Proposal Discussion Flight Assist Off

Yeah, if you assign it to the right stick Y axis with full range enabled the default position of the stick will equate to 0% throttle. Then pushing it up or down will give you direct control over the thrust applied.

Excellent! Cheers Mate! I will be checking this out ASAP!

Fly safe Commanders. :)
 
On the x52, there is a second slider on the throttle control.

Using the Madcatz software you can split that slider into thirds.
Top Third; I set to Engine's forwards
Bottom Third; I set to Engines reverse
Middle third has no control assigned to it.

The upshot of this is that when I go FFA - OFF. I pull the throttle back to zero and then use this slider to help control the ship.

It makes for a very Frontier type experience.

I'll have to put that in my next video.

;-)
 
Yeah, if you assign it to the right stick Y axis with full range enabled the default position of the stick will equate to 0% throttle. Then pushing it up or down will give you direct control over the thrust applied.

Ok. So tried this.

Assigned main thruster to right analog stick. If I set main engine to 50% thrust, my engine should be pushing me in whatever direction I'm pointing no?... Allowing of course for lack of correctional thrust.
Doesn't happen. If I turn my ship 180 degrees I'm flying backwards with no thrust at all from my main engine, which I set to 50% forward thrust...

I tried switching back to standard gamepad controls (decelerate and accelerate on left and right digital shoulder buttons), and there doesn't seem to be any difference what so ever.

I need help here...

Note: I'm flying 1.1
 
On the x52, there is a second slider on the throttle control.

Using the Madcatz software you can split that slider into thirds.
Top Third; I set to Engine's forwards
Bottom Third; I set to Engines reverse
Middle third has no control assigned to it.

The upshot of this is that when I go FFA - OFF. I pull the throttle back to zero and then use this slider to help control the ship.

It makes for a very Frontier type experience.

I'll have to put that in my next video.

;-)

Hm. I got xbox 360 controller, so not an option for me. But would love to see it. Please post here if you make a video.

Darn. Watching Isinonas setup, I get the feeling something is eluding me. How can he fly FA off and have constant medium (50%) thrust pushing him forwards no matter which way he turns?
 

Mike Evans

Designer- Elite: Dangerous
Frontier
Ok. So tried this.

Assigned main thruster to right analog stick. If I set main engine to 50% thrust, my engine should be pushing me in whatever direction I'm pointing no?... Allowing of course for lack of correctional thrust.
Doesn't happen. If I turn my ship 180 degrees I'm flying backwards with no thrust at all from my main engine, which I set to 50% forward thrust...

I tried switching back to standard gamepad controls (decelerate and accelerate on left and right digital shoulder buttons), and there doesn't seem to be any difference what so ever.

I need help here...

Note: I'm flying 1.1

You've bound the right stick to the throttle axis only right and set the throttle range to full? I don't see why that wouldn't work in 1.1, you should have some form of thrust applied when you push up on the stick for example.
 
Darn. Watching Isinonas setup, I get the feeling something is eluding me. How can he fly FA off and have constant medium (50%) thrust pushing him forwards no matter which way he turns?

I believe that's just how a HOTAS throttle works. You can leave the throttle in any position and it stays there even if you take your hand off.

At least that's the behaviour of the throttle wheel on the left side of my CH Fighterstick (which I never use)
 
You've bound the right stick to the throttle axis only right and set the throttle range to full? I don't see why that wouldn't work in 1.1, you should have some form of thrust applied when you push up on the stick for example.

FA off mode:
Full throttle range. Check. Throttle axis to right stick only. Check. I can engage engine, but if I turn my ship I keep floating in initial direction...

If I set engine to 50% main thrust initially, shouldn't it be pushing me forward no matter which way I'm facing? Do I have to apply thrust manually constantly to change direction?
 
I believe that's just how a HOTAS throttle works. You can leave the throttle in any position and it stays there even if you take your hand off.

