Hi all!

Long time ago ( :-) ) we used to play IL2 "Forgotten Battles" in an "Armorama Members Only" Arena (see here , here and here ). We were forced to make a pause mainly because I had connections problems with my modem. In fact I had no Internet at all during a long period!
Now it's about time to launch the server again and do a second recruitment campaign! So if you are interested, don't hesitate and join the Armorama Circus !
All you need is a PC with internet access (the one you are currently using will probably do! ), an original IL2 FB game (can be found at low prices), an account at Ubi.com (free) and time on Friday evening and/or Saturday afternoon! For more informations, take a look at the original thread . There you will a step by step explanation on how to get connected (with pictures!).
Don't be shy, we will welcome all kind of players, from beginners to veterans! Purpose of this is to have fun and to fly the planes we are modelling. If you join in, you will probably see Mal flying in his Hurricane, Easyoff in his Mustang, Rowan in his "no visibility" trainer, Eetu in his Bf 109 and me in my Ju 87 "kanonenvogel"... to name a few "regulars".

Next play will be friday. So you have plenty of time to find a copy of IL2 FB... it is worth a try!

Jean-Luc

I really wish I bought that game instead of Lock On: Modern Air Combat. :-) :-) :-) Maybe I'll save up for that game in time.

BTW, what's the difference between the IL-2 and the IL-2 Forgotten Battles? I'm confused.

Hi Jean-Luc

Count me back in! I won't be able to make next Saturday because I'm going away next weekend, but I'l dust off the game and try to get over my bad habit of admiring the view so much that I completely miss seeing any other aircraft!

All the best

Rowan

There are three different versions of the game and you can't paly online together if you don't have the same. Here is a list of the various games produced by Oleg Maddox:
IL2
This is the first one
IL2 Forgotten Battles
The second one is an improvement of the first one and the action takes place in Eastern Europe
IL2 Pacific Fighters
The last version with even more planes and Pacific Theater maps.

To add to the confusion, an add-on exists that "expands" the game's possibilities (not working with the first version though). It is called "Aces Expansion Pack" and brings additional planes (Spitfire and p-47 ) to the original games. We don't play with it as it would need ALL participants to install it... not easy.
IL2 "Forgotten Battles" was choosed because many of us already had the game and because this version can be used on older PCs (like mine!) without problems...






Rowan, I remember flying a big fat He111 and you didn't noticed me despite the fact I was well within sight range and the weather was cloudless! But the moutains were so beautifull in that map! :-)
Will you be able to join in friday?

Jean-Luc

Thanks Jean-Luc!

I remember seeing a Gold editon, which includes the IL-2 FB and the Ace Expansion in a single box (and for a cheapo price of around 20 USD). If I install the add-on, can I still play FB with you guys? I mean, is it compatible? Was really planning to get all 3 series, IL-2 FB, Ace expansion pack, and the Pacific Figthers so I have all the planes available in most fronts :-) :-) :-)

I've had this game for a while but never played online. So i'll probably be on next friday

I'll be there, there are too many muppets playing in most of the servers, but I have racked up as many as 1700 points in a session getting 3-4 kills in quick succesion with limited ammo, I've sussed landing which, after a kill gives you 100 points, without landing you get 10. I'm getting quit good at deflection shooting so watch out. I have also learnt to out turn the more nimble aircraft, such as the zero in faster and heaveir planes like the La 7. One round in the wing of a Zero takes it clean off and I'm quite accurate now and aim for the wing The hardest aircraft to shoot down are those with back seat gunners, like J-L's Ju87, but the wings can be taken off those as well ( watch out J-L)
Don't forget that you require the patch 1.20 (I think it is) to play on line. See you all on Friday, looking forward to the killing
Mal

Hi Mal

No wonder we haven't seen much of you on Armorama! I thought you were supposed to be building your workshop - not practising on IL2! :-)

If you've got that good, it's probably just as well I won't be able to join in straight away... it doesn't sound like a healthy place for romantic sightseers like me...

All the best - and be gentle on them!

Rowan

PS - Sorry Jean-Luc, the Friday sessions are always out for me - I don't get home from work in time.

when trying to play online i can't get past the conecting to server screen. It just keeps saying that its in timeout or something?! Can anyone help plz?

