Hi all.

 

First of all, I'd like to apologize, if this isn't the right place to ask, I just haven't found any better subforum.

Secondly, the reason for this topic: I've seen a lot of promising screenshots of DCS lately, which really make me want to try DCS. I know that DCS World is free, but still it is more than 5GB to download. So what I'd primarily like to know is how much I have to learn in order to enjoy DCS? I have been simming FSX for about 5 years now, so I have a basic knowledge about flying (flight sim, that is), but my piloting skills leave a lot of space for improvement when it comes to flying fighters :( . So is there a tutorial (preferably good in-game, not video tutorials) to teach me how to properly fly fighters? Besides, I am usually quite limited in time, so I wouldn't like to start using a new sim, if that requires a lot of extra time.

And a second question, is there a good list of default key assignments? The reason I'm asking this is when I bought X-Plane 9 a few years ago I was rather unhappy with with it because of the relative lack of documentation.

 

Thank you very much for your thoughts and comments,

Flo

Flo, I think this is the right place to ask all of your questions, and I'll try to ask the best I can.

 

1) I do not like military simulators, but it's the 2nd time in my life I decided to buy one (the default scenery area and the su25t are free, but the modules are payware, and if you want you really should try the p51d, now for only $9,99!!!). The reason I decided to invest in DCS is that the main aspects of a flight simulator for me are the flight dynamics model, systems modelling as a whole, porferably if complex enough to replicate the RW counterpart of the model I am "flying". DCS World offers exactly this in as far as the p51d, a10c and the ka-50 go, so, I ended up buying the 3!

 

The settings for your controllers will require a lot more dedication than X-Plane. For those who think X-Plane has a complex controlller settings interface, DCS is 300% more comoplex IMHO, but this is because of the myriad of things you can porogram into your controller, specially if you have a sophisticated one (I just own the Saitek x-52 Pro and the Saitek rudder pedals, and also use an old CyborgX for complementary functions...)

 

The p51d is the only aircraft I am flying, primariy becauyse I am amazed by the quality of it's flight dynamics / engine / systems modelling, and I have never found such a quality in any other simulator, including the many I usd and of course FS with the best add-ons (A2A, etc..), X-Plane, etc... DCS brings a sensation of flying a powerful WW2 bird like no other sim, and requires from you dedication, and not giving up when you keep crashing on takeoff and landing, or simply flying around... Bad habits from other sims, and the accuracy with which control inputs are mapped to controil surface deflections in the sim, including all kinds of forces that act on them (nothing you can find on either MSFS or X-Plane), make learning to fly the p51d a challenge! When you master it, it'll be a great experience.

 

2) There are many ingame tutorials, and many other missions you can download from their site, on the User Files areas. I haven't yet started to use the a10c and the ka-50 because of their complexity. I decided I will probably only use them, just as I am using the p51d, to fly around. The ka-50 is simply the best helicopter model for a co-axial helicopter you will be able to use, and the UH-1H is about to be released!!! The a10c, systems-wise, can pretty much be flown like a business jet, and that's what I intend to do with it.

 

Just like you I do not have the time or the will to learn the complexity of the war systems that equip those aircraft, and that's why I also use the p51d a lot more...

 

3) There are a few keymaps at the DCS site, but given the complexity and the different controller one can use, I really preferred to create my mapping, use the mouse to interact with most cockpit functions and thus keep the controller settings to a minimum. I believe having TrackIR or any hardware of it's type is a very nice way of enhancing your experience, but it's just too expensive for me...

Thank you very much! I think I will take a look at it.