HOTAS users - How are you setting up your thrusters?

[Sentience]

Trying to find an intuitive and natural configuration for the thrusters on my X-55 HOTAS.
Right now I've got the stick twist on lateral thrusters, and the ministick on the throttle as thrust up/down forward/backward.
Finding it hard to thrust in both the z and y axis at the same time. Getting that diagonal position with the ministick is a challenge sometimes.

Interested to hear what other HOTAS users are doing to alleviate thruster woes?

 

[Mnemoch]

I have a CH setup so my stick doesn't twist. I use the 8 way on the joystick for my up down left right thrusters, and the mini stick on the throttle for forward back and the other axis for roll. In combat I leave my throttle in the blue zone and use the mini-stick to increase or reverse thrust for position control.

Edit : I also use yaw-into-roll on my joystick as I didn't have the throttle at first and needed some way to roll!

 

[d33rgod]

Trying to find an intuitive and natural configuration for the thrusters on my X-55 HOTAS.
Right now I've got the stick twist on lateral thrusters, and the ministick on the throttle as thrust up/down forward/backward.
Finding it hard to thrust in both the z and y axis at the same time. Getting that diagonal position with the ministick is a challenge sometimes.

Interested to hear what other HOTAS users are doing to alleviate thruster woes?

Are we to understand that you have forward/backward thrust set on some ministick instead of on the actual, you know, throttle? Or am I reading your post wrong ?

 

[v01i0]

I am confused with all diagonality and axes, but from the beginning of Gamma when I got x52-pro, I have used the stick twist as sideways thrust, and the ministick on the throttle to strafe up/down & left/right. Works well enough for me! I can avoid fixed fire by strafing in various directions and use it on docking & landing as well.

-v

PS. I have throttle setup for forward only and use one of the thumb buttons to switch it on reverse.

 

[777Driver]

Vertical thrust assigned to a rocker switch on the stick, reverse thrust on a hat switch on the throttle. Pedals - lateral thrust on the left/right toe brakes. No yaw on the stick, all done through the pedals.

Control menu assignment 'YAW/ROLL Button' Allows me to swap yaw between the stick and pedals

- - - Updated - - -

Are we to understand that you have forward/backward thrust set on some ministick instead of on the actual, you know, throttle? Or am I reading your post wrong ?

You have throttle & thrust in ED, two separate things, one controls speed, the other controls thrust. With FA-ON you can have throttle handle your forwards/backwards speed and a axis controlling your forwards/backwards thrust

 

[Whiterose]

Twist on my stick (Fnaar Fnaar) set to yaw
HAT buttons (four) set to port, starboard, up and down (whatever up and down may mean in space).

 

[jgm]

You have throttle & thrust in ED, two separate things

Is forward thrust actually different from forward throttle, and if so in what way? Never bothered with forward/reverse thrusters because I couldn't see how they would make a difference.

 

[Ian Skippy]

twist=roll
throttle=forward thurst
hat=thruster left/right/up/down

 

[Scrat]

I use this config with my X52:
X=yaw
Y=pitch
twist=roll
throttle=Forward thrust
slider on throttle=switch between forward/reverse
upper rotary on throttle=lateral thrust
rotary on the side of the throttle=vertical thrust

 

[The Wallet Inspector]

Twist - Yaw
Throttle - Stick
Slider - Radar range
Lateral - Top wheel
Vertical - Thumb wheel

 

[EUS]

Thruster:
Pinky switch on throttle for vertical thrusters.
Both thumb hats (on thruster) are used 2-way only, as I cannot stand the sensitivity for 4 way, so one hat for left/fight thrusters, other hat for forwards/reverse thrusters.
So, I can use pinky, thumb, and index finger at the same time for thrusters, forward/reverse.
Reverse is the large, top button on thruster. Toggled on/off.
Stick:
Stick twist left as default yaw.
The large pinky switch is flight assist, not toggled.

 

[Midian27]

up down left right thrusters bound to gray hat on stick, forward and backward secondary thrusters thumb hat on throttle.

 

[King Hrothgar]

X-55 here, I also have CH pedals but I don't use them in ED. Setup is as follows:

Stick:
Forwards/backwarks: pitch down/up
Left/right: left/right roll
Twist: left/right yaw
PoV hat: vertical and lateral thrusters

Throttle unit:
Throttle: forward only, button on throttle toggles reverse.
Lower rotary on throttle: vertical thrusters
Top rotary on throttle: lateral thrusters (I'm considering moving this to my pedals).

