DCS Cold War Why You Should Play It | Why Cold War Is The Future of DCS | How to Play DCS Cold War

[@Enigma89]

In every DCS player is a Cold War player waiting to be saved. If you haven't made the leap yet, then I encourage you to try it out and I urge you to really compare the gameplay between what you are used to and what you experienced in Cold War. If you recently made the jump over, then let me know how it went in the comments below. To check out the Cold War servers that I mentioned, please see here: Enigma's Dynamic Cold War Campaign Server: discord.gg/3ZMttnKmkh Flashpoint Levant: discord.gg/4g5urBxV9w Alpenwolf's 1947 - 1991 Cold War forum.dcs.world/topic/180252-cold-war-1947-1991 Conquest DCS (Fox-1 & Fox-2 Weapons Only with All Planes) conquestdcs.com/

[@TacticalKeyboardOperator]

the annoying thing is i bought the harrier thinking that it will be on cold war servers

[@ssbn571]

What about the hornet

[@RFXCasey]

@@ssbn571 Hornet is awesome, don't let anyone tell you any different. There is a guy on the Buddy Spike competition that is completely dominating the F-16s so don't let anyone tell you one is better than the other. The Hornet is however, a bit of a journey and commitment to learn but oh what a journey it has been. If you like to be responsible for handling everything, i.e. a single seater, and love learning about carrier ops the Hornet is a fantastic and capable jet. If you want any help learning it I love to fly it and will be glad to share what I've learned over the past year or so I've owned it. Own the F-14 as well and it's a great plane in its own right, but a bit of a different animal.

[@markingraham4892]

There aren't enough planes in dcs to cover the Cold War. Basic stuff like the f 15 and mig 29 are poorly modeled. It will end up being a dumbed down war thunder.

[@bazej1080]

Cold War lightweight analog F-16A would be great.

[@Enigma89]

Before I get spammed that the F-16 is a Cold War plane, compare the F-16A cockpit vs the one in a F-16C. It's like saying the Macbook from 2022 is the same Macbook from 1991. They are aren't the same.

[@mro9466]

Yeah, factory fresh 1978-79 F-16As had the HUD of an F5, some early Aim9 ... and that was it !

[@kazansky22]

Great analogy.

[@danielpiazza5195]

Yeah I’d like to see more blocks of the viper. They should at least add the ones that could carry sparrows.

[@michaelsuguitan1693]

What plane is a Lenovo?

[@rossmum]

@@mro9466 Don't forget the old multi-line LCD "SMS page" and the shitty CRT crotch radar! I'd kill for an F-16A. A friend bought me the C and I feel awful because I almost never fly it... not even childhood nostalgia for Falcon 4 is enough to get me in it more than once every year or two. A 16A though... I'd be in that constantly.

[@drupiROM]

A Cold War turned hot, single player dynamic campaign, set in the 60's to 80's time frame. If Eagle Dynamic ever makes this happen it will be worth 100$. I am still amazed that Enemy Engaged could do that 20 years ago.

[@Enigma89]

Dynamic campaign will really bring the game to a new level, very curious to see what they come up with.

[@Nghilifa]

This right here!!! This is probably the most important reason why I haven't invested in DCS yet.

[@bennyb.1742]

EECH was so, so good.

[@prinz4279]

Strike Fighters 2 seems to fit that description. It's a bit on the arcadey-side of things though but it's fun nonetheless.

[@egoalter1276]

IL2 did it two decades ago, it was certainly possible.

[@jarllunde]

The addition of the F-4 and Mirage F-1 is going to add so much to the cold war community. The Mirage can also work as a stand-in until we get the mig-23

[@skull1161]

yeah besides that were getting a lot more, mig-29a, eventually f-8 and a-7, and kfir

[@RFXCasey]

Tornado in the works too.

[@mattparkinson9752]

@@RFXCasey who is working on a tornado?

[@RFXCasey]

@@mattparkinson9752 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3utZZtnd7abnMk

[@corvus9490]

@@skull1161 isn't MiG-29 already in game?

[@FoxTheVolpe]

here you practically tell the whole truth about the DCS scene. currently we basically have a BLUE against nothing. Cold war is where people can learn flying techniques and how to master their aircraft to the maximum. cold war (specifically Enigma) is currently where DCS is more fun and pretends to give its best

[@captainflipflop]

Agree! Blue Vs nothing = no Multiplayer pvp at all

[@sasquatchycowboy5585]

@@captainflipflop Aww come on, you have the JF-17. But that's kinda the issue. Even using JF against the F-16C, AV8B, and F-18C you just get those jets. My favorite time is the late cold War. Or at least the is my favorite in DCS. In that time you have so many different aircraft you could come up against. And a fight was likely to get to visual range. The late cold War is a place where you could easily have have tomcats fighting F1s backed up by Mig-23s. There are so many amazing jets that cold be modeled. Each totally unique, and each requiring and understanding of how to fight in your particular aircraft. The best part is there is actual data available. These birds can be properly simulated.

[@bronco5334]

Blue against nothing? Is the Su-25T not an adequate counter to the A-10C? The Ka-50 is incomparable to the AH-64? The MiG-29S (with 6x AA-12) isn't a match for the F-16C with 6x AIM-120? The J-11A with 6x AA-12 is no match for F-15C with 4-8 AIM-120? JF-17 cannot conduct PGM precision strikes like the F/A-18C and F-16C? I'm sorry, but the "it's so unbalanced!" argument just doesn't hold water. You might have an argument that REDFOR has too many FC3-level modules and not enough full-DCS-fidelity ones, but to say they have no matches for the BLUFOR capabilities is just wrong.

[@captainflipflop]

@@bronco5334 don't be toxic mate... It's just how it is

[@bronco5334]

@@captainflipflop No. It's not, though. That's the point. That's not how it is. They are making untrue claims to advocate for their own personal preferences, and in so doing, belittle everyone else's preference and openly lie about the actual state of the game. ...and you call *me* the toxic one.

[@romagnolo]

Yesterday I got my first Air to Air kill in your server (SU-25A shot down a Viggen) and it was one of the best exciting feelings I've ever had playing DCS in a very long time. You are doing a great job with your servers, please, keep up the good job!

[@vitpalu]

When I did kill my first tomcat on the mig21 I swear I was sweating and my hurt was pumping so much for the excitement I felt! I did not felt that for years in a game!

[@Cheezsus]

Great to have you man. Nothing like that first kill!

[@Enigma89]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Enigma89]

@@vitpalu Yeah the random encounters when you have with one of the boss planes really make for a lot of excitement, it was exactly what we were going for when we designed the mechanic.

[@typth_tappy]

@@vitpalu my first pvp kill was really boring lmao, hit an f16 with a sidewinder from 9 oclock he didnt know i was there

[@ForeignAggressor]

The point is: DCS lacks in balancing PVP multiplayer servers (where few modules can last). The most balanced DCS can be is inside Coldwar era.

[@Enigma89]

Pretty much it! Thanks for making it succinct.

[@kilianortmann9979]

I agree, though I think there are probably three different stages of cold war. Early Korean War era, Middle of the cold war around the late Vietnam war and late with El Dorado Canyon and IMHO up to the gulf war as the end. Otherwise the comparison would be a bit unfair between 7 years WW2, 20 years modern era and 45 years of cold war. All of them can be individually balanced fairly well though.

