How do I fly online?

[Janosch]

Interesting points! Not entirely unfamiliar, either. Generally speaking, for a relatively new player, there's no guarantee that having relaxed settings is going to make the (online) game any easier. Why? Because opponents will also have the advantage of those settings. I'm not saying that everyone takes advantage of them, but it's possible. AI opponents are another matter - as far as I know, they don't care if icons & padlock are enabled or not. And so on.

Originally Posted by Icefire

I'd suggest the OP stay away from any online server until they are really familiar with flying and operating the aircraft. We have guys who join where it's obvious they haven't done anything with the game until just that moment.

Sound advice. I'd like to add (again) that AI opponents are radically different from humans players. This pretty much applies to any game out there.

Originally Posted by Fenice_1965

1) Padlocking options are enabled because asked mainly by no track ir users, because they feel handcapped compared to those who have tracking devices.

Imho acknowledging that handicap should lead to adjusting of tactics or buying the trackir. I fly without trackir, and yes, it gets difficult in certain situations. However, people have played online sims before trackir was invented. If they could do it, why couldn't everyone else?

2) Padlocking options are enabled because asked also by ground pounders, because they feel that identification between friends or foes is too much difficult without F7 against some kind of targets, expecially tanks.

This probably applies to situations where friendly and enemy ground forces are close to each other. Well, one solution that doesn't require F7 is for someone to fly recon, or learn the target locations by heart. Also, seeing which way tanks fire (if they do) can help with identification.

3) External views are preferred by lone flyers. In a completely closed cockpit there's a greater advantage for those who are already integrated in community and fly team speak linked, because they increase their situation awareness in a decisive way.

Again, externals (with or without padlock) potentially increase awareness of lone pilots and squad members, too. It's not like only lone fliers with handicaps reap the benefits of server settings.

Every now and then you encounter e.g. a trio of Focke Wulfs that fly together, one booms & zooms and others cool their engines. Even if it's me who's being targeted, I wouldn't dream of asking for easy settings. What good would it do, anyway? There's always another solution, as long as there's at least another airfield available

My main concern is that arcade-esque settings make the game more limited. Planes have different cockpits and thus cockpit visibility is one point to consider when choosing a plane, making the game more complex. Externals (and padlock) plus open cockpit chip away from the richness of the game. Full icons pretty much take away the possibility of surprising the enemy.

Despite all the difficulties, I enjoy this game when it has suitably realistic settings, even if I have a plastic stick, no track ir or teamspeak. And for lone flyers like me, there's still the option of dragging enemies to teammates, some of which may very well fly splendidly together.