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Zolos_FA@hotmail.com ICQ# 120673820
It is fun to play Fighters Anthology online, but it is more fun when you WIN! Many online pilots have several years experience Flying FA as well as other sims, and most will not fly with NEWBIES or ROOKIES who do not take the time to learn these basics. Being a rookie isn't bad, but staying ignorant of the basics is rude. This site is dedicated to helping new FA pilots, and to creating new competition for the veteran FA pilots.
The best matches are ones played against skilled opponents -- I hope you find something useful here. Good luck, and check your six'!
The website http://fly.to/Zolos includes a page with links to Fighters Anthology squadrons, fan sites, sites with tech tips, and variious other filght sim related web pages. This printer friendly page includes the following five sections:
I. Introduction
II. The Basics
III. Tips and Tricks
IV. Glossary
V. Select topics
II. The Basics
Get Patched
The Patch to upgrade FA is on the Janes/EA web site, and also on the auto run screen of recent FA CDs. Online Play is only possible after the upgrade is installed. Download and / or run the executable file to upgrade your game to version 1.02. After this is successfully done the FA game splash screen will indicate the current version.
Know the Rules
The Game Host announces the rules for each game. Common types of game are ABA, GUNS, IRS, COOP, 2v2, or any variation the host desires.
Graphics Set to Low
Your Frame Rate will be much higher as a result of your processor doing much less work. The real benefit is that you will be much less likely to experience or cause LAG in the game over a network connection.
Menu Cheats Off
Obvious, I hope. If you've forgotten to reset menu cheats from a practice session, just briefly state it then quickly turn them off.
Custom .lib Files
Be sure any custom .lib files are out of the FA directory, or that all players are using the same files. If you don't know what this is, don't worry about it.
Instant Messaging OFF
Turn off or disable ICQ, YM, AIM, and any other program which might interrupt the online game.
Chat in Flight
Use the TILDE key ( ~ ) usually above the TAB key to open a text chat line in flight or preflight. Now you know how to answer when someone asks you a question.
Pausing in Flight
Don't. If you need to change a setting say so, but repeatedly pausing is rude. The delay when someone pauses could be used to gain an unfair advantage. It also delays the game for your opponents.
Leaving the Game
ALT / F4 is the proper way to exit an online flight before the host closes the game. It's polite to complete the game first, or you may be labeled a "Quitter." Let someone know if you must leave a game. Any other method (ESC - EXIT, or ALT / TAB, or CTRL / Q) will crash the game for all players. They will know who did it, and they will be upset. Usually the Host ends the game with CTRL / Q keys. Sometimes a players dialup internet connection may be interrupted or disconnected by their ISP, so don't immediately assume the worst.
Cheating
Don't jump to conclusions about a player cheating until you have a LOT of online time under your belt. There are ways of cheating, and it does happen, but it is not too common. There ARE many pilots online who have several years experience with FA, and who can whoop almost anyone fairly. Cheating does not make a better player, or a better game--only practice and experience make a better player. Read the special section on LAG
Don't Talk Smack
Unless you can back it up with some SIERRA HOTEL flying! ;-)
Most Importantly
If there is something you don't understand... Ask....
III. Tips and Tricks
- BACKSPACE key turns off cockpit graphics. It's just eye candy, and makes it difficult to see what or who is shooting at you.
- Target View window is displayed when the SHFT / 4 keys are toggled on, and when a target is selected. This window shows how the target is maneuvering, it's speed, relative altitude, and its location relative to you using the o'clock descriptions. Devise and modify tactics by knowing what your target is doing.
- F8 key shows a full screen view of your target. Useful to occasionally see what your target is doing.
- R key is air radar, and SHFT / R keys are ground radar. Use of air radar alerts on everyones RWR screen, so only use it when necessary. SHFT / 9 keys must be on for the R keys to toggle radar on and off.
- Designate a visual target with the ENTER key; designate a sensor target with the T key. Try using the arrow keys in conjunction with the ENTER key to acquire targets without giving away your location by using radar.
- Best cornering speed is indicated by the "caret" or "notch" on the speed strip in the HUD. This is the speed which gives the best turning radius for a particular aircraft at a given altitude. Stay at this speed when turning, or your target WILL turn inside your radius.
- Reduce airspeed more quickly, when needed, with flaps (F key), Brakes (B key), Gear (G key), and a nose up attitude.
- Gain airspeed more quickly by "unloading" the G forces with a slight nose down attitude.
- Use "Gods G", when altitude permits, to trade altitude for speed and energy by making maneuvers below the horizon. This will give you more energy, while an opponent with nose above the horizon will expend more energy.
- Programmable joystick buttons should should be programmed for a trigger fired main gun, a button to fire selected missiles, a button to select weapon type, and a button to designate target. Additional buttons can be programmed to control Flaps and Brake, also Chaff and Flares. For more elaborate joysticks with more than 8 buttons, suggestions are 3x flares and 3x chaff, Ejecting, Waypoints, Autopilot, External view (F10), Target view (F8), etc.