[@Enigma89]

@@kilianortmann9979 You aren't wrong, the number of modules really dictate how much you can break it down. The fact that you *can* break up the current cold war list into other buckets because of the number of planes is just a reflection of the breadth of playability.

[@johnwicks4936]

Only a small portion of DCS players ever touch multiplayer (this is straight from ED). The future is single player dynamic gameplay like Falcon BMS.

[@johnwicks4936]

@DeusVult1527 You can believe what you want or you can believe what the executives of ED have said on multiple occasions. The vast majority of DCS players NEVER touch multiplayer. Why would you invest heavily in that? Now they are even talking of a save button so you can save your game and walk away. It’s just reality, most people want to enjoy the game without other players interfering. They also want to be able to save or hit pause and go eat dinner. I’ve been flying flight sims since they first came into existence and never cared about multiplayer so I’m a prime example. I’m just telling you what they said.

[@hez0r]

I tried DCS after watching a vid of someone in pvp dogfights. After playing on your server for a few weeks I went from someone who had vowed to never buy another gaming machine (my rig at the time being nearly 10 years old) to immediately realising I was hooked to your take on cold war and bought a new PC and still play regularly. Definitely agree that cold war creates the most excitement and room for rewarding and fun teamwork. Bring on the F-1!

[@Enigma89]

Glad you found your passion for gaming again.

[@basti4296]

I got started three years ago in DCS on the Mig-21. I really love the crummy systems, the limited cooling fluid for the radar, the flameouts, the shitty INS, and the undercarriage that can run out of breath. In comparison, a fly-by-wire plane in DCS simply feels like playing a computer game. You can feel the Soviet disregard for usability in the Mig-21 and overcoming that is a glorious accomplishment for any airman. Love your server and the whole DCS Cold War community!

[@madaxe606]

Same. I immediately knew the MiG-21 was the one I wanted to study and learn. I'm enjoying the snot out of some other modules too, but I always come back to the MiG-21. Just something magical about that plane.

[@spacekraken666]

What DCS is really missing is the Iraq map. I'm sure that 1991 Operation Desert Storm would fit the most aircraft currently in DCS, from MiG-21's and Mirage F-1 to Strike Eagles and Fulcrums. And none of this Fox-3 and JDAM spam! And if ED will add earlier variants of their modules, for example F-16C Block 30 and 40, these would fit perfectly too. It would go well with different time periods - if you're into older stuff, you can recreate Iran-Iraq war, and if you want something modern, 2003 invasion it is.

[@molnibalage83]

At the setup would be pointless... The Coalition had totally control of the whole war because of the 10-20:1 force ratio in the air. For a Cold War setting you need a Cold War theater NATO vs WPACT ---> Central/West Europe and Nordic. Or Kuriles and Vladivostok.

[@xinjin5427]

Now you have it

[@System-Update]

You've undersold how nice everyone is on the CW server. Welcoming and supportive of noobs, good etiquette and TK, spam, abuse etc occur very rarely because they are not tolerated. The biggest problem with DCS is that most people play single-player, PVE and don't make the leap to PVP multi-player servers. Because Cold war aircraft have a lower entry threshold new people can join and not get seal clubbed constantly or get targeted by gatekeeper negativity. Less of a leap rather than a gentle step out of the shallow end but without the swim or die of modern servers. ECW server is a nice place with good people and CW is the DCS sweet spot. Anyone who hasn't had a go, come and give it a try.

[@madaxe606]

Totally agreed. Have had nothing but positive experiences on the Enigma server.

[@Enigma89]

Thank you for mentioning this

[@DVoidOfSpareUsername]

No, not a problem with DCS just a problem for how you want to play it. Seems most people want to jump on to DCS for some chill out time or catch up and have some fun with friends and not be in a constantly competitive environment. Get enough of that in day to day life.

[@tacticaltoolbox7046]

ED can greatly help itself by releasing some form of F-16A and F/A-18A to maximize the game play potential for a cold war scenario. Limiting Datalink, GPS, and weapons can really force the type of game play we're looking for in the cold war (while not just pushing out those who already spent on the multirole fighters and enjoy using them). We really need those redfor 1970s-1980s planes and if we're not just up against all fox 3s out there, we're more likely to actually use the Mig21-23 and the SU-17/22.

[@bazej1080]

Early F-16A was very maneuverable compared to our late heavyweight variant.

[@tacticaltoolbox7046]

@@bazej1080 very true of almost all military aircraft. They get fatter with each successive upgrade. For the 16, at least they got an engine upgrade to partially compensate.

[@theflyinggasmask]

I want a F-16A so bad

[@dovaiS]

​@@bazej1080 the block 50 aint too bad now compared to before.

[@feastguy101]

We’re missing the mig23.

[@BCooperArtMind]

Honest and direct. Exactly how I feel about my beloved DCS. I'm a Red player, and CW Era is the place I've spent most of my many hours. Love the Hind! Love the Hip! Love the MiG-19! Love the MiG-21! An excellent and concise video, a really great job!

[@feastguy101]

There’s nothing quite like the Mi24, isn’t it?

[@BCooperArtMind]

@@feastguy101 Right on! Nothing quite like it, for sure. 🙂

[@dominicearley2388]

All totally true, having got into DCS as a Hornet sim I was loosing interest until I found you server and now play nothing almost nothing else. I even bought the Viggen and Mig 19 that I otherwise never would have considered doing. Keep up the good work.

[@Enigma89]

Glad you found your passion again and thanks for sharing your story of transitioning over to cold war.

[@thefishfrog4065]

The absolute best DCS server and what got me started playing MP and collecting cold war planes

[@Enigma89]

Glad you found a place to play

[@StandingCow2]

Some good points, especially when you look at what ED is allowed to do (mostly on the red side) due to classification of airframes. The only part of your video I kinda cringed at was the being "brought to the light" comment, modern players don't "need to be saved". Let's not assume everyone wants the same thing out of DCS, there are many of us that enjoy the complexities of the modern airframes and the challenge that still very much exists in the modern arena. I think you can bring the valid points forward in your video without sounding like some sort of "cold war elitist". Hopefully you take this as positive criticism as I agree with the majority of the message, just imo need to tone the elitism back a bit. :)

[@eatleadcobra]

I interpret that "brought to the light" to mean moreso that a lot of people don't even realize how much is available in DCS in the Cold War online multiplayer sphere. If you look at the average "non-DCS player" first impressions/reviews/reactions to DCS they usually go straight to an A-10 or F-18 and then lose interest after a couple weeks. I own and enjoy several modern airframes in DCS (and own some I don't enjoy lol), but I absolutely think the cold war era is the most viable, compelling, and interesting thing the sim has to offer.

[@Enigma89]

My comment about bringing people to the light is more about bringing light to the often overlooked Cold War Modules, they live in a shadow. Shining a light on them and then bringing people to them.

