Could somebody please explain how to fly copters in BF?

[koldchillah]

I've mastered just about every other aspect of the game EXCEPT the dang helicopters. I take off but as soon as I tilt the joystick to one side or the other the dang thing just slowly flips over and dives into the ground..
Do you have to re-configure the joystick differently for flying copters vs. planes??
Do I have to use the rudder only and just use the stick for forward & back??

If somebody could be kind enough to explain this one to me, I'd really appreciate it. I've found practicing on empty servers helps out, but I still can't fly very well.

oh btw, I use a basic MS sidewinder joystick for flying..

:D

[ace]

I am not going to be of much help, I use the keyboard and mouse to fly everything. One thing I notice about the choppers is that for every move you make you have to counter it with another. Sounds a little confusing but just like you I went into servers that were empty and practiced.Kepp practicing is really all I can say. :)

[Needlefreak]

Originally posted by koldchillah
I've mastered just about every other aspect of the game EXCEPT the dang helicopters. I take off but as soon as I tilt the joystick to one side or the other the dang thing just slowly flips over and dives into the ground..
Do you have to re-configure the joystick differently for flying copters vs. planes??
Do I have to use the rudder only and just use the stick for forward & back??

If somebody could be kind enough to explain this one to me, I'd really appreciate it. I've found practicing on empty servers helps out, but I still can't fly very well.

oh btw, I use a basic MS sidewinder joystick for flying..

:D

A: ****can the joystick,it's a good stick but ive found it much easier with mouse/keyboard..

B:Here's how I learned...go srtaight up and then give a lil roll with the mouse at the same time press the rudder keys in the opp direction..Keep doing that and learn to balance it.. I'll reinstall ICQ if ya wanna link up and practice..Will not do AIM though..

[koldchillah]

Originally posted by Needlefreak
A: ****can the joystick,it's a good stick but ive found it much easier with mouse/keyboard..

B:Here's how I learned...go srtaight up and then give a lil roll with the mouse at the same time press the rudder keys in the opp direction..Keep doing that and learn to balance it.. I'll reinstall ICQ if ya wanna link up and practice..Will not do AIM though..

so all the true aces I see flyin' copters are using key/mouse?

hmmm.. that means I can only fly copters and then I have to change the config everytime I want to get into a plane? that sux..

but thanks for the tips Needlefreak..:) I'll give it a shot when I get home.. I work 1pm - midnight so it will be late tonight when I try it out... I'll probably be on again tomorrow morning when most people are heading to work. I don't have my ICQ # with me at work but if you give me yours I'll add it when I get home. I like playin' with SGers.. haven't had a chance to play with you DC guys yet..

I use trillian so I have ICQ, AIM, MSN, whatever you want to chat with.. Also I use a separate PC for messaging so I can be in the game and chatting outside the game simultaneously.. just wish I had a microphone so I can start using some of the voice chat stuff that I've been hearing about.. That would add a whole new dimension to the game..

[Mark]

i use a joystick and the key is to keep correcting your movments, if you lean left , you have to lean right to straighten it out.

just use tiny movements and anticipate what it is going to do. takes some time.

i also use 2 keys on the keyboard for alternate throttle and set the joystick throttle in the middle. just keep practicing, if i can learn it you can too :)

[koldchillah]

if your constanty overcorrecting back and forth, how in the world do you actually turn smoothly? nevermind.. I'm just gonna have to wait till I get home tonight and give it a shot...

thanks for the joystick vote snake! I'd hate to ditch it just for copters..

[Blisster]

I use a MS Sidewinder 3d pro. It takes a little getting used to, but you'll get the hang of it. you need to get some altitude and then set the throttle to a 'neutral' hover, meaning your not gaining nor losign altitude. then you nose down the chopper to begin forward movement, and give it just a touch of throttle. I use the rotating axis on my stick for the pedals, which control the right/left rotation of the chopper. I rarely use the pitch (rolling right or left), except to counter other moves and balance out the chopper.

also, practice on the apache as it is the easiers to fly, the Black Hawk is a pain to learn on and the Hind is very heavy so its less responsive.

[koldchillah]

thanks blisster.. good explanation, sounds like I need a rotating axis.. :p

what does rudder left/right do vs. roll left/right? I mean, I understand what each is supposed to do in a plane, but in the copter it seems different..

[Illini25]

This sounds like a job for Mountainman!!! He's quite good with the chopper!

I use a mouse, I cant get my joystick to work for BF :( Im getting better and better with the mouse. The key is no big sudden movements, and dont over compensate your controls. And plus the keys are the opposite when flying the chopper.

[Loonatic]

Think of it as a ball, and a 2x4 with you standing on the 2x4. If you rock left, you need to rock right to correct it. I could never fly them either till I got a joystick and practiced.

Oh, and use 1st person view too.

[thechemgeek]

i'd say pretty much the same as the others. keep the movements tiny...and you need to correct for the movements sooner that you would normally think. for example, if you are rolling the stick to the right....roll back to the left eariler that you would to stop your movement...or to go left. it also helps to have a rudder control and z-axis control on the joystick. it takes some time. at this point i'm able to hover inside the hanger and land on buildings after coming in at full speed. pretty sweet with the passanger one. rudder control is another thing. i'm constantly changing it, keeping it at full when going forwards...but in hover mode...i think it's just as important as the stick adjustments.

[thechemgeek]

i'd say pretty much the same as the others. keep the movements tiny...and you need to correct for the movements sooner that you would normally think. for example, if you are rolling the stick to the right....roll back to the left eariler that you would to stop your movement...or to go left. it also helps to have a rudder control and z-axis control on the joystick. it takes some time. at this point i'm able to hover inside the hanger and land on buildings after coming in at full speed. pretty sweet with the passanger one. rudder control is another thing. i'm constantly changing it, keeping it at full when going forwards...but in hover mode...i think it's just as important as the stick adjustments.

[sito]

and if u start to go out of control, sometimes its's best to simply role with it, don't fight with it.

[koldchillah]

thanks for all the tips.. I can now take off in a helicopter and spin in random circles with no control whatsoever, but somehow I stay in the air so I suppose I've passed the first step.. :p

[sito]

The thing about choppers is that they have a lil more lag time before they start to move in the direction u want, more so than in a plane.

This often results in oversteering cause ppl dont try to cancel their rotation until they see where they wanna be facing. Cancel your rotation before you are facing the direction u want. Even though you are countering your direction it will take a moment to stop rotating.

For now, try keeping the chopper upright, ie. dont lean to the sides with it, use rotation to turn.

Practise going from moving to a dead stop or hover. Then you will be well on your way! ;)

Oh, and practise on the Huey, it's way more tame.