At least that's the behaviour of the throttle wheel on the left side of my CH Fighterstick (which I never use)

Surely this should be possible on any analog stick no?
 

Mike Evans

Designer- Elite: Dangerous
Frontier
FA off mode:
Full throttle range. Check. Throttle axis to right stick only. Check. I can engage engine, but if I turn my ship I keep floating in initial direction...

If I set engine to 50% main thrust initially, shouldn't it be pushing me forward no matter which way I'm facing? Do I have to apply thrust manually constantly to change direction?

Are you using the speed setting buttons to do 50% because that won't work for you as that's only just been implemented.
 

Mike Evans

Designer- Elite: Dangerous
Frontier
FA off mode:
Full throttle range. Check. Throttle axis to right stick only. Check. I can engage engine, but if I turn my ship I keep floating in initial direction...

If I set engine to 50% main thrust initially, shouldn't it be pushing me forward no matter which way I'm facing? Do I have to apply thrust manually constantly to change direction?

Also you can't set speed to 50% then go FAOFF and expect it to now thrust at 50% power as that's not how it works. You need to use your right stick to apply thrust manually whilst in FAOFF mode.
 
Are you using the speed setting buttons to do 50% because that won't work for you as that's only just been implemented.

Nope.

But are we agreed, that in FA off, if I set an initial speed of 50% on the right analog stick, then the engine should keep firing at 50% when I turn the ship without me applying additional input to the right analog stick?
 

Mike Evans

Designer- Elite: Dangerous
Frontier
Nope.

But are we agreed, that in FA off, if I set an initial speed of 50% on the right analog stick, then the engine should keep firing at 50% when I turn the ship without me applying additional input to the right analog stick?

See my other post above ;)

To expand on this however we've implemented a way for you to use the direct speed setting buttons to apply and keep the ship firing thrust at that percentage of max thurst whilst in FAOFF mode. There isn't a way to do this on the game pad with the stick because the sprint in it will return it to the centre position and thus change your throttle setting. So for that you have to hold the stick in a 50% position to keep thursting at that percentage whilst in FAOFF mode.
 
Last edited:
Also you can't set speed to 50% then go FAOFF and expect it to now thrust at 50% power as that's not how it works. You need to use your right stick to apply thrust manually whilst in FAOFF mode.

Just read this.

But if you watch Isinonas video, isn't that exactly what he is doing?
 

Mike Evans

Designer- Elite: Dangerous
Frontier
Just read this.

But if you watch Isinonas video, isn't that exactly what he is doing?

Is he not using a HOTAS? With one of those you just move the throttle lever to where you want and leave it as it's not going to move on its own. On game pad the analogue sticks recentre themselves. You could set the throttle range to forward only and have pushing it in set reverse for example. That way the neutral point represents 50% speed and thus you'll keep thrusting at that speed in FAOFF without having to hold the stick.
 
To expand on this however we've implemented a way for you to use the direct speed setting buttons to apply and keep the ship firing thrust at that percentage of max thurst whilst in FAOFF mode. There isn't a way to do this on the game pad with the stick because the sprint in it will return it to the centre position and thus change your throttle setting. So for that you have to hold the stick in a 50% position to keep thursting at that percentage whilst in FAOFF mode.

What?! That's not fair!!! ;)

This leaves flying FA off with gamepad almost impossible.

I expect FD to come up with a solution asap... :)

How hard can it be? Setting main thruster to 50% should mean that it fires at 50% constantly. Is it just me, or isn't this obvious?... Oh dear...

Got2go. Later Bud! :)
 
Last edited:
Is he not using a HOTAS? With one of those you just move the throttle lever to where you want and leave it as it's not going to move on its own. On game pad the analogue sticks recentre themselves. You could set the throttle range to forward only and have pushing it in set reverse for example. That way the neutral point represents 50% speed and thus you'll keep thrusting at that speed in FAOFF without having to hold the stick.

