Toying with the idea of jumping back in. Advice appreciated on what modules are needed for the best single player WWII experience (I only have P-51 at the moment).

Are there some good single player campaigns?

How is the dogfight AI?

Thx!

Heiny

I would steer clear of DCS and look at Il-2 Battle of "X" instead.

In DCS:
1. The AI doesn't have the same FM as the player, and can do stuff which make you feel your fighting against a possessed UFO. It doesn't feel the AI is playing the same game as you are.
2. The damage modelling is extremely rudementary: The aircraft got hitboxes with health points and your job is to fire enough rounds into the hitbox until the health is depleted.
3. Both the Normandy 1944 and WWII asset pack are rife with inaccuracies and bugs, and have been abandoned by the devs mid-way through.

2 weeks ago I tried out the K4, and I would steer clear of that aircraft as well since the "systems modelling" doesn't work like in the real aircraft/is bugged (pumps and gauges bugged and stuff like that), and the DCS FM engine freaks out when you put the aircraft in a storm or outside the envelope.
There also isn't any real campaign for WW2 aircraft, meaning the only options you have are stunt flying, target practice or multiplayer air quake.

In Il-2:
Il-2 seems to have a major problem with the P-51 flight model and ground behavior of aircraft, but beats DCS in all other aspects.



You can currently try out all DCS WWII for free though, which I definitely recommend to create your own opinion about DCS

Get IL-2 instead, your money and time will be better spent. WWII in DCS will never be a thing.

DCS P-51D is outstanding and far better than the IL2GB one but I have stopped using DCS and only fly Dover and GB for WW2.
I have to agree fully with previous posters.

Technically, there are a few payware, scripted campaigns available (for Spit, Mustang and Kurfy), and they're considered excellent given the platform limitations at least (plus, they offer free sample missions to try), but with aforementioned rudimentary DM and AI FM, I cannot recommend DCS for WWII action in its current state (even though I prefer their warbirds flight models compared to Il-2 ones). There are cool things coming in near future - Thunderbolt, revised damage model, Channel map, but until that happens, the best thing to do will be taking advantage of the aforementioned free month period trying out the planes and Normandy map for yourself.

Thx for the steer ... I already have various BoX modules tho haven't touched them for a while, and have given up waiting for CoD 5.0 ... oh well. Just need something new to spark my interest again I guess.

I think IL2BOx has a 50% sale on now.

edit: 50 to 75% just checked 19 :09 mdt

Just bought IL2 plus Bodenplatte. Enjoying them. I did have the Spitfire @ DCS, but Il2 just seems more fun.

Hello Heinkill

IL2 great battles recently received a big update, the game is a lot of fun to fly.

Yes Bodenplatte has some great aircraft

Everything already said. ^^^

DCS WWII feels to me like the best FS9 payware was ported into P3D and given TacPac weapons, and then the AI code from Jane's WWII Fighters was spliced in to make it a combat sim. I enjoy puttering around in DCS World but I agree IL-2 Great Battles is far better overall for WWII combat.

I think there is some fun to be had in DCS WW2. Right now i'm busy with the modern stuff, but I enjoyed doing limited air to ground on the normandy map (sense of speed building up while diving on the targets in my mustang was, for some reason, the best I experienced in any flight sim so far).

Well written mission briefings (hint hint) could do marvels to help people enjoy a scripted campaign.

Necessary modules are ww2 assets, normandy map, and one or all of the plausible aircraft for this map, namely P-51, spit IX and/or FW190A8. I'd stay clear of any pre buy of further devlopments (P-47, channel map) unless satisfied with the experience.

I have really been enjoying learning the various warbirds in DCS. Over the last few months I have gotten basic familiarization with the Spitfire, 109, and Thunderbolt. Been working hardest to master the Mustang, though, and it is certainly a challenge. I'll go against the grain and say that, for me, there is more fun to be had in DCS. A big part of that, however, is the group of guys I fly with online. For single player, I have really been enjoying Reflected's campaigns and would highly recommend them. The Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney is the one I am working through now in the Mustang, but I have also played his Hunters Over the Yalu campaign for the Sabre and it was great fun as well.