The OFF DiD Standard.
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  1. #1
    Siggi
    Guest

    Lightbulb The OFF DiD Standard.

    This is intended for the added enjoyment of those vPilots who choose to make the OFF experience as realistic as it can be. "Realistic experience", in this case, will be my interpretation of it, as I apply that to the standard I created many years ago for RB2-3D, a number of other sims subsequently and a one-year+ online war...DiD (Dead is Dead).

    Some of the settings are open to debate. Mostly ones I've had in my own mind. Others may have differing opinions on them, and I'm open to consideration of those, but they will most likely make no way. This is not an expression of contempt, just that experience has shown that 'Rule by Commitee' doesn't work for DiD.

    DiD is also not intended to express contempt for those who play the sim by a 'lesser' standard. People play the game in whatever way they like, for whatever reasons they like. And their reasons are entirely valid for their own private purposes. But (BUT), if one wishes to express one's prowess in the public arena (for fun, ego, bragging-rights, light-hearted competitiveness etc) one should rightly be held to a common standard, otherwise the expression has no substantive meaning or value. DiD is intended to provide that standard, to put all those of a like mind on a level playing field as it were.

    So...OFF DiD:

    Workshop:

    Auto Mixture: Users' choice. Not all a/c of this period had a manual control, it doesn't significantly affect the player's ability to kill and with that in mind not all players can or need to be arsed with it. If you choose to enable it you are DiD+, but it's a very tiny weeny little plus.

    Auto Rudder: Users' choice. It should be OFF, but maybe you have no pedals and your stick doesn't twist. In fact, with it ON you suffer a disadvantage in combat.

    Invincible: OFF.
    Unlim Weapons: OFF.
    Unlim Fuel: OFF.
    Sun Glare: ON.
    G-Effects: ON.
    A/C Stress: ON.
    Force-feedback: Users' choice.
    Flight Model: Realistic.
    Weapon Effectiveness: Realistic.
    Claims: Normal.
    Ground Fire: Normal.
    Death: Normal (Die Roll).
    Main Guns: Normal.

    Rear Guns: Wide. The choice here is between ALL gunners having, potentially, preternatural abilities vs ALL gunners having generally average abilities. I've been very nicely plastered under wide, by one to three 2-seater gunners I tried to approach, so it does NOT make 2-seaters a turkey-shoot.

    Wind effects: ON.
    Weather Mode: Historical.
    Weather Dynamics: Dynamic.
    Campaign Mission Frequency: Historical.
    A/C Spawn Control: OFF Campaign.

    Parameter Editor Panel in CFS3 Config (via button in Workshop).

    All settings in there are at users' choice EXCEPT:

    Targetting Cone: Disabled.
    HUD: Disabled.
    Simulation Warnings: Disabled.
    Time Compression: Disabled.
    Advisor Messages: Disabled.
    Chat: Disabled.

    In-Game Functions:

    TAC: Allowed. Rule: It must be switched OFF as soon as a/c spotted on it turn to red, irrespective of whether or not you have visually acquired them. It must not be turned on again until you are 100% sure combat has ceased and you are unlikely to be re-engaged by those same enemy a/c.

    Labels: Not allowed.

    MAP: Allowed. The game map, real maps and the landscape over which you fly are not sufficiently corrobative of one another to make real navigation more than an unrealistically difficult and hazardous chore.

    Auto-Pilot: Allowed. It's a straight & level device, use of it will put you at a disadvantage in fact.

    Visual Zoom: Allowed, it's binoculars.

    Trim: Allowed. Rule. Only at the very beginning of a flight (on the runway) and not to be touched thereafter. It's use simulates a pilot and his fitters setting up his a/c on the ground to his liking. Fly your a/c in QC, find out how many clicks of each put your plane as you like it, then apply those same clicks to your a/c on the runway in campaign before each flight.