Ok. So this would work in FAOFF? Sounds pretty good actually. I'll give it a go asap. I really would like a decent FAOFF setup for my 360 controller. Thanks Mike. Fly safe. :)
 
Is he not using a HOTAS? With one of those you just move the throttle lever to where you want and leave it as it's not going to move on its own. On game pad the analogue sticks recentre themselves. You could set the throttle range to forward only and have pushing it in set reverse for example. That way the neutral point represents 50% speed and thus you'll keep thrusting at that speed in FAOFF without having to hold the stick.

Hey Mike

Ok. Tried it. Doesn't work. Forward throttle only, assigned to right analogue stick gives full pelt on the throttle. No middle ground (50%).
Funny thing is if I turn the ship at an angle less than 180, engine power has absolutely no impact on direction. I have to turn the ship a full 180 degrees before engine effect kicks in, slows the ship down, and starts going full pelt the other way. Must be a design flaw right?

Also tried assigning forward throttle only to increase throttle (right analogue forward) and decrease throttle (right analogue back) hoping for 50% at neutral setting on the right analogue stick. No deal. Full pelt on the gas.

So, 2 issues really. With FAOFF in 1.1, 360 controller:

  1. At preset speed. No average setting possible. Only full pelt. Main engine impact only happens at a full 180 degree turn. Nothing happens if I just try to angle the ship sideways for example. No forward thrust what so ever... Fault?
  2. Can't configure the 360 controller for 50% main thrust in FAOFF. This option is essential for correct flying with the 360 controller.
Hope to hear good news soon.

The Concerned Commander
 
Hey Mike

Ok. Tried it. Doesn't work. Forward throttle only, assigned to right analogue stick gives full pelt on the throttle. No middle ground (50%).
Funny thing is if I turn the ship at an angle less than 180, engine power has absolutely no impact on direction. I have to turn the ship a full 180 degrees before engine effect kicks in, slows the ship down, and starts going full pelt the other way. Must be a design flaw right?

Also tried assigning forward throttle only to increase throttle (right analogue forward) and decrease throttle (right analogue back) hoping for 50% at neutral setting on the right analogue stick. No deal. Full pelt on the gas.

So, 2 issues really. With FAOFF in 1.1, 360 controller:

  1. At preset speed. No average setting possible. Only full pelt. Main engine impact only happens at a full 180 degree turn. Nothing happens if I just try to angle the ship sideways for example. No forward thrust what so ever... Fault?
  2. Can't configure the 360 controller for 50% main thrust in FAOFF. This option is essential for correct flying with the 360 controller.
Hope to hear good news soon.

The Concerned Commander


I messaged this directly to GlobusDiablo, but I thought I'd post it here for Mike et al to read as it may clear up the confusion:

I believe what is being described is an illusion related to the enforced top speed in ED.

Even in Flight Assist Off mode you are limited by a top speed.
When you push and hold the stick half way forward this slowly accelerates you until you reach your top speed (say 160).
When you turn while maintaining the stick half way forward then it does indeed start altering your ship's trajectory. However, because of the top speed, the readout remains reading 160.

Think of your ship as being in the middle of a 'speed bubble', you are remaining on the edge of that bubble, so your momentum reading remains at 160, even though the direction you are travelling is slowly adjusting. Even with Flight Assist Off, Flight Limiters remain on, and the engines provide a counter thrust preventing you from straying over that 160. So if you turned straight up 90 degrees then you would eventually transition from [160,0,0] to [80,80,0] to [0,160,0], slowly losing your original forward momentum in favour of your new direction. The speed reading would remain at 160 throughout this.

But, if you turn quickly to face the opposite direction, then you'll see the speed reading change, dropping from 160 down and then back up to 160 as it crosses through the centre of the 'speed bubble' (rather than scraping round the edge of it and maintaining the 160 reading like it does when you turn slowly or at an angle less than 180 degrees).

This is all correct behaviour when taking the speed limit cap into account.
 
Back
Top Bottom