[@acidiccow.63]

I love modern and cold war both are super fun for me, I certainly see your points but for me modern is just more fun for me because of the complexity and how rewarding it is to understand and effectively use those complex systems. learning radar, targeting tanks using flir, evading amramms and aim 9s, unrestricted vertcal climbs, screwing around with MFDs/DDIs and that stuff is why i love the modern setting but I can't deny that the viggen is a joy to fly. I love cold war because of the analog feel to the planes and the weapons, the manuevers, the fact that you dont find things with a radar but with your eyes. it acts as a kind of relaxation from modern planes and lets you enjoy yourself in a situation where it isnt all f16s and f18s. (still love the hornet and viper)

[@gregduncan]

Exactly, coldwar planes are simply boring relative to the variety of the multirole modern fighters.

[@madaxe606]

All excellent points and couldn't agree more with everything said here. Spot on, every word. I've been yelling for YEARS that the Cold War era is BY FAR the best time frame for a flight sim to be focused on for all the reasons you articulate. I'll add a couple more of my own: 1/ Vastly greater variety of actual historical battles, combat theaters and real-world events to draw upon for inspiration, learning and re-creation. Vietnam or the Iran-Iraq War alone utterly dwarfs the entire scope of the modern jet era for diversity of air combat to study and simulate. 2/ Being able to actually get your hands on declassified materials for out-of-service aircraft if you want to get really, REALLY deep into the simulation of a preferred aircraft. 3/ The vast number of specialized aircraft made to fill a variety of battlefield niches, and entice players to fork over their $$$ for a totally new and unique gameplay experience. As opposed to basically interchangeable modern multi-role fighters not substantially different from one another.

[@Enigma89]

These are all good points but #3 is very interesting and what I lightly touched upon in the video. With people getting used to cold war and being able to jump between so many modules because the keymaps are so easy, you get to fly more aircraft and there is more variety. This leads to more asymmetry and more dynamic gameplay. The multi-role aircraft, while impressive, are a one-man air force. What gets interesting is when you run into specialized aircraft that are trying to do their thing while you are trying to do your thing. This is what makes air sims beautiful.

[@Dr_Jebus]

It was col war, and your server in particular, that made me really get into MP DCS. I do really enjoy modern in singleplayer, but I totally agree that I don't find it nearly as engaging as cold war. In cold war you really feel you are flying against the other person, maneuvering and trying to outfly them. In Modern, so much it's whoever gets the other guy first on radar that wins. WW2 is really cool too, but very sparse, especially for the buy-in cost. Already picked up two new cold war modules this sale, to go with my two from last sale. And I can't wait for that F4.

[@Enigma89]

Thanks for your sharing your story in your transition from SP to MP. When we launched the server, we really wanted to build a home for players that did not have one and the fact that you came from SP over to MP through the server is really great to hear. Thanks for your support.

[@julianmorrisco]

@@Enigma89 I’m getting to the stage where I’m feeling tempted to jump into MP. I still have concerns about the fact that I often need to pause a game for IRL distractions like family, and I’m not sure how I would be able to promise anything as structured as a set time each day or week to fly in order to not let others’ down but maybe there’s a way. I’d probably get spanked as well, being OK at warbirds (based on limited time on IL2 servers) but awful at jet stuff (based on performance in single player) but then again… so what :D. I also have crap eyesight which makes me terrible at visual SA, but then again, again - I’m old enough that I don’t base my self-worth on skills in a computer game!

[@Enigma89]

@@julianmorrisco Just try it out and see how it goes. At the very least you can do ground attack or recon.

[@Void-hr4fz]

I agree with every point you made in this video, the addition of the F4 Phantom and the Mirage f1 will be a huge leap for DCS and the cold war players as it will bring in more opportunities for people who are just getting into the cold war aspect of the game.

[@madaxe606]

Agreed. But it also shows how badly DCS needs another full fidelity REDFOR module (Iraqi F1’s notwithstanding). The MiG-23 is a must-have. Come on, Razbam!

[@TexanHuman]

So far, most of the things he’s saying make sense, but other things lead me to believe he’s had some seriously bad experiences in the modern/BVR arena. You don’t have to like it, but modern stuff is far more than just “instant win” as it’s so delicately put here. Sure, modern Jets are easier to fly and have lower pilot workload, but that doesn’t mean that they’re universally “less fun.”

[@jotabe1984]

Yea well, put an AIM-120 F-18 against a Mig 29 w/R-27 (or even R-77) without any RoE that level up things, and tell me how much fun you get after 20 battles. Thell me how much effort you need to blow a ground target with a JDAM on a target barely defended (wich is the most realistic scenario on any war)? it will be boring even if there are bandits minutes away since JDAM will ensure success, while a 2xAIM-120 spam will at least allow for a safe return Once a modern multirole is mastered, a lot of the fun goes away On the other hand you can throw a Mig21 vs F5, Mig15 vs F-86 and have a balanced match from scratch Try to blow away a ground target with an A4E knowing Mig-21s are minutes away... you can fail miserably if you don't fly a perfecf bomb run, and the enemy fighters add pressure to do things right on the first try or pay the price. Even 1980s BVR tech like R-27 and AIM-7, or WVR like AIM-9L (R-60 and Magic 1 are comparable to AIM-9P or G at best) are far away from instant kill, late 50's and 60's missiles (AIM-9B, R-3, Matra 530 and early AIM-7) are extremely bad, that will (IR) hook to the sun, become dumb by ground, take a good time to hook, be diverted by any countermeasure and fail to perform on any high G maneuver, so cannons are the main armament at the end of the day for that era

[@goose6949]

He just said that modern era with less danger isn’t necessarily “less fun”, you made it way to deep brotha

[@braeddie]

Though I love the cold war missions, especially yours, I feel you are misrepresenting what a modern BVR engagement looks like. BVR takes a lot of studying and practice to master. It's not just fly high and fast and fox-3 x 10. The sole reason why the cold war setting is superior to modern, is the plane set. That's one thing everyone can agree with. Your preference to fighting in the merge versus a BVR duel, however, is not a reason that the cold war setting is superior.

[@antongrahn1499]

He is right though, that modern helps you out a lot more. I mainly fly the Jeff and its systems show me where the enemy is, when they have fired a missile and where from, when i am supposed to fire mine etc. AG guided munitions makes most ground units a non-threat. FBW systems make sure i have to put effort in If I want to crash. Mean while, the engine of the mig 21 dies If you go to fast. If course there is a BVR skillset, but a lot of the hard work has already been done for you. The less asistance the plane gives you, the more the pilot have to do. Compare lining up on a 109 in a spitfire, target obscured by your own engine, to hitting vertical scan and then firing an aim 9X. Cold war sits in the middle.

[@agostonbazmajer1100]

@@antongrahn1499 This is because the complexities and nuances of operating these modern planes are not recreated in DCS due to the incredible amount of technical depth that's not possible to be recreated in a video game and due to a huge amount of classified material. You could write several hundreds of pages on how to employ a JDAM, what its limitations are, how to best utilize it but 99% of that is missing from DCS. This is even more egregious when it comes to air to air combat. And we haven't even talked about how a real mission wold work, let alone a real, high scale shooting war.

[@parab225]

@@agostonbazmajer1100 In a lot of ways modern is kind of doomed as a sim. Tech and tactics are so classified that you are best case pulling some adequate abstraction out of a hat.

