Take On Helicopters flight model

What are some of your thoughts on the differences in the flight models of Arma 2 and Take On Helicopters? Also how do you feel about the possible inclusion of the Take On Helicopters flight model in Arma 3?

Take On Helicopters’ flight model is something I’m sure people looking for true helicopter simulation are going to enjoy. Personally, that’s not what I play ArmA for. If I wanted to play hardcore flight sims, you’d see me in DCS, IL-2, TKOH more often.

Considering ArmA’s scope and focus on the infantry side of things, I find the ArmA FM to be a pretty much perfect blend of authenticity and accessibility. It is more ‘hardcore’ than games like Battlefield 3, less forgiving, and while most anyone can hop into a helo and with a short period of practice be capable of basic take-off/flight/landing, it takes a great amount of time to truly master. The dynamics of ArmA’s flight model work extremely well in the context of the game, and the accessibility means that anyone can become a decent pilot with a bit of practice, capable of landing in hairy situations with competence. If you took the TKOH FM and injected it into ArmA, I think you’d find it to ultimately weaken the multiplayer experience.

Personally, if A3 has TKOH’s FM as an option, I plan to never use it. I’ve told ShackTac already that we won’t be adopting that FM, and given my reasons why (basically an expanded version of this post).

I also think it would be a mistake to make the ArmA3 FM TKOH from the start – part of what attracted me to this series in the beginning was the accessible helo flight model, and I’d hate to see aspiring ArmA pilots shy away from it after having a bad encounter with the TKOH FM, without realizing that there’s a more accessible one available. Having the option of either is fine, whatever, to each his own – but the default should be the ArmA-style version.

We’ll see what actually happens though. There’s more to be said re: the difficulty of making TKOH helicopter configs for mods, for example, but that’s drifting a bit from the core issues.

7 comments

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    • Jesse on November 2, 2012 at 11:42 am
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    I’m not sure if this is possible, but would you consider giving pilots the choice of which model to use, allowing newer players to choose the ArmA system, but still leaving the option for more dedicated pilots to use TKOH on the aircraft they pilot?

    1. No. Standardization would be crucial for that. It’s all or nothing, and as I noted, we’ll not be using the TKOH FM.

    • FunkySamek on November 13, 2012 at 3:52 am
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    Hello Dslyecxi. I understand Your point of view very well even if I support improved FM. The question is not if current FM is realistic as it is clearly not, but if it is realistic enough. I believe it is not. I wouldn’t expect non sim_enthusiasts to spend as much time as I do perfecting the skillset needed to fly realistic simulators, but I would expect Arma to be realistic enough to not to allow to perform impossible moves with the chopper. It affects balance of the game a lot, so it also affects ground troops which are a core group of online players. On top of that a realistic FM would attract dedicated group of people to fly in Arma (how about having dedicated helicopter squadron within ST?) which’d actually improve average pilot’s skill across the board in a closed community, all of which is of a benefit to other branches (It’s obvious that there are many guys like You who can fly very well in Arma, so no offense meant here!).
    Long story short if one looks for realistic infantry simulator, no need to consider improving FM. If one was to seek realistic battlefield simulator improved FM is only a benefit.
    Thanks and please keep awesome videos coming to Your YT channel!
    SamB

      • Nick on October 15, 2013 at 11:08 pm
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      Well Said

    • MobilePimp on November 22, 2012 at 10:39 am
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    I agree with SamB – it is a perfect option for those you would otherwise playi DCS etc. But you are right: in its current form, ArmaII is more an infantry simulation, but this must not be the case in future versions of the game. For those not willing to flight on a hardcore-level BI will for sure implement an option to use flying-aids. For those who like it, this game will become even more attractive! Personally, I am very much looking forward to it.

    • Nicholas on March 27, 2013 at 4:26 am
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    The current flight model is so blasphemous that you cannot even perform emergency autorotation landings like you could in ArmA II. I think the TKOH flight model should be able to be enabled both serverside and clientside. When the user connects to the server, the serverside option of running the TKOH flight model should override that of the clientside users setting.

    • SamB on May 6, 2014 at 6:32 pm
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    Hello gentleman! I am back and I am happier than ever. We are getting an option to use TOH FM soon. I understand if ST will opt for sticking with simplified FM, but I think it’s awesome there is at least possibility for those willing to challenge themselfes to use advanced FM. Now anyone is happy! I am curious if dslyecxi will change his mind after testing new features in MP! Cheers guys!

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