    Real Time: All campaign missions must be flown in real time. To do otherwise gives a pilot an unrealistic advantage in terms of fatigue and attentiveness thereof. It also de-values the stock you invest in your character, which itself tends to lead to unrealistic behaviour in combat, which can skew combat-results.

    That's it. If I've missed anything please advise.

    Oh yes...resurrecting your campaign character: Allowed, but only under the most STRINGENT of circumstances. If your character dies as a result of something OUTSIDE of the game's natural environment (major FPS lock-up/stutter/freeze, kids jumping into your lap, wife/GF clapping you upside of the head, you get the picture...) feel free to make things right. You'll know if you've done a dirty and your achievements will be tainted in your own mind as a result, so don't go there.

    That's the DiD standard, open to modification for a very limited time subject to persuasive proposals. But please don't hold your breath (for anyone who gives a hoot). If you wish to be regarded by it you are on your honour to observe it faithfully and may indicate your desire to such end by the inclusion of the acronym "DiD" anywhere you bally well please.

    I'll finish with the usual elitist bit..."DiD, sorts the men from the boys, the wheat from the chaff, the real vAces from the arcade wannabes!"


  2. #2
    hispeed
    Guest

    DiD Standard

    Thanks for posting and well done there.

    I think I'm mostly in compliance, gotta check the CFS3 settings, as I'm new to both OFF and CFS3.

    Plus, some good info there, as I was trying to get a handle on the trim issue when taking off, b/c my plane always veers to the left during the take off roll, very annoying.

    The only thing I would comment on are the ones where you allow latitude to turn settings off and on again according to the stated criteria...when developing something for public consumption, I'd recommend giviing it your best judgement, on or off and clearly state it, otherwise, there will ultimately be heated rhetoric about you did such and such, no i didn't ,yeah you did, etc... :argue:

    I found all of it to be roughly in accord with clan standards I've adhered to in diff places, except like I said, just go with on or off, no in-betweeners. :woot:

  3. #3
    Winder
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Siggi View Post
    Oh yes...resurrecting your campaign character: Allowed, but only under the most STRINGENT of circumstances. If your character dies as a result of something OUTSIDE of the game's natural environment (major FPS lock-up/stutter/freeze, kids jumping into your lap, wife/GF clapping you upside of the head, you get the picture...) feel free to make things right. You'll know if you've done a dirty and your achievements will be tainted in your own mind as a result, so don't go there.

    I can encrypt the dossier and associated log and claim files and then this will no longer be able to be done - say it and it will be so.....

    TBH P3 almost had encrypted dossier files.......


    WM

  4. #4
    Siggi
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Winder View Post
    I can encrypt the dossier and associated log and claim files and then this will no longer be able to be done - say it and it will be so.....

    TBH P3 almost had encrypted dossier files.......


    WM
    I would say a very big no to that. For the reasons outlined above I think a player should have the option to resurrect his pilot under certain circumstances IF he is playing in such a way (real time mainly) that he accrues a significant stock in his character and the loss of it was entirely beyond his control and in no way realistic within the mission environment.

    To those who don't care it's not an issue, either way. To those who do, it is. And if they do care that much they will be regulated by their own conscience. I well remember blatantly cheating my own DiD rule in the early days of RB2-3D and it so tainted my character in my own mind that I got no further pleasure from him. Cue flying him vertically into the ground. And that was in private. The thought of obtaining some public measure of regard in similar circumstances seems equally unlikely to me, though there are always grey areas in which an individual will feel justified. Once. Possibly twice. Until it becomes too much for him, unless he is a certified sociopath.

    Hispeed, please mention a specific item, I'll clarify.

  5. #5
    Giant2111
    Guest
    Got to check the guns,.....after that I will be DiD! I use the TAC as an exchange for the map. Known to have problems with the ingame map. I think DiD should rely to guns and flightmodel, cause this is the real skill needed in this sim. Visual aids should be allowed. As far as I know, pilots of that era used binoculears in the pit, to spot the enemy.