[@Enigma89]

I glossed over some details but the point still stands. At the end if the day the gameplay loop on the modern servers is go high and fast and dump your missiles. I don't think people can really deny that and that is what I mean by more rewarding gameplay with the cold war setting.

[@agostonbazmajer1100]

@@Enigma89 I personally don't find either (or really any public server) rewarding or engaging in the slightest, but each to his own. I wouldn't play DCS without an organized group. I mainly play flightsims to replicate real life tactics and capabilities as closely as possible within the constraints of the simulator. That's basically impossible without having a dedicated group working together, so in that way I don't really see any difference between cold war and modern era. It's the complete opposite of how aircraft should be operated, and that's true about for any time frame.

[@Spiniker0056]

Your argument is exactly why I play IL2 almost exclusively now. Love the Hornet and Viper but it sucks when I step away from those planes. I just can’t keep all the info and muscle memory in my head. The hop in and go feel of IL2 is just more fun. I’ll have to dig into Cold War more. Thanks for stepping up and putting in the work to run this server!

[@Enigma89]

I am sort of in an il2 break because I just got sort of bored with it. I still love it and hope they announce something big with the next great battle. Cold War coming from WWII is pretty easy to slide into ad the systems are very basic. You can do well just with WWII as the hardest part you already have a grasp on (the actual flying).

[@nickgrey4136]

Dear Sir, many thanks for the excellent analysis. Professional and concise. Kind regards Nick

[@Enigma89]

Oh wow thanks for taking the time to watch the video. I am glad you found it interesting. I am excited to see where you and the team take the game into the future. Best wishes and good luck!

[@bypass2632]

Thank you, sir for articulating what me and my friends have been thinking. It’s also important to mention that Cold War era planes and campaigns in dcs currently are much cheaper than modern modules, which make them even easier to get into for newbies. I would also argue that the maps represent mostly, with the addition of falklands, Cold War era flash points. With governments tightening down on security and the world being less open, I don’t think modern flashpoint zones (Taiwan, Korea) or new planes will be modelled.

[@TheKythia]

I was very sceptical of your initial premise, flying mostly Vipers, but you make some excellent points, especially that modern is really just AMRAAM vs AMRAAM and playing the cockpit. What scares me the most about Cold War is the missing datalink. I'm not a teen anymore and my situational awareness is often questionable.

[@wahtx7717]

If you play ww2 sims its just the same, put your head on a swivel and ask for bogey dope.

[@teggy689]

Agree 100% The first module I bought was the F-16 because I fell into the modern hype. But after an impulse I bought the MiG-21 and it opened my eyes to how much fun the cold war era is. It's fascinating to learn about how modern tactics and equipment developed. Since then I keep collecting more cold war aircraft, currently I'm learning the Mirage 2000C and loving it. Should be good prep for the F1C!

[@flightsimulatoradventures7246]

Wonderful points. We have a great time on you’re server. However my biggest gripe is you can’t hide from overlord bot. Using terrain to hide from radars is a real thing and aids in plans. Other than that it’s one of the best servers on dcs currently. 💪🍻

[@keithbuddrige5064]

I agree completely with all of that. The Overlord bot is an amazing addition but it should be LOS / Radar LOS to the AWACS. It feels like 'God mode', it will even tell you if someone merges with you that you didn't see ... you're like ... wait, where? ... Bogey Dopes can do the same thing but need LOS for the radar to pick you up. Overlord doesn't care about terrain masking which is a huge part of Cold War era tactics. The server and community is amazing, I am very grateful for it.

[@flightsimulatoradventures7246]

@@keithbuddrige5064 exactly 🍻

[@flightsimulatoradventures7246]

@DeusVult1527 precisely. Or At least use a system that uses line of sight not the game master god view.

[@Enigma89]

@@keithbuddrige5064 I have addressed this many times before but I will jump in here to say again. Overlord seeing everything elevates the gameplay. There are limitations in the DCS engine that do not allow us to put enough anti-aircraft defenses everywhere that have enough depth and persistence. This means that there is a huge incentive to fly at tree top level. There is no fear of death of flying low because you mask yourself to radar, you don't have to worry about AAA and you have terrain to mask your plane from visual ID. This incentives a race to the bottom where people game-the-game and fly as low as possible to break LOS with radars to get the jump on players. We want people to fly in a more believable situation. By flying low you have no incentive to fly low. You need to fly at altitude or fly in a group.

[@keithbuddrige5064]

@@Enigma89 That makes sense. I'm def sort of a fly low and use terrain masking sort of guy, all of my games (FPS, Sim) are this way. It's a good balance though because up high you have S300s and down low you have Geckos and Shilkas. As mentioned before I love the server, I honestly spend my of my DCS time on it. Thank you so much for all the time and detail you and your team put into it to make it making it what it is.

[@acegoat7573]

I've tried getting in to Cold War, trialed the MiG21 but found myself not able to find anyone and by the time I did see someone I was already dead because a much more experienced Cold War player had hunted me down and killed me. I playued for about a week and the average time I spent in the air was anywhere from 10 minutes to 40 minutes. But then I go back in my F18 or F14 and I feel like I can actually do things and there is more variety of things to do, so many different types of bombs and air to ground missiles. The Greyflag Dynamic Campaign is amazing and really brings together the players who are on it to work together and complete it. I will give Cold War another try at some point because it'll nice to have more options on what to play in DCS. It is a shame that there aren't many BVR Jets on the Red side that ED can't make, would really change things up having more options and vairety to go against.

[@BringTheRain]

A great discussion! I wholeheartedly believe that DCS should be more purposeful in the "Era" it is fleshing out. This includes: - Maps - Assets - Missions - Campaign - And of course, Modules! Think of the conflicts/what if's we could simulate with our current+upcoming lineup of modules: - Late Vietnam War - Iran-Iraq War - Arab Israeli War(s) - Fulda Gap "what if" - Falklands War Just to name a few! There is certainly a difference in mindset between mid-CW and modern platforms - CW requires the pilot to fly, and fight the aircraft as much as they are fighting the enemy. This is the "guts and glory" kind of fighting, where the same lessons from WW1 still apply Modern is much more about systems management, and requires just as much tactical thinking, to the point of sensory overload given how much is going on. Both absolutely have their merits, both are FUN! Here's the best part IMO - blue CW craft can easily become red, once you proceed to the 'modern' era. Think of the F-4 - classic blue aircraft, but now red as it is still flown by Iran. Mirage F1 fits both Nato and Iraq. F-5E fits blue and red as well. As for all the other full fid red CW aircraft, well a lot of those are still being flown today, let alone the time period they were primarily in service in. Didn't a hornet down a fitter in Syria a few years ago? Honestly with CW modules, everyone wins - modern blue has something to fight against, and CW junkies like us get to experience them in their prime, where the quirks and disadvantages actually make a difference when you're fighting an AIM-9B and not an AIM-120C. Both eras have their merits, but I agree that DCS could really shine if it fleshed out the CW era now.

