Wings Over Flanders Fields (WOFF) (Dec 2013)

[Nefaro]

Some damage we inflicted on an Albatros:

[Grim.Reaper]

Finally finished downloading....took for a quick flight and promptly crashed and burned:)

Graphics and menu/campaign system look good to me....hardest part is going to be learning how to fly the planes (having tough time keeping flight level and steady) and then of course figuring out how I can actually kill the enemy:)

I have gotten a couple of error messages here and there, hopefully something that does not happen all the time.

[Toonces]

If you go late war German, that is probably the best be for learning the gist of the game.  Adjust from mid-1917 German planes as needed.

[Grim.Reaper]

If you go late war German, that is probably the best be for learning the gist of the game.  Adjust from mid-1917 German planes as needed.

Thanks for the tip...I'll give it a try later today.

[Gusington]

Are there general levels of difficulty that are adjustable or is it just a matter of choosing from different planes? Can you choose 'easy flight mode' if you want to here? By the end of the weekend I may just go for it.

[Grim.Reaper]

Are there general levels of difficulty that are adjustable or is it just a matter of choosing from different planes? Can you choose 'easy flight mode' if you want to here? By the end of the weekend I may just go for it.

Funny you said that Gus, was about to post about this myself.  There is a difficulty setting for flight model (easy, hard, etc.) and other options like auto fuel mixture, ammo amounts, unlimited fuel, etc.  But one thing I did not see in the campaign is an option on how difficult the enemy is.  I am playing with all the easy settings but even finding them difficult to master and keep my plane in the air.  Guessing likely due to the characteristics of each plane.

Keep in mind, I am not a great flight simmer so all this might be just me:)

[Gusington]

^Me neither especially compared to Nefaro, Tuna and the other guys. Maybe that's why I didn't like OFF as much as I wanted to, and why I hesitate here a bit.

But I'm collapsing slowly :)

[Grim.Reaper]

^Me neither especially compared to Nefaro, Tuna and the other guys. Maybe that's why I didn't like OFF as much as I wanted to, and why I hesitate here a bit.

But I'm collapsing slowly :)

One thing I have to say, take away the actual flying in the plane, the campaign setup, pilot setup, options setup, quick missions, etc seem really well done.  Does appear to be a single player's dream and really has great atmosphere.  Nice flight maps, briefings, etc.  I just have to figure out how to survive in the air and things will be fine.  Not regretting the purchase, I just have to stick with it and get better.

[Gusington]

^You must be part of the WOFF team...loading up their page now. All I need is a reason why I am spending 60.00 plus $ for a new joystick and a DVD copy of CFS3 :)

[Grim.Reaper]

^You must be part of the WOFF team...loading up their page now. All I need is a reason why I am spending 60.00 plus $ for a new joystick and a DVD copy of CFS3 :)

I wasn't sure at first either, but I decided what the heck.  I purchased the DVD CFS for $10 last week just in case but I already have an x52 joystick.  Although, I think I might invest in a more simplistic one like the Logitech Extreme since might be easier for me.

From a support perspective, I have to agree with Nefaro, these guys are awesome.  I have had a few minor issues (nothing game breaking) and they have been communicating with me via email non-stop this morning, even on a Saturday.  Plus, they have already distributed multiple patches.

[Gusington]

Logitech Extreme eh?

[Nefaro]

Logitech Extreme eh?

I have a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro and it's gimbals are crap.  The latest version anyway.  ALL MADE IN CHINA!

The older Logitech Extremes had better precision (also have an old worn-out one of those).  With my newer one, I had to put a good amount of dead zone on it because the left/right axis was so loose and often leaned more towards one side than the other.  Maybe I just got one of the poorer examples, but I was never happy with it.  She said her name was Lucy but they all called her "Loose".  Picked up a relatively inexpensive Thrustmaster T-Flight X HOTAS last year and it made a huge difference just due to how much tighter the stick was. 