    Regards

  6. #6
    Siggi
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Giant2111 View Post
    Got to check the guns,.....after that I will be DiD! I use the TAC as an exchange for the map. Known to have problems with the ingame map. I think DiD should rely to guns and flightmodel, cause this is the real skill needed in this sim. Visual aids should be allowed. As far as I know, pilots of that era used binoculears in the pit, to spot the enemy.

    Regards
    Thanks Giant, I forgot about the zoom. Added as allowed, constitutes binoculars.

  7. #7
    ZoomZoom
    Guest
    Great outline Siggi. I fly at these settings already, save two. I do use warping and TAC.

    I would argue for allowed use of warping, but I do see a valid point in injecting the realism of fatigue into the mix with denying it. Is this your rationale?

    And secondly, I feel the TAC (if by TAC you are refering to the radar with little dots on it for planes in area) makes up for not having Trakir-Ir, which I think may be an unfair advantage over those without it.


    Other than these...no sweat!

    Often the TAC is more trouble than its worth, as there are usually a bunch of airplanes not in my fight (often off in the distance), that I have to cycle through with the "select next target" button first in order to get to the ones near me!! its cost me a few times!!

    Just some suggestions, your DiD is good! Quite challenging.

    ZZ.

    PS. I didn't even know you COULD ressurrect dead pilots. Youuuu sneeeeaks!!

  8. #8
    Winder
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by ZoomZoom View Post
    Great outline Siggi. I fly at these settings already, save two. I do use warping and TAC.

    I would argue for allowed use of warping, but I do see a valid point in injecting the realism of fatigue into the mix with denying it. Is this your rationale?

    And secondly, I feel the TAC (if by TAC you are refering to the radar with little dots on it for planes in area) makes up for not having Trakir-Ir, which I think may be an unfair advantage over those without it.


    Other than these...no sweat!

    Often the TAC is more trouble than its worth, as there are usually a bunch of airplanes not in my fight (often off in the distance), that I have to cycle through with the "select next target" button first in order to get to the ones near me!! its cost me a few times!!

    Just some suggestions, your DiD is good! Quite challenging.

    ZZ.

    PS. I didn't even know you COULD ressurrect dead pilots. Youuuu sneeeeaks!!
    Well fortunately he did not say how - but trust me its not so much 'how to' but for 'how long'......muwahahahahaha

    Hell I might even allow a 'resurrection' internally in OFF if I encrypt but then it will be known and stated in logs and how many times the pilot was resurrected....




    WM

  9. #9
    Siggi
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by ZoomZoom View Post
    Great outline Siggi. I fly at these settings already, save two. I do use warping and TAC.

    I would argue for allowed use of warping, but I do see a valid point in injecting the realism of fatigue into the mix with denying it. Is this your rationale?

    And secondly, I feel the TAC (if by TAC you are refering to the radar with little dots on it for planes in area) makes up for not having Trakir-Ir, which I think may be an unfair advantage over those without it.


    Other than these...no sweat!

    Often the TAC is more trouble than its worth, as there are usually a bunch of airplanes not in my fight (often off in the distance), that I have to cycle through with the "select next target" button first in order to get to the ones near me!! its cost me a few times!!

    Just some suggestions, your DiD is good! Quite challenging.

    ZZ.

    PS. I didn't even know you COULD ressurrect dead pilots. Youuuu sneeeeaks!!
    The warping issue isn't just one of fatigue, it also has a direct effect on how you regard/value your character and how you fight him. Both can corrupt your character's achievements in relationship to how others do with theirs.

    It also corrupts one's own enjoyment of the sim. I'll offer a simple analogy: Imagine a box of fine chocolates. You scoff them in one sitting. By the fifth or sixth or whatever chocolate you're starting to feel a little sick. By the end of the box you feel quite ill and never really want to see another box. Now imagine eating one or two chocolates a day. You enjoy each to the fullest, and by the end of the box you're looking forward to the next. Delayed gratification.

