anybody tried the Lexip Gaming mouse with Elite Dangerous?

bicarbon8 · Mar 13, 2019

just for some background, I started playing the game on PS4 around when it was first released and then, after around 6 months, I moved to PC and purchased a T-Flight HOTAS X (after trying and being disappointed with my own lack of keyboard + mouse ability). The problems I've noticed with the HOTAS though are it puts my arms in an uncomfortable position if placed on my desk, leading to a cramp in my shoulder blade and making small adjustments are unreliable for precise aiming especially with FA Off. With my HOTAS now starting to become unreliable (sometimes rolls to the right and certain buttons don't always work) I'm looking at alternatives.

has anyone used the Lexip Gaming mouse with Elite Dangerous and if so, what is your experience with it as compared to standard keyboard and mouse or other controller types?

For reference, here is the link to Amazon with the mouse I'm speaking of: Amazon.co.uk link

Vandaahl · Mar 13, 2019

Reading the reviews, I wouldn't touch this mouse with a ten foot pole.

I'm a mouse pilot myself, and wouldn't want to use anything else, by why not use a more common mouse, like a m705 for instance?

Hank · Mar 13, 2019

I have not used one of the Lexip mouses. However, as an option to solve the pain issues with other mice and sticks, have you considered a Marble Mouse, aka Trackball ?

I've used one since they came out for work and gaming. At times I have to do a lot of CAD work and the marble mouse is great for doing 3D. I have the symmetrical style with the ball in the center and buttons on each side. The trackball with the ball/marble to the left where you use your thumb did not work for me; the muscles in my thumb would cramp.

Just a thought. With a trackball you don't move your arm just your fingers. I don't think there's a regular mouse that you don't move (but I could be wrong since I don't use those anymore).

GL HF Commander

60mm · Mar 13, 2019

bicarbon8 said:
The problems I've noticed with the HOTAS though are it puts my arms in an uncomfortable position if placed on my desk, leading to a cramp in my shoulder blade and making small adjustments are unreliable for precise aiming especially with FA Off. With my HOTAS now starting to become unreliable (sometimes rolls to the right and certain buttons don't always work) I'm looking at alternatives.

I would adjust my setup for comfort, acquire quality joysticks (CH/Virpil/VKB) and use joystick curves. Problems solved. If you are a flight game fan, quality joysticks will pay off with many years of use.

bicarbon8 · Mar 14, 2019

Vandaahl said:
Reading the reviews, I wouldn't touch this mouse with a ten foot pole.

I'm a mouse pilot myself, and wouldn't want to use anything else, by why not use a more common mouse, like a m705 for instance?

the reviews seemed pretty good from what I read and I saw the following on YouTube that made it look even better: YouTube review

bicarbon8 · Mar 14, 2019

60mm said:
I would adjust my setup for comfort, acquire quality joysticks (CH/Virpil/VKB) and use joystick curves. Problems solved. If you are a flight game fan, quality joysticks will pay off with many years of use.

this would be the right solution if I was always able to use the same desk and computer, but often times my kids are using one of the computers so I have to use a different one. It already gets annoying enough having to keep multiple machines in sync with VoiceAttack and my HOTAS bindings so I'm imagining that adding Joystick Curves on top of that would make things even worse... I may also just be getting tired of having to start so many other programs just so I can play this game effectively.. a mouse is small, a HOTAS can take up quite a lot of room (especially so if I were to set it up for max comfort as this would require a dedicated chair, clamps, more room by the computer, etc.). Elite is the only Flight Sim I own, and while I play it the majority of the time, it isn't the only game I play so having to move the HOTAS around (out of the way) so often would make a customised setup difficult to maintain.

bicarbon8 · Mar 14, 2019

Hank said:
I have not used one of the Lexip mouses. However, as an option to solve the pain issues with other mice and sticks, have you considered a Marble Mouse, aka Trackball ?

I've used one since they came out for work and gaming. At times