BF3 tips, tricks and tutorials

Krieg

I thought it would be nice to have a thread where we can share info. There are a lot of kits, gadgets and vehicles. Might also be of some use those who are new to the series.


- Parachute will not deploy unless height is higher than 2 story building. Any less and you will receive fall damage. I have had cases where the chute deployed but I still received full fall damage, may just be a bug. But tip still applies, careful what you jump off

- Tanks take double damage from rear hits. So as an AT soldier try and aim for the rear of the tank. Tank drivers, if you are under fire, position the front of your tank in the direction of the oncoming fire so you take less damage.

- Repair tool can also damage vehicles. Its slow but often you can do enough damage to disable the tank as the driver is expecting damage in the form of incoming fire.However, He will know the tank is being damaged when warning signals start going off.


Gadgets

Recon radio beacon: This creates a spawn point which your team can use to spawn.
Very helpful when when your team are stuck with one control point on conquest. However, the beacon is revealed to the enemy and can be destroyed by small arms fire.

Engineer EOD bot: used for repairing friendly vehicles and planting at the MCOMs. I havent found this gadget particularly good. It sometimes gets stuck in rubble and it takes some time to get used to the steering (could be easier on consoles?)

Engineer mines: I have found these very effective. It takes around 2/3 mines to take down a tank. Try and plant them in bottleneck areas and try and plant them near debris/rubble to make them blend in. Nobody seems to look out for mines either.

Dean_Mc

1: Before diving out of cover take a second to look around and hit your acquire button [back] [select] [q]. This will let you spot enemies and make it easier to plan your attack.

2: Shotguns have the ability to gain scopes, while it doesn't help the range all that much the non zooms help with aiming the shot and the longer ones are great for recon (since you can fire from the hip)

3: Be a friendly team mate, if you have ammo packs or health and run into a squaddy, dish them puppies out.

Sisko

Anyone got any tips for using the rockets while piloting choppers?

They seem hard to predict where they'll hit compared to the cross hair. They don't seem to do much damage either but I get the impression I'm missing something.

BlitzKrieg

Sisko wrote: »

Anyone got any tips for using the rockets while piloting choppers?

They seem hard to predict where they'll hit compared to the cross hair. They don't seem to do much damage either but I get the impression I'm missing something.

I find they tend to hit just below your target so I always aim just above what I am shooting at for best effect.

nkay1985

Great idea for a thread as I'm one of those people you mention in the OP who's completely new to the series. I've only played a limited amount of Black Ops, a bit more MW2 and a fair bit of good old CoD2 on the pc back in college so I'm not even that experienced with shooters in general. Any tips would, therefore, be very welcome! And playing games with people who know what they're doing too!

sssssiiiiimon

Great thread idea I'm a complete battlefield noob. Inwas a cod player until I realised its **** and battlefield is unreal in comparison.

It would be nice to have an explanation of different classes and the ways to navigate through them eg change weapons and different attributes.

I also have not her specific questions

1. Do weapons change in classes during different rounds. I taught one round I had a ump or some smg then the next it was a assault riffle or something.

2. Does anybody have specific strategy for different game types.

3. Are the 4 peron squad games more strategic. Eg more team play.

4. Are there kill streak rewards

5. What is the best set up for a beginner.

6. What are the easiest maps to get started on.

Thanks.

Spear

sssssiiiiimon wrote: »

1. Do weapons change in classes during different rounds. I taught one round I had a ump or some smg then the next it was a assault riffle or something.

There are faction specific weapons, and the rest are unlocks available to all.

4. Are there kill streak rewards

Thankfully not.

5. What is the best set up for a beginner.

Starting out, there's little choice due to basic weapons and kit.

6. What are the easiest maps to get started on.

Thanks.

I'd say the more open and slightly less meat grinder conquest maps are. But some don't suit conquest, such as Damavend Peak and Metro. Caspian or the Canals maybe.

dreamers75

2 Stingers fired at the same time will disable a chopper every time.

Even if manages to land on the boat and try to repair it

Zillah

Am I mental or is there no way to gauge distance while sniping? Is it purely a question of firing off a few shots to see how much they'll drop and adjusting accordingly?

Because some of the scopes have a drop/range scale, but that is completely and utterly useless without some sort of range-finder.

nkay1985

Zillah wrote: »

Am I mental or is there no way to gauge distance while sniping? Is it purely a question of firing off a few shots to see how much they'll drop and adjusting accordingly?

Because some of the scopes have a drop/range scale, but that is completely and utterly useless without some sort of range-finder.

