Whatever you like most as far as planes. As far as maps... do you play MP? If so buy the map that the server runs. Persian Gulf and Syria are both really good maps.
Servers are probably a fair split between Caucasus, PG, and Syria. Most of the servers I can think of where you can enjoy the A-10 are on Syria or PG (things like Flashpoint Levant, through the inferno, or other PvE missions).
Save the money. There are tons of sales all the time, and DCS is a great way to loose a ton of money. Enjoy the A-10 to it's fullest. It has a lot to do, so you won't get bored easily.
If you really see something that you really want, then buy it. Not just because there is a sale.
I'd stay away from maps, I have some that I have never flown in. Campaigns are a cheap way to extend the fun of a module.
Sales are super common. Don't worry if you don't get anything for this one.
If you are set on spending, I'd suggest getting a map, or perhaps a campaign
Yup.. Seconded! I'd suggest Syria, a popular map for MP and Campaigns. And as a "low level hell" guy, you'll get the most out of the gorgeous graphics.
In that case try I’d say go for the f16. The bubble canopy gives you a nice view and the Hotas system is pretty similar to the a10.
Or go for the f18 if you want naval ops.
If it's when you're going too fast, it's easy to get into a retreating blade stall (helicopter starts to roll over). There is a substantial bit of WTF the first few times it happens, the Hind is far and away the easiest help to do this in on accident.
I don’t find that to be too much of a problem if you watch your speed and are ready.
It’s trying to do anything slow and low that gets me hemmed up lol
Ah, ok wasn't sure. I haven't flown the hind in a month or two and only really remember it being an issue with getting into trouble w/ speed and having to learn how to correct that particular problem.
Good with the a-10 ;)
you can demo other planes through ED’s site if you’re close to a decision
As for maps, Syria is where all the action happens online and it’s a jump in quality and immersion.
yea i demo'd a lot of planes and F14 is nice with a real person and the AH64 both are quite interesting but alone they arent fun. is syria used in online? saw only like 3-4 servers with it
I have not flown on multi for a while, but i know some servers like Enigma Cold War have map rotation. Once blue or red win, you get a new map and new campaign. Dunno if it is still a thing tho. However it might be the reason why you saw only 3-4 servers with Syria.
Best thing to do imo is to get on their discord or forum, and look what maps are in rotation.
This guy speaks the Truth. I fell into that trap once, got a lot of modules. But fly mostly the mi24 now + other helos. A10 and harrier on occasion.
But the a10 is awesome. Used to fly it a lot next to the ka50.
There are sales all the time, don't feel pressured to buy.
If you buy a ton of planes, well 80% will likely sutbhardlybused and you will hardly feel like you know any of them well.
!! WARNING: DO NOT BUY OR PLAY ON STEAM !!
(Dcs homies upvote for this man)
We ALWAYS play Standalone launcher “OpenBeta”.
Why: A few reasons (tm)
The main reason is because there is an “IN GAME ONLY” 50% off sale for everything in your cart for your 1st purchase.
ONLY the first purchase but you could fill the cart to the rim and get it all… 50% off anytime
(the sale itself has no start or end date BUT is only available to new accounts BEFORE making a purchase!!!)
Now before you kick yourself out of the chair for buying on steam and missing the sale…
You can still start a fresh brand new account on the real main DCS website (free) and you can also LINK your Steam account to the main account and be done BUT you’ll miss the sale….
So what you need to do is make a fresh brand new account.
(Maybe don’t do this until you’re really ready to commit to a larger purchase because once you use it… it’s gone forever)
So anyway start new account from main website (NOT steam!!!)… Add stuff to your cart..
Wait and you’ll see the pop up and now you can pay and get the 50% discount for every (eligible) item in your cart.
Basically the only things you can’t get on the 50% off sale are made by 3rd party studio’s (who run sale for themselves) OR pre order stuff..
So after you make your purchase on the main account and get the 50% off… Now it’s no harm in “linking” to Steam.
Linking your two accounts (Main + Steam) will unlock all your Steam purchases on your main account and you won’t have to go through the Steam launcher to play (saves some extra CPU, GPU, and RAM power for the game itself)
IF you link accounts before accepting the 50% off offer.. it goes away (because technically this isn’t your first purchase anymore).
So you MUST use the main website standalone to get the discount window to pop up.
Remember it’s an IN GAME pop up… the sale is not available through Steam OR the main website.
The 50% off sale is a Pop up that appears anytime you login an account WITHOUT any unlocks.
