Very confused about purchasing system

[Modus Pwnenz]

I haven't played DCS World in a while, and back then I was (and still am) a noob trying to figure out the SU-25TM. I am new to flight simulators (a few hours in War Thunder realism mode and Rise of Flight) but despite the difficulty I find the challenge enjoyable (and sometimes irritating) since I'm a flight nut. Coming back to DCS World I've noticed they added a free P-51 Mustang into DCS World but you can also buy the P-51 Mustang. Why would anyone bother buying the P-51 Mustang?

I'm also thinking about getting the F-15C module for DCS World but I heard you have to get Lock On Modern Air Combat and Flaming Cliffs 3. Do I need to buy just the "F-15C for DCS World" module to play it (currently $10)? Other modules I'm thinking about are the A-10A and the P-51 Mustang. I hope I don't have to buy anything else to play those other 2 modules.

I'm getting the A-10A module since I'm a noob and I heard the A-10C module is much more advanced, complicated, and realistic with clickable cockpit buttons and such.

I'm going to buy these off the DCS site because they have the "Bonus" cash system. I'm probably going to redownload DCS World from the DCS site too because I've heard there are compatibility issues. I've noticed that there is a Download button for all the modules I want (F-15C, A-10A, P-51D) - what happens if I do this? I thought I would have to pay before I could download the modules?

Lastly, are there any good mods of planes/helicopters (mods of planes/helicopters that you can fly for free) made by the modding community that I could try out?

[kazereal]

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

Coming back to DCS World I've noticed they added a free P-51 Mustang into DCS World but you can also buy the P-51 Mustang. Why would anyone bother buying the P-51 Mustang?

It is TF-51 that is free - two-seat trainer without weapons. P-51 has guns, rockets and bombs.

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

I'm also thinking about getting the F-15C module for DCS World but I heard you have to get Lock On Modern Air Combat and Flaming Cliffs 3.

You don't need LOMAC any more, it is now purely DCS module.

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

Do I need to buy just the "F-15C for DCS World" module to play it (currently $10)?

The exact same F-15C is available separately and in Flaming Cliffs 3 module. They are the same but available as a "bundle" or individual aircraft.

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

I'm going to buy these off the DCS site because they have the "Bonus" cash system. I'm probably going to redownload DCS World from the DCS site too because I've heard there are compatibility issues. I've noticed that there is a Download button for all the modules I want (F-15C, A-10A, P-51D) - what happens if I do this? I thought I would have to pay before I could download the modules?

You might be able to download but not able to use the module (fly the aircraft) unless you activate it with keycode that you need to purchase.

[fearlessfrog]

The free Mustang is the TF-51, a trainer variant with no weapons. So weapons

The F-15C stand-alone module is the exact same as the Flaming Cliffs 3 F-15C. Neither have any pre-requisites (although they did used to a while back, so that's probably where you heard it).

The A-10A and the A-10C are different variants of the same aircraft, with the C being updated to more modern avionics. In terms of the modules, the A-10A is simpler, in that it does not have a clickable cockpit (in DCS World terms, a Standard System Modelling). The A-10C has Advanced Systems Modeling (ASM), so is more complicated (or satisfying!) to use and learn.

If you buy the modules direct from ED then you don't use the Steam version, as you don't get Steam keys. If you buy on Steam you do get the ED version key as well.

There a lot of mods (things like an English labelled cockpit for the Mi-8 etc), and the best place is to filter/sort from places like here:

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/

Hope that all helps

[Modus Pwnenz]

Thanks that helps a lot!

So you don't need to buy FC3 unless you want all the aircraft included in FC3, but if you want only the F-15C in FC3, you don't buy FC3 but buy just the F-15C module? And it's the same deal with the A-10A?

[kazereal]

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

Thanks that helps a lot!

So you don't need to buy FC3 unless you want all the aircraft included in FC3, but if you want only the F-15C in FC3, you don't buy FC3 but buy just the F-15C module? And it's the same deal with the A-10A?

Yep.

[Modus Pwnenz]

Publicado originalmente por fearlessfrog:

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If you buy the modules direct from ED then you don't use the Steam version, as you don't get Steam keys. If you buy on Steam you do get the ED version key as well.