Yeah I see where you're coming from. Maybe it's just a matter of getting used to gauging the distance. I have to say though that I am enjoying the sniping. It's something I used to really like in CoD2 so it's nice that this game is very open to that style of play. Just need to learn some of the maps a bit better. And hope my server connection doesn't keep crapping out like it did when I was having my best game as Recon!

Krieg

sssssiiiiimon wrote: »

1. Do weapons change in classes during different rounds. I taught one round I had a ump or some smg then the next it was a assault riffle or something.

As spear said, those are faction specific. You could divide the weapon selection into 3 categories - faction, class specific and General.
Faction weapons are the likes of ak-74u. The class specific weapons are unlocked while you use that class, no other class can use them. General weapons can be used by any class, example shotguns and UMP.

sssssiiiiimon wrote: »

2. Does anybody have specific strategy for different game types.

Strategy will often come down to the area of the map you are currently and how well your team is performing.

But a good little tactic for conquest is flanking with small fast vehicles. The capture point thats furthest away is usually undefended, even on 64 player maps. You can **** with the enemy by taking that point and then making them fight a battle on 2 fronts.

In rush, use smoke when you unlock it. Very effective way of limiting the other teams view and make it easier for your team to push forward.

sssssiiiiimon wrote: »

3. Are the 4 peron squad games more strategic. Eg more team play.

Yes and no. Some people still like to lonewolf the game but for the most part the squad setup in BF does push you into teamwork. The ability to spawn on other members mean that all 4 of you are often in close proximity and taking the same objectives. If you are capping a flag, a team mate trying to decide a spawn point will see you on the minimap and want capture assist points so they spawn on you. But the teamplay doesnt go much further than that, you do help each other out but there usually isnt much communication between squad members, kind of telepathic

Klair88

anyone have any tips for levelling up in choppers or jets, got the hang of flying them but not aiming and shooting. Its really hard especially the jet!

sssssiiiiimon

Thanks for all the reply's guys. Really useful stuff. It would be nice if I could get in a game with you guys just to see it all in action. I'm ps3 on most nights after 10.

copeyhagen

have had a fair few suicides by jumping from buildings and hitting parachute, only for it not to deploy.. lol

have found the sniping impossible on my current setup.

in bfbc2 i played panama canal only, and LOVED the sniping in it.

i need a nice open map, roll on strike at karkand!!

Krieg

Klair88 wrote: »

anyone have any tips for levelling up in choppers or jets, got the hang of flying them but not aiming and shooting. Its really hard especially the jet!

Not really, all you can do is use the jets and heli's when you get a chance and learn from experience.

This guy has a good video tutorial on the introduction to flying

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkPsGauBb9s

Its a pity we cant join empty servers and practice on heli's/jets.

copeyhagen

anybody using the mouse for helis?

mozattack

I've unlocked the explosions add on thingy.

I can now throw down 6 mines in one life. In BC2 you could only have a maximum of 6 mines active at any one time, e.g. leave down 6 and when you go to leave down more the earlier one disappear. I assume this happens again in BF3 but does anyone know for certain?

TheFairy

When playing Conquest and you are dead waiting to spawn, cycle around all the flags you have possession of. Look at the graphic of each flag and see if its moving up or down, this will tell you that something is happening at the flag, ie its being taken or was under attack, spawn at this flag.

TheFairy

copeyhagen wrote: »

anybody using the mouse for helis?

Yes why? Works great for the choppers, and to an extent for the planes, however in planes turns can be harder.

hightower1

Anyone have any tips for the jets / choppers? Finding the VERY difficult to controll, not intuative at all tbh. I tend to just leave them be as I dont want to take an asset that more experienced players would put to better effect.

Cant get over how difficult they are to fly compared to other games that include vehicals?


- As for my own noob tip! If your in a ground vehical..... dont leave people in the dust. I have seen this happen a few times, people just tear ass past folks who just spawned miles away from the action and had room in the vehical to spare. Give a guy a lift or at least offer one!

Krieg

How to exit a vehicle where you want

Handy when you are staring down a tank

- Scopes are not always a good thing, even the reflex (Non zoom) scope. A scope can limit your view as opposed to ironsights.

- Flashlights can blind the enemy but they can also blind your team mates, keep that in mind and try and keep your flashlight pointed below head height when near friendlys. Alternatively press "t" to turn it off (I dont know the console button). Same with lasers.

