Reverse thrust indication

[maslan]

Hi!
I think I have seen some people here asking how to find out if they (if using) have reverse thrust on. People were explaining that You can see it. Yes, I know You can see it on the speed bar, as it the bar is going reverse.
But it takes a lot of attention, and some - more then You expect - time.
So in CQC, or any other time I am flying around and doing alot of shooting, while toggling flight assist and reverse very often, either I need to keep track of it in my head, or I start confusing it.

Can't we just have like a clear indication for reverse thrust on the HUD? I know probably not many people use it, but I found it extremely useful during combat, and the current indication is unclear.

 

[NitroNic]

Look here I just googled for a picture to show you

You can hardly tell if the pilot in this picture is going to stop or going full rverse but hasn't stoped yet. By only looking at the HUD.
The only indication for that is the little bar to the right witch is a little less blue at the top.
I think @maslan that is what you wanted to say?

 

[DARGAN]

it is true, I learned to do with it, but it is not very clear indeed, a little adjustment it would take. Chop the bars when it's negative maybe just or something that flashes.

 

[maslan]

@NitroNic
You didn't put any picture (or it didn't load for me) but yes, that what I was trying to say - I can tell but I need to focus, and something that would be straightforward and immediately visible is really important, and we dont have it

 

[NitroNic]

Maby a simple solution would be to turn the bars indicationg your speed red if you appling reverse thrust but still moving forward.

 

[YinYin]

Hmm, this is only a problem at 4 ENG, but I suppose the bar direction could differ more clearly.

I recommend you to set a 0% throttle binding for now. No need to check anything on the HUD, just hit it when you need to stop.

 

[NitroNic]

Now i having an even better idea. What if the bars indicating your speed would be shaped like simple arrows pointing forward or backwards.

Now i having an even better idea. What if the bars indicating your speed would be shaped like simple arrows pointing forward or backwards.

Oh I am getting in the daydream mode agian.

 

[Alec Turner]

At the very least surely just a minus sign in front of the speed number would do?

Edit: Ignore that - of course the number is just your current speed and not your throttle setting.

 

[NitroNic]

Yeah but only if you are already going reverse. But if you are flying forward and apply backwards thrust you cant see it with the HUD only (With 4pip on ENG)

 

[Truesilver]

I basically agree with the OP but think that this is part of a much wider problem.

Because the ship is moving in 6 axes across 3 dimensions, and because of the interface between FA-on/off and throttle/thruster control, the single value displayed for speed often bears little readily-intelligible relationship to the movement of the ship (for example, if decelerating downwards with FA-off whilst also travelling backwards).

I still think that the most helpful thing would be a 3D compass showing the direction of travel of the ship, together with a value that showed its actual speed of travel in that direction.

(I will admit that there's a lot to consider in the above ... head hurts ... but where we are now does seem quite crude.)

 

[NitroNic]

Yes, I think there should be something like a control cross which indicates which direction you are moving.
This could be seen either through the cockpit glass or to the right of the ship's hologram. Because there is a clear difference between the direction where you look and where you fly

 

[maslan]

@TrueSilver
But then, there is a real button for reverse thrust, and there is the speed bar which is the compass for Your forward/backward speed so while a compass will probably never become real, we really need at least a clear indication if You are in reverse or forward mode If you use that way of thrust manipulation

 

[Stellar Gambit]

Maybe change the colour of the Nav Compass to a flashing alternative if your ship is going in a reverse motion to the direction of the nose of your ship..

that way if you FA and do a 180.. you may not be doing reverse thrust, but you are going backwards.

 

[777Driver]

Look here I just googled for a picture to show you
http://i.imgur.com/X5kBhAr.jpg
You can hardly tell if the pilot in this picture is going to stop or going full rverse but hasn't stoped yet. By only looking at the HUD.
The only indication for that is the little bar to the right witch is a little less blue at the top.
I think @maslan that is what you wanted to say?

That's not what the OP is talking about. You can clearly tell if the ship is going forward or reverse without any outside cues. The OP is requesting additional info, perhaps more heads up. In the pic you posted the ship is traveleing at 34 m/s, thrust is idle so the ship is decelerating

Personally I think it is all pretty clear. @Op, we have been asking for a flight path vector for years, no luck. I doubt they will add additional HUD information if the data is already displayed clearly.

PIC 1 - Forward velocity 137 m/s

PIC 2 - Reverse 137 m/s

 

[YinYin]

thrust is idle so the ship is decelerating

You can not tell if thrust/throttle is idle or -100% at 4 ENG.

That's the only point here.

 

[777Driver]

You can not tell if thrust/throttle is idle or -100% at 4 ENG.

That's the only point here.

What ship are you talking about? I am in a G5 DDT Cobra mark 3 with 4 PIPS to engines, I can clearly tell the difference. Edit - Ok I understand what you mean regarding a static picture, however onbaord the ship it is clear due to the speed trend.

Idle thrust

Reverse thrust

 

[Iskariot]

it is true, I learned to do with it, but it is not very clear indeed, a little adjustment it would take. Chop the bars when it's negative maybe just or something that flashes.

Or perhaps make the speed bar change colour immediately when you request reverse thrust, even if you are at that very moment still going forward.

 

[YinYin]

What ship are you talking about? I am in a G5 DDT Cobra mark 3 with 4 PIPS to engines, I can clearly tell the difference.

Any ship.

You aren't be able to tell the difference.

The potential speed bar covers the entire height, without indication on direction.
And the throttle is stuck at the bottom, without indication on being 0% or -100%

edit: your first screenshots are without flight assist and at 2 ENG

that means the potential speed bar only goes half way, hence indicating direction by coming from the top or bottom

and you also get an additional thrust bar, which now cannot indicate the difference between 100% and -100% (0% being empty)

your second screenshots only indicate current forward/reverse speed, not throttle/thrust

 

[777Driver]

Any ship.

You aren't be able to tell the difference.

The potential speed bar covers the entire height, without indication on direction.
And the throttle is stuck at the bottom, without indication on being 0% or -100%

edit: your first screenshots are without flight assist and at 2 ENG

that means the potential speed bar only goes half way, hence indicating direction by coming from the top or bottom

and you also get an additional thrust bar, which now cannot indicate the difference between 100% and -100% (0% being empty)

My second set of shots are 4 PIPS to ENG, flight assist ON.

 

[YinYin]

Yeah, noticed you editing stuff in - I did too.

Edit - Ok I understand what you mean regarding a static picture, however onbaord the ship it is clear due to the speed trend.

Speed trend is the same while you are still going forward for 0% and -100%.