After buying it a year ago, I finally installed this sim. I'm new to the LOCK ON world, spent majority of time playing IL-2 1946 & Strike Fighters 1 Series---external HD died a month ago so I lost ALL my SF1 Series sims, including ALL add-ons & extras Running XP so can't play SF2 Series---anyway, LOCK ON looks a little intimidating, can anyone fill me in on how this flight sim is and what I'm getting myself into. Looking for a modern fight sim but something WITHOUT a steep learning curve and flipping EVERY button.

Thanks
BE

P.S. I'm using Thrustmaster HOTAS Couger & Elite Rudder Pedals

Don't worry about complexity, LOCK ON isn't much deeper in avionics than Strike Fighters (with exception to newer weapons systems that aren't modelled in SF and the A-A RADAR submodes). No aircraft in LOCK ON have a clickable cockpit, so you'll have to use the keyboard for the majority of actions.

With a HOTAS you'll want to map the "aim reticle slew" (or something like that) to a POV HAT. The weapon usage is simplified, like, you wont have to "spin up" the gyro to launch a maverick, just aim with the POV, click the "lock" button, and then fire. With 20min in youtube you can learn how to use everyweapin ingame, from parachute drag-bombs to the 9K121 Vikhr of the SU-25T and mavericks of A-10C.

Besides weapon usage the aircraft is simpler to fly than IL-2, where you have to constantly use your HOTAS axis to adjust engine parameters, prop pitch, mixture, water and oil radiator...

It's a nice sim, i have it too, but i'm currently playing the SU-25T in DCS World and waiting for the MIG-21. The A-10C look awesome, but i prefer A-A combat.

Hope this helps :-)

Thanks SacaSoh, I'll give it a try.

Fly the A10 and start shooting things up with the cannon. Move the the "smart" weapons gradually.
Use it to take off and land. Lomac is a great sim and you can work up to the more advanced aircraft and weapons.

Are you more of a mud mover, or an Air to Air type? Flankertraining is a great resource as well, even though it's based on LOFC 1.2. Most of the tactics, etc still apply to FC2.

http://flankertraining.com/ironhand/news.html