http://www.goteamspeak.com/ Download TS2 client.
Install.
Whole flying community uses it for comms. IT IS A MUST, combat flying is a team sport and involves a LOT of communication except perhaps with suicidal types of pilots (avoid those like devil avoids the cross) or VERY VERY good lone wolfs. Which you are not - neither suicidal nor good. This is not a joke, DO NOT think you're any good cause you're not. AI is extremely predictable, humans aren't except perhaps noobs like, well, you.
Be humble. Ask questions and they shall be answered, it's a friendly bunch. Mostly.
Be serious at what you do, do not go into "it's just a game" mode (cause 99% of pilots online take it seriously, as a hobby of some sort and are, on average, probably a bit older than SROU guys).
Never leave the group. Ever (except when smoking and RTBing). Always help your buddies, DO NOT GO for an easy kill just in your reach if your buddy has someone on his six. Help him out first.
Or you'll soon fly alone.
Be polite, be a true gentleman, don't be cocky and NEVER brag how just shot down that guy/stuff like that or you'll create enemies faster than Hamilton does in the wet AND on "both sides of the conflict". Never forget there's always a 20mm shell out there with your name on it too. Or Mk108 one if you're having a bad day.
Try not to vulch people - shooting them down while they're taking off/landing cause it sux, bigtime. Except of course in clear case of "I had to", you know, if you fight someone for 15 mins then he decides to land ASAP - feel free to kill and eat him, he's a sucker (prof. term, sorry for foul mouth language
). If you can afford it (you and your smoking half wing missing victim are all alone) try asking other guy to bail out. Saves ammo too.
If he doesn't bail - kill him, he's a moron and you like Darwinism (which is what is going on up there, trust me
)
Be especially polite with hosts, I was one for 5 years and I flew half the missons rest did. Why? Simple: you get killed - you fly next one, host can also get KIA but must wait out until last plane lands. They are the backbone of the community. Never try to hurry them into game start or annoy them in any other way - they know what they're doing, you don't, i.e. they're downloading missions and stuff while you're getting nervous. Be patient. They also have the magic ability of using "kick player" option.
While you'll be flying online you'll be told appropriate IP numbers for TS2 servers by your newly made best friends forever. Use them, can't stress that enough. Try flying missions with players from same squadron and ask one of them (usually host) if you can join them on TS2. TELL THEM YOU'RE NEW and would like to learn, most squadrons have plenty of people that will take you under their wing and help you survive. Which you won't at first or very rarely.
Offline experience is non-experience.
Join a good online squadron, preferably in your time zone and of your language/nationality. Flying comms are done in English anyway, but still... Try finding a squad that has some sort of weekly training sessions, if they don't have them - they're no good, walk away.
Don't fly on anything but full real settings (or just speed bar allowed), FR dogservers or coop missions have good/best pilots, rest are 13 y/o noobs, you won't enjoy that... sort... of... stuff or whatever that is.
Remember - when you start to fly full real your learning curve will shoot up like a rocket.
Most importantly: be afraid. Be very afraid.
Feel free to PM me and we can meet online, it's a bit confusing at first, online is completely new ball game. We'll can do one of PE_Niko's (that's me
) training session to see what you're made of
,
