online servers

[delta7]

Thought Id start this so folk can comment on the online servers they play on, good, bad,tips,links etc

[delta7]

So far I have only found two types

1. Hardcore - full CEM , no icons, no speedbar

2. Relaxed or Normal , no CEM , icons, minimap,speedbar

Is there any middle ground , with CEM but with icons?

[DD_Arthur]

Not sure there are any popular icons on servers with CEM.   Generally it's icons off but with a choice of what they call GPS on or off.

The two most popular servers at the moment are Wings of Liberty - which has GPS on and Tactical Air War which has GPS off.

The GPS on bit means when you bring up the main map you see your own plane as a black symbol which gives position and heading. 

The icons system in BoX is not as developed as IL2 1946 in that there is not a choice of when and how an icon is displayed in terms of distance or information given.

My tip for flying Wings of Liberty - disable the chat.  It's usually terrible.

[delta7]

I was on Tactical Air War last night but without GPS navigation was hard, I basically followed a river, which was near the airfield, back and forth over the lines 

[Thrudd]

I've yet to fly on the multiplayer servers but I like the sound of Coconuts dynamic campaign once I'm competent to do so without wrecking my sides chances. I think it could be really fun to plan and execute missions with a small flight within the context of the ongoing battle. It's less busy than the TAW server so might be better for newer pilots.

As for navigation I've been flying with the IL-2 2 Mission Planner  up on a 2nd screen (Would be good on a tablet too) so I can quickly reference the map against what I can see out the plane.

[Crash]

Something like that would be good for a group like us.

[Jabo]

1 hour ago, Thrudd said:

once I'm competent to do so without wrecking my sides chances

For goodness sake don't go getting competent. We have our reputation to consider...

[delta7]

Ok Im flying a fair bit on the servers to test them out, here are some thoughts

There are generally only 4 or 5 busy servers at european time these are

Wings of liberty

Tactical Air War

Finnish VirtualPilots

DEDs European server

These fill up fast and are sometimes you cant get on them as they are full but  the others have under 10 on them

Im finding the no icon servers really difficult as Im flying alone , Its nearly impossible to spot the dots especially  down low, I spot them, dive in and they dissapear.

full real tend not to use chat and Iv yet to try their teamspeak 

So Im flying mainly on DED server untill I can get up to speed. They at least use chat and try to co-ordinate but it can be a bit air-quake with everyone bunched up in one area.

I will try wings of liberty next with teamspeak but It would be good if we could get one of the more full real types with short icons on but I guess that either not possible or there is no demand.

[Jabo]

Could we have our own server with the settings we prefer?

[FoolTrottel]

Just now, Jabo said:

Could we have our own server with the settings we prefer?

I bet we can  set up  a 'server'. But, who's gonna configure it so there's a mission running, and a next one rotating / starting?

Currently, we do not have that knowledge in house... I do not even know whether one can configure 'short icons'... or long ones ...  

[Jabo]

Agreed, but if GBS is the way we're going in the future perhaps it's something we need to look into - I'll do some research and see what information is out there.

[DD_Arthur]

13 hours ago, FoolTrottel said:

... I do not even know whether one can configure 'short icons'... or long ones ...  

At the moment icons are either on or off and thats it.  Icons on servers look like this;

Official 1CGS Icons on EU server;

and Coconut's Icons on server;

Not really convinced by either of 'em.  As you can see, as icon's are not configurable yet it's just a bit....meh. 

You see icon in distance, he sees you,  gain height for merge, etc, etc and then its all in the wrist action.  

I'm not really sure if its worth the time or effort to put up a DangerDogz server yet.  Apart from the very obvious problems that FT has pointed out, I think the whole dynamic of multiplayer in BoX is about to change with the next imminent update which will give us a coop mode that players will able to host from their own machines without using the DServer system.

Another 'wait and see' methinks.  At least it'll be a short wait this time!

Anyone up for another Euro time get together for BoS one evening soon?  Tonight perhaps or Monday, Wednesday......Friday.....?

 

[PropNut]

Sorry for butting in gents; thought I might be able to help. I have been testing a Dserver hosted on one of my gaming computers in the Man cave. I started flying again with the guys using your public TS and offered to host as I have the extra computers to spare. We usually have anywhere from 4-12 pilots per night. The usual suspects; AP, CaptJack, etc

Hosting a BoX server is almost exactly like hosting our old RoF server, the interface is the same but the mission editor seems to have lots more features. 

As for server management; you can set it up to auto rotate or choose one to load from a saved list on the server. So you can upload the new mission at any time and use a remote login screen to change the mission when you are ready for it. All fairly easy. 

There are some great missions that you can borrow/edit for your use out there. I recommend Coconut's dynamic campaign mission. I am not very good at creating missions, although I do know the basics. I am sure those of you who have been making missions for 1946 can pick it up pretty easy. 

I am sure Roger can set up server space like he did for us when we were flying RoF. 

Hope this helps, if you want to check out what we are playing you can log into my server "Propnut" with the usual DD password.

[FoolTrottel]

Thanks Arthur, that helps a lot! To wait is best at the moment.

[FoolTrottel]

Propnut, "Sorry for butting in" ... Whát?  lol, since when is that possible around here? 

Thanks for your input !!

 

[FoolTrottel]

Oh, Arthur, yes, I'd like to try some more BoS, on a Monday or Wednesday .... would be nice!

[Jabo]

Count me in too Arthur - Mondays or Wednesdays work for me too. Fridays not so much as they're usually binge night lol

[delta7]

I'm in for Monday, Wednesday or Thursday as long s icons and GPS are on, I don't like the icons but they are better than without, I don't think this game displays dots or planes very well and makes it unplayable to me without the icons

[DD_Arthur]

I think I can manage a bit of Monday and Wednesday - see you around eight thirty (ish)

[delta7]

sorry cant make tonight will be around on wednesday tho 

[FoolTrottel]

+one... 

Sorry!

[DD_Arthur]

Wot I did 2nite.  Wiv' apologies for the sound

 

[FoolTrottel]

Good training session on "Wings of Liberty - Copy"

Arthur and Wingflyr in Yak sescorted Delta and me in IL2's.

Attacked artillery, Delta got 6, I got 3. Back over home base, I joined a bit of dogfighting and took the tailplane off of a 109, it was already smoking and out of control, but it still was fun to hit him.

Landed!

Good fun, the IL2-1941 does fly rather nicely, you can do lots of damage with it. Learned some more stuff about it, and the game... ID-ing a/c is difficult, close to impossible. To be over friendly territory with flak is a big help though! Their exploding shells point at them quite nicely...

[DD_Arthur]

Very good fun tonight.  Big  to Wingflyer, Delta and FT.  

Shall we make this a regular Wednesday?

[Pooka]

Enjoyed your video Arthur, so nice to hear Dave and FTs voices again.