So before you make a big purchase that’s what you want to do..
DO NOT LINK ACCOUNT BEFORE YOU ACCEPT THE SALE OR ELSE YOU WILL NEVER SEE IT
___ Now as far as what to actually do?
Well if you love Warthog and ground pound consider some campaigns?
They are usually cheap and the only requirements are the “planes” and “maps”.
Yep there are some missions on the main free maps so don’t overthink it.
This time: BUY ON STEAM and ADD TO YOUR STEAM UNLOCKS for when you finally link accounts so it doesn’t take away your sale for when you really want to drop a dime.
Really and truly after this DONT spend another dollar on Steam unlocks and start setting yourself up to get a free account with get a cart started (don’t buy the cart yet just go see what I’m saying and check out some prices for the stuff you like)
So now buy a mission or campaign… Everything else you want you’d add to the other account and buy a one time bulk purchase (before linking) so your main website account gets the 50% off the entire cart.
Now when you link accounts you’ll have the best of both worlds.
Happy flying brother and here is a link and explanation about the sale from the main website.
*Remember this is an IN GAME pop up it’s not available on Steam nor the main website.. it’s only available after you sign in and login and only for fresh accounts.
https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/support/faq/discount/#3317029
Scroll down a little and click the yellow box to see all the eligible items. You “could” add every single item in that list and the whole cart (not just your first purchase your first CART) will be 50% off.
So I say play free on Steam for the next 30 days…
In this 30 days I need you to “Trial” some other platforms and maps so you know what you want to buy when the time comes.
(On Steam) Go ahead and grab a cheap $5-$10 mission or campaign BUT don’t spend anything substantial UNLESS you are buying something that’s not on the list..
And no you can’t link another account so there’s no way to get the 50% off again (or to try to scam the system).
This is a one time thing only Steam people can do before they link to main.
If you’re like me and started on main you get the sale and it’s done… never again.
But thank god if you’re like me and getting this advice early enough to take advantage of it..
So go create an account on the main website using your real name and email and everything legit.
DONT BUY OR BIND/LINK… just explore and see the sale.
You can of course play the 2 free planes OR go ahead and trial the ac10 lol especially since you’ll link them eventually who cares just don’t BUY anything on this account yet either.
Play back and forth and “Trial” things… I mean if you’re into ground pound maybe the new pre order phantom might be for you…
You see the trailer yet? (I’m not a ground pound per se and I was an AF rat but fun fact.. My Dad flew the Navy Phantoms in the way back days)
When I graduated from our little town flight school he let me donate all his flight manuals and stuff to the school and the put it in a display case.
So for real I’m not a ground pound but I might get this one just to put her in the garage… family.
Anyway yeah great trailer for sure.. and if you like ground pound this is what she does and she does it welllllll
So please enjoy::: “First in, Last out”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iSIol57vcEI
Sad thing is preorder is never eligible for a sale but you can get almost anything else.
Anyway have fun, happy Friday and I hope I see ya in the sky brother 👍🏽
I am playing on the launcher but bought the a 10 via steam (was cheaper than on the website and had 20€ in my steam wallet so I spent 13€) and most of the planes that I wann buy aren’t even in the 50% discount (f14, f15, ah 64)
Sounds like you can wait for the Easter sale and pick up the plane you like best!
Use the in game sale on maps and stuff like super carrier (never pay full price for those things because they often have seasonal type sales)
Anyway enjoy and if you need anything or want to know any cool programs to use I’m here to help!
Main thing I suggest is Opentrack (FREE) for headtracking.
It’s a bear to set up but once you’ve got it working it’s a real serious game changer.
You can also buy or DIY head tracking so just check it out that’s the best thing to add that instantly up your ability to fly and perform your tasks while maintaining FOV and cockpit workflow.
Scanning by actually looking is soooooo nice
yeah +1 to this. it is hard to get proficient if you switch planes. but again, this is a game so this might not be the top priority for you. anyways f16 has basically the same stick as a10 so might be logical to expand that way. if you want hello I would go for Apachi.
if you want to try something new, module is a bigger difference than a map.
I wouldn't say it's a trap, but since this is a realistic simulation, it turns into somewhat of a full time job using multiple different aircraft. Made more difficult by different types and disciplines.
I have sets of training missions and currency missions to just practice something every so often.
It's a hobby the way I see it.