[@madaxe606]

@DeusVult1527 Hopefully if more people recognize the awesomeness of the Cold War era, ED will get the picture and start focusing on it with maps and campaigns, , along with more modules to flesh out the time period. IL-2 has WW2 pretty locked up, so the Cold War is a very exploitable niche.

[@madaxe606]

@DeusVult1527 Yep, agreed. And all the more reason to focus on Cold War more than the modern stuff. Mig-23, MiG-25, F-111, F-105, Harrier GR1/3, Tornado GR4/ADV/IDS, Su-17/22, OV-10, F-104, F-100 - the list is nigh unto endless.

[@madaxe606]

@DeusVult1527 You’re definitely in the minority. I own FC3 but barely ever fly any of the modules. I get the appeal of learning a variety of planes with common controls , but it kinda defeats the purpose of a detailed flight sim in the first place, IMO. But I can see why many people would feel differently.

[@madaxe606]

@DeusVult1527 You make a good argument. Did Big Newy explain why they’re not planning any more FC3? I would imagine that if the sales data supported your point, they’d be all over the idea.

[@weirdguy564]

I’ve felt this way forever. While I have DCS with F-5 module, my favorite flight sim is Strike Fighters/Wings over Vietnam. The sim is a lot more basic, but the game has mods galore. I have all Cold War planes you can think of. Specifically my favorites are F-106 with Gatling gun upgrade, and the Sea Harrier. I love those two planes.

[@Faltrollet]

I got a buddy into DCS and he likes your CW server. I also recently started playing it more since I bought more cold war era aircraft.

[@lc2144]

You should have included the Conquest 90s server when mentioning different cold war servers. I get that it's got 90s in the name but to me that is more of a relic from when they used to have limited ARH missiles. The server is entirely Fox 1 and Fox 2 now with a pretty good balance between red and blue in terms of airframes and available weapons. Too many people immediately discredit some of the more modern planes in the game as not being able to have a role in cold war theme despite planes like the F/A-18 having almost a virtually identical cockpit as it did on the original F/A-18A which was designed in the 70s and put into service in the early 80s. Late cold war seems to get completely brushed over by mid cold war servers and that's very unfortunate especially when we have several new modules coming out in the near future which would fit the setting perfectly with a restricted loadout and gps turned off, such as the F-15E and ED's MiG-29 whenever that comes out. And then there's the MiG-23MLA we are getting which is a late 70s variant of the plane and more accurately a time era rival to the F-14 and F-15, not the F-4. It also allows people to play their favorite airframes from the more modern servers but with less handholding since they cannot rely on GPS munitions, Fox 3 missiles, etc yet still allows easy access to the server due to their familiarity with their airframes. On the Conquest 90s server even late Sparrow models vs R-27s and Super 530s I still end up in the merge the majority of the time but still scratches that bvr itch I have which to me is the perfect balance. I hope one day you guys can create an 80s mission set similar to Conquest 90s just to have some more server variety, but I totally understand that the work you guys do is very time consuming and entirely voluntary. Nonetheless, great video and I agree that DCS really shines in the cold war era, I just wish more people would extend that to meaning the entirety of the cold war and not just the 60s.

[@Enigma89]

I like the conquest server. I meant to include it I just forgot to add the footage that I had shot. I just did a video with a lot of conquest shots and I mixed the projects up in my head. I already included them in the links in the video.

[@Nom_D_Guerre]

Hey I totally agree, I've been playing DCS off and on since Flaming Cliffs came out, and always the Cold War era shined brighter than anything else. I've had the most fun on Cold War mp servers also.

[@ВячеславФролов-д7я]

Personally, I like to play 80s scenarios most and I think community needs more solid fox1 servers, especially now when blue flag 80s is occupied mostly by helicopters. IMHO, it provides an interesting and true dcs experience, where you don't fight just bvr or bfm, but can and will have to do both, also without all-seeing datalink and tonns of long-flying fox3s it is really open for every tactic from slinging sparrows from high alt to sneaking and ambushing from below, heck, even mig21 can be a real threat there, not a poor funny plane which is a flying meme on modern servers

[@Enigma89]

Try conquestdcs.com/ this server. It is a good one for fox-1 fights and more fun than Blueflag IMO.

[@ВячеславФролов-д7я]

@@Enigma89 thanks, I'll hop in when I'll have some time. Also your point about loosing your skill with the lack of practice seems very personal and dependent on a person's preferable era. For example I have no problems at all coming after a month away into growling for target practice and getting really nice k/d, while my dogfighting techniques (which are not that good at all) are deteriorating quickly

[@kazansky22]

@@Enigma89 tbh it's not hard to be more fun then blue flag lol.

[@zacharywiedner327]

Hard agree. Flying the Tomcat, F-5, and A-4 (HOW IS THAT THING FREE!?!) after starting on the Hornet has converted me to a full time Cold War era player. F-8 and F-4 cannot come soon enough.

[@foltrever]

The SEAD/DEAD part bothers me. The problem with modern ARMs (Anti Radiation Missiles) are not a instant win button, or shouldn’t be. That is a problem with the setup of the mission. IRL SAM operators will see or hear (by listening to comms) when an ARM is being shot. The will then turn off their radar (if they are not suicidal) and the missile will go stupid. You can simulate this with triggers or with the IAD script. TL:DR ARMs are not a „instant win button“. They are tools limited to a usecase and often a waste of a wing station. I’d rather carry CBU-105s (or if that’s too modern a gun and iron bombs)

[@oldfashionedwrx3574]

That's the whole point to shut radar off, it's done the job. New harms counter shut down with a Multi seeker head. Sead/dead doesn't have to be done with only aircraft, now there are drones, stand off gps artillery. Decoys. Sattelite Intel on Sam sites/mobile Sam's. small diameter bomb 💣 will you hear a harm being fired from 25nm away coming through the clouds? As you say they listened to radio comms, a simple magnum call on the radio caused them to shut down as well

[@sxsad7294]

I really hope they add the MiG-25, i think it would make for an amazing cold war era jet

[@madaxe606]

You and me both, brother. I would give my left nut for a full fidelity MiG-25.

[@kontiuka]

Ooooo. C-101. Nice. May have to check that out.

[@bhenders52]

You have hit the nail right on the head. By the reasons which you have pointed out so well, the game by default is geared to the Cold War scenario. The only thing missing the the Vietnam Map and a few more planes, some scheduled and some not. Keep up the good work Enigma!

[@Enigma89]

Vietnam map would be awesome.

[@Icy_vixen]

This, this is exactly what I am passionate for in DCS World! It is an absolute shame more people favor the more modern era and overlook the interesting yet primitive tech of the cold war and the skill it takes plus you do not have to remember too many of the systems if you have a busy job and just not only want to dogfight others but also launch missiles at each other and gun and bomb places but still have that WWII vibe but with a twist. I am hoping that we get the F-8J eventually soon enough and I now I am going to get the Mirage F1 and try out the Mig-17F.

[@AhSoul]

Recently discovered Enigma's server and SRS - loving it! Spent 90mins this evening with an amazing chap serving as AWACs for Blue-for. Was the most immersive simming I've ever experienced!

[@rooivalkza7068]

I whole heartedly agree and my finger is itching for that F1!

