Bought IL-2: 1946 on a whim yesterday

[ZappDogg]

After watching a few episodes of Dogfights on the History Channel, I got bitten by the WWII flight sim bug, so I bought the Steam version of 1946 for $10.

I'd only played the original IL-2 when it first came out, and given up after a few hours. This time, I'd like to really get into it, with daily practicing of takeoffs and landings at the very least.

Any tips for an IL-2 newbie? I'm using a joystick with rudder controls, but that's as deep as I'm willing to take the peripherals. Also, is there still an active multiplayer community, and if so, what client do you use to browse servers?

Thanks...maybe I'll see you in the skies.

 

[Jameser]

Il-2 still has active Multiplayer community you'll find it @ http://hyperfighter.sk/. Quite a few players are always on it.

I still play it and love it, playing it since it came out. Take your time, keep your speed up. I'd say pick one plane learn it. Such as the Spitfire ,La5, La7.

Good community here, always seem helpful http://forums.ubi.com/eve/ubb....rm&s=400102&f=23110283.

I'll pm my email. If you have more questions.

 

[ZappDogg]

Thanks for the info Jameser. I will definitely hit you up if and when I hit a wall.

Also, I didn't realize it yesterday, but the Steam version is one patch behind...might explain why I had trouble finding multiplayer.

 

[Jameser]

Yup should be on 4.08m I believe.

 

[pontifex]

can yuo update the steam version manually?

 

[ZappDogg]

yep!

 

[novasatori]

if anyone wants to fly together sometime online as wingmen lemme know
I hear you have more success that way

I'm only just starting (again) and am more of a F4 guy, so I'm not an Ace by any means.

 

[43st]

Also check the SimHQ forums, a great bunch of guys as well.

 

[ultimahwhat]

Man, I thought you were talking about some kind of cool new cytokine and got really excited for a minute....

 

[brandonb]

The game is pretty hard to get the hang of it, and you'll likely be discouraged until you finally get it.

What I suggest is turning on unlimited ammo at first. It will help you learn how to aim. The thing with WW2 jets, is you run out of ammo quick! Alot of the jets have such big guns and not much ammo. They are designed to take a few "pop shots" at targets and go home. Hopefully downing a bomber or something in the process. If you go with limited ammo, and you don't know how to aim, you will run out of ammo and you will be left scratching your head "did I even hit the thing?"

Also alot of the airplanes are not very stable gun platforms. You fire those big guns, your aircraft jumps all around. If you are used to it, it's ok, but I don't recomment an aircraft that does that.

My suggestion for learning the game: Select a spitfire. Its fairly solid, has only a few number of big guns, but alot of smaller guns so its a bit more stable, and the aircraft is fairly easy to fly. I'd stick with that until you get the hang of it.

Also setup quick battles pitting your spitfire (and a few wingmen) against maybe 4 other aircraft, nothing too fancy, I'd suggest BF-110 but beware they might have a rear gunner, but learn how to avoid the gunners by climbing up from under them where they can't get you.

I'd also like to add that most dogfighters don't just go in circles horizontally. They normally go through loops vertically and circlce around the target. Setup some bombers and just get used to doing loop-de-loops around them and avoiding their gunners. Fly up as you approach them so you are above them, then do a split-s (roll 180 degrees so you are upside down then pull up on the stick to loop in down ontop of them), fly under them then pull up again so you climb above them upside down and keep doing that until you get used to it. Then start firing at them while doing it. This teaches you to manage your airpower, going too slow, or going to fast, knowing what the plane will do, etc.

 

[TheVrolok]

Oooh.. didn't realize the community was still active, I may have to get back into IL-2.

 

[gorcorps]

I could never get the hang of this game. Neither me nor my friend could figure out how to properly take off with the keyboard, gamepad, or joystick.

 

[VoteQuimby]

IL2 now has a huge mod community at http://allaircraftarcade.com/forum/index.php, but I suggest you get your feet wet in the vanilla version first. Stick with the quick mission builder first to get a hang of things. As Jameser said, download Hyperlobby when you're ready to get 'boom and zoomed' online.