    The chocolates are the combats and the kills, and ultimately the campaign characters. By warping to each one you are scoffing the chocolates.

    And when he achieves something it's of little value. And when he dies it's of little concern. The whole experience is cheapened by over-familiarity. And we all know what familiarity breeds.

    The TAC is of zero worth in actual combat. The red dot behind you, it could be high, low, chasing another target. Labels, on the other hand, give a huge advantage, for obvious reasons. But both serve to give that initial visual warning that would be present to a real-life pilot following sound observational procedures, something that is lacking on even a very hi-rez PC monitor. Thus they are both allowed under the rules outlined above for their use. A person can cheat of course, but it's on his own conscience and he will know, in his own mind, that his achievement is tainted.

  10. #10
    Siggi
    Guest
    In actual fact, upon reflection, I can see no reason to allow both TAC and labels. They both perform the same function, but one is far more advantageous than the other (labels) and one is far more realistic (TAC).

    I'll amend the rules accordingly.

  11. #11
    Winder
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Siggi View Post
    I would say a very big no to that. For the reasons outlined above I think a player should have the option to resurrect his pilot under certain circumstances IF he is playing in such a way (real time mainly) that he accrues a significant stock in his character and the loss of it was entirely beyond his control and in no way realistic within the mission environment.

    To those who don't care it's not an issue, either way. To those who do, it is. And if they do care that much they will be regulated by their own conscience. I well remember blatantly cheating my own DiD rule in the early days of RB2-3D and it so tainted my character in my own mind that I got no further pleasure from him. Cue flying him vertically into the ground. And that was in private. The thought of obtaining some public measure of regard in similar circumstances seems equally unlikely to me, though there are always grey areas in which an individual will feel justified. Once. Possibly twice. Until it becomes too much for him, unless he is a certified sociopath.

    Hispeed, please mention a specific item, I'll clarify.
    Then alas this whole DiD thing is pointless and it is much as what I felt when I was contemplating encryption during P3 - you see you or I have no control over that 'ressurrect function' and so anyone can rack up impressive scores and hours on..... 120R....

    I will still contemplate this carefully as I am convinced that encryption is the only way to make the 17 hour 'ladder' and 'kills' of a player's virtual pilot meaningfull and we have some ideas about this 'ladder' in the future....

    No I cannot be swayed.....





    WM

  12. #12
    Siggi
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Winder View Post
    Then alas this whole DiD thing is pointless and it is much as what I felt when I was contemplating encryption during P3 - you see you or I have no control over that 'ressurrect function' and so anyone can rack up impressive scores and hours on..... 120R....

    I will still contemplate this carefully as I am convinced that encryption is the only way to make the 17 hour 'ladder' and 'kills' of a player's virtual pilot meaningfull and we have some ideas about this 'ladder' in the future....

    No I cannot be swayed.....





    WM
    Then encrypt it. Let death by an uncontrollable PC event be the random structural failure of a plane's airframe, or a sudden fire, as happened in reality.

    There, encompassed. :ernae:

  13. #13
    Giant2111
    Guest
    i would vote for "encrypt it" cause it refers most to DiD.

  14. #14
    Winder
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Giant2111 View Post
    i would vote for "encrypt it" cause it refers most to DiD.
    Yes and we will post more on the OFF global 'ladder system' that I want to put in place once we are sorted Updates wise.


    WM

  15. #15
    Interlocutor
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Siggi View Post
    Main Guns: Normal
    Today in a QC I switched my main guns setting in Workshop from "Normal" to "Tight", and much to my surprise my "Realism Score" went up by 10%, from 90% to 100%.

    Is that the way it's supposed to be?

  16. #16
    Dantes
    Guest
    Winder, I really like the idea of the ladder system with players providing files to see how they fare against others. Encrypting the files would keep the comparisons honest and personally rewarding.

    I look forward to seeing the development of this idea.

