I already posted this thread once (about 15 minutes ago), but I have absolutely no idea where it went.. it hasn't appeared here on the FSX forum. So, here we go again:My last question regarding viewing other players in a multiplayer session proved to be tougher than I expected. I hope this one isn't.Why is it that once you've joined a multiplayer session and are flying around, you can not access something like 95% of the menu items? You can't change airplanes (without exiting to lobby), you can't change settings, you can't change time of day, you can't access the learning center (actually you can, by using the hotkeys, but you can't use the menu item as it's greyed out like almost everything else)...Why is this? I can't figure it out. It's very hard to try and optimize your FSX performance for multiplayer purposes when you can't change settings without logging out, starting a free flight, changing settings and then connecting back to the server? To say nothing about the fact that you can't even change controller settings while connected.Why?

i brought this up the other day...see tdraggers response here:http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...56483&mode=full

Thanks for the link. So if I understood this right, you can only access the settings (and other such items) if the server allows pausing the whole session? (SHIFT+P)I have yet to run into a server that allows this :/ Personally I can understand "standardizing" some settings like weather and time. But restricting access to settings is just weird. If they're worried about planes stopping mid-air and becoming a hazard, they could have just hidden those players that are currently paused since they're accessing the settings or whatnot.

yep...i tend to agree...and you still cant change aircraft at all, and the host still has no ability to change weather or time of day...can they add this?, yes im sure...will they?...doubtful unless hundreds complain and even then it may wait till the next version.At least theyre willing to fix the fact that you cant enter back into your servers briefing room...then you could change aircraft at least without having to dump the server...and also sounds like they will give us a "kick" or "boot" button to remove players from the server, although he never said if that fix will be before or after the dx-10 update :-(...so far ive had 5 people in 2 nites that have purposely crashed into me...actually chasing me down on the taxiway and BAM!...nothing you can do about that yet.Dave

Actually, you CAN change aircraft without disconnecting from the server - my complaint was with the fact that you can't do so while "flying".Instead, you need to choose Flights -> End flight (to get back to the lobby), then choose "Change plane and role" (or somesuch) near the top part of the screen, above the user list. This allows you to change your plane without disconnecting from the server and forfeiting your slot.It's just an unnecessary step and if you're mid-flight at the time you have to restart from an airport or "near" the host's plane...

thanks for that info...but i havent tried it as a "client" yet...only as a "host"...and when the host chooses "end flight", the server gets dumped and you have to restart the whole thing over again :-(...i believe they way it was intended to work (needs a patch) is that instead of it dumping you back to the "lobby" at Gamespy it should instead dump you back to the servers "briefing room" where you can change planes and reload without ending the session...from what youve said it already sounds like the client can do this?...but then why cant the host do it this way?... oh no dont tell me im gonna need a dedicated server!, LOLDave

Yeah, the client works this way. I haven't tried hosting yet so I didn't realize it would work differently. In fact, I didn't really think about it that much because I tend to think of "hosting" as "dedicated" by default. Hosting "on the fly" usually isn't a good idea :)

ok let me know if you find the same results i had as a host, ok?...just wanna make sure its not my own fault.Yea, hosting as non-dedicated works fine in this game (as long as you have a cable connection to internet)...i havent had LARGE amounts of people on it yet but for smaller groups it works perfectly so far...very smooth and voice is swell :-)...no lag. Try it!Dave

ok let me know if you find the same results i had as a host, ok?...just wanna make sure its not my own fault.Yea, hosting as non-dedicated works fine in this game (as long as you have a cable connection to internet)...i havent had LARGE amounts of people on it yet but for smaller groups it works perfectly so far...very smooth and voice is swell :-)...no lag. Try it!Dave

I tried hosting a game and you're right, although the Learning Center says that the host CAN "exit to the briefing room", there is no such option. The host can only exit the game (which quits FSX altogether) or end flight (which ends the whole session, unlike for clients who exit to the briefing room).Also, I can see why I have yet to run into a server that has enabled session pause - the option is hidden behind an "Advanced settings" button in one of the host setting screens. It doesn't exactly jump out at you.

The not-able-to-switch-airplanes thing in multiplayer is a huge, huge, huge downside. It's such a great system - until you realize that if you're hosting a game you have to shut it completely down to switch airplanes. Really, I have no idea what they were thinking with an otherwise excellent multiplayer system. I really hope this is something they might consider changing.