Button assignments aren't overly intersting tbh although other than primary fire on the trigger, I don't think a single one is default.

 

[777Driver]

Is forward thrust actually different from forward throttle, and if so in what way? Never bothered with forward/reverse thrusters because I couldn't see how they would make a difference.

Hey JGM, FLIGHT ASSIST ON -Throttle lever position sets a target SPEED and maintains it. Thrust lever position applies a target THRUST, you will keep accelerating

FLIGHT ASSIST OFF - You can only control Thrust, even with your throttle.

 

[Jaeger]

Is forward thrust actually different from forward throttle, and if so in what way? Never bothered with forward/reverse thrusters because I couldn't see how they would make a difference.

No they are the same, thrusts forward or back is an automatic max thrust forward or back. Exactly the same as maxing or minning your throttle. If someone could explain how this is useful that would be great.


Also If FD could implement variable boost that would be nice.

 

[Sentience]

I have a CH setup so my stick doesn't twist. I use the 8 way on the joystick for my up down left right thrusters, and the mini stick on the throttle for forward back and the other axis for roll. In combat I leave my throttle in the blue zone and use the mini-stick to increase or reverse thrust for position control.

Edit : I also use yaw-into-roll on my joystick as I didn't have the throttle at first and needed some way to roll!

How do you fire two weapon groups at once if your thumb is controlling thrust on the stick?

Are we to understand that you have forward/backward thrust set on some ministick instead of on the actual, you know, throttle? Or am I reading your post wrong ?

Is forward thrust actually different from forward throttle, and if so in what way? Never bothered with forward/reverse thrusters because I couldn't see how they would make a difference.

Throttle is continuous thrust. Forward/backward thrust are short bursts of the z axis thrusters. You put your main throttle in the blue zone for maximum turn and use short bursts forward/back to adjust distance to a target in a fight.

I am confused with all diagonality and axes, but from the beginning of Gamma when I got x52-pro, I have used the stick twist as sideways thrust, and the ministick on the throttle to strafe up/down & left/right. Works well enough for me! I can avoid fixed fire by strafing in various directions and use it on docking & landing as well.

-v

PS. I have throttle setup for forward only and use one of the thumb buttons to switch it on reverse.

X axis = lateral
Z axis = forward/backwards
y axis = vertical

Vertical thrust assigned to a rocker switch on the stick, reverse thrust on a hat switch on the throttle. Pedals - lateral thrust on the left/right toe brakes. No yaw on the stick, all done through the pedals.

Control menu assignment 'YAW/ROLL Button' Allows me to swap yaw between the stick and pedals

- - - Updated - - -

Do you swap the yaw with your stick twist or stick x axis?

Twist on my stick (Fnaar Fnaar) set to yaw
HAT buttons (four) set to port, starboard, up and down (whatever up and down may mean in space).

You're not using any fine control for forward/backward thrusting?

twist=roll
throttle=forward thurst
hat=thruster left/right/up/down

Never thought about putting yaw on the stick's x axis. You find this easier then using the traditional roll?

 

[CaptainKremmen]

X-52 user here. My setup...

Index Finger Hat on Throttle

In the Saitek Profile Editor, I had to change the default setting for this from "4-way" to "8-way". Until I did that, there was no concept of diagonal input!

This is my lateral thrust... pretty much as Elite Client delivers for the X-52 default profile.


Throttle

I use "full range", with quite a large Dead Zone set up in the Elite Client for this axis.

The Dead Zone minimises my incompetent displays of skating forwards and backwards on landing pads.


Stick Twist

...for yaw.

 

[QorbeQ]

Personally I find managing thrusters with a digital control a tricky thing when fighting.

Hence I have pip control on my hat switch, with a modifier to switch to lateral and linear thrusters.

I have vertical thrusters on the analogue rocker on the throttle. This means I have an analogue control to use in concert with pitch to help with staying on target.

 

[777Driver]

Do you swap the yaw with your stick twist or stick x axis?

No twist axis on my stick, yaw is normally handled by my pedals. I tell voice attack to 'disable roll mode' Yaw is now on my X axis on the joystick, pedals now handle roll.

I only use it on the big ships sometimes, T9/Conda.. Just allows you to yaw on your stick if needed. Key assignment to swap back and forth is YAW/ROLL BUTTON

 

[Scrat]

Never thought about putting yaw on the stick's x axis. You find this easier then using the traditional roll?

You didn't quote me but I think it is depending on what you used first. I use X-Axis for yaw in space games for 25 years and I simply can't get used to using roll on the X-axis.