    S!

  17. #17
    gimpyguy
    Guest
    I would never aspire to such a list, and if you wish to continue with it, by all means be my guest. But since roughly 35% of the folks around these parts adjust their own mixtures, I honestly see that those who don't, should be DiD-. As the real life pilots had to, in order to stay alive in a scrap. If diving too far in the heat of battle, you should forget to richen your mixture accordingly, you WILL stall, next stop - Dirt Nap. That's the reason for the Full Rich command, Ctrl+Shft+F7 best remapped to a single keystroke. No time to be messing with 3 Keys, when your virtual life is on the line.

    I know of a few Hard Core Simers, who Never use the TAC or the Labels, they navigate with paper maps, and the cockpit compass.
    There are also pilots that Must WARP, or get a divorce

    That's DiD-,DiD, DiD+-, and DiD-+

    Not to Forget my catagory DiD:bs:

  18. #18
    Maeran
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Interlocutor View Post
    Today in a QC I switched my main guns setting in Workshop from "Normal" to "Tight", and much to my surprise my "Realism Score" went up by 10%, from 90% to 100%.

    Is that the way it's supposed to be?

    That might need further discussion. I've been using 'loose' for rotaries and 'normal' for inline engines, as per the old tips and tricks thread. Wouldn't like to be penalised for flying a rotary.

    I also know when a pilot has been warping .... ahem.....
    My FE2b pilots have often spent a lot of time using the cigarettes as a slip indicator. Their proximity to the postcard of the dancing girl is a complete coincidence, I'll have you know.

  19. #19
    Rooster89
    Guest
    Siggi: Thumbs up on the DiD outlines. Thats exactly how I fly. Au Naturale! I also second Dantes thoughts on the whole ladder thing. This will be fun! As always WM will keep us posted and I cant wait to see how this develops.

    -Rooster

  20. #20

    Nice!

    This is very cool..........great plan!!!

  21. #21
    Siggi
    Guest
    Modified to take account of new realism settings, death in Workshop must now be HARD (dead is dead).

    The OFF DiD Standard.
    This is intended for the added enjoyment of those vPilots who choose to make the OFF experience as realistic as it can be. "Realistic experience", in this case, will be my interpretation of it, as I apply that to the standard I created many years ago for RB2-3D, a number of other sims subsequently and a one-year+ online war...DiD (Dead is Dead).

    Some of the settings are open to debate. Mostly ones I've had in my own mind. Others may have differing opinions on them, and I'm open to consideration of those, but they will most likely make no way. This is not an expression of contempt, just that experience has shown that 'Rule by Commitee' doesn't work for DiD.

    DiD is also not intended to express contempt for those who play the sim by a 'lesser' standard. People play the game in whatever way they like, for whatever reasons they like. And their reasons are entirely valid for their own private purposes. But (BUT), if one wishes to express one's prowess in the public arena (for fun, ego, bragging-rights, light-hearted competitiveness etc) one should rightly be held to a common standard, otherwise the expression has no substantive meaning or value. DiD is intended to provide that standard, to put all those of a like mind on a level playing field as it were.

    So...OFF DiD:

    Workshop:

    Auto Mixture: Users' choice. Not all a/c of this period had a manual control, it doesn't significantly affect the player's ability to kill and with that in mind not all players can or need to be arsed with it. If you choose to enable it you are DiD+, but it's a very tiny weeny little plus.

    Auto Rudder: Users' choice. It should be OFF, but maybe you have no pedals and your stick doesn't twist. In fact, with it ON you suffer a disadvantage in combat.

    Invincible: OFF.
    Unlim Weapons: OFF.
    Unlim Fuel: OFF.
    Sun Glare: ON.
    G-Effects: ON.
    A/C Stress: ON.
    Force-feedback: Users' choice.
    Flight Model: Realistic.
    Weapon Effectiveness: Realistic.
    Claims: Normal.
    Ground Fire: Normal.
    Death: Hard (Dead is Dead).
    Main Guns: Normal.