[@luma9007]

I`ve stumbled upon this video by a chance and have to say I`m intrigued. The point you made about modern era hit me. I usually play a hornet in modern BVR setting. I got a sudden urge to brush up on my Mig 21 (which I have no idea why I stopped playing) and have a look at this CW thing. Thanks!

[@Enigma89]

Become a convert!

[@flywitharek]

You hopped into my stream and said I should try Cold War sometime and I have to say I haven’t been disappointed.

[@Enigma89]

😋

[@schtukaphoenix4423]

As a F-14 RIO I agree with almost all those thoughts except the "no BVR or no 'cockpit simulation' " as it will of course reduce all the scope of what I like to do in DCS ^^ However of course, if I place myself in the pilot perceptive I 100% agree with everything you explain in your video. As an example, the only plane I flew until last week was the Bf109, so when I decided to dive in the jet world, I wanted to start simple and that's why my choice was the A4E.

[@RossOneEyed]

The Scooter is a great plane....and the fact that it was free is amazing!

[@connorjones6222]

RIO in game or you were an actual 14 RIO?

[@madaxe606]

Try the MiG-21. Easy to learn, very simple avionics, and a blast to fly. Very challenging to find the edge of the flight envelope, but once you do it can be a real terror.

[@schtukaphoenix4423]

@@connorjones6222 No RIO in game ^^

[@nemisis_wolf]

I completely agree with this, I'm just getting back into DCS after a 12 year gap! I used to fly Falcon 4 before it was BMS and also DCS when it was LOMAC just turning into DCS (they had just launched the Black Shark and A10 module) While I do want to get into the F86 at some point the first modules I'm starting on are the Spitfire and F86 Sabre for no other reason than I want to be relearning to FLY before I learn the systems. Learning to fly the Spit and F86 teaches you energy management and the modern F16 and F18 just don't do that, i think it's all to easy to just jump in as a noob push the plane into afterburner and have all the energy you need, what this doesn't do is teach you how to actually control your plane fully. Learn to fly properly and with good energy management in the Warbirds and early 50's jets and you can bring those skills forward into the modern jets and dominate, but you can't take skills from flying the modern jets and go back to the warbirds and early 50's jets and expect to be able to fly well.

[@Enigma89]

I agree totally.

[@ztcajun]

I started playing dcs for the modern jets I personally think we need a mix of all earas, making dcs the best combat sim out there.

[@cadencem2058]

Good point about the need for focused-study vs getting by on memory alone, it breeds high skill that translates simpler contexts. The same is true in music; If you start learning high level composition first, learning pop-music becomes trivial.

[@Enigma89]

I don't make music but i like the analogy

[@micahleis5424]

"Now compare this to cold war. The missiles are terrible; they eat flares for breakfast, and your next option are Fox 1 missiles which are just as bad." That was an excellent sentence. It was the highlight of the video for me.

[@clarasdk]

I think for PVP you are spot on, we just need some more maps for the area. The only thing about cold war being the future is that us old guys like the aircraft from that area, but what about younger players coming into the game? For them a Viper is allready a relic ;) For MP PVE I think modern stuff is very fun/interesting. But we need a better AI and Dynamic Campaign so that we do not need to use Liberation etc.

[@vracan]

who cares how relic the plane is, whatever is more fun/exciting is what counts in the end.

[@KiloSierra213Sierra]

Wow, I think I finally might have found something for myself in DCS. As an Aero Engineer working in the field I started my journey by buying the Hornet. It's great and with FBW it can be loads of fun even for people who have no idea about flying, but after some time the switchology gets kinda boring (and in my case - reading aircraft manuals for hours is dangerously close to my day job). Cold War sounds like a more "raw" experience, and with much simpler systems and more focus on flying rather than cockpit management it really might be the perfect sim experience. Oh well, time to get some module(s)...

[@Enigma89]

I hope you enjoy!

[@caleblindgren8211]

I agree mostly. My only quibble would be that I think CW era suits PvP best in DCS because of the parity you mentioned, but that is not necessarily the case for PvE, at least for Blue (e.g., Grayflag is a GREAT new dynamic PvE server in the modern setting). As someone who enjoys both CW and modern in DCS, I come to them for different things. Frankly in CW, on the present servers, I miss the carrier aviation available in the modern settings (why I originally got into DCS) as well as the complexity of mission tasking that modern Blue airframes provide. That said, you are right that the bare-bones, bare-knuckle PvP of CW can't be beat and for those who haven't tried it yet, you are missing out. TLDR: Yes, if you want PvP action. If PvE is your thing, the modern setting is just as strong, it just has a different draw IMO (which is basically what you said about combat vs cockpit in your closing thoughts).

[@TheVonJagger]

Thanks for the comment I totally agree. Thai video got very preachy very early

[@FreeFragUK]

Admittedly I prefer the Cold War setting for DCS due to the scope available to Eagle Dynamics and their partners. While I own the F-18, F-16 and Apache, I was sorely disappointed with the decision to go down the route of the most modern versions available to the developers. Overall the more modern modules can still be fun but I find that they work best in a PvE environment whereas the Cold War modules (to me anyway) feel a lot more flexible.

[@bazej1080]

I have F-16, but i would enjoy more early lightweight more maneuverable analog F-16A tuning and burning dogfighting with Gun and Sidewinders and dropping dumb bombs on Baghdad nuclear reactor putting the thing on the thing - than late heavyweight standoff weapon sophisticated avionics 2000s F-16 firing from afar and landing.

[@Taliyon]

Cold War servers are literally the glue that binds DCS PvP together. PvE is more open to modern aircraft. But there's no comparison, on PvP servers. You can hop on and fill an actual role, on a Cold War server. If you do the same on a modern server, you're probably wasting time/resources. The communication/community has to be sooooo much tighter to be functional. That's why they tend to be madness, unless they are a locked server. Exclusivity is a very difficult thing to manage, and requires the best to seek the best. It's not sustainable for DCS, however. Cold War is the way.

[@Afty86]

Bro I love your server one of the best multiplayer experiences available for DCS World! 🤘

[@liammackenzie9283]

One of the reasons I think the F-14 is such a good purchase is that it's a cold war aircraft that still gives you plenty of viability on modern servers as well, truly a versatile aircraft as far as eras go.

[@jansvoboda4293]

Also a very potent platform that is not yet FBW and so much more fun to fly.

[@nicholasjaeger3132]

The only modern module that I would have a hard time getting rid of is my harrier. I love that thing simply because I am a marine so it holds a special place lol. Other than that I agree and find the modern modules cool but less interesting if you are trying to have a massive cohesive strike. I would love to see them finish the Vietnam era so you can have full rolling thunder campaign

[@Enigma89]

Vietnam would be amazing for DCS.

[@ijnkako5326]

Finally, I found a content creator that formulates into words what I have felt for years!

[@DZNTS123]

Dude, I love your server. It is one of only 3 servers I have as favorites. I agree with you on most aspects of your argument but I have to say the cold war servers you mentioned are all run well, were built well and have a unique yet fun game experience. On the modern side I would say Hoggit GAW, Greywolfs Syria greyflag, and Growling Sidewinder are the top servers. Primarily because they offer well run, well built servers that are unique and fun. I am finding myself flying only the F-5 on any server, even on GS. I like that the cold war aircraft don't really have autopilot and the trim requires constant babysitting, they require you to fly them at all times. -Nuts1-1

[@diomedesbc]

Interesting, many points i kind of realized as well. Good video. Your cold war server has got me into DCS. BVR never appealed to me.

