As everybody knows, having thousands of virtual flighthours, makes it tough to simulate being a new pilot. You can't unlearn flying skills etc.
But there is one thing you can do. One difference between rookie pilots and veterans is spotting other aircraft, especially spotting them before they spot you. Knowing what to look at, searching for specks etc. AI does that already.

What I do as a player is to not use the distance dot label at all, until he survives ca. 50 flighthours. That makes it hard to spot other AC, easier to get jumped etc.
Once he survives that long, I'm using distance dots set to 4000 meters. That means the dot appears only if the other aircraft is 4000 meters away or closer. When surviving 100 hours, i increase it to 5000, after 150 flighthours to 6000 meters (6000 meters is for me the ingame standart. Farther than that does not make sense anyway.)
There is always the possibility to miss the dots anyway, but especially in the first crucial flighthours, it's cool to not use them at all, simulating not having enough experience

You may try it. It's fun.

Creaghorn, I had a similar idea but haven't tried it yet. I think it would be an accurate representation of the rookie experience.

I'm also using the close dots method. I start them at 1000m when I start a 'rookie' pilot. Also, for some real creativity, try flying with your off hand for the first 6 flights or so... If you're right handed, fly with your left and vice versa... That'll create some very interesting mistakes...

Rick

Speaking of what, how do you avoid the dots to overlap your plane parts?

I have the dots set on 5000m I think, but I can see them not only over the sky, but even over my canvas, engine and any other part of the plane.

Great idea Creaghorn.

The "dots" are literally a label, and if you have labels on you usually want to see them and track aircraft - labels are not realistic.

Oh I got it.

I had labels off, I think I should set dots off too then, or made them available at 1-2 km

I've often thought that it would be nice if the dots could be seen momentarily, like a flicker, a bit beyond the set maximum range to simulate the sun reflecting of a wing or cowling.

Oooooo! I LIKE that!

related to the weather maybe and the sun position? Would be great.

... or (shameless plug) you could try flying RiR.... still room for a few more to join!


http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4288871/%22RiR_Challenge_-_Part_One#Post4288871

...actually, shameless plugs aside, I do think this is a very cool idea Creaghorn.

H

Very cool indeed. Though I use Dots I didn't see them as a cheat and thought they were for compensating for monitor and 2d limitations? Anyway...

I love tips that involve game settings to simulate "real life." Least as I see it.

One thing I started doing in my Campaigns is using "Normal" (or is it Realistic?) claims when flying British and "Easier" when flying German - to take into account the bulk of combat being over their turf and to simulate the, fairly involved, apparatus that they had for confirming claims. My dear Brits were much more laid back about the whole thing!

Any other game settings tips anyone wants to pass that make things realistic in their minds?

The dots idea is great.

I am currently playing with Normal Claims. It has led to confirmation on kills far on enemy side of lines while planes that crash next to one of your own aerodromes being rejected. This models the frustration of pilots having to deal with a confirmation procedure that they did not understand, changed once they started to understand it and made little sense.

I am thinking of scaling back to easier claims and just not putting a claim in on those that shouldn't make any sense. Developing my own requirements of what can be claimed.... crash on our side, balloons, flamers on enemy side of lines if I can see the trenches.

Good idea, Creaghorn. May I use it in my Mission editor as option? User can enable this mod and Mission editor will dynamicaly adjust dots appearance relative to player's pilot skill (flight hours) before every flight.