    Rear Guns: Wide. The choice here is between ALL gunners having, potentially, preternatural abilities vs ALL gunners having generally average abilities. I've been very nicely plastered under wide, by one to three 2-seater gunners I tried to approach, so it does NOT make 2-seaters a turkey-shoot.

    Wind effects: ON.
    Weather Mode: Historical.
    Weather Dynamics: Dynamic.
    Campaign Mission Frequency: Historical.
    A/C Spawn Control: OFF Campaign.

    Parameter Editor Panel in CFS3 Config (via button in Workshop).

    All settings in there are at users' choice EXCEPT:

    Targetting Cone: Disabled.
    HUD: Disabled.
    Simulation Warnings: Disabled.
    Time Compression: Disabled.
    Advisor Messages: Disabled.
    Chat: Disabled.

    In-Game Functions:

    TAC: Allowed. Rule: It must be switched OFF as soon as a/c spotted on it turn to red, irrespective of whether or not you have visually acquired them. It must not be turned on again until you are 100% sure combat has ceased and you are unlikely to be re-engaged by those same enemy a/c.

    Labels: Not allowed.

    MAP: Allowed. The game map, real maps and the landscape over which you fly are not sufficiently corrobative of one another to make real navigation more than an unrealistically difficult and hazardous chore.

    Auto-Pilot: Allowed. It's a straight & level device, use of it will put you at a disadvantage in fact.

    Visual Zoom: Allowed, it's binoculars.

    Trim: Allowed. Rule. Only at the very beginning of a flight (on the runway) and not to be touched thereafter. It's use simulates a pilot and his fitters setting up his a/c on the ground to his liking. Fly your a/c in QC, find out how many clicks of each put your plane as you like it, then apply those same clicks to your a/c on the runway in campaign before each flight.

    Real Time: All campaign missions must be flown in real time. To do otherwise gives a pilot an unrealistic advantage in terms of fatigue and attentiveness thereof. It also de-values the stock you invest in your character, which itself tends to lead to unrealistic behaviour in combat, which can skew combat-results.

    External Views: Not allowed, except to take screenies while paused. All flying and fighting must take place while in the cockpit with cockpit visible.

    That's it. If I've missed anything please advise.

    Oh yes...resurrecting your campaign character: Allowed, but only under the most STRINGENT of circumstances. If your character dies as a result of something OUTSIDE of the game's natural environment (major FPS lock-up/stutter/freeze, kids jumping into your lap, wife/GF clapping you upside of the head, you get the picture...) feel free to make things right. You'll know if you've done a dirty and your achievements will be tainted in your own mind as a result, so don't go there.

    That's the DiD standard, open to modification for a very limited time subject to persuasive proposals. But please don't hold your breath (for anyone who gives a hoot). If you wish to be regarded by it you are on your honour to observe it faithfully and may indicate your desire to such end by the inclusion of the acronym "DiD" anywhere you bally well please.

    I'll finish with the usual elitist bit..."DiD, sorts the men from the boys, the wheat from the chaff, the real vAces from the arcade wannabes!"

  22. #22
    Red-dog
    Guest
    Great idea , how about doing a patch which would be able to set the settings so every one,s playing with the same ball?

  23. #23
    Siggi
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Red-dog View Post
    Great idea , how about doing a patch which would be able to set the settings so every one,s playing with the same ball?
    If people adhere to DiD they will be (playing by the same rules). As none of it's verifiable it's down to trust anyway.

  24. #24
    Winder
    Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Red-dog View Post
    Great idea , how about doing a patch which would be able to set the settings so every one,s playing with the same ball?
    I am looking at this for 1.3 together with encryption so that we can start the Global Ladder - more later.