- When it is appropriate to use air radar in a guns fight, and the gun is selected as the primary weapon, the gunsite on most planes is slaved to the radar. The "pipper" or "aimpoint indicator" indicates the corrected aimpoint and percentage of hit probability based on range to the target.
- When flying the F-22 set ESC / CONTROLS / HAT to Vectors Thrust. This allows additional control of this planes' vectored thrust nozzles for extremely high angle of attack maneuvering.
- D key shows the current percentage of damage to your own plane.
- O key opens weapon bay doors.
- When flying VTOL/VSTOL aircraft such as AV-8, YAK-141, or X-32, use the Z and X keys to control vectored thrust. Using these controls it is possible to hover or land the aircraft, as well as make extreme maneuvers.
- SHFT / M toggles the Map screen on/off. Useful in all types of missions when you need to know where you are in the world. Be careful to not fly into the ground while reading the map!
- J key is Jammers. Jammers are effective against both Radar and IR targeting, and will reduce chances of a missile hit by 30% tp 40%.
- Taunting. Teasing your opponent. This can be done in good spirit and with understood respect, or very cruelly. Some pilots use both ways as a tactic to distract an opponent at a key moment or throughout the game. Some will even do this in the lobby. Use your judgement, it'll show what kind of person you are.
- Extra Chaff / Flare pod. Load ALE-40 Chaff / Flare pod in place of additional fuel when the mission allows. This hardpoint rarely carries weapons, and most missions do not require the use of extra fuel.
- For FFA, Guns, or other flights with a short life expectancy, reduce amount of fuel carried to lowest amount necessary. The lighter aircraft will maneuver MUCH better. During a FFA it is common to die and revive before using 5% to 10% fuel. To unload fuel rapidly, click the appropriate part on the screen, and hold down the PAGE DOWN key.
- For IR missile engagements, the AA-11B Backfire has superior range and maneuverability. Most importantly, it can track and launch on a target which is behind the pilots field of view (behind you). Some aircraft hardpoints will accept either two of a lesser missile, or only one Backfire. In these cases, the next best choice of IR missile is the AIM-9X.
- For ABA, know the maps and targets. Obtain printouts of ABA maps to refer to when choosing a base. Also learn the layout of the bases you are attacking, and know the general heading to reach your opponents base.
- For Coops, enter the game with throttle down, and autopilot on. Many coops start on the ground or on a carrier deck, and you will need to look around before taking off. Autopilot will maneuver your plane in formation with the wingleader untill you get your bearings or recieve other instructions.
- For all types of game know the capabilities and characteristics of your plane AND your opponents plane. It's better to fly well in a mediocre plane than to be unfamiliar with or unable to control any other.
- Ejecting. The SHFT / E E keys will operate the ejection seat--this is a good sequence for programmable joysticks. When a player does not eject before the plane is destroyed, the opponent will be credited with TWO kills instead of just one. ABA games aren't usually scored by kills, so make the most of those planes before it is destroyed. All other games are usually scored by total kills.
IV. Glossary
2v2 Teams of two pilots dogfight.
6 o'clock Relative position is behind you. Based on orientation of the clock face, ie; 3 o'clock to the right, 9 o'clock to the left, 12 o'clock ahead.
ABA Air Base Assault. Destroy your opponents' base before they destroy yours. A game particular to multiplayer FA online.
ACM Air Combat Maneuvering. The way you fly the plane to get into position for a kill, and the way you get out of a bandits kill zone.
BANDIT Also "Bogey." Hostile enemy aircraft.
BC Battle Comm, a free voice communication program.
BFM Basic Flight Maneuvers. Characteristic flight and handling; Landing, taking off, joining up, navigation, departure from normal flight and recovery, and keeping your plane in the air and out of the dirt and water.
<C> Cheers.
CAP Combat Air Patrol is a sortie armed exclusively for the air to air fight. Also: MIGCAP for expected Mig's, BARCAP positioned between a threat area and an asset area, TARCAP over a strike area, SARCAP over a search and rescue mission.
CAS Close Air Support. Use of air to ground weapons in direct support of friendly ground operations and troops.
COOP Cooperative mission, all players are usually on the same side. Some missions have multiple revives, some do not.
ERA Only planes from a specified set of years, as set on the FA menu or as specified by the host, are allowed. Also includes classical fights which match up historic adversaries; F-104 vs Mig-17, F-14 vs Mig-29, etc.
FA Fighters Anthology. The reason we are here!
FFA Free For All. No sides. Other rules as made by host.
FW Firewall. A computers communication security device or software. Players using software firewalls, routers, or other proxy devices should make sure that FA is permitted to send and recieve data through several TCP ports, including 1791.
FPS Frames Per Second. A measure of how quickly a players computer refreshes flight data and displays images. Frame rate is a function of RAM, processor speed, and Qraphics cards. FA is limited to about 50 fps with the 1.02 patch. The higher your fps, the better your performance online! CTRL / F keys to display own fps.
<G> Grin.
GG Good Game. The customary way to "shake hands" at the end of a game.
GL Good Luck.