[@HangmanGlenn]

I understand you're point of view but i am more an modern type of player an i hope DCS will bring more modern planes to the game cause it makes the game much more interesting an DCS wil also have a bigger public size if everyone can fly what plane they like For example new players an learning all the systems in a full fidelity plane is easier than searching all the bindings in a not clickable cockpit.

[@SkeepyJeepyJohnson]

This is so true. I went from only having flight experience in games like ARMA, Planetside 2 and Ace Combat, and barely ever playing them, maybe 100-200 total hours max; to flying a MiG 19, 21, and even 29 with fairly little difficulty, mapping all of my keybinds to an Xbox controller (I am getting a HOTAS tomorrow). The cold War stuff is not hard at all to learn. What I need know is to learn how to BFM.

[@joelmulder]

I was absolutely shocked by how fast it was to learn the systems in the F5. It took me several weekends recently to get proficient in the F16, yesterday, I went from installing the F5 trial to being confident in operating the systems on the ECW server in about an hour. The real difficulty now is learning how to IFF by eye, and to actually git gud at WVR maneuvering.

[@Enigma89]

That's the nice things about the cold war jets. Pretty easy to get through the button pressing and only have to focus on the actual flying

[@MiaReiFilms]

you have successfully cold war pilled me. definitely gonna get into 80's/90's PvE servers now that I have the tomcat.

[@maxiramos9906]

I agree so much with you. I realized Cold War was the future for DCS years ago. Every single thing you said is true. The most I hate is having to reconfigure buttons for the modern airplanes and secondly having to remember systems that I always forget. I would like to add another important thing. Most of us also fly other sims too, Falcon BMS, IL2, MSFS, Xplane11, P3D. And even further, we have more sims, Submarine sims, car sims, etc. It is impossible to keep learning new complex systems every time ED releases a new module, we simply don't have the time.

[@Enigma89]

I am glad you found the video interesting. Hope to see you on one of the cold war servers one of these days!

[@Tetemovies4]

Imagine when DCS will have the Mirage F1C/E, F-4E Phantom and Mig-23ML

[@Enigma89]

It will be a whole new game

[@hunteranddajman2]

Seeing that Hind near the end makes me hope the AH-1 comes out of limbo

[@Z09SS]

I am amused that you're making the case for TK's Strike Fighter's settings with DCS's planes.

[@SukhoiGC]

Great points, I agree! BVR is definitely a bit more complex than high altitude missile chucking but the point is valid..especially on growling. Once the F1 & 23 are available, I believe cold war era is where the fun will be for sure. I'm waiting on those two modules, plus the F4 and I'll be content 😌

[@martinlagrange8821]

Already am ! I'm buying the F-5 this weekend before the sale ends, and fly Mirage 2000CZ, F-15, Su-27, MiG-29 and A-10A for preference. I'm waiting breathlessly (like the other South African DCS pilots) for the Mirage F-1, which we are all going to buy the moment it hits the e-shop. Ditto for the F-15E Strike Eagle. Relishing the thought of a full-fidelity MiG-29.

[@Enigma89]

If you get the Migs and Sukhois i would recommend getting FC3 as it will be cheaper to get the bundle.

[@martinlagrange8821]

@@Enigma89 Absolutely, that was my first module purchase along with the F-16. Then came Syria and the Mirage 2000. The F-5 will round out a good mix. I've been flying the F-16 for over 35 years now on the IBM Compatible - From subLOGIC Jet 1.0 in 1986 -> DCS World. But I love the F-15 too, from Strike Eagle I in '86, Janes F-15 (Strike Eagle 4.0 effectively) through the DCS F-15C

[@odysseus9797]

Where would you place the Conquest server on the scale? My favourite feature of Conq. is that they allow all aircraft, but remove all fox3 missiles. Making pvp much more interesting with f1 and f2 only, but still having wide range of planes available.

[@Enigma89]

Conquest deserved to be in there and I shot footage for it, I just quite literally to put it in there towards the end. I added it into the pinned comments. I was working on another Conquest video recently and I mixed them in my mind while I was editing. Conquest has modern planes which they try to mitigate with limited weapons. It's not perfect but it's the best solution with what is in the game. Conquest is probably the best server for PVP in the Mirage or other Fox-1 focused planes.

[@mailman282]

Your 3rd point is not well thought through. In BVR combat, you maneuver to gain the eventual winning position where you can safely shoot the opponent, but he cannot shoot you. This is done with better missile range knowledge/better defense allowing to recommit earlier, or sneaking up and using teamwork and your missiles to locally outnumber your opponent. On top of that, you have much more control in modern fighting as you detect your enemies from far away and can choose to engage / disengage at dozens of miles based on strategic considerations (how many enemy aircraft, how high and organized, do i have to escort strikers or just defend). In cold war, those decisions will at most be made by a human GCI, and usually not even that either because he is incompetent or unwilling to act as an airboss or because there isnt even a human gci. The AMRAAM vs. AMRAAM thing can also be fixed by removing some of the too modern weapons and allowing for the long range fox1s (530, R-27ER) to compete against the early AMRAAM version.

[@Cheezsus]

I grabbed a beer immediately, and tuned in. Great video and great fire topic you provided here. As always man thanks for your content 🤘

[@afatcatfromsweden]

I mean I disagree with a lot of your points but I can 100% see where you’re coming from and am myself looking to get into cold war stuff.

[@Enigma89]

I look forward to hearing your thoughts once you fly around a bit in cold war.

[@iNcog_AoE]

I got into DCS to specifically play on this server. I'm terribly sucky at flying on it but it's so much fun.

[@jik294]

TBH, you're videos are actually what got me started in Picking up some of the Cold War modules. I ended up picking up the MIG-21, Sabre, and the F-5. One of these days I need to actually sit down and learn these modules as I really want to start getting into CW MP servers. Currently, I fly a Lot in the F/A-18, SU-27, Grippen, and SU-30. But, I usually end up finding myself Merging rather than BVR. That's one of the other reasons I finally picked up some CW Modules.

[@Enigma89]

Thanks for sharing, very happy to hear this.

[@jik294]

@@Enigma89 I actually did a little flying on the Enigma CW Server over the weekend in a SU25, was definitely pretty fun till I got shot down by a Viggen, lol. Got pretty far into enemy territory before they spotted me. Pretty sure i flew a little higher than I should have and got picked up. RWR, Picture, and Mk1 Eyeballs are your friend. Definitely plan on doing some more flying in the server next weekend!

[@rexjaneway186]

Absolutely on point, have discussed many times with other players and those era planes are more joy to fly and also they need a pilot un command with F18 and the like I feel more like a systems manager and modern planes are more difficult to keep up with if you leave the simulator for a couple of months.

[@Ariokanikan]

I haven't really gotten into dcs yet, I've just messed around with the free planes for about an hour. I believe you have swayed my future purchases for the better. I was probably going to get pulled into the trap of buying the newest, fanciest plane, but this video has changed my outlook on what dcs really has to offer.

