I would like to see ROF evolve faster, but NEOQB is responding affirmatively to our requests and as quickly as possible. It may take years to get everything we want, but is this not the case of all sims? Just like you, I love the planes. It would be nice if they could release an AI version of many of the planes, prior to a release of the playable version. This way we could populate the ROF world with more machines. I wonder if there are ways of creating a much more active environment, without putting considerable strain on our computers? For instance, I wish that the draw distance could be increased, but I read that our computers are the limiting factor; not that NEOQB could not increase the draw distance. I wonder if they could use a simple physics model for distant planes, to decrease the workload of our computers?

I am with Snuffy, and am thankful that we have a sim built on a brand new engine based on WW1 air combat at all. I wasn't expecting IL2, but was kind of hoping for Red Baron 21st century version. RoF falls short of that ideal, but still has enough to keep me a fan of the game. I don't play it non stop, but check in on the game now and then to see how things are progressing. As long as Neoqb doesn't give up on the game, I am willing to be patient and take what they trot out for us. It isn't like we have other options; not if you want a sim of this caliber and quality.

Hello,
i own the sim for 3 weeks now. Let's say if i'd have to do a very short review ...

Flight model as such is very good.
Lighting, reflections etc. as well as the appearance of the planes and cockpit are top notch. The skins are nice, but not historically correct.
The virtual "feel" of the planes is - well let's say unheard of before. I think it is not accurate for some planes. Side slip seems to be underdeveloped. The SPAD behaves sometimes strange, it does this or something completely else at the same speed and conditions. A developing spin out of a stall is almost impossible.
Damage model will have to be improved, there are too much wing-at-the-root breaks rather than losing half of a lower right or left wing, or only ailerons (there's another sim that does that better) - as well planes like the N11 flew on or were at least able to emergency-land with missing lower wing. Then some planes in RoF even fly with all their right or left wings missing - i take it the visuals do not relate to the "real" damage inflicted, and i think some of the damage is developing a bit too fast, after the initial hit. Planes are too easy to shoot down once you are behind them. They will almost instantly lose a wing, or catch fire.

Those are no show-stoppers, and can surely be fixed sooner or later.

What is missing is the scenery around the flying.
There was a lot to see in the previews, like infantry, artillery, moving tanks, convoys etc. etc. but i keep asking myself where they are in the sim i bought - err, leased. No front support visible on the support lines - maybe too much action would be killing framerates ?
The front lines look indeed strange - again this is much better modelled in another sim i know of. Those meandering edgy trench lines are much too regular, and the whole front seems - despite the flak bursts and artillery impacts - lifeless. I have not the impression there's a war going on. No troops, no one shoots at you with rifle/MG fire even at lowest altitude. Because of this any low-flying Schlachtflieger would be delighted, if there was something to shoot at, that is. You can land your bird on top of an enemy trench and no one will care.
Outside the gameplay the screens look like from a PS/3 playstation, and have no ambience, or feel of the time. The best you could say would be it looks like a modern museum, with ancient crafts. Which is not bad, it is just not the sequel of RedBaron i had hoped for.
Another good thing is it seems the RoF team will be dropping the online requirement with the next update/patch.
Another bad thing is i find it a bit audacious demanding money for every plane you want to fly, with the rest of the sim being so undeveloped.

I once again ask myself why they again tried to re-invent the wheel. But it is a new sim, and we should give them time - this sim is not bad at all, but is more of a flight sim than a combat experience yet.

Greetings
Catfish

more of a flight sim than a combat experience

Have you ever been in a SPAD and chased a Fokker around the circle with the white knuckles more than twenty times until you get on his tail and then he scissors you and dives away - and all this at fifty feet over a town and in and out of the avenues on recovering. We're going to need someone to change us

This is not Il-2. What are they feeding them on

Ming

I literally just got out of this very scenario about a half hour ago. It's like you were that FOKKER, Ming. You Bastid. You won too. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. How merciless of you.

Hello,
yes it is fun

And may i say i wrote this "review" with tongue-in-cheek, and certainly admit it is only my personal view. Fights can be fun, but after the usual 4 or 6 enemy planes have been shot down the game is over. You can fly back to the 'drome or elsewhere, but there's nothing going on anymore, in the air. I am speaking of campaign here, not russian roulette lol
Flying with this other sim, all enemy AI flights and incidents are happening all the time. You can run about a bunch of enemies long after your task has been fulfilled (or not), with empty magazines, shot-up engine limping home and already close to your aerodrome. The level of uncertainty is much higher, in that other sim - compared to RoF i am a nervous wreck, in OFF. I really hope that RoF will develop in that direction, until then RoF is a real relaxation lol.

And dogfighting (!) a Fokker with a SPAD XIII ? Who would have done and/or survived that in reality ? I mean this is quite well modelled in RoF - no chance in a ring-around a rosie.
The training mission is almost impossible to win, because the AI makes no mistake, and shoots you down from 300+ meters without ever failing. Boom and zoom is your only chance against 2 Fokkers.

The only SPAD that would have had the faintest chance to get on the tail of a Fokker D.VII, would have been the SPAD VII. But even those preferred to attack from above, and climbed back immediately. And there's no SPAD VII in RoF yet.

I still try to start and land the Nieuport, this is my real personal challenge in RoF ...

Greetings,
Catfish

I try to ignore the trenches,as once you are down low they do look daft.Usually in a dogfight there is nothing to concentrate on except the other plane,so its not a huge issue for me.
I also bought RoF about 3 weeks ago,and finally started playing it 2 weeks ago,after getting a better gfx card.I'm glad I waited for it to mature a bit.I have not started up il2 since.
If neoqb can sort out the respawn D/F servers soon I believe RoF will become a lot more popular online.It has huge potential.