Buying advice for BoS

[taffy2]

Hi All, I am sending advice to a friend on how to purchase BoS, am I right in saying he should first buy Battle of Moscow followed by Battle of Stalingrad as the basic starting point and add other modules later.

Cheers

[MDzmitry]

It really depends on his preferences in terms of theatres and war period (early/mid/late). Hell, maybe all he really wants to fly at this point in time is actually an American/British bird or a later 109 modification.

Other than that, I'd say Stalingrad is the safest starting point as it's the cheapest and already gives access to the majority of famous aircraft. Another fine option would be Kuban. 

I think the best way to get into flight sims is through familiarity. My first interest was in the I-16 after getting my hands on a book about the Spanish Civil War. So I gravitated towards this small bird over anything else.

Something similar could be the case for your friend, so make sure to know his level of knowledge first to let him get acquainted with the game in a machine he's already most familiar with.

[AndreiTomescu]

IMHO, theater (place of action) , plane preference, available content (!!) narrows the choice. starting with a module that makes his heart go up increses the probability of likeing it.

Edited May 13 by AndreiTomescu

[taffy2]

Not sure of my friends interest or capabilities, I would say he will be starting from scratch !     learning all the basics [taxi , take off . landing ]  I well remember when I first started Bos many years ago , it was the Bf-109 in which i did my basic training and have loved it ever since !

[MDzmitry]

I think you mixed up the "interest" point a bit. We're talking about what historical context (or specific aircraft) he's most familiar with

For example, the Brits might swear by the Spitfire or Hawker fighters, while an American will be more itching to fly the P-51 or P-47. 

But as for purely educational aspect, I'd maybe recommend Kuban (fine map, cool planes line-up, plus access to Fw 190 A-5). The 190 might be the easiest fighter to learn in thanks to the Kommandogerät and wide landing gear. A safe 2nd bet would be the Bf 109 F-4, a bit trickier to land but easier to pilot once in the air.

[Kubert]

56 minutes ago, taffy2 said:

I would say he will be starting from scratch ! 

U-2VS 

[Flashy]

10 minutes ago, Kubert said:

U-2VS 

Yes! buy him whichever theater he is most interested in (BoS, BoK, BoM etc) and the U-2VS, then he can learn to fly, land, bomb stuff and attack ground vehicles in the U-2, and migrate over to the faster, scary stuff once he has the basics down..

[Kubert]

I would use U-2VS only to learn take off, flying and landings. Bombing and shooting not. I have flown a lot ground attack missions and I am unable to hit a target with U-2 even when other planes give me no problem. U-2 is so slow! I am not used to it and always dropping bombs too soon. In my opinion U-2, can not prepare him for bombing from fast ground attackers as IL-2, P-47, FW or Typhoon.

Edited May 13 by Kubert

[AndreiTomescu]

if you guys talk about a plane best suited for learning, the I-153 is king. and also a wonderful machine. half modern, half vintage 🙂

but the O&L module is the most expensive, GPU demanding , incomplete and with the least content. 

A Stalingrad with Hurricane? Plenty of free excelent content, also

Dimitri is also right

i I my rig takes it, or if I scratch 2200 euros for a new one, and jump into Korea (not a great interest as a theatre for me), for ex, i would jump into the MIG-15 because that's where my heart is. to have interest into learning from scratch, emotional motivation is essential. otherwise, the learning curve is tought

[Dora]

4 hours ago, taffy2 said:

Hi All, I am sending advice to a friend on how to purchase BoS, am I right in saying he should first buy Battle of Moscow followed by Battle of Stalingrad as the basic starting point and add other modules later.

Cheers

If he buys on Steam, he needs to buy Stalingrad first. I would also pick either Stalingrad or Moscow as the first module since the aircraft are quite docile and easy to learn dogfighting with, and there is plenty of seasonal changes and frontline changes to prevent "go to one of these six locations, hit the target, and repeat that for 40 hours" that later modules have.

Later modules also require more complicated dogfighting skills like Booming and Zooming and dive attacking, all at high speeds and short moments of contact. In Moscow and Stalingrad, the dogfights are upclose and intense, and you can often just turn in on the enemy and shoot.

But I would ask him what map he is most interested in, since that is really the biggest difference between the two. If he just starts out in flightsimming, he might like the great superiority of the German aircraft in Moscow (meaning easy kills), or he might like Stalingrad since it has a big river providing a clear navigational point and focal point of the battle, compared to the endless plains of Moscow.

[Avimimus]

I'd recommend picking up one of the Flying Circus modules (perhaps one of the later ones)... as the flight experience is quite different and I've found flying touch-and-gos (practicing take-off and landing) to be unusually appealing in these very early aircraft. Also finding streets I can fly down safely!

[Catch]

12 hours ago, Avimimus said:

I'd recommend picking up one of the Flying Circus modules (perhaps one of the later ones)... as the flight experience is quite different and I've found flying touch-and-gos (practicing take-off and landing) to be unusually appealing in these very early aircraft. Also finding streets I can fly down safely!

Yes, I concur. Good point(s) Avi. Please note: Flying Circus - Deluxe is on sale right now at a jaw dropping sale price of $47.31 USD down from $249.00 USD.  I call that pretty good value.

Of course, Flying Circus requires gentlemen of a certain calibre and good breeding. If the OP's friend is unable to ride a horse or carry a swagger stick with panache, I'm afraid it's not for him. He probably likes Mosquitos and 109's anyway, like common folk.

 

[Skycat1969]

One advantage of starting with Stalingrad is that there is a dedicated series of guides for the aircraft: Chuck's Guides. 

Get Moscow if your friend wants to play a career starting from the beginning of World War II. Stalingrad will then continue the Moscow pilot career, followed by Kuban.

I'm biased toward Bodenplatte for its USAAF aircraft (and having cockpit placards written in English, gauges in gallons and feet, etc.), but that's a personal choice.

[Kubert]

1 hour ago, Skycat1969 said:

gauges in gallons and feet

I am exact opposit. To this day I played 12(?) official scripted campaigns, but only two of them in anglo-american  planes (A-20, Spitfire V) for the same reason. I prefer gauges in metric system.  But eastern front campaigns are running out, so west is waiting for me. It is actually a good point. Is important to feel like home in an aircraft. 

[AndreiTomescu]

5 hours ago, Kubert said:

I prefer gauges in metric system

a real fighter pilot (romanian) from the old days of MIG-17, afterwards converted to airliner pilot, told me that they never actually read the dials. when they look at them, they know instantly by the needle position if "it's ok". and i have noticed this also ingame: a quick look and i know the temp is high, or i'm too fast for landing and such. With altitude it's a bit more difficult, imho: Angels 10, please! 🙂 but a 3:1 general rule from feet to meters is good....

[Kubert]

Of course, it is possible to get used to on any aircraft after a short familiarization. I am just saying, my brain automatically works in metric system. When I see 3400 meters I know how high my plane is. But in, let's say 15 700 feet, I need to recalculate because naturally I have no idea...and to this day I don't know how many liters gallon have and I am too lazy to check.  When needle of the fuel gauge is on the left, it is not OK...that's my understanding of gallons.  I will learn soon.

Edited May 14 by Kubert