Console Controller & Fixed Weapons?

[SManZ350]

I'm on XB1 and using the Elite controller. Are fixed weapons much harder to learn to use with a gamepad than a flight stick on PC? To the point its not worth trying?

I'll admit I haven't spent a great deal of time on this. I get frustrated and quickly go back to gimbals. But I also realize that the physically larger range of motion you get out of a flightstick vs a thumbstick helps with precision. For you flightstick users I guess it would be comparable to flying your ship with an analog hat switch instead of the joystick.

What are your thoughts? Try harder or accept that this is one of the limitations of a gamepad?

 

[Burke]

I found an xbox pad to be difficult and fiddly to use, so as pc gamer i fly by keyboard now. For what thats worth.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

Generally speaking, KB+M > HOTAS > gamepad

 

[SManZ350]

Generally speaking, KB+M > HOTAS > gamepad

Whoa...I had no idea that KB+M was a thing for sims. For FPS, absolutely...but a sim, that is a big surprise.

 

[Burke]

Whoa...I had no idea that KB+M was a thing for sims. For FPS, absolutely...but a sim, that is a big surprise.

Keyboard...dont try and fly with the mouse

 

[Bunkerkind Anni]

Keyboard...dont try and fly with the mouse

actually, if you can fly by keyboard, you can also do it with the gamepad - just the unintuitive way:
do not use the sticks for steering, use the buttons.
you should be able to do the same thing many here curse with the "relative mouse mode"

 

[Feros-da-Grundig]

I'm on XB1 and using the Elite controller. Are fixed weapons much harder to learn to use with a gamepad than a flight stick on PC? To the point its not worth trying?

I'll admit I haven't spent a great deal of time on this. I get frustrated and quickly go back to gimbals. But I also realize that the physically larger range of motion you get out of a flightstick vs a thumbstick helps with precision. For you flightstick users I guess it would be comparable to flying your ship with an analog hat switch instead of the joystick.

What are your thoughts? Try harder or accept that this is one of the limitations of a gamepad?

If XBONE lets you decrease sensitivity that might help. I'm on PS4 where that is not possible. (just deadzone, which isn't the same)

I find fixed PAs no problem at all, but rails are tricky, and I feel would be easier if the pitch/yaw (same stick with my bindings) were less "twitchy". I might also try flying a less maneuverable ship, although this makes me sad.

Probably though I just need to get better. There are plenty of skilled pilots on PS4 who use rails. Practice practice practice.

 

[dekot]

If you can play fps games on xbox, you can used fixed weapons. It's not hard at all once you get used to it, don't let people scare you off. You can even fly 24/7 FA off if you want.

If I ever get this game on PC to play with VR, I will be using a gamepad. I can use virtually any function without looking.

 

[Burke]

actually, if you can fly by keyboard, you can also do it with the gamepad - just the unintuitive way:
do not use the sticks for steering, use the buttons.
you should be able to do the same thing many here curse with the "relative mouse mode"

As gamepads go i dont rate the xbox (for pc) pad as particularly good. You cant tell where the direction are with those sticks or even the d pad really.

 

[Kastor]

Go for fixed weapons. Gamepad can rock them well, use the second sticks strafe to help aim a little bit if you can.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

If XBONE lets you decrease sensitivity that might help. I'm on PS4 where that is not possible. (just deadzone, which isn't the same)

I find fixed PAs no problem at all, but rails are tricky, and I feel would be easier if the pitch/yaw (same stick with my bindings) were less "twitchy". I might also try flying a less maneuverable ship, although this makes me sad.

Probably though I just need to get better. There are plenty of skilled pilots on PS4 who use rails. Practice practice practice.

Are you using long range engineering (and strategy) for the rails?
That changed everything for me.

Also target modules in your left panel and learn to time the microgimbal "snap" when it aligns with the target.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

Whoa...I had no idea that KB+M was a thing for sims. For FPS, absolutely...but a sim, that is a big surprise.

Relative mouse setting + FA-Off + fixed weapons seems to be the most preferred choice in PVP.

I'm on PS4 and use Hotas that said.
Even that provides a pretty significant advantage over a gamepad imo.
The extra buttons/paddles on the Elite controller would even that up some but not entirely.

 

[Feros-da-Grundig]

Are you using long range engineering (and strategy) for the rails?
That changed everything for me.

Also target modules in your left panel and learn to time the microgimbal "snap" when it aligns with the target.

Yeah on LR, but I think I just need to git gud. Does subtargeting a module change the microgimbal behavior? I'm well aware of the behavior and try to use it, just not much luck except on large ships (where it's much much easier).

Don't get me wrong, I can hit sometimes, just not enough to justify the distro draw, so until I improve or adjust I pretty much have them set aside for usage on big 3 SCB shield tanks, which are much easier to hit.