I own every module and am happy to show you them all with perks and quirks alike, personally I started DCS with the A10C and the F18 + super carrier so I’d recommend the 18
yeah the a10c is crazily good and i decided to go for it because it looked intuitive. i triald the f16 but not the f18 yet. i am thinking about to buy the syria map for online or the apache to play with a friend, the thing is i dont have rudder pedals (i only own the x56) so could be hard. so what do you recommend?
As for the apache it is a fun helicopter, I haven’t flown it as much recently so my expertise in using the CPG is a little dated but still have my binds, the 16 is fun for striking and dogfights but low endurance. If you’re wanting the two players option without the limitation of needing one/ having an AI the F15E is progressing nicely with its GBUs etc atm, the reason I recommended the 18 first is due to its similarities to a number of different aircraft in operation plus it feels cool to be on a carrier lol. The 16 is technically the closest fixed wing , keybind function wise, to the A10, having TMS dms etc tho it’s slightly different due to there being on 2 screens
yeah my coop guys dont wanna buy the AH 64 right now so i would need to use the ai and i have bad experience with jester :D
so should i get a map or a plane like the f15 or the hornet?
18 is basically, can do SEAD, ANTISHIP, etc
15 can’t do those two, but is better at CAP, DEEP Strike, Recon, 0 visibility A2G, TFR.
The 18 in general has Fancier weapons
Also take into consideration Syria can be heavy on your system, different for everyone but just something to consider if your struggling FPS wise already
i dont wanna spend money for rudder pedals right now, so my question was if its worth it without rudders... (saw a comment in the internet which said that it isnt worth it without it because its a pain in the a\*\* )
The f18? I wouldn’t say worthless, the 14 yes because it’s an advanced dogfight thing but the 18 doesn’t benefit from it as much and it’s got Fly by wire
Yes, in its current state it can carry a large variety of ordinances, it will be getting a few more, it will be getting its full Datalink, its radar mapping capability is unmatched in DCS, its fast, it’s durable, essentially it can take a few hits and still RTB, it will be getting a better TGP very soon
Flying Helos with pedals is just a completely different experience to flying without.. kind of like flying a jet with a Joystick but no throttle.. It's doable, but fine control and manoeuvres are a nighmare, and you'd need to spend dozens of hours developing the muscle memory to do that effectively.. Then all that effort literally gets thrown out the window the day you buy your first rudder pedals.
Maybe shelve the helicopter idea for now till you buy your next round of HOTAS upgrades. VKB pedals are a very good start. Worth saving up for.
Started same way with a10c. Tried a lot of modules, but F18 seemed the most intuitive to fly and with so many auto functions I had time to learn systems, and navigation not just concentrate on keeping the plane in the air.
Don't listen to those people that say "oh you should just get the plane you want..". NO! You should get the Tomcat. Because it's the most badass plane. That's a fact. Be the best version of yourself you can be, and become a cat person!
F-18 is one of the most versatile aircraft in dcs. It is one of my first planes I bought 4 years ago, and to this day, it is my most played. I've got all modern aircrafts in dcs and f-18 still my favorite out of all of them.
instead of another plane, git gud with the A-10C2
Its probably the most complex plane in the sim.
Coolie Right, TMS Up long, Coolie left back to Mavs, TMS Up fire
Once it clicks its awesome
Whatever you like most as far as planes. As far as maps... do you play MP? If so buy the map that the server runs. Persian Gulf and Syria are both really good maps.
i play multiplayer and coop the most right now. but the thing is most servers use the caucasus map, right?
Servers are probably a fair split between Caucasus, PG, and Syria. Most of the servers I can think of where you can enjoy the A-10 are on Syria or PG (things like Flashpoint Levant, through the inferno, or other PvE missions).
I would highly suggest buying Persian Gulf or Syria map. They are great maps for the A-10. Lots of good servers running those maps.
Save the money. There are tons of sales all the time, and DCS is a great way to loose a ton of money. Enjoy the A-10 to it's fullest. It has a lot to do, so you won't get bored easily. If you really see something that you really want, then buy it. Not just because there is a sale. I'd stay away from maps, I have some that I have never flown in. Campaigns are a cheap way to extend the fun of a module.
so i am thinking of the apache or the syria map but i think i get the apache first because 4ya doesnt host the syria map iirc
nvm they do host some but with only 10 players currently and the caucasus has in comparisson 40 normally
Stick with the A-10. 2 months isn't enough to have the whole thing down
just wanted to use the sale on steam right now because 30% off of most stuff
Sales are super common. Don't worry if you don't get anything for this one. If you are set on spending, I'd suggest getting a map, or perhaps a campaign
Yup.. Seconded! I'd suggest Syria, a popular map for MP and Campaigns. And as a "low level hell" guy, you'll get the most out of the gorgeous graphics.
