Finding the enemy

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#1: Finding the enemy Author: Fhechene Post Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 12:03 AM
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Without icons, I have a lot of trouble finding the enemy, even in scenarios I made myself. I only know they are nearby because allied planes say they need help or congratulate each other. Sometimes, I can see tracers, but that's not always.

Any hint?
#2: Re: Finding the enemy Author: genXgamer , Location: Great Southern Land Post Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 12:14 AM
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G'day Fhechene

That's just how it is, you need good eyesight.
I myself use icons but I've reduced their size right down so I can tell friend or foe but too small to read distance.
If you want to play on realistic settings you just have to keep a keen lookout.
#3: Author: Fhechene Post Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 12:30 AM
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I guess I would have been killed in 5 minutes in the real war.
#4: Author: genXgamer , Location: Great Southern Land Post Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 02:49 AM
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As you know it took many air combats to gain situational awareness, a lot of pilots were killed in their first or second air combat.
It didn't help that they were given tail-end Charlie positions.
#5: Author: PoorOldSpike , Location: England Post Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 03:06 AM
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Brit Spitfire pilot Johnnie Johnson said in one of his books "We flew looking over our shoulders a lot of the time like ducks with our necks cranked backwards"..:)

PS- in IL-2 and other flight sims I find its easy to spot enemy planes if you're lower than them because they'll then appear as black dots against the sky, but its harder for them to spot you because your camouflage will blend into the terrain, but don't fly too low at treetop height or he might spot your black shadow on the ground.

The disadvantage of flying lower than him is that is that you give him a height advantage but it can't be helped. Last edited by PoorOldSpike on Fri May 21, 2021 03:11 AM; edited 3 time in total
#6: Author: HaFu1939 Post Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 06:38 AM
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Flying years without icons. Used to that. If I could give you some advice, use AI wingman. These guys are younger and see better. In 9 of 10 cases, they spot an enemy plane earlier than you. And they tell you where Smile
Regards,
HaFu1939 Last edited by HaFu1939 on Fri May 21, 2021 06:38 AM; edited 1 times in total
#7: Author: Shoeffel Post Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 09:54 AM
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Hi Fhechene,

welcome to the club of shortsighteers! As a volunteer you start at the rank of a Mole 2nd class. Very Happy

Here is a hint, how to make those enemy dots becoming earlier into sight, so you have a bit more time for spotting and reacting.

www.sas1946.com/main/i...#msg225958

For me, I have the feeling, that the dots are a bit more easily to be seen. Maybe setting these parameters is only a helpful placebo.

Another thing is the screens resolution. Most people nowadays run the game in Full HD. That means, if your are sitting too close or the screen has more than 23'' the dots become blurrish. Furthermore there might be tearing effects due to the reaction time of your panel. A gaming monitor should have a reaction time of 5 miliseconds or less.

And a little bit it is simply real life: During the day we are loosing up to one and a half dioptrin due to normal exhausting. And playing the game in a dark surrounding, night sight issues will join in. Simply put a lamp behind the screen, have a little nap before firing up your machine or do some palming: seeing.org/techniques/palming.html This is a very helpful method for relaxing the eyes. The older I grow, the more my eyes getting exhausted during motorcyle rides. Two minutes of palming, and I'm back on deck again. My friends first laughed but now they all adopted this method....and forgot about their cigarettes, the origin cause for resting.

And, of course, this is an old game and some things are not as good as they could...and are still there, even in the BOS series:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi8s8fDkzZg

To have a little comparision: I flew the campgain I'm working on with icons on (distance only) and in the end awarded the knights cross with dingelings for some 200 victories - completly unrealistic, but a lot of fun in opening the BF 109 skin folder and adding kill marks to my tailfin. And then I was keen to see, wether I would have survived "in real life". I turned icons off and let the targets as they were, set to "coming home". In the end I had 12 victories during 65 sorties, as I often found no enemies, or lost sight on them during combat, had to hit the silk or brought my crippled plane home with a bunch of holes in the airframe with no idea, where that enemy did come from. A huge difference and a lot more realistic. And teaches evasive manoevering. I've lost six planes during the campaign. To be honest: Awarding the Knights Cross was much more fun rather than earning the Iron Cross only. But it made clear, why pilots education was crucial and what it means to survive the war. So in the end it's a decision between simulation realism and gaming fun.

My friendly advice: Eat more carrots, wipe your glasses and blame it on the enemy hiding away in the clouds when your plane appears on the scene. Very Happy

Have a nice day!
Shoeffel

P.S.: Sorry, can't resist in letting my inner wise guy off the leash.
#8: Author: Fhechene Post Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 03:59 PM
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Shoeffel wrote:
I often found no enemies, or lost sight on them during combat
This is the most infuriating. Getting no contacts and KNOWING they are just a minute flying away, but, to where? And how high? AAAAAHHH!!!
#9: Author: tomoose Post Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 06:38 PM
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Fhechene;
you don't mention which version you are using. If you are using BAT there are the Command and Control objects you can insert into a mission. If you are not using BAT you can still (I believe) put the Command and Control mod into your game.

The C&C mod has a couple of objects which would help you a lot depending on how realistic you want to be.

1. The GCI (Ground Control Intercept) object - it essentially acts as friendly radar and provides you with a bearing, range and height to your enemy and which direction he is flying. You just have to point your aircraft in that general direction (anticipating the enemy movement) and you'll find him. Works like a charm. I've set up this object on the Channel map for our HSFX online coop missions to simulate the Chain Home radar stations and it worked great.

2. The Ground Observer object - simulates just what it's called Ground Observers and gives a grid, description and altitude of en aircraft within range of the object (15km)

3. The SPR (Spotter) object - simulates gunners/wingmen calling out sightings of enemy GROUND objects (including ships).

Depending on your IL2 version I would strongly recommend use of the Command and Control objects. There is also a Triggers mod which can do similar stuff if you are unable to use the C&C mod.

Hope this helps. Last edited by tomoose on Fri May 21, 2021 06:40 PM; edited 1 times in total
#10: Author: Fhechene Post Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 07:13 PM
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That's pretty cool, tomoose. I'll give it a check.
#11: Author: dagger123456 Post Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 07:15 PM
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How do I adjust the icon/label size of aircraft?
#12: Author: genXgamer , Location: Great Southern Land Post Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 09:57 PM
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G'day dagger123456

I'll get back to you on this, if someone knows how and would like to answer please do.
I will look in to it when I get home from work, it's been awhile since I adjusted them.
#13: Author: tomoose Post Posted: Mon May 24, 2021 03:09 PM
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I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for:
Icon label size on map
#14: Author: PoorOldSpike , Location: England Post Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 09:31 AM
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Do high-flying planes leave telltale vapour trails in IL-2 like these real-life B-17's?
And I'm not sure how high they have to be before that might happen-





 Last edited by PoorOldSpike on Tue May 25, 2021 09:41 AM; edited 2 time in total
#15: Author: tomoose Post Posted: Tue May 25, 2021 12:22 PM
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Yes contrails do appear but only at high altitudes. I can't remember at what altitude they start to appear but 18,000ft and higher should definitely show that.
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