Hi Joe

I had a lot of problems with "timeout" messages - the culprit seemed to be my firewall. If I disable that temporarily, I can join the game OK. Frustrating, 'cause I'm not too keen about turning it off...

I hope this helps

Rowan

There doesn't seam to be a problem for me on the "dedicated" servers, but if I try on some of the others, those that punters set up on the day, quite often I can't get on. If I set up a server for our IL2 game it appears that it can't be seen? also if someone else, other than J-L, set it up I can't always see it.
Joe, do you have a gaming name? mine is Holdfast247, if you do and I spot you I'll try setting up a server, It'll be called Armorama2 and the password as always will be "circus". If anyone else is online at UBI and sees me give me a shout, although I'm not there that often................Rowan!! I just go there to relax by cutting off a few wings
Mal

Still no luck im afraid. My gaming name is goldwizard and i spotted u Mal earlier on today but u must have been in a game because i coudn't speak to u.

I

Hi all!

Yes, it sounds strange, but I'm the only one that managed to do the server for an Armorama Arena!? I think Eetu and Mal tried and it never worked. Maybe it's a Firewall or Anti-Virus issue. I connect my PC on the web only to play IL2, so I didn't installed any additional protection other than what was included in Windows XP.
Anyway, we will see Friday if it works again

Jean-Luc

HOORAY!!!! I finally got it working (something to do with my IP address) so i will hopefully see u guys on friday. All i need to do is pratice like mad.

That's great Joe! Can't wait to play on Friday!

Anyone else interested? The more we are, the more fun it is!

Jean-Luc

I'd love to join in, but IL2 and the add ons do nothing but crash on my system. Even took it to my local computer shop and nothing was solved. A pity really, as, it's by far the finest simulation out.

I'll be thinking of you........

Frank

I have gotten the PF so far, and should get FB tomorrow. I fooled around with it a little tonight and must say that it has a lot of keyboard controls to worry about (or so it seems). I can't wait to get the rest of it. It is the Gold pack which includes ACES as well as the original game.

Nils

Wow, that is a great idea! I have to dig my old game out from the dungeons and join you all.
It is by far the best flight sim out there.
I used to make my own skins for the aircrafts so maybe I will start doing some again. Just tell me if there is any particular schemes you want on your special airplane and maybe I can do something.
I especially remember my Yak-9 in skyblue with checkered tail...

Anyways, count me in!

Pelle

hey guys, you should try goin to the Hyper Lobby to fly, it supports 16 different flight sims for online play.
its a small download to get you up and going, best of all its free.

hyperlobby

go to download tab, and download 'hyperlobby client download version 3.8.95 and install, then register, takes about 1 min to do all that.

then your in, today march 14 at 2 pm there were over 900 people flying in Il2 forgotten battles.

right now at 2145 mountain there are 312 pe0ple in IL2 forgotten battles, its a very active place supporting many cooperative games launching all the time, 13 different virtual online dynamic wars, 3 ladder style competitions, and (as of righ now) 76 mulitplayer rooms set up, just in the general lobby.

as for online play, hyperlobby is the place to fly.
check it out some time.
stop by and say hi if you see my, my callsign is JG27*Bender.
or feel free to stop by my squads web site

virtualjg27

Hi Frank!

This is too bad! It would have been fun to make a 12 hour Flight Sim Marathon together! :-)




Hi Nils!

Don't worry too much about the keyboards control... you will find that only a few are really important. By the way, we don't play with Complex Engine . Most important is to have fun!




Hi Pelle!

Nice to have you with us! See you on Friday!




Hi Bender!

Thanks for the heads up!
Maybe this could be an option for the future. but I think right know, the only purpose of the "Armorama Circus" is to bring some members together on a regular basis to have a little fun with IL2. Let's find a small community of players here and then we will see how it works. We were "only" 4 or 5 regulars the last time we played. With more players I think it could be real fun
It is also important to allow beginners to join in. Maybe the Hyper Lobby would be to ambitious for them (and for me!)... but I must confess I never tried a Dynamic War! Sounds like a lot of fun! Maybe you could tell us more about it? I saw you are the Training Officer in your virtual squad! We have a lot to learn... what about some lessons!

