Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!bbn.com!cosell
From: cosell@bbn.com (Bernie Cosell)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: Re: WINGS advice sought
Message-ID: <62659@bbn.BBN.COM>
Date: 11 Feb 91 17:11:28 GMT
References: <44064@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Sender: news@bbn.com
Lines: 50

PYC118@uriacc.uri.edu (Rasiel) writes:

}I don't why you all have so much trouble shooting down planes in Wings....

Me neither, even though *I* was the one who asked.  A million thanks to
the folks who sent me advice, tips, tricks, etc.  Beyond various
advanced tips and such, for others who care I can summarize what I
found to be the three BIGGEST helps in getting started:

1) when you crash START OVER.  Just creating a new pilot and then
pressing on is _madness_: the missions get harder, the enemies get
cleverer[*], and just generally things aren't good for a brand-new
pilot.  On the other hand, if you work your way through the missions
you'll find that your abilities go up and keep you in the running.  A
variant that works real well, too, is simply to snapshot the game
before you start: the file you care about is "reel 2/pilot.dat", and if
you simply checkpoint it you can recover if you get killed.
  [*] for example, after a while they start flying VERY close to the
      ground, and so if you're not reasonably proficient with
      maneuvering you'll find it REAL easy to 'ditch' [or crash]
      inadvertenty.  On the first few missions, the enemy planes mostly
      just circle around waiting for you to get your act together and
      shoot them down... it all seems so easy now... what a difference a
      handful of hints and a week makes! :-)

2) you must *center* the joystick in order to turn.  It is very odd for
me [since I'm a pilot and have much of the dynamics of the control
surfaces very-well ingrained and automatic] but it DOES work and isn't
too hard to get used to once you know that that's what's happening.
Roll over to 30-45 degrees, and then just center the stick.

3) Chasing the enemy playes works, even though it doesn't look like it
is going to.  Once you can get on the tail of an enemy plane, it IS
possible to stay there, although it is a bit tricky, since you'll keep
losing the enemy plane and so have to roll 'blind' to where you think
it ought to be.  But it works: rather than be pointing toward you, the
enemy plane will be in a relatively reasonable position and attitude,
and if you just perserver you can catch up again, get close, get in a
shot or two, and then do it again as the enemy tries to evade you.


Rasiel's hints are wonderful --- many agree with and extend things that
I had kind-of blundered into.  But they're really icing that'll help
you get a lot better --- The above three are the ones taht REALLY made
a difference to me [I"m now around 50-odd missions, thirty-odd kills,
cross de guerre, promoted to Captain, happily humming along].

Thanks all!  Only about 180 or so missions to go!!

  /Bernie\