- Most vehicles have a turbo option. Jets have afterburner and tanks/jeeps have turbo. This will allow you to travel much faster and there is no cooldown on it, use the shift key on PC.

Burgo

Krieg wrote: »

- Scopes are not always a good thing, even the reflex (Non zoom) scope. A scope can limit your view as opposed to ironsights. Also scopes will give off a glint so the enemy is something to shoot at when there is distance.

QUOTE]

Pretty sure only the Rifle scopes glint, havent seen any others do it.

Mossay

Tanks: Get the thermal vision. Use it.

Shy_Dave!

I think only scopes above 6x zoom glint?

iColdFusion

Spot, spot, spot!
It's the "back" button on 360 and its my first reaction 90% of the time as it gives your team a huge tactical advantage to flank, outmaneuver, ambush and generally annihilate the enemy

Zomg Okay

The second co-op mission is great for practicing flying attack choppers/manning the gunner's seat.

RMD

iColdFusion wrote: »

Spot, spot, spot!
It's the "back" button on 360 and its my first reaction 90% of the time as it gives your team a huge tactical advantage to flank, outmaneuver, ambush and generally annihilate the enemy

Not to mention at distance it helps you track an enemies position, and if you can't get him you can get 20 points for spotting him anyway.

Krieg

Burgo wrote: »

Krieg wrote: »

- Scopes are not always a good thing, even the reflex (Non zoom) scope. A scope can limit your view as opposed to ironsights. Also scopes will give off a glint so the enemy is something to shoot at when there is distance.

Pretty sure only the Rifle scopes glint, havent seen any others do it.

cheers for the correction, ill remove that

Zillah

copeyhagen wrote: »

anybody using the mouse for helis?

Here's a weird tip for learning to fly the chopper:
Play on an empty server for BF2. The mechanics are almost identical. My skills transferred over perfectly. Only difference is that you have to invert the mouse in BF3, and I think the chopper is a tiny bit more sluggish in BF3. Jets are very similar too.

Frankly I think the choice to make it impossible to host a BF3 game at home is retarded.

My favourite play style at the moment is using the x4 scope with the starting Recon rifle. Long range sniping isn't an option but its brilliant for medium range.

hightower1 wrote: »

Cant get over how difficult they are to fly compared to other games that include vehicals?

Their instability turns into manoeuvrability once you get used to it. Like people. Standing on two legs is far less stable than on four, but with a brain to control it properly, we're able to dodge around like no four legged animal. Same deal, the chopper might seem like it flips or veers far too easily, but once you get used to it you can use that to your advantage. Most of the tricks I learned in BF2 carry over, including how to strafe left/right and how to fly backwards.

Hellrazer

mozattack wrote: »

I've unlocked the explosions add on thingy.

I can now throw down 6 mines in one life. In BC2 you could only have a maximum of 6 mines active at any one time, e.g. leave down 6 and when you go to leave down more the earlier one disappear. I assume this happens again in BF3 but does anyone know for certain?

Seems you can have as many mines as you like down at the same time.At one stage last night I had 20+ peppered all over the place.None of them disappeared as I put more down.

Dean_Mc

Play the objective!

And by that I mean not just the primary objective (capture the flag or defend) but also the other secondary objectives.

For instance, if your team are pushing to flag A it may be better for you to flank around A rather than follow them in. You can become a spot and mobile flank point and also disorient the enemy into fighting on two fronts.

Scouts have a piece of equipment called a T-ugs which is great to keep near a flag (out of sight) as it shows up any of the creepy crawlers that belly dance their way a captured flag.

Stay out of the alley. You will no the one I am talking about.. It is best to keep the other two points taken and let the other team bleed tickets.

Every revive you perform refunds a ticket, if can revive, do revive.

Deaths cost tickets. Its better for you to spot two enemies and have someone else get the kills than for you to take both on an loose a ticket.

While K/D is not that important compared to games like COD, be aware that every death hurts your team. concentrate on staying alive and getting to the objective, killing should only be a secondary act to this.

BlitzKrieg

'I'll link it when I get home but there is a german server that plays Caspian border 24/7 that is usually empty but allows 1-2 players to move and practice vehicles. Also it's ranked. You can max out your chopper just by flying around with a friend in the other choler capping points for both sides.