Jean-Luc

well there is no skill level needed in the Hyperlobby, come as you are, there are rooms suited for every skill level from the guys who fly full "arcade" meaning open cockpit, no complex engine managment, full icons, basically all the pilot aids are turned on, to the other extreme "full switch" with NO pilot aids, and a locked full cockpit. what ever your taste or skill level you can find people doing the same thing there, simply because there are so many people that use it.

hope this doesnt sound like a commercial, but any added activity in the flightsim areas are good, just like modling, same kind of niche market.

but I never been to ubi areas to fly, only hyperlobby, but as for training you bet, anyone sees me in the hyperlobby I will be more than happy to walk you through some air combat manouvers.

btw just to make your flight sim experience that much more immersive, anyone interested in group flying should find and download 'teamspeak', or 'ventrillo' (may have spelled that one wrong), or roger wilco, teamspeak seems the best, then all you need is a microphone and speakers/headset and you and all of your wingmen can join up on a 'radio' over the net, makes coordination of attacks and wingman tactics sooo much easier, and more fun too.

the online dynamic wars are very fun, most are on the upper end of the realsim settings for the sim, but basically you sign up for flying either red (allied) or blue (axis) sides, then when a host throws up a room, join that wait for room to fill up, sometimes you could sit there for 20 mins, but most fill up in just a few min, once the game is joined, read the brief, decide what aircraft and part of the mission you want to fly, and if you should succeed in completing your teams mission goals, it changes the dynamic maps, some causing loss of aircraft options or numbers to the other side and also movement of the front lines and ground forces. pretty fun stuff.

Hi Bender!

What you said seems indeed pretty cool... I will probably give it a try in the future. I already bought a Headset with micro but never had the opportunity to use it.
Anyway guys, let's meet in the Armorama Circus Arena first , we can then post some comments in the Officiall Thread and do some debriefing after "combat".

Jean-Luc

Jean-Luc,
I am looking forward to getting the rest of the game and joining in then. I have flown before, but with arcade type aircraft. I do have a FF2 stick and have tried the PF version so far. I look forward to slowly introducing more pilot control of the aircraft, but so far I am on easy and have killed a couple of Japanese B-17's with a P-38L and an F4U. I'll get the hang of it, LOL. Now for take offs and landing??????

Nils

I bought the game "Combat Flight Simulator" about 3 years ago and just tried it tonight for the first time on my computer. I don't have a joystick control or anything so I had to use my keyboard.
Somehow I managed to burn my ME-109 to the ground while sitting on the runway. How the hell do you burn your plane up sitting on a runway?

I give up.

Hermon

Hi Nils and Hermon!

A joystick is indeed something very usefull for a flight simulator! :-) Best is a joystick with throttle control. I have an "old" Saitek Cyborg 3D wich is good enough for me (it even has rudder controls when you twist the stick).
As for take off and landing procedures, I will set the game to "easy" for this... but it remains the most difficult part of the game with shooting. Here are a few tips:
When you start, your plane will be parked on different locations (depends on the plane and on the aerodrome). So the first thing you'll have to do is to bring your plane on the runway. Take a look outside (left/right) to know where you are. Start the engine but leave throttle at minimum. If the plane moves, use the brakes! Now apply flaps (take off position). Then push the engine at full throttle and, as soon as the plane moves, lower at about 10-20% The plane should now move slowly and you can use the rudder to bring it into position (not the ailerons!). If you want to make a tight turn, use your brakes while applying full rudder! Remember, rudder is effective only when the plane moves! It's the airflow on the tail wich makes the plane change direction, it's not a car. No airflow, no way to change direction!
Once centered on the runway, lock the tail wheel and apply full power. If the plane goes left or right (engine torque effect), use rudder first and if it is really bad even the ailerons!
Once in the air, raise the landing gear and, when you have reached a good altitude, the flaps.
That's all! Isn't complicated isn't it!

Here is an alternative method wich works on grass airfield only:
Apply full engine, apply flaps and take off! :-) You should only try to avoid the gound objects (trees, vehicles, structures, AA guns, other planes etc...)

If you have other questions, don't hesitate! For gunnery, ask Mal! He is the specialist!

Jean-Luc