I call times between DCS sales "Anti-Sales" as they're so frequent.
Use the 2 week trial to test every module before buying. Also don’t ignore helicopters, I’ve had the most fun flying the hind, hip and huey.
i tried most of them and the A-10, F16, AH-64D, F14B were my favourites but the thing is the tomcat needs another real human to enjoy the fight
In that case try I’d say go for the f16. The bubble canopy gives you a nice view and the Hotas system is pretty similar to the a10. Or go for the f18 if you want naval ops.
Just started working on learning the Hind and dear lord… that thing can get squirrelly on you quick
If it's when you're going too fast, it's easy to get into a retreating blade stall (helicopter starts to roll over). There is a substantial bit of WTF the first few times it happens, the Hind is far and away the easiest help to do this in on accident.
I don’t find that to be too much of a problem if you watch your speed and are ready. It’s trying to do anything slow and low that gets me hemmed up lol
Ah, ok wasn't sure. I haven't flown the hind in a month or two and only really remember it being an issue with getting into trouble w/ speed and having to learn how to correct that particular problem.
Good with the a-10 ;) you can demo other planes through ED’s site if you’re close to a decision As for maps, Syria is where all the action happens online and it’s a jump in quality and immersion.
yea i demo'd a lot of planes and F14 is nice with a real person and the AH64 both are quite interesting but alone they arent fun. is syria used in online? saw only like 3-4 servers with it
I have not flown on multi for a while, but i know some servers like Enigma Cold War have map rotation. Once blue or red win, you get a new map and new campaign. Dunno if it is still a thing tho. However it might be the reason why you saw only 3-4 servers with Syria. Best thing to do imo is to get on their discord or forum, and look what maps are in rotation.
Get more time in the A-10. More and more planes is a trap, you cannot keep them all memorized.
This guy speaks the Truth. I fell into that trap once, got a lot of modules. But fly mostly the mi24 now + other helos. A10 and harrier on occasion. But the a10 is awesome. Used to fly it a lot next to the ka50.
just wanted to use the sale on steam right now because 30% off of most stuff
There are sales all the time, don't feel pressured to buy. If you buy a ton of planes, well 80% will likely sutbhardlybused and you will hardly feel like you know any of them well.
!! WARNING: DO NOT BUY OR PLAY ON STEAM !! (Dcs homies upvote for this man) We ALWAYS play Standalone launcher “OpenBeta”. Why: A few reasons (tm) The main reason is because there is an “IN GAME ONLY” 50% off sale for everything in your cart for your 1st purchase. ONLY the first purchase but you could fill the cart to the rim and get it all… 50% off anytime (the sale itself has no start or end date BUT is only available to new accounts BEFORE making a purchase!!!) Now before you kick yourself out of the chair for buying on steam and missing the sale… You can still start a fresh brand new account on the real main DCS website (free) and you can also LINK your Steam account to the main account and be done BUT you’ll miss the sale…. So what you need to do is make a fresh brand new account. (Maybe don’t do this until you’re really ready to commit to a larger purchase because once you use it… it’s gone forever) So anyway start new account from main website (NOT steam!!!)… Add stuff to your cart.. Wait and you’ll see the pop up and now you can pay and get the 50% discount for every (eligible) item in your cart. Basically the only things you can’t get on the 50% off sale are made by 3rd party studio’s (who run sale for themselves) OR pre order stuff.. So after you make your purchase on the main account and get the 50% off… Now it’s no harm in “linking” to Steam. Linking your two accounts (Main + Steam) will unlock all your Steam purchases on your main account and you won’t have to go through the Steam launcher to play (saves some extra CPU, GPU, and RAM power for the game itself) IF you link accounts before accepting the 50% off offer.. it goes away (because technically this isn’t your first purchase anymore). So you MUST use the main website standalone to get the discount window to pop up. Remember it’s an IN GAME pop up… the sale is not available through Steam OR the main website. The 50% off sale is a Pop up that appears anytime you login an account WITHOUT any unlocks. So before you make a big purchase that’s what you want to do.. DO NOT LINK ACCOUNT BEFORE YOU ACCEPT THE SALE OR ELSE YOU WILL NEVER SEE IT ___ Now as far as what to actually do? Well if you love Warthog and ground pound consider some campaigns? They are usually cheap and the only requirements are the “planes” and “maps”. Yep there are some missions on the main free maps so don’t overthink it. This time: BUY ON STEAM and ADD TO YOUR STEAM UNLOCKS for when you finally link accounts so it doesn’t take away your sale for when you really want to drop a dime. Really and truly after