So I've finally made time to get into ROF this summer and really excited to get into it. I've recently come back from a tour of the WWI battlefields and just cant wait to fly over them virtually.

Here's where I need a little help. I've always been fascinated by the Luftstreitkräfte and want to get the components that give me that experience in terms of aircraft.

So any inputs on what parts of the game I should buy?

Thanks!

Hello and welcome to RoF!

The Iron Cross Edition demo upgrade is a good place to start if you're going to be buying stuff for Rise of Flight. It gives you a nice selection of the most famous fighters to fly for a reasonable price. Beyond that, it depends greatly how you like to play RoF. If you like to play online, I recommend checking out this thread: http://riseofflight.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=26651&hilit=buying+guide which may help you narrow down your choices based on performance and relative viability in online flying. For single player flying, I recommend choosing a squadron to campaign with and seeing which aircraft you'll need to play it. Alternately, you can purchase them as you go in your campaigning. Most squadrons don't use more than 3 or 4 types over the course of the war (and as a German pilot the free Alb D.Va serves in every fighter squadron at some point) so the cost is minimal. Keep in mind that you can also get additional things such as field mods, weapon mods and personalization stuff. The link above is a little out of date (it doesn't have the DH-4 in it) but it is very helpful in determining which field mods are useful. Also, there are scripted campaigns available and if you are interested in trying out the upcoming channel map, you can pre-order that too.

Cheers,

Fafnir_6

You might be disappointed if you're interested in the Central Powers aircraft. Classic aircraft like the Albatros D.Va and Fokker D.VII are slow moving targets in Rise of Flight. I have no idea if/when that will ever change.

Is it that bad? I couldn't catch a RE8 my first mission lol, couldn't close no matter what.

Yes, it is that bad. I've mostly stopped flying the CP aircraft and stick with the French or British aircraft. The German stuff is just horribly slow and, as you point out, can't even catch the Allied two-seaters.

That's unfortunate - I'm getting massacred by Camels in the 1917 German campaign. I can't out dive, out climb, out turn them = me a smoking hole in the ground.

That and the campaign keeps sending my flight of two or three into 7-8 Camels... lol.

Surely that is real life playing out for real regarding the Camels?

Fighting 2 versus 7 or 8 of anything is usually bad news. But he can't extend away in the DVa, which was the saving grace of the Albatros against the highly maneuverable Camel during the war.

We forget that many engagements did not result in anyone getting shot down. Air combat can be like a chess game where the two opponents build up their position, see that they have no decisive advantage over the other player, and agree to a draw. That doesn't happen so often when one of the antagonists has an aircraft that is both faster and more maneuverable than his opponent's.

Playing offline, I have no problem catching RE8s. The Pfalz D.III is one of the handiest planes in the air. If the DVa is modeled on the poor side the Pfalz is certainly modeled on the plus side. IMHO nothing touches a D.VII. Again offline - no problems taking on Nieuport 17s or DH2s in a D.II. No comment yet on the D.III. So no, I really don't think that things are so bad for Germans offline.

Can't comment online as I rarely fly online and I am terrible. It's not fair for me to blame the plane.

The lack of early two seaters makes pre-1917 campaigns problematic for all sides. I start in January 1917. Not perfect as I am facing Breguets about 9 months early but not unacceptable either.