Dcully

Ive seen an aircraft training server in the browser too.

copeyhagen

BlitzKrieg wrote: »

'I'll link it when I get home but there is a german server that plays Caspian border 24/7 that is usually empty but allows 1-2 players to move and practice vehicles. Also it's ranked. You can max out your chopper just by flying around with a friend in the other choler capping points for both sides.

i need this. havent a clue how to fly choppers in pc as in all ym bf games i have always ignored them (used to use the jets back in bf2 with joystick)

anyone got any good tips for chopper flying. basics i mean, keys etc. i tried youtube movies, they were all console

SeantheMan

Unfortunately for us chopper lovers, their effectiveness is greatly reduced compared to BF2 and BC2

-A full compliment of rockets will not kill a tank from what I've seen.
-TV missiles for this purpose, must be unlocked, and it is one of the last unlocks.
-The fact that maps with choppers , usually have jets/tanks , means that a lot of people are engineers, and can now equip stinger missiles, so half your time will be spent with a lock on sound.

A weapon I have found ridiculously overpowered, is the Shotgun + Holographic + Slugs ....else Flechette ammo. I've gotten many multi-kills with 1 bullet up close. And it is also effective at ranges of up to 100+ yards with the Slug.

We were on a conquest map, and my friend said he could see my blasts from his jet though, it's a pretty devastating weapon.

Cormic

Dcully wrote: »

Ive seen an aircraft training server in the browser too.

If you do a search for Aircraft or Practice in the server browser you will see a lot of them.

BlitzKrieg

this is the server I use but its surprisingly busy at the moment

http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3/servers/show/3ca22b6c-6b1a-4f69-a5ec-47103ac8580b/SFS-Vol-10-24-7-CaspianBorder-German/

Headshot

Any advice for using the tanks

Iv just unlocked the Proximity scan, so that gives an idea how far iv gone

So what advice would you give for the class of a tank?

BlitzKrieg

Some tips for Caspian border on the matter of prioritising which points to cap (try to scream this out in the initial countdown)

Always take A (for USA) or E (for Russia) FIRST Do not do what the moronic team I just played with did and all rush for B

-B is actually strategically the worse point on the map, its open, there are no resources connected and its a bitch to defend as all the other points have different routes to attack it.

Take E or A and then try for D as its the easiest point to defend and offers the best position to attack every other position.

The reason E/A are most important is you get an extra tank for taking them. If you did what my team did and all rush B, the americans race from A to E and get an extra tank. They also get a spawn point behind our lines completely f*cking us head over tails.

C is a good point to take if you are struggling as its hard to retake as vehicles have difficulty getting in there and like D it spawns in a good spot to try for A or E or D. But like B you get nothing for taking it and it should only be taken if D is in enemy hands as it is the best point to stage a counter attack if american. (Russians can actually run a jeep straight to D from their spawn fairly easily)


Best case scenario is if Russian is to rush A with engies/assault while others cap E and then the armour joins the rest at A to contain americans while those at E go for D. Even if americans take B you'll have created a pincer movement with your spawns allowing you to hit them all along their flank and push them at the front.

Vice versa with americans.

For the love of all that is holy though regardless of your side grab your close point first, you need the tank and you dont need the agony of having russians/americans spawning behind you as you try to take D/B/C

Krieg

Headshot wrote: »

Any advice for using the tanks

Iv just unlocked the Proximity scan, so that gives an idea how far iv gone

So what advice would you give for the class of a tank?

Ive found keeping some distance is best. Dont ride in like rambo, tanks do make people run for cover but 2 AT soldiers will take you down easily.
Try and stay in open areas to avoid being c4'd.
Optics perk is very handy as it allows you to keep greater distance.

Jonny7

Headshot wrote: »

Any advice for using the tanks

Iv just unlocked the Proximity scan, so that gives an idea how far iv gone

So what advice would you give for the class of a tank?

Avoid using the tank to cap flags, while tempting, just wait until some infantry and let them do the capping, giving them fire support (if you absolutely have to cap, pop smoke when you are on the flag)

Whilst fighting other tanks it can often come down to one shot to decide, so use any tiny bit of cover (hull down behind a bank, also trees are excellent at "catching" enemy tank shells) and go for the weaker parts of the enemy tank, tracks, etc.

If another tank hasn't spotted you, try to flank and get the shot in the back, you can often get a second shot in then as he is frantically trying to traverse the turret.

Once you get better you can hop out between shots and fire off a RPG shot at the other tank and hop back in.

Most important, as the other poster said, is to use distance. Pick off targets at range, open up the sides of buildings, etc.

Personally I love convoying up with other tanks, you can physically use your tank to "cover" them when they get low, as well as providing double the firepower and encouraging other tanks to join and form sweet sweet armoured spearhead.