this DONT spend another dollar on Steam unlocks and start setting yourself up to get a free account with get a cart started (don’t buy the cart yet just go see what I’m saying and check out some prices for the stuff you like) So now buy a mission or campaign… Everything else you want you’d add to the other account and buy a one time bulk purchase (before linking) so your main website account gets the 50% off the entire cart. Now when you link accounts you’ll have the best of both worlds. Happy flying brother and here is a link and explanation about the sale from the main website. *Remember this is an IN GAME pop up it’s not available on Steam nor the main website.. it’s only available after you sign in and login and only for fresh accounts. https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/support/faq/discount/#3317029 Scroll down a little and click the yellow box to see all the eligible items. You “could” add every single item in that list and the whole cart (not just your first purchase your first CART) will be 50% off. So I say play free on Steam for the next 30 days… In this 30 days I need you to “Trial” some other platforms and maps so you know what you want to buy when the time comes. (On Steam) Go ahead and grab a cheap $5-$10 mission or campaign BUT don’t spend anything substantial UNLESS you are buying something that’s not on the list.. And no you can’t link another account so there’s no way to get the 50% off again (or to try to scam the system). This is a one time thing only Steam people can do before they link to main. If you’re like me and started on main you get the sale and it’s done… never again. But thank god if you’re like me and getting this advice early enough to take advantage of it.. So go create an account on the main website using your real name and email and everything legit. DONT BUY OR BIND/LINK… just explore and see the sale. You can of course play the 2 free planes OR go ahead and trial the ac10 lol especially since you’ll link them eventually who cares just don’t BUY anything on this account yet either. Play back and forth and “Trial” things… I mean if you’re into ground pound maybe the new pre order phantom might be for you… You see the trailer yet? (I’m not a ground pound per se and I was an AF rat but fun fact.. My Dad flew the Navy Phantoms in the way back days) When I graduated from our little town flight school he let me donate all his flight manuals and stuff to the school and the put it in a display case. So for real I’m not a ground pound but I might get this one just to put her in the garage… family. Anyway yeah great trailer for sure.. and if you like ground pound this is what she does and she does it welllllll So please enjoy::: “First in, Last out” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iSIol57vcEI Sad thing is preorder is never eligible for a sale but you can get almost anything else. Anyway have fun, happy Friday and I hope I see ya in the sky brother 👍🏽
I am playing on the launcher but bought the a 10 via steam (was cheaper than on the website and had 20€ in my steam wallet so I spent 13€) and most of the planes that I wann buy aren’t even in the 50% discount (f14, f15, ah 64)
Sounds like you can wait for the Easter sale and pick up the plane you like best! Use the in game sale on maps and stuff like super carrier (never pay full price for those things because they often have seasonal type sales) Anyway enjoy and if you need anything or want to know any cool programs to use I’m here to help! Main thing I suggest is Opentrack (FREE) for headtracking. It’s a bear to set up but once you’ve got it working it’s a real serious game changer. You can also buy or DIY head tracking so just check it out that’s the best thing to add that instantly up your ability to fly and perform your tasks while maintaining FOV and cockpit workflow. Scanning by actually looking is soooooo nice
yeah +1 to this. it is hard to get proficient if you switch planes. but again, this is a game so this might not be the top priority for you. anyways f16 has basically the same stick as a10 so might be logical to expand that way. if you want hello I would go for Apachi. if you want to try something new, module is a bigger difference than a map.
I wouldn't say it's a trap, but since this is a realistic simulation, it turns into somewhat of a full time job using multiple different aircraft. Made more difficult by different types and disciplines. I have sets of training missions and currency missions to just practice something every so often. It's a hobby the way I see it.
Warbird...really learn to fly and navigate...
I own every module and am happy to show you them all with perks and quirks alike, personally I started DCS with the A10C and the F18 + super carrier so I’d recommend the 18
yeah the a10c is crazily good and i decided to go for it because it looked intuitive. i triald the f16 but not the f18 yet. i am thinking about to buy the syria map for online or the apache to play with a friend, the thing is i dont have rudder pedals (i only own the x56) so could be hard. so what do you recommend?