 

[Jameser]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
I could never get the hang of this game. Neither me nor my friend could figure out how to properly take off with the keyboard, gamepad, or joystick.

Couldn't imagine playing with a Keyboard or gamepad.

When you take off, you have to adujst the rudder to counteract the prop-torque. Also helps if you bind a key for "Lock tail Wheel".

Most of the later planes '42-45 a good speed to take off is 180 kph(landing is about the same speed as well)

I agree with brandonb.

QMB is a good way to learn. I would say use unlimited ammo, with realistic gunnery , just dont hold down the fire button. Use short burst. That will assist in leading the target. Maybe even start with a few bigger targets such as b17, then go smaller.

Don't forget about gun covergance. 150-250m for turnfighting. Longer for Boom and Zoom. I won't fire anyfurther then 1.00m

But i went straight to Hyperlobby when the original game Il-2 came out. Got slaughtered for quite a bit, but once you get in the groove, it gets better. Took me a full month to get a kill on-line. Use f6(padlock view) it will assist with target location.

Also look for controller curves, you should be able to locate then on the link for the ubi message boards.

LOL so much to say....Could go on and on.

Oh I fly as "Peregine" on HL. Hope to see you some time

 

[ZappDogg]

I'm having a weird problem, maybe I'm just thinking about it wrong. I set button 5 of my joystick to select enemy aircraft (puts a green triangle around them) and button 6 to select friendlies. Problem is, they both select both! Anyone have any clue what I'm talking about?

 

[Sureshot324]

One thing you need to learn is managing your speed and altitude. In a dogfight, airspeed and altitude are like resources you don't want to throw away. For example, if you're behind an enemy aircraft and about to overshoot it, it will be tempting to put on the airbrake and kill the throttle to slow down. But then you are giving up all your airspeed and not gaining any altitude in return. This makes you an easy target for any other enemy aircraft that have more airspeed/altitude then you.

Instead it's better to pull up, giving up airspeed for altitude and still preventing you from overshooting the enemy you were chasing. Now you can easily do a dive, picking up speed, and go after him again.

Or, you can fly in a spiral. That way you can maintain your speed but stay behind him.

 

[pontifex]

hmm...no widescreen support?

 

[Jameser]

Originally posted by: pontifex
hmm...no widescreen support?

Officially? No.

But you can modify it yourself. Go the the main directory, then to config. Look for the res. Just change it to what you want. If you make any changes to the video afterwards, make sure you change it back to widescreen res you wanted. It will reset it.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Jameser

Originally posted by: pontifex
hmm...no widescreen support?

Officially? No.

But you can modify it yourself. Go the the main directory, then to config. Look for the res. Just change it to what you want. If you make any changes to the video afterwards, make sure you change it back to widescreen res you wanted. It will reset it.

i did try that but then my keyboard and mouse wouldn't work.

 

[ZappDogg]

Widescreen works fine for me, had to edit the config file. Make sure that EnableResize=0 and SaveAspect=0.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: ZappDogg
Widescreen works fine for me, had to edit the config file. Make sure that EnableResize=0 and SaveAspect=0.

hmm...had to set enableresize=1 or the mouse and kyb won't work for me.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Sureshot324
One thing you need to learn is managing your speed and altitude. In a dogfight, airspeed and altitude are like resources you don't want to throw away. For example, if you're behind an enemy aircraft and about to overshoot it, it will be tempting to put on the airbrake and kill the throttle to slow down. But then you are giving up all your airspeed and not gaining any altitude in return. This makes you an easy target for any other enemy aircraft that have more airspeed/altitude then you.

Instead it's better to pull up, giving up airspeed for altitude and still preventing you from overshooting the enemy you were chasing. Now you can easily do a dive, picking up speed, and go after him again.

Or, you can fly in a spiral. That way you can maintain your speed but stay behind him.

Just like the way all the guys explained it on Dogfights. They almost never used their airbrakes. They would roll to shave off some airspeed and things like that.

 

[ZappDogg]

oh man, started playing online just for giggles. the only kill i have is on a bomber that was trying to spawn camp our airfield. one server would only let us fly bi-planes; it was like a classic WWI shootout!