GK Good Kill. A polite acknowledgment of opponents skill, and that the kill was made during a fair fight.
GUNS Guns only dogfight. Other rules made by the host.
GV Game Voice, the voice comm software from Micro$soft.
HOST The person in the top slot in an Open Mission room of the lobby. Their computer acts as host to connect all players during the game. Host announces the game and sets rules, then when players are ready host will press the play button to launch FA
ICQ THE online instant messaging system. Also the best and most popular system, and used by most of the people who fly online.
IP GAME FA multiplayer uses the IP protocol to connect all computers to the host, and to each other. Sometimes players will pre-arrange a flight and connect directly to a designated host.
LAG Escessive latency between players' computers during a flight. Signs include frozen and jerky graphics, or "warping" speed changes.
LOL Laughing Out Loud. Internet slang.
LIB A .lib filetype, a data file in FA folder that describes plane and weapon characteristis during the game. Custom .lib files are created to enhance or modify FA for all players, but sometimes crafted in order to gain an unfair advantage for a single player or group (cheating.)
M/O Mission Objective. The target(s) in a game which must be destroyed.
M/A Mission Accomplished. All designated targets have been destroyed.
NP No Problem.
NEWBIE Also ROOKIE. Someone who is new to FA online. You may have years of experience offline, but flying online is an entirely different game.
PING/LATENCY A measure of the time it takes a signal to travel from your computer to another. In Hl, the lites to the right of the Open Mission slots will indicate the relative quality of your internet contact with that player. Players with an otherwise good connection who are using firewalls may appear red, as will players with an unusable connection. Your own lites will always appear yellow.
ROFLMAO Rolling On the Floor Laughing My Azz Off. Internet slang
RUNWAY RAPE Loitering near an opponents runway, waiting for them to revive in a new aircraft, then attacking before they are able to defend themself. Usually considered dishonorable unless special rules have been set.
RGR Roger. An acknowledgment. Also, RGRT, roger that.
ROOKIE Also NEWBIE. Also ROOK. Someone new to FA online
RW Roger Wilco, a free voice comm program.
<S> Salute.
SEAD Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses. Mission to destroy AAA and SAM sites.
SIM A PC flight simulator. Some people have been offended to hear FA called a game (even though it really is.) ;-)
SQUAD Online, an organized group of people who train and fly sims together as a squadron. Joining a Squad is usually the quickest way to recieve good training and experience.
STRIKE Mission to attack ground targets.
TY Thank You.
TOOLKIT Program by Duosoft to customize FA objects by creating .lib files.
V. Topics
1. Cheating Don't do it.
NO. I won't tell you how to cheat. Sometimes it is obvious when a player is cheating, but the 'best' cheats are more subtle. I don't respect cheaters in FA or anywhere else, because they are Losers no matter what the final game score.
With that said, don't jump to conclusions about a player cheating until you have a LOT of online time under your belt. There are ways of cheating, and it does happen, but it is not too common. There ARE many pilots online who have several years experience with FA, and who can whoop almost anyone fairly. Cheating does not make a better player, or a better game--only practice and experience make a better player.
Read the special section on LAG, because some really weird effects are explainable.
'Nuff said.
2. Game settings
Only some suggestions -- of course you will use what works best for you -- these are settings many people find to work well.
ESC key, then PREF tab - All graphics to LOW and OFF, all music OFF
ESC key, then PREF tab - Hud pitch ladder ON, cockpit OFF, Large windows OFF
ESC key, then WINDOW - Shift/2 ON, Shift/5 ON, Shift/9 ON.
When all game settings and preferences are as you intend to keep them, use Windows Explorer to right click on your ea.cfg file in the FA folder. Click on ea.cfg PROPERTIES, and set to READ ONLY. This will prevent your settings from being unintentionally changed, as FA often does, to match the settings of the Host during a multiplayer game. Now if the Host machine does change your settings for the duration of the game, your FA will still start its future games with your customized "read only" ea.cfg file.
3. Saving custom coops
So you really liked that mission you just flew online? Have you ever flow a really great coop mission, and want to know where to download it? It's already in your FA folder! The last multiplayer mission you fly online will be stored in the FA folder in 2 temp files untill they are over-written by a subsequent mission.
Find the "~mp.m" and "~mp.mt" files in the FA folder, and rename both of them to something
appropriate, like "--goodone.m" and "--goodone.mt". The .MT file (if the mission used one)
contains the mission briefing and debriefing text, while the .M file contains the specifics of the
mission, so be sure to keep the correct file extensions. If you have trouble finding those two
files, sort the FA folder to find the most recent files and they will be together near the top. The
name you give them doesn't matter, but do not use the "~" prefix, or FA will group the mission
with the Easter Egg files (a couple of dashes "--" seem to work well). The name you give them
doesn't matter much, as FA will identify the mission on the FA Pro Mission screen by the title
information contained in the .MT file. After you've renamed the two files, they can be found on
the "Fly Single Mission" screen.
Be sure to let the mission author know how much you enjoyed the mission, and, if you change
the mission, give credit to the original author(s) on the Mission Brief page.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Keep checking back.