While the Logitech Extreme sticks are popular for their inexpensiveness and having rudder controls, I would only recommend them if you can't afford a nice tight stick for better control and less settings tweaking (not necessarily a HOTAS).  Just make sure you get something with rudder controls either way, as they're essential in these old WWI birds. 


As for having problems flying the aircraft in WOFF, I suggest two things to make it easier. 
1) Use the Trim controls.. they're in there and you can see their exact settings with your TAC display open and the 'Z' info data block hotkey on.   It may not be historical but it'll save you some stick whipping when you're trying to fly straight & level (also use Autopilot often to avoid same).   
2) Adjust the axis sensitivity to your liking.  I had to lower the Pitch sensitivity on mine, and others have mentioned doing the same.  I think the default pitch rate is too high.  Just select the pitch axis in the Workshop's (aka Settings menu) ReMap Keys section and click advanced.  The value on the left is the sensitivity and the one on the right is dead zone.  I ended up dropping both settings on numerous axes but you can tweak those bit by bit to your liking.  Just make sure you click SAVE after your changes!  After lowering the sensitivity on the pitch, I had an easier time aiming since I didn't oversteer as much in turns.


Be aware that you can and will tear up your wings with high-G pulls and extremely fast dives.  As with any sim, it comes down to getting a feel for what you're flying and pushing those limits as best you can.

[Gusington]

I have a Wingman but its packed away...I need a good inexpensive stick for the time being...

[Nefaro]

I just had an amazing experience in a mission during the 3rd Ypres/Passchendale offensive. 

It must've been one of the big days because the battle was raging like mad below us.  Our flight of Nieuport 23s was to fly top cover for a flight of 2-seaters doing recon over the battlefield. 

The artillery was plastering the hell out the enemy trenches and a city just behind them.  Not sure which city it was, just that it was getting blown to hell.   Archie was also making a good fireworks show a little closer than I liked.









We end up in a short dogfight on the first circuit around the German side of the lines, shooting down two enemy Albatros fighters in short order and rejoining our position over the recce aircraft.   On our second pass, another Boche flight of D.Vs come screaming in off our 10 o'clock and a furball starts.  I had the angles on one enemy plane, and was preparing to get a shot, but another one was in the process of getting on my tail.  I got into a turning fight with this one for a good long eternity (which was probably only a couple-three minutes) and was getting somewhat advantaged on a regular basis before this guy would do a quick Split-S and get back into a turn before I could safely stick with him all the way in my Nieup23 which was constantly groaning at the effort. 

I could hear my poor little Nieuport creaking and screeching from the strain and I knew that I was flying her on the edge.  But it was working.. slowly.  We were in a steady downward spiralling turn fight with his Split-S reverses interspersed.  I finally managed to get on his rear quarter and started pulling lead for a steady burst when I heard a snap and I started spiralling.  The lower right wing had broken off due to the G-forces and speed of my diving turns.  Something the wing-and-a-half Nieuports were infamous for - especially in dives.  I was this close to shooting this obviously seasoned German down and my aircraft structurally failed.

I paused the game to see who it was I had been dogfighting.  Looking at the Tactical display, his aircraft was colored purple.  Not the usual red of most enemy pilots.  So I turned on the labels option to show pilot names.  It was some historical German ace named Rudolf Francke from Jasta 8-C.  Wiki says he historically had 15 victories.  I know I could've taken him in the game if I had a Camel but the AI flying his aircraft was certainly making it difficult.  Difficult enough for me to snap my own wing and win a victory for it. 








I spiralled down for a few seconds and he circled once until assured that I was going down.  But I managed to pull the Noop's nose up and get it flying somewhat straight, although I couldn't get it to level out and it was still dropping altitude.  When I hit the ground it rolled a couple times and flipped over somewhat violently due to my terribly bank angle.  The post-mission report says I died soon after from injuries sustained in the crash and the Germans who found me furnished a military funeral. 

That was so damn fun.  And these Nieuports are pretty unforgiving rides.   :)

[Gusington]

^That is $%^#ing awesome.