As noted previously, the utility of helicopters in MP depends on mission design and in order for helos to have meaningful tasks, the mission designer will have to put some thought into it.
The DCS map distances, the nature of the public MP servers and the equipment and speed of the available helos mean that unless the mission design especially caters for helos, it’s going to mean long flights to target and few meaningful tasks that wouldn’t be better accomplished by fixed wing units.
It is possible to create meaningful helo tasks, though. Well placed FARPs and good missions (ability to set up FOBs, pilot rescue, objective capture etc.) can make for excellent gameplay. So - some of the issues can be fixed with good mission design that allows a helo pilot jump into a casual MP session and have a good time.
The issue that’s harder to fix is that apart from the Gazelle (with it’s limited utility value) the helos don’t have RWR. This is one of those things where gameplay and simulation really clash.
I know DCS is considered a sim and therefore gameplay balance isn’t a primary factor (and I wouldn’t want to see ‘balanced missiles’ or anything), however the reality is that if a modern country was to ever employ helos against a technologically equal opponent in a contested airspace with no air superiority and active SAM threats, you can be certain they would have all the warning systems possible installed pretty darn quick and to hell with what the original factory list of equipment says. (I ranted about this before somewhere but never mind)
That’s the environment DCS helo pilots fight in.1960s gears with 1990s air threats above.
I love flying helos in MP and part of it is the challenge…but gameplay wise I often don’t do it because the populated servers don’t design for helos and it just isn’t fun to fly in a direction for 30 mins or 60 mins, only to be shot down by a fighter that’s been painting you for the last 50kms but you had no idea.
Give me RWR and meaningful missions with convenient transit times and I’d be flying whirlybirds way more. Sure it might be a ‘realism’ hit but the airquake MP isn’t exactly the height of true-to-life war game as it is.