Mapping translational (lateral) thrusters

[Adept]

In my Allegiance career I had translational thruster mapped to the 8 way hat on my joystick. For dodging incoming fire and the relatively weak translational thrust in the game in general this was effective and intuitive.

Elite seems to have very powerful laterals, and also a need for fine control over them for things like landing. I'd be interested in hearing how people have been mapping them, and whether control needs to be analogue rather than digital.

I would have an analogue thumb-stick on the throttle. I was planning to use it for looking around, but maybe it will be needed for thruster control instead?

 

[Captain N]

I'm using the default keymappings for this, which is A,D for lateral, R,F, for vertical, while W,S is for throttle. I also use Q and E for setting throttle instantly to 100% or -100%.

It has served me well enough. I suppose analog would be good if you want to stay in the blue sweet spot, but I've never felt a real need for that.

 

[Frobitz]

Lateral = move up and down, side-slip left and right yeah?

I have an X52 Pro and left the up and down on the throttle thumb-stick as is default, while left and right I removed from that control and assigned to my rudder pedals 'toe brake' axis.

My thinking was they are, as you say, quite powerful so this would remove risk of accidentally pushing the thumb stick the wrong way and going left instead of up etc.

The foot pedals give a lot more nuance too.

 

[Riedquat]

here is what I have, seems to work well.

3- down
4 - up
5 - left
6 - right

(2 is secondary weapon).

Hat for looking around.

 

[Tacheel]

Also an X52 pro owner.

I have lateral and vertical thrust mapped to the hat switch on the throttle, works really well imho.

 

[robo]

here is what I have, seems to work well.

3- down
4 - up
5 - left
6 - right

(2 is secondary weapon).

Hat for looking around.

The problem with this set up is that you can't fire your secondary fire, whilst say, strafing right, as all those button, at the top of your joystick are accessed by thumb only. I've set up my HAT for lateral/vertical thrusters, but use secondary fire, flight assist toggle, target ahead, head look (with HAT) set to buttons on the joysticks base (T16000M), allowing more multi-functionality. All other, what I would call non-vital buttons (fuel scoops etc), are on my Logitech G13, with the quick sys/eng/wep balancing done on it's HAT.

 

[Riedquat]

yeah, its fine for non-combat, I haven't actually used secondary yet (apart from once in a mission).

I plan to play SP , so will see how tough the AI are before I change it.

 

[Adept]

Lateral = move up and down, side-slip left and right yeah?

I have an X52 Pro and left the up and down on the throttle thumb-stick as is default, while left and right I removed from that control and assigned to my rudder pedals 'toe brake' axis.

My thinking was they are, as you say, quite powerful so this would remove risk of accidentally pushing the thumb stick the wrong way and going left instead of up etc.

The foot pedals give a lot more nuance too.

Interesting idea.

"Lateral thrusters" is a common shorthand, but strictly speaking it could be understood to mean just the left-right "strafing".
Translational thrusters encompasses up, down and sideways thrusting, but far fewer people are familiar with the term, I think.

 

[Adept]

here is what I have, seems to work well.

3- down
4 - up
5 - left
6 - right

(2 is secondary weapon).

Hat for looking around.

That would have been way too slow for Allegaince. Having to move the thumb from button to button is a no-go for me.