Blazer

Jet tips:
Equip radar when unlocked and flares.
Doesn't really matter about AA missiles as I use the cannon a lot.

1. Always fly higher than your opponent. This allows you to invert and turn extremely quickly to get behind them, once behind them take em out with cannon as they are usually unaware you're behind them until it's too late.
2. Know where the valleys and mountain ridges are...if locked on release flares and afterburn to the nearest valley/over the nearest mountain ridge to stop the lockon, by this time your flares will have recharged and you'll be able to get back into the map.
3.If you're being chased by another jet, never ever go high, the amount of times I've taken out jets who headed high while leaving a big slow moving target is unbelievable. Plus you've a lovely silhouette of a grey plane against a nice white sky as opposed to green vegetation where it's harder for you to be picked ou. If you have to go high, hit afterburner and ascend with enough room for you to descend again rapidly. Loop the loops are not a valid tactic..they just make it easier for the enemy jet to shoot you down as they know exactly where you're leading to.
An extremely valid tactic is to rapidly invert, head for the ground and spin several times to quickly change your direction.
4. The rudder is your friend, for fast turns decelerate and use rudder as well as roll to bank rapidly.
5. Lead your targets, watch where you target is heading and aim in front of him..they will always fly into it and it doesn't take much to disable a jet in BF3.
6. Learn how to work your throttle/afterburner...you will always use both when fighting with another jet. It's very important that you can anticipate your target and know when he's speeding up or slowing down. Which leads you back to point 5.
7. If you're in trouble head back to where another jet or chopper/AA etc in the hope that they distract your enemy and either he gets shot down or scarpers.

mozattack

SeantheMan wrote: »

Unfortunately for us chopper lovers, their effectiveness is greatly reduced compared to BF2 and BC2

-A full compliment of rockets will not kill a tank from what I've seen.
-TV missiles for this purpose, must be unlocked, and it is one of the last unlocks.
-The fact that maps with choppers , usually have jets/tanks , means that a lot of people are engineers, and can now equip stinger missiles, so half your time will be spent with a lock on sound.

A weapon I have found ridiculously overpowered, is the Shotgun + Holographic + Slugs ....else Flechette ammo. I've gotten many multi-kills with 1 bullet up close. And it is also effective at ranges of up to 100+ yards with the Slug.

We were on a conquest map, and my friend said he could see my blasts from his jet though, it's a pretty devastating weapon.

Glad that choppers have been nerfed, they ruined some maps on BC2. I used to have to quit matched when they dominated. Was pointless.

BlitzKrieg

Oh and in case you didnt know

press N to go to a wider frame on your minimap.

and when enemy soldiers fire their weapon and dont have suppression on they will show up on the minimap.

not on 3d spotting but they will on the map. Makes it much easier to find snipers if you zoom out to the middle setting press M to make it full screen and wait until they take another shot at a teammate. Then you got them!

Tyrant^

BF 3 Config Utility

SeantheMan

For tank, suggest that you remember you have a "boost" button, SHIFT...which really does give the tank some speed.

Also, if you have 1, a DPI changeable mouse.
If you can set it's highest selectable setting to the max, and use the middle setting for standard infantry, when you get in the tank, you will be able to turn the turret exceptionally quick.

E.g. is the below what I'd use a lot

Set 1 : 400 - when sniping or need to move cursor slowly
Set 2: 1200 standard
Set 3: 2000 for tanks

Gelio

Need some help with two things please. How do you get started getting points with the jets? I can drive them fine but can't get kills etc. I think once I get a few upgrades I'll be fine it's just hard with the guns alone.
Also, how exactly do you get the infantry efficiency achievement. Im fairly new so if someone could explain in simple terms that would be great.

hypermuse

For the jets.. I dunno I'm still trying to get any points.. have 0 so far.. very frustrating!!

Some1 said before that if you can get points by being a medic/support and leaving down health/ammo so squad teams to use! or use AT-mins..
If your in a jet then you'll get jet points if some1 uses the health/ammo or you get a hit with the AT-mines.. Dunno how true this is thou!!


Infantry achievement:

you need to get four ribbons at least once each.

- Assault Rifle Ribbon (In one round, get 7 kills with Assault Rifles). Use the assault kit, and make sure you are using the primary weapon to get the kills. The starting assault rifles are the M16A3 and AK-74M

- Sniper Rifle Ribbon (In one round, get 7 kills with Sniper Rifles). Use the recon kit, and make sure to use the actual sniper rifle to get the kills. If you are attempting this early on, the guns you will most likely be using are the MK11 MOD 0 and the SVD, depending on if you are on the U.S. team or RU team.