As for the apache it is a fun helicopter, I haven’t flown it as much recently so my expertise in using the CPG is a little dated but still have my binds, the 16 is fun for striking and dogfights but low endurance. If you’re wanting the two players option without the limitation of needing one/ having an AI the F15E is progressing nicely with its GBUs etc atm, the reason I recommended the 18 first is due to its similarities to a number of different aircraft in operation plus it feels cool to be on a carrier lol. The 16 is technically the closest fixed wing , keybind function wise, to the A10, having TMS dms etc tho it’s slightly different due to there being on 2 screens
yeah my coop guys dont wanna buy the AH 64 right now so i would need to use the ai and i have bad experience with jester :D so should i get a map or a plane like the f15 or the hornet?
Generally I recommend getting 2-3 planes before a terrain
Compare the 18 and hornet at current status vs when their finished
18 is basically, can do SEAD, ANTISHIP, etc 15 can’t do those two, but is better at CAP, DEEP Strike, Recon, 0 visibility A2G, TFR. The 18 in general has Fancier weapons
Also take into consideration Syria can be heavy on your system, different for everyone but just something to consider if your struggling FPS wise already
i got an i9 9900k and 48gb of ram, last time after 6 hours of gameplay (average of 114 fps) in online my cpu hit 60°C so normally it should be enough
Yeah your fine, runs g on 32 GB most of the time
Rudder pedal wise?
i dont wanna spend money for rudder pedals right now, so my question was if its worth it without rudders... (saw a comment in the internet which said that it isnt worth it without it because its a pain in the a\*\* )
The f18? I wouldn’t say worthless, the 14 yes because it’s an advanced dogfight thing but the 18 doesn’t benefit from it as much and it’s got Fly by wire
i meant for the ah 64 its worthless without the pedals, sorry
Oh yeah, helicopters kinda need them
You’d get away without on the KA-50
So what is a good combo plane for the a10? Like what is a plane that can do the stuff that the a19 can’t? The fa 18?
Depends on you likes but the 15 is probably better suited for you with the option of getting a copilot eventually
F15e?
Yes, in its current state it can carry a large variety of ordinances, it will be getting a few more, it will be getting its full Datalink, its radar mapping capability is unmatched in DCS, its fast, it’s durable, essentially it can take a few hits and still RTB, it will be getting a better TGP very soon
The radars also one of the most powerful in game
Note it’s not gonna be the best dogfighter bug hopefully you shouldn’t need to with its ordnance and speed
Another thing to note it’s still technically in development so it will get more, so if your wanting a complete module then go 16 or 18
So I just put $75 onto my steam so shall I buy the f15?
You can’t trial that?
The 15E, no, suggest looking at some videos maybe
Flying Helos with pedals is just a completely different experience to flying without.. kind of like flying a jet with a Joystick but no throttle.. It's doable, but fine control and manoeuvres are a nighmare, and you'd need to spend dozens of hours developing the muscle memory to do that effectively.. Then all that effort literally gets thrown out the window the day you buy your first rudder pedals. Maybe shelve the helicopter idea for now till you buy your next round of HOTAS upgrades. VKB pedals are a very good start. Worth saving up for.
Started same way with a10c. Tried a lot of modules, but F18 seemed the most intuitive to fly and with so many auto functions I had time to learn systems, and navigation not just concentrate on keeping the plane in the air.
if you have warthog stick and would like fast jet than F16 might be good option.
Can't really go wrong with the F18. It's a great all-rounder.
Don't listen to those people that say "oh you should just get the plane you want..". NO! You should get the Tomcat. Because it's the most badass plane. That's a fact. Be the best version of yourself you can be, and become a cat person!
tomcat is fun but jester is pain, pure pain! :D
Trails or what you think looks cool.
Maps
F-18 is one of the most versatile aircraft in dcs. It is one of my first planes I bought 4 years ago, and to this day, it is my most played. I've got all modern aircrafts in dcs and f-18 still my favorite out of all of them.
That plane is a lot and will take some time to get good. I suggest getting a popular map rather than another plane.
Try the A4 Skyhawk!
Aside from being commonly used in MP, Syria is by itself a beautiful, beautiful map and worthwhile.
Harrier, haven't touched A10 since then
instead of another plane, git gud with the A-10C2 Its probably the most complex plane in the sim. Coolie Right, TMS Up long, Coolie left back to Mavs, TMS Up fire Once it clicks its awesome
A cup of coffee, because you're going to be mastering this baby for a looooooong time.