Click on the big banner below to earn extra Gold Eagles.
Now that Gaijin has released the Mac, we can now enjoy an up to date air combat game native (and shoot down Windows, PS4, and Linux players to boot!)!
Post your WarThunder names here too.
EXCELLENT NEW BEGINNERS TUTORIAL!
Game play comes in 3 modes
- Arcade Battles (FM is loose, massive no holds barred play)
- Realistic Battles (FM is strict but mouse fly still allowed, sides strictly followed).
- Simulation Battles (FM strict, joystick only, NO HUD, very close TARGET HUD).
War Thunder is still in BETA (Windows and Mac) since it came out over a year ago (early 2013). The Beta is more like CYA from the constant changes to game parameters than serious game bugs.
It is FREE to download and play
(this link gives you an extra 50 Gold Eagles, in game money)
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(If you have trouble with install, you can find more about Mac install here)
YouTube intro.
(this link gives you an extra 50 Gold Eagles, in game money)
(If you have trouble with install, you can find more about Mac install here)
YouTube intro.
How the game UI works:
Every game you play you earn "Silver Lions", "Research Points" and "Crew Experience". Those earnings are used to purchase/upgrade aircraft and crew. It is possible to buy 95% of the objects in the game (not just units), but to earn that much SL will take MONTHS of playing, 24/7.
Buying Gold Eagles with REAL $$$ allows you to exchange for SL, RP, CE, or a host of other items. One does not gain any performance advantage over someone not buying GE, just allows one to buy and upgrade faster (and a few unique but unremarkable aircraft). Be warned! One can easily spend hundreds of $$$!
Some quick advice to those starting up.
- SAVE YOUR "GOLD EAGLES". It is the main currency which you pay REAL money for. New players may get 200 GE free, hold on to them. It is used to buy anything in the game, use wisely.
- Do NOT purchase new crew slots (at first). Save "Silver Lions" (minor currency) for aircraft upgrades and aircraft.
- Upgrade ONLY ONE of your crew slots, play and spend to get that crew to at least 250 crew experience ASAP.
- WAIT for SALES to buy stuff. Every month there are discounts and specials, get stuff on sales price! Twice a year there are HUGE sales! Save up until till then.
- Reserve aircraft are FREE and have NO repair cost. Purchased units give you 10 free repairs, after which you either wait to repair or pay for rush repair.
- Premium Account is paid for using GE. IF you can spend several hours to play that day, then it is worth to buy one day Premium, otherwise save your GE.
- Check the WT web site DAILY if you can, they always announce a special event that day so you can net goodies for cheap!
- April 1st is a day you must log in, no matter what you are doing.
MOUSE vs JOYSTICK playing.
Mouse: You can play using only mouse, and it does this by use of an "autopilot" which help the player fly. The biggest crutch in it is the ability to click on the target and your aircraft will point and lock exactly at the target, rock solid, perfect shooting platform. Easy aim and kill.
Joystick does have some powerful abilities, however. One can do maneuvers impossible with mouse players becuase one has full control. You also gain the ability of flying with stick while looking around you with mouse.
3 Game Match types
In the game you can play 3 types of matches.
- Arcade Battle: Fun mix-mash of aircraft and sides in exaggerated tiny maps, play as many slots as you want. As name suggests, this is really comic play, and a good start to play game.
- Realistic Battle: More controlled on side and missions, but still quite forgiving flying.
- Simulation Battle: Joystick only locked-in-cockpit view and other realistic limits (like structural), least popular.
Player eNtaK authored a series of tutorial videos.
Learning the game, Episodes 1 & 2, The Basics
Learning the game, Episodes 3 & 4, Getting around the game.
Learning the game, Episodes 5 & 6, Carriers and Aircraft Types.
Ground Forces #1, Basic setup
Learning the game, Episode 7, Ammunition Belts & Ammo Types
Advanced tutorials for specific tactics are also being produced.
All you need to know about aircraft crews VERY useful information!!
Ground/Sea Attack Tactics - Part 1: Level Bombing
Ground/Sea Attack Tactics - Part 2: Dive Bombing
Ground/Sea Attack Tactics - Part 3: Torpedo Attacks
Ground/Sea Attack Tactics - Part 4: Missile attacks
Upgrading your crew make difference between being an ACE, or being a target.
The key is upgrading your crew to EXPERT level as fast as possible, but very little Gold Eagles.
This is for ANY crew slot, and works for new players or those who play a while but have not upgraded all your potions.
This advice is for Tier 1 aircraft, but it will also help to rapidly unlock Expert to higher tiers.
Tier 1 aircraft need at least Crew Level 3 to unlock the lowest tier aircraft.
Spend 10 Gold Eagles for 130 Crew XP Points and purchase the cheapest levels possible.
Spend exactly on items in image below. If you do it right you gain 88 Crew Levels.
To get the last 3 Crew Level you need to earn about another 30 Crew XP points, will take about 5 average AB missions to do so.
After you earn and spend on the LOWEST COST items in list (Weapon Maintenance and Reload speed is good)
At this point you can unlock the EXPERT and you will do far better in the game, it gives an INSTANT +30 SKILL in 6 parameters, like BAM!
Best way to OP crew Upgrade.png
If you want to plunk another 10 GE down for another 130 XP points, put it in this:
Best way to OP crew next step.png
Upgrading maintenance to 30% is THE best investment in Tier 1 biplane combat, much more than Pilot and Gunners.
Once you about 30% work on Pilot skills.
Even if you never plan to fly bombers, keep investing in gunners so you get higher Crew Levels to EXPERT higher tier aircraft.
Just don't add "more Gunners".
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