    WM

  25. #25
    Siggi
    Guest
    Auto Mixture: Some of these a/c didn't have a manual mixture control. I certainly don't know which did and which didn't. How about those which don't, are they allowed to perform unrealistically in-game vs those a/c which do? Auto-mixture removes that confusion and possible unfairness.

    Labels: Labels on gives a player a hugely unfair edge over one who has them off. With them off a player will often lose sight of a plane he's chasing behind his wing and maybe break off because he thinks he's been given the slip. Etc. A player with them on will lose sight of the plane but still be able to see the text.

    Warp: This really is a biggie. It comes down to how much work a player puts in, long-term, to his character. How much stock he has in him, how he fights him and how quickly in real-time he can accrue kills. It's a huge difference in quality. Somebody who's flown and survived 17 hours in real time is certainly entitled to feel significantly more pride in that accomplishment than somebody who's done it in four or five hours of real time, irrespective of the warper's legitimate reasons for using warp (which are many and perfectly understandable). When I was playing RB2-3D many years ago I was in and out working from early morning to late at night and I was lucky if I had time for one mission per day (which was what I tried for but often failed). But I still did them in real time. Best thing I can suggest is have two campaign pilots, one for DiD for when you have the time and one for warping (non DiD) for when you don't but need a fix ("shootin' up with OFF here darlin'!" ).

    Every sport has rules, and those who want to play that sport have to conform to them if they want to play. They can't have them changed to suit their particular circumstances, as much as the organizers might sympathise with their plight. Darts players have to stand a certain distance from the board, even those with short arms. They have to attend at the time the match is set to play, they can't ask to be later or earlier because of other commitments. And they have to use darts of a given design and weight, because the people who made the rules decided upon a standard that made sense and best rewarded the skills involved. And etc etc etc.

    Those who can't conform to those rules, for whatever legitimate reason, play down the pub with their mates. And have just as much fun, just they don't win any money or have any standing in a formal/official league.

    So what's DiD for? It's a bit of extra fun, it's for those who have the time and/or inclination to be held to a formal standard and give a hoot about that. Sure, there are plenty of people who want to do it but can't, because of their particular circumstances. Just as there are people who would love to play league darts, but can't.

    The reality is this is 'just a game', and there are plenty of people who would mock the very idea of any kind of 'standard'. Forgetting, of course, that standards are applied to just about any endeavour, leisure or work, by individuals or groups, for serious reasons or just for fun. And there are hundreds of simmers who have enjoyed the heck out of DiD in the past. So it's here now, to be enjoyed or declined, by those who can or can't, for whatever reasons. Just as will be the case when Winder deploys his file-submission system. You'll either be up for that or you won't, by choice or by circumstance.

    As for DiD+, DiD++, DiD-, DiD--, etc etc etc, tried that, it didn't work. We actually had flame-wars over it. So there's one standard. Yes, some players can exceed it a little in certain sims, if they so wish. Some players are disadvantaged by lack of certain hardware, and vice-versa.

    The bottom line...there's the standard. If you can meet it and do well under it you have formal bragging rights. You can not meet it and still brag. Who cares? Only those who care. It's for fun. Or for those who take their vFlying/combat a little bit more seriously, in whatever way and for whatever reason.

    It's entirely your choice. If you want to sign up to it, and want people to know you hold yourself to it's standard, display the acronym somewhere. Or don't, your choice, your game, your fun. Or display it with your own personal caveats ("I play DiD but with warp allowed" for example). People will make of that what they will, a kind of self-imposed DiD sub-ranking I guess.

    Just remember, the harder you make it (within the bounds of fairness and realism) and the more effort you put in, if the role-playing aspect is your bag, the more you will enjoy the sim long-term. Personally I've become badly jaded since RB2-3D by many years of mediocre or crap PC games. OFF is like a breath of fresh air for me and I'm happy to make a bigger deal of it. I don't go down the pub, I sold my bike, TV is nothing but adverts, I don't draw or make models anymore...so OFF is what I do for kicks. And DiD is just an extra dimension of fun.

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