There a lot of mods (things like an English labelled cockpit for the Mi-8 etc), and the best place is to filter/sort from places like here:

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/

Hope that all helps :plane:

I don't understand why one would buy the modules from Steam because then you don't get the 20% "Bonus" cash that ED gives you for buying modules.

As for the mods, I'm looking for this[www.digitalcombatsimulator.com] kind of mod, basically a full vehicle that you can pilot. Unfortunately I don't have FC3.

Also, how come your Steam alias is orange?

[fearlessfrog]

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

Publicado originalmente por fearlessfrog:

....

If you buy the modules direct from ED then you don't use the Steam version, as you don't get Steam keys. If you buy on Steam you do get the ED version key as well.

There a lot of mods (things like an English labelled cockpit for the Mi-8 etc), and the best place is to filter/sort from places like here:

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/

Hope that all helps

I don't understand why one would buy the modules from Steam because then you don't get the 20% "Bonus" cash that ED gives you for buying modules.

As for the mods, I'm looking for this[www.digitalcombatsimulator.com] kind of mod, basically a full vehicle that you can pilot. Unfortunately I don't have FC3.

Also, how come your Steam alias is orange?

Steam sales sometimes offer good deals, some people use their Steam wallet with credit etc, and others just like to keep all their games within Steam - lots of reasons I guess.

I don't think there are any model/conversion type mods unless you own the base plane - not sure.

I'm orange as I help moderate this forum.

[kazereal]

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

I don't understand why one would buy the modules from Steam because then you don't get the 20% "Bonus" cash that ED gives you for buying modules.

ED bonus-system is still rather new, there are plenty of people who bought modules from Steam before that was added (myself included).

[Modus Pwnenz]

Publicado originalmente por fearlessfrog:

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

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As for the mods, I'm looking for this[www.digitalcombatsimulator.com] kind of mod, basically a full vehicle that you can pilot. Unfortunately I don't have FC3.

....

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I don't think there are any model/conversion type mods unless you own the base plane - not sure.

....

The mod that I linked is an F-16, which no one owns officially as Eagle Dynamics hasn't mode such a module yet.

[fearlessfrog]

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

Publicado originalmente por fearlessfrog:

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I don't think there are any model/conversion type mods unless you own the base plane - not sure.

....

The mod that I linked is an F-16, which no one owns officially as Eagle Dynamics hasn't mode such a module yet.

The flyable mods are usually based on a paid module, in that F-16 mods case I think it's based off of the F-15C from the FC3 pack (or maybe one of Russian flight models), but basically you'd need to buy FC3 to use it I think.

[Modus Pwnenz]

Would be interested in mods that would let me fly the F-22, F-35, F-16, F-18, EF-2000, or Su-37

[kazereal]

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

Would be interested in mods that would let me fly the F-22, F-35, F-16, F-18, EF-2000, or Su-37

There is one for F-16, which uses cockpit and systems from another aircraft.
Just 3D model and flight model which does not include proper on-the-ground handling.

For the rest I have not heard of mods.
Also, what would be the point if they don't handle like real counterparts?

[Modus Pwnenz]

Publicado originalmente por kazereal:

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

Would be interested in mods that would let me fly the F-22, F-35, F-16, F-18, EF-2000, or Su-37

There is one for F-16, which uses cockpit and systems from another aircraft.
Just 3D model and flight model which does not include proper on-the-ground handling.

For the rest I have not heard of mods.
Also, what would be the point if they don't handle like real counterparts?

I was thinking of jet mods that are aesthetically and functionally similar enough to the real life counterpart.

And what about helicopter mods, maybe the AH-64 Apache?

[Tatsue]

"Funcitonality" similar to real-life F-22 and F-35 is going to be a wee bit difficult, since all the info required to give them realistic functionality (both in systems and flight model) are more than a little bit secret. To get close on flight model you'd essentially have to do a set of synthetic wind tunnel tests, which is certainly possible but probably far outside the scope of any modder considering the amount of computation power that would be required to finish it in this century.

RCs data and avionics on the other hand... just forget it. :P

[Hadji]

Publicado originalmente por Death From Above:

functionally similar enough

This is DCS and 'similar enough' isn't good enough. ;)

[kazereal]

ED is pretty strict quality requirements to avoid turning this into another FSX.. So that's for official modules.

There are some good looking 'mods' like SA342 Gazelle, L-39 and A-4C (which is being made into full module). They are not complete however.
Finding them does need some research.