Take On Difficulty Settings!

[RoyaltyinExile]

In the endless and weary road towards usability (surely the devil's work ), we're going to be adding descriptions of difficulties beside the options.

We hope this will encourage people to think a little more about the difficulty they're on, and some of the - perhaps unforeseen - consequences of their choices!

Read more below; we hope they help people enjoy the game (even) more!

Spoiler:

show spoiler

BEGINNER
This mode is designed for players that are completely new to either our game, to flying helicopters, or both!


Flight Dynamics: Many simulation helpers are at your disposal; several are active by default to help get you going - great for keeping you in the air!

Gameplay: Waypoints and tasks are visible in the 3D world, and you can activate various other visual aids - great for getting the job done!


Note: You can still configure various difficulty/ flight dynamics settings from their default values, so you can get started with as much or as little support as you prefer!



TRAINEE
This mode is designed for players that are either new to our game or to the higher-fidelity flight dynamics, but who are familiar with the general principles.


Flight Dynamics: Some flight dynamics helpers are disabled, although others are still at your disposal - great for getting a challenge from the flight model!

Gameplay: Some gameplay helpers are disabled by default, and working out what to do will be less obvious - great for getting a challenge from the game!


Note: You can still configure various difficulty/ flight-dynamics settings from their default values, although some will be locked!

If you're a veteran helicopter pilot, you might select this mode until you're comfortable with many gameplay features and conventions.

You can disable individual flight-dynamics helpers to give you the full experience, while retaining some of the gameplay guides.




EXPERT
This mode is designed for players that are experienced both with our game and complex flight models!


Flight Dynamics: Many simulation helpers are disabled and locked; you'll have to work to keep the bird in the air - great for getting the full experience of our new flight models!

Gameplay: Many guides are disabled by default; you'll have to study your tasks carefully and keep an eye on your instrument panel- Great for getting totally engaged with the tasks at hand!


Note: you can still configure various difficulty/ flight dynamics settings from their default values, although many will be locked.

You should play in this mode once you're comfortable with completing tasks and keeping the helicopter in the air.

Best,
RiE

[WrathPhoenix]

I know i have said this once before in these forums but I would just like to state this again if I may.

I am a huge fan of what you guys do with your products. Both in ARMA and Take On Helicopters I really enjoy having the difficulty scale to the level you have it here. I have, at times, enjoyed just sitting back and enjoying ArmA 2 and the TOH Beta "As a game" and found it fun, entertaining, and still incredibly deep. With Take On specifically I am an ex chopper pilot in reality (Private License) and have cranked up the difficulty to a high setting and lo and behold I have found things pretty spot on.

This is a great thing you guys at BI are doing with your products. Just the right depth while still fun and playable. Keep it up.

[Rg]

Flying on expert mode where it's at once you get used to the basics. Constant input is then required from all controls. Then when you max the wind in the editor things start to get squirrely, but in a fun way of course

I think it would be a good idea to allow clients to turn off aids in the MP environment, so that using certain aids isn't forced on people who fly with minimal or none.

*EDIT*
I went ahead and created a CIT, since I think this will become an important issue when more people start playing MP.
http://dev-heaven.net/issues/25413

[CarlGustaffa]

Yeah, there are two things I've been asking for regarding difficulties:
1) Let the player be able to select higher difficulty than the server suggest, maybe with a "Copy from server" button.
2) An "Ok" button on the difficulty screen, so we don't always have to "Edit", then "Ok", and finally "Back". "Edit", "Ok", and "Cancel" should all be there.

[OMAC]

EXPERT

Flight Dynamics: Many simulation helpers are disabled and locked; you'll have to work to keep the bird in the air - great for getting the full experience of our new flight models!

Gameplay: Many guides are disabled by default; you'll have to study your tasks carefully and keep and eye on your gauges - Great for getting totally engaged with the tasks at hand!

Well done. However, when you refer to "the gauges," you may want to specify that you mean the instrument panel gauges, not the HUD gauges that are disabled by default on Expert.

The disabled HUD is one of the key differences with Trainee - you may want to emphasize that.

Oh, and there's a typo. It should be "... and keep an eye on your gauges..."

[RoyaltyinExile]

Oh, and there's a typo.

Aha, yes.. just an, er... a TEST! To make sure you guys were.. uh.. paying attention!



Best,
RiE

[MadDogX]

Will you be adding "auto hover" to the difficulty settings so that it can be disabled? Unless I'm completely mistaken, there is currently no option for this.

Nice work on the descriptions, btw.

[scarp]

so that it can be disabled?

Easy, just dont use it But I take it you want to force other players i.e multiplayer or missions to go full monty?

[MadDogX]

Easy, just dont use it But I take it you want to force other players i.e multiplayer or missions to go full monty?

I already don't use it, though the temptation is often tough to resist.

And yes, the idea is that - for example - Expert mode could lock this option out, because it really is kind of a cheat.

[scarp]

How come, you have autohover in RL altho, perhaps not in a MD500

I see where you are getting at, I fly full monty myself (retired RLP). Not to start a argue of 'what is best', but I truly enjoy this game so far and I personally do not mind if people not so familiar with rotor flight 'get a hand' whenever they feel they need it....if not for anything but to immerse themselves in heli-op's.

Why?

I am quite confident that those with a genuine interest in helicopters will take on the challenge (heh) and in their own time progressivly stripp themselves of aides and finally fly full monty, while at the same time enjoying it to the fullest throughout the whole process from chicken to chickenhawk .

But that was just one opinion in a million, and I do support an option where you could disable or enable to your heart's content. Total freedom in terms of options...that's what I would vote for