I have an unopened HOTAS sitting around, I'll probably try and compare. It sounds like you found a big difference when using with rails? That is the only thing I have a problem with on DS4 pad (I purchased an addon to place L1/R1 on back which really really really improves the usability of DS4 IMO, as well as a very unusual set of bindings I settled on)

 

[Feros-da-Grundig]

I'm on PS4

Oh and if you ever want someone to shoot your rails at feel free to friend request, same ID as here. I'm a filthy pirate, but try to be more of the rum soaked kind, than the sealclubbing ganker kind. Just put a word in the FR so I know who it is

 

[Kastor]

I'm on PS4 and use Hotas that said.
Even that provides a pretty significant advantage over a gamepad imo.
The extra buttons/paddles on the Elite controller would even that up some but not entirely.

https://www.razer.com/gaming-controllers/razer-wolverine-ultimate-for-xbox-one
I'm not super keen on razer products but this is probably the current best when it comes to gamepads. It's got all of the features of the Elite (except wireless) with some extra ones as well. Two more buttons, much better d-pad options. light touch face buttons and a RGB glow element (which isn't useful, but preeetttyyyy)

 

[Feros-da-Grundig]

https://www.razer.com/gaming-controllers/razer-wolverine-ultimate-for-xbox-one
I'm not super keen on razer products but this is probably the current best when it comes to gamepads. It's got all of the features of the Elite (except wireless) with some extra ones as well. Two more buttons, much better d-pad options. light touch face buttons and a RGB glow element (which isn't useful, but preeetttyyyy)

Thanks o7

It's a good suggestion but I use this, a much cheaper alternative that I rate 10/10: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L8QHXJA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My understanding is that the other brands like razer add more button placements, but no actual extra buttons due to the PS4 limiting you to the binding options of a default DS4. Otherwise, I'd be all over that.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

Yeah on LR, but I think I just need to git gud. Does subtargeting a module change the microgimbal behavior? I'm well aware of the behavior and try to use it, just not much luck except on large ships (where it's much much easier).

It sure seems to.
Counter intuitively, shooting when they are at some distance really helps too.

Don't get me wrong, I can hit sometimes, just not enough to justify the distro draw, so until I improve or adjust I pretty much have them set aside for usage on big 3 SCB shield tanks, which are much easier to hit.

I have an unopened HOTAS sitting around, I'll probably try and compare. It sounds like you found a big difference when using with rails? That is the only thing I have a problem with on DS4 pad (I purchased an addon to place L1/R1 on back which really really really improves the usability of DS4 IMO, as well as a very unusual set of bindings I settled on)

Rails were one of my favorite weapons from the get go (not that I'm particularly skilled with them, lol) but yes I felt the Hotas made a big difference.
The various aftermarket gamepad options look really helpful too.

They're still a high skill weapon relatively speaking.
And the Hotas 4 isn't particularly high quality.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

Oh and if you ever want someone to shoot your rails at feel free to friend request, same ID as here. I'm a filthy pirate, but try to be more of the rum soaked kind, than the sealclubbing ganker kind. Just put a word in the FR so I know who it is

Will do but I've been prepping my new alt account for DW2.
Be a few more days before I'm back in the main account in all likelihood.
My main PSN ID/Cmdr name is almost the same, just an underscore instead of a space.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

Thanks o7

It's a good suggestion but I use this, a much cheaper alternative that I rate 10/10: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01L8QHXJA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My understanding is that the other brands like razer add more button placements, but no actual extra buttons due to the PS4 limiting you to the binding options of a default DS4. Otherwise, I'd be all over that.

Interesting, I was wondering about that thing for some other games, just as a cheap alternative.
Appreciate the feedback!

 

[sirpuma]

I don't have a game console, haven't had one since I was a teen and had an Atari. I've been playing computer games for a few decades and started on an Amiga. I have game pads I can use with the computer but I much prefer using keyboard/mouse/joystick. There are a few games I use the game pad on only because the game itself was designed specifically for it because it started life as a console game (ie Mortal Kombat.) But when it comes to any kind of flight game, I go for the kbd/m/j option. Why? Configuration. In a game like Elite there are literally dozens of commands for various systems in the game, both flight control and menu. I use the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick because it's affordable (Amazon has them for as low as $30 US), they have 12 programable buttons, hat switch 3 flight control axis' and a throttle axis. I do a LOT of flight sim type games including MS Flight Sim X (which I have about two grand in controllers and instrumentation for a realistic feel) and I've found the joystick I use to be the most versatile. On top of that I can configure the keyboard for any kind of setup to make choosing the right commands quick and with a bit of practice it's easy to make all your flight and menu commands quickly and without having to rush through menus to find the right command to do a task, like launching flares/chaff (countermeasures) while trying to fight in a dogfight. The Logitech G X56 HOTAS looks hot, but I've never really needed much more than the E3DP. And at $200ish for the X56 it's way more affordable than the Thrustmaster setup.

As far as using a gamepad for FPS (like Halo) or flight sims, I never could get the hang of it. I can use one to play things like Mortal Kombat or Tony Hawk Pro Skater, but not other games. I've always preferred PC over console for the sole reason that I can build a computer way more powerful than a console, with more storage, more games and more usefulness (such as creating videos, writing books and running various database programs.)