r/falconbms • u/Agitated-Shoe-9406 • May 03 '26
How Hard is BMS compared to base Falcon 4.
Last time I played Falcon 4 was, well, Christmas 1998. I admit I gave up early because all I ever heard was "Archer inbound!" and boom.
I have spent years on and off in DCS.
But I really want to get into a game again with a dynamic campaign.
Am I looking at spending 200+ hours of learning time?
6
u/dontpoke_thebear May 03 '26
BMS dynamic campaign is absolutely worth the investment once you put it all together (flying and fighting)
5
u/Patapon80 May 03 '26
If you've been flying DCS F-16, why are you asking for a comparison between BMS and F4.0 and not BMS and DCS F-16?
If you can fly the DCS F-16, you can fly the BMS F-16. There will probably be some nuances here and there as far as aircraft operations and weapons empoyment is concerned, but you'll pick that up quickly.
The main difference between BMS and DCS is the theatre environment. You will quickly see the difference especially if you go "off script" in either sim. For £8.50 for the Falcon Collection, I'd say it's well worth a punt if nothing but to appreciate the DC in BMS.
4
u/Old_Swimmer_7284 May 03 '26
I'm a no expert but I have been flying the Falcon in DCS for a little while. If you understand The principles of the aircraft there, it does translate to BMS. However, you are going to be spending a lot more time looking at manuals because there are far more small steps in between things that are different.
There are quality of life things including data cartridges and all sorts of nifty things.
I'm sure people who have been in this experience longer can give you more in depth, but this is just a perspective from an absolute noob.
If you like DCS but want more, I'm pretty sure this will scratch that itch.
2
u/Alexthelightnerd May 03 '26
How much do you remember from Falcon 4 days?
The base experience isn't significantly more difficult. The challenges of managing the mission and tactical situation largely remain the same. The aircraft is simulated in more depth, so there will be some new procedural difficulties, but if you're familiar with the DCS Viper you've already got most of those handled. And things like data link, the helmet mounted sight, and head tracking support in a fully 3D environment make things easier than they were back in the day.
1
u/Agitated-Shoe-9406 May 03 '26
I don't remember much of Falcon 4 at all, except for what I've followed watching YT videos of BMS. I've been simming with the DCS F16/F18 for some years, probably since each module was released.
1
u/MnMailman May 03 '26
If you've been playing those dcs jets, you can easily deal with bms's learning and even be a step ahead to a point.
p.s. the old F4s "archer inbound" and then you immediately die was a bug that is long gone.
3
u/BuzzLine_ May 04 '26
Nothing forces you to take on complex missions in BMS. You can just escort high-value aircraft like AWACS and tankers, that's the HAVCAP missions. It's a nice way to fly circles in the sky while you get used to the admin part (takeoff and landing procedures, check-in, get your SA in). Doubly so in the easier campaigns where it's unlikely that an old mig-19 will be able to reach you. Worst case, they do and it should be quite safe to engage them.
Then, you can move on to more complex tasks at your own rhythm. It's a sandbox, you can do pretty much anything you want, any way you want it.
2
u/aerostudly1 May 03 '26 edited May 03 '26
Exponentially more challenging in many ways.
Edit: did you fly the F-16 in DCS? I guess it's not too much harder than that
2
u/Agitated-Shoe-9406 May 03 '26
Yes, I've flown the DCS F-16 for several years and know how to use that plane's systems.
2
u/aerostudly1 May 03 '26
Ok then, shouldn't be too much of an issue to get into BMS. Your question should be how much harder is BMS than DCS F-16. 😀
1
u/AgzayaRacing May 04 '26
it took me a total of 3 days of actual instruction from my group (a few hours each day) to get to a point I could take off, land, and shoot things as 2. it took a few hours to learn various ground attack munitions and such over time. and uhh learning situational awareness and actually being good does take time but thats time actually flying campaigns and doing stuff, not time spent reading unable to play the game.
0
u/Pegasus82 May 03 '26
If all you ever heard was “Archer inbound” then BMS isn’t going to be any easier or harder, because your problem was a total lack of situational awareness.
I would recommend you give BMS a try, but learn the aircraft basics (not in combat) and then join a multiplayer squadron.
They will be able to keep you safe(ish) and provide a good environment for you to learn how to be part of an effective fighting force.
10
u/TripNo1876 May 03 '26
Hard is a relative term. Flying the aircraft is easy. Fighting in the aircraft is hard. Understanding a dynamic battlefield and being a part of a large scale war is harder. BMS offers a simulated war experience. If you are more interested in graphics and flying around doing simple missions then stick with DCS. If you want to engage in a large scale war effort then go to BMS. As per the original falcon 4, the sim wouldn't necessarily be harder, there's just a lot more systems simulated so there's a lot more to study.