Im new to sim/flying games

[RaleighBear]

Is this a game with good PVP?

[Jel]

I tend to tell ppl who ask that kind of question first when entering the flightsim genre, that they would be better of playing WarThunder.
But yes - this game is awesome for flying PVP missions. If you mastered your aircraft that is, otherwise it will be kind of "live. die. repeat."

[startrekmike]

Originally posted by RaleighBear:

Is this a game with good PVP?

It depends on what kind of PvP you are looking for. DCS and its various aircraft modules are not built with conventional PvP balance in mind. Since the goal is to be as authentic as is practically possible, balance simply can't factor in to it. The only "balance" you will find is something imposed by mission creators/server operators but even then, DCS is an imperfect fit for the dedicated PvP platform role. Personally speaking. I don't think this is a bad thing at all. Not everything provide good PvP while also providing its intended experience.

All that being said. There is a specific subset of the DCS community that does try to fit that particular square peg into a circular shaped hole. A lot of the public servers are pretty focused on PvP but there is a reason why so many of the servers you will see on the browser are private.

It has been my experience that DCS is perhaps best seen as a "single mission simulator" in the sense that it works best when you get some close, (generally) equally experienced players to fly structured, hand-crafted one-off missions. That is where you will get the most out of DCS.

If you want a dedicated (and perhaps even "competitively viable") PvP platform, DCS has trouble filling that role. That won't stop some from trying but it might not be what you are looking for.

[Troll Norris]

Main of all, it is about realism. Not realistic graphics (which BTW is also importatn), but mainly about realistic flight dynamics simulation and controls simulation. I heavily recommend to learn to fly first. Go PvP later.

https://youtu.be/rS3V5iP9RcU

[Gunfreak]

Originally posted by RaleighBear:

Is this a game with good PVP?

The majority of players, play singleplayer.
Online gaming is mostly PVE or PVE/PVP. Some servers are dedicated PVP.
But is the smallest part of DCS.

[Undead Rufus]

On the right server it's great for PVP, if that's what you want. Just understand that the focus of DCS is milsim realism, not balance.

[m61a1]

Last time I played PvP, it felt more like "restart my plane from a cold start" simulator. Human players were eating me alive. Total skill issue on my end.

[Hootman]

Setting the PVP discussion aside, be aware that DCS is more of a study level sim, for enthusiasts who want realism. That realism entails things like detailed cockpits and systems. There are "quick startups", so you don't HAVE to learn how to go through the complex start procedures, but there really is no getting around learning the complex systems like employing the weapons, radars, etc.

Setting up the controls and keystrokes for the aircraft and all the systems also can be a labor intensive process. We're talking down to dials for each cockpit instrument, along with learning how to navigate and use the various Multi Function Displays (MFD) for the modern aircraft.

There is of course free aircraft, so no harm in installing the game and tyring those out to get a feel of what is involved.

As others have said, for PVP probably better off with the more Arcade type games like War Thunder.

I personally would recommend a person new to flying and combat start out with a middle of the road sim like IL-2 Batttle of Stalingrad. I really enjoy it, it's not a "study level" sim, but the devs put a lot of work into each of the many aircraft there to make them as true to life flight model wise as possible. It's pretty much middle of the pack as far as complexity and learning. There are campigns that are really cheap, you can play an entire pilot "career" inany of the aircraft, and it has a very simple "instant action" feature to set up a variety of things to do. Lots of content and variety.

Basically being new, what you are attempting with DCS is equivalent to going for a PhD without ever attending a 4 year college.

Good luck on whatever you try. If you have the patience to learn, and the will to die a lot on you journey, you can join the ranks with the rest of the flight sim community, much to the irritation of your significant other.