Are you an online or offline user?

[JG52Uther]

99.9% online.

[virre89]

Online only.
Offline simply used for testing out aircrafts and gun practice.
I think a more immersible campaign for SoW would be really neat.

[redbear]

I have long time that i do not fly but most of the time 95% is online the other is offline in QMB do some gunnery practices.

[Nitro]

Online-Offline 4/2..

I finished only one campaign offline and it's used mostly for practising gunnery or making movies etc.

I understand need for historical accuracy, but AI is not good enough to train dogfighting skills. At my squadron server, there is a plenty of historical missions and SEOW war campaigns with full realistic settings and it can not be replaced with offline campaign with AIs.

[csThor]

Gave up online long ago (although I'm always keeping an eye on the developements there) because online has degenerated into a steady ego-driven gangbang between various fighter types - essentially not much more than a "Shoot-em-up" in the air. A serious simulation of aerial warfare as it happened in WW2 is only possible offline as the AI doesn't have an ego that needs to be stroked. It won't b*tch and moan when it doesn't get the latest and best aircraft of the period (because it wasn't present in the operation I want to simulate), it will fly Il-2s, bombers, Stukas and the likes without yammering about being the poor target drone and it won't run to the nearest message board to whine and cry about just how biased I am ...

No, online is in my opinion completely overrated unless dogfighting is all you're interested in. You can't do a serious simulation of aerial warfare with living people flying for their enjoyment, 'cause war isn't about having fun.

[HFC_Dolphin]

Originally Posted by csThor

Gave up online long ago (although I'm always keeping an eye on the developements there) because online has degenerated into a steady ego-driven gangbang between various fighter types - essentially not much more than a "Shoot-em-up" in the air. A serious simulation of aerial warfare as it happened in WW2 is only possible offline as the AI doesn't have an ego that needs to be stroked. It won't b*tch and moan when it doesn't get the latest and best aircraft of the period (because it wasn't present in the operation I want to simulate), it will fly Il-2s, bombers, Stukas and the likes without yammering about being the poor target drone and it won't run to the nearest message board to whine and cry about just how biased I am ...

No, online is in my opinion completely overrated unless dogfighting is all you're interested in. You can't do a serious simulation of aerial warfare with living people flying for their enjoyment, 'cause war isn't about having fun.

Hi csThor!

I do agree in almost all of your points, but the problem with IL-2 is that offline mode is extremely boring. AI is not good enough and the worse part is that...you feel alone.
You know well that combat flying experience has a lot to do with flying in formation, covering each other and taking tactical and strategic decisions. IL-2 just does not offer these options and the communication interface with AI is poor and non-effective. Not to mention the lack of a worthy campaign system.

And that's where online covers these holes. If you get some good company to fly with (which is difficult, I agree), you can fly and speak(!!!) to your wingman. You can ask him for help or save his ass when there is a bogie on his 6. Is there anything better than the feeling of guiding your wingman, who has a bogie on his 6, to the place where you can save him?
Is there any offline mode that can offer you this intense feeling?
Or the campaign system...All these online wars have offered maps and moving frontline and made us feel like we're actually doing something more than just flying. You can't underestimate the value of strategic options that good online campaigns offer.

And there's more, but you get the meaning.

Anyway, if your message referred more to the online dogfight servers, I couldn't agree more. Just another Quake arena, nothing more...

[csThor]

As I said - I think this "cooperative element" is overrated as it only applies to "the dogfight". There is no relation to the historical operations because noone will fly a single-seat Il-2, much less a whole gaggle of them, but will clamor for the latest fighters and fighter-bombers. People don't read the briefing, they don't care about historical backgrounds, either. I don't need to deal with this when creating offline stuff.

I did fly online for years, but I've grown out of it. My interest is military history and "reenactment" of individual operations, not just a sportive contest between several humans. However this "sportive element" is all online is about currently. Maybe SoW will allow for a drastic change by allowing AI units on dogfight servers (Coops are too time-intensive and too "canned" for me).

[DKoor]

Originally Posted by csThor

A serious simulation of aerial warfare as it happened in WW2 is only possible offline as the AI doesn't have an ego that needs to be stroked. It won't b*tch and moan when it doesn't get the latest and best aircraft of the period (because it wasn't present in the operation I want to simulate), it will fly Il-2s, bombers, Stukas and the likes without yammering about being the poor target drone and it won't run to the nearest message board to whine and cry about just how biased I am ...

Well gotta say you have a point there... in a very comical way you've expressed some very valid points.

[T}{OR]

Exclusively online, for the last three years. I gave up on IL2 back then when I was flying offline only. AI is just too boring.

Once you try online and full switch there is no going back. No AI can substitute that.

[Rama]

Online only until I stopped flying virtually begining of this year.

I need teamwork and flying with mates on TS (possibly on coop or online campaigns). Offline is a boring experience compared to online.... even on "great immersive mission and background", which are only decorum to the virtual flying... like drinking bad wine in a palace, when you could have the best champagne with your friends in any place...