[@julianmorrisco]

Wonderful overview. I personally prefer the warbirds, lots more flying, a lot less computer programming :D. Saying that, I might be changing this view. I’ve been working my way forward in time learning more modules in detail - Sabre and Mig 15 to Mig29 and Viggen, even M2000. I must say, I do agree that these Cold War planes, prior to the 16/18, are really enjoyable. Just enough complexity without having to spend most of an engagement looking at symbology but still with what feels like real(virtual) flying. Before there was FBW. I find myself wishing an earlier Harrier had been released, and although I do like the pure delta of the M2000, I am excited for the F1 with its steam gauges out the whazoo. If it had been the IIIC soon-to-be-released instead, I’d be over the moon. The same goes for choppers. I’m not really enjoying the Apache as much as I’d hoped and not as much as I’ve enjoyed the Huey and the Mi8 and now the 24 which are all wonderful, clunky, creaky but still deadly contraptions.

[@JessicaSeverin]

I completely agree with you and I really only fly cold-war era jets now. They are the most fun for me. Plus I don't fly continuously and sometimes take long breaks. With a MiG21, F86, MiG15, F5, Su25, MiG29, SU27, or even a Viggen I can relearn the systems within a day or two and be back to enjoying the sim. With the FA18 I feel like I need a couple weeks of restudy to get back even 80% of what I had at my best.

[@nighthawk8104]

Yup, worst example is the A10c II, everytime I jump into it I sit there "wait... Where was that, how to get this setup etc." the a10 is a pain when not flown regularly due to how complex that thing is, it's fun but more like a study than anything else. The Ka50 for example I can jump in it after a year and everything works just fine

[@droneexplorer9229]

Very interesting video. Coming up on a year of DCS gameplay with only the hornet. Recently have been wanting a new plane, but for some reason did not even consider cold war. Now I feel like this is the direction I will go for sure.

[@Kingonads]

I agree on every point, and have preached the same things to many people. I love the cold war time frame. Not only did I grow up in it but it was the most "balanced" in DCS.

[@jaeloo]

Id say cold war planes for pvp and modern jets for SP campaingns like zone5 or raven one. Those are awesome

[@XTango01]

I totally agree with you. I usually play at enigma server, with some friends. And I liked the way its modelled. The only thing I would love is to have the chance to use combined armes and actually use the vehicles to fight or play jtac.

[@Cailean556]

I completely agree with you on the Cold War aspect. The F/A-18C and F-16C are great drawcards for DCS however they are out of place considering the majority of modules, and their capabilities. I do think ED and 3rd party developers have realised this, whether they'll admit it publicly or not, which has resulted in more Cold War-appropriate aircraft being developed of late. For the "modern" modules, that have an earlier "Cold War" variant, I'd like to see a "downgrade" module addition that effectively turns those modern jets into Cold War-era jets (F/A-18A+, F-16A Block 15 ADF - specifically as it enables the carriage of AIM-7s, AH-64A etc). This can be manipulated to some extent by server owners and mission makers via restricting weapons on the modern modules, of course, but the Cs still outperform their A forebears with better engines, radars, and avionics, and/or fuel capacity etc. Though I feel the differences in systems and flight characteristics would probably necessitate a completely new module rather than a "simple" downgrade. Personally I think ED should publicly set a hard end-date for new aircraft modules: e.g. For consideration of development in DCS, a particular aircraft or weapon had to have been *accepted into service*, before the end of 1991 (end of the Cold War). There is an absolute plethora of NATO, Soviet and other aircraft (and ships, vehicles and weapons) that can be modelled - not including subvariants of the same aircraft family. Its not only the aircraft modules, its the supporting AI assets as well. A solid timeframe is needed so we can focus on what ships, aircraft, vehicles and weapons were available and what wasn't and start filling those rosters.

[@Enigma89]

Very reasonable and well said in my book

[@Gentamoru]

Definitely getting the F5 and Mirage next sale so I can play on your server :)!

[@Enigma89]

Sounds good!

[@rossmum]

Absolutely nailed it. Mirror matches are boring and the problem is absolutely getting worse for the modern modules, even before you consider how hilariously dominant the EF2000 will be (to the point either it'll be left out of PvP servers, or it'll be the only thing played on both teams in them). Cold War is The Way.

[@plkngtun]

Eagerly awaiting F1 Mirage to hop on your server with.

[@GreyMaulkin]

@2:00 Where does the KA-50 lie in that list?

[@Hotaru-jp]

8:57 stoped playing dcs for one year and half, 13~15 courses average on each semester (it was taking a toll on my health) on uni + had to work. I had a dead hotas warthog base from jan 2020~ july 2021,( bought a new one end of july 2021) and still remember how to fly the f16, a10c, huey, f5 and f15 modules and how to operate their systems, Depends on the person, disposition and other factors, and i would play other games in the mean time (1-3 hours average), i was afraid i wouldn't remember how to turn on these modules. Usually i play DCS at least once a month now, was dying to buy and fly the KIOWA module, so i gave up dcs around october 2021) came back in july 2022 again.

[@CaptainBeano-lz6mm]

I think objectively speaking, the Tomcat, Mig21, Mig19, Huey and Hind are among the best made and produced modules in the game, I personally feel having simplistic systems allows the developers to put more time into the small details that make the cold war modules so unique right down to the flight models. Really hoping the developers out more focus into expanding variety of cold war jets we can fly and judging by the teasers heatblur have put out for the f-4 i think we are gonna be spoilt

[@kingkai83]

ALWAYS HELPFUL!

[@Yung_slav96]

Absolutely love the video and agree fully. Would love to see more videos

[@Zoddom]

Since the M2000C is my main module nowadays, I have to regrettably agree with you. Gotta check out some of those Cold War servers, because its just not fun trying to shoot down F-15s and F-16s with Super 530s...

[@venomousvideo1621]

they should definitely do a flyable F-16A

[@FiresilverTV]

Great video and well presented points.

[@faequeenapril6921]

the reason why I haven't jumped into cold war era yet is because I am still lacking rudder pedals, but because my budget is limited to £100 means im stuck to the cheap ones and im sure you need a good set of rudder pedals for cold war era planes because of lack of fly by wire. But my time is limited so I dont get to fly much because I only have modern modules (including the Mirage 2000C) and when I have the time to fly I have to basically learn all over again, and then I fly less and less and less. I haven't flown in over a year because of uni commitments and because I only have modern modules, but I really wanna play DCS World again because I love it.

[@szabolcsmate5254]

I can see how DCS could also strengthen their WWII implementation too. They missed the mark with the maps so far (one too small, the other too empty), but there is still potential there.

[@Enigma89]

Big potential. If they are able to flesh out that era then it could be a home run.

[@Turloghan]

This whole situation reminds me a times in Janes F-15 playing in multiplayer. Whole community always choose a short range( not all-aspect) IR missiles for server. The same was for Lock-On servers. Nobody wants to be killed instantly without chance to show his own experience.I think the early Cold War MRM like AIM-7 did not destroy balance in DCS, so i think i must dowload DCS soon.