- Light Machine Gun Ribbon (In one round, get 7 kills with Light Machine Guns). Use the support kit and be sure to get the kills with the primary weapon. The starting LMGs are the RPK-74M and the M27 IAR.

- Carbine Ribbon (In one round, get 7 kills with Carbines). Use the engineer kit and be sure to get the kills with the primary weapon. The starting Carbines are M4A1 for the U.S., and the AKS-74U for the RU.

You do NOT need to get all 7 kills without dying to get the ribbon, but they have to be in one round. The achievement will pop as soon as you see the last medal you need pop up mid-round.

Gelio

hypermuse wrote: »

For the jets.. I dunno I'm still trying to get any points.. have 0 so far.. very frustrating!!

Some1 said before that if you can get points by being a medic/support and leaving down health/ammo so squad teams to use! or use AT-mins..
If your in a jet then you'll get jet points if some1 uses the health/ammo or you get a hit with the AT-mines.. Dunno how true this is thou!!


Infantry achievement:

you need to get four ribbons at least once each.

- Assault Rifle Ribbon (In one round, get 7 kills with Assault Rifles). Use the assault kit, and make sure you are using the primary weapon to get the kills. The starting assault rifles are the M16A3 and AK-74M

- Sniper Rifle Ribbon (In one round, get 7 kills with Sniper Rifles). Use the recon kit, and make sure to use the actual sniper rifle to get the kills. If you are attempting this early on, the guns you will most likely be using are the MK11 MOD 0 and the SVD, depending on if you are on the U.S. team or RU team.

- Light Machine Gun Ribbon (In one round, get 7 kills with Light Machine Guns). Use the support kit and be sure to get the kills with the primary weapon. The starting LMGs are the RPK-74M and the M27 IAR.

- Carbine Ribbon (In one round, get 7 kills with Carbines). Use the engineer kit and be sure to get the kills with the primary weapon. The starting Carbines are M4A1 for the U.S., and the AKS-74U for the RU.

You do NOT need to get all 7 kills without dying to get the ribbon, but they have to be in one round. The achievement will pop as soon as you see the last medal you need pop up mid-round.

Thanks, I just needed to the carbine ribbon in the end. Still can't get kills with the jet. Flying is fine but killing is impossible

iColdFusion

Having trouble with the jets myself, just about got the flares unlocked by flying around spotting targets and the odd kill assist, tanks are the only things I have some chance of hitting

raze

Ugh, the Jets. I'm just not born to fly it seems - have barely mastered the basics. There are helpful YouTube videos of people discussing ways of flying which are certainly helpful to start off if you have trouble keeping them in the air - but there isn't any good way other than practice to get hits with the machine gun.

I finally got my heat seekers last night after 2 days of trying. I found that choppers are the most likely opponents who will take you down, but they're also the targets that are most stationary in the sky. If your teammates do you the favour of spotting a chopper for you, then a straight head-on attack run will let you do damage.

All hits count so long as the chopper doesn't recover from the damage, so if you hit it at all, and someone finishes it from the ground with a stinger you still scrape some points off it for damage done. If you're playing with friends use the mics to ask your squadmates to bring a stinger for this.

Most important is staying up in the sky. For anyone new to jets, the first thing you need to learn after basic controls is when to deploy your flares. There are three types of beep - first there is an intermittent slow beep which sounds when you are in someone's sights. This could be a stinger, a helicopter, another jet, or other anti-air batteries found near deployments. After they have got a lock on you, you will hear a steady solid beep. They can now fire and the rocket will go toward you, but they have not fired while the beep is solid. You shouldn't deploy flares until they have fired - and you'll know that happens when you hear a quick panicked beeping. Once you hear that you deploy flares immediately, and change your flight path.

If you get used to that you'll spend a lot more time in the air.

And remember, if you're not in the air you'll help your airborne teammates a lot if you mark targets for them - not only tanks, but other jets and helicopters. If a jet has the sun behind him on Caspian Border for example, it's almost impossible for you to spot him yourself when you're in the air.

I found these two videos useful to see how you're supposed to stay on a target in a dogfight. Also, while I found it easier to start with to fly with the camera outside the plane, I only ever hit a target when I'm shooting from the cockpit view. If you force yourself to always fly in cockpit view you will gradually get better at staying behind your target long enough to hit him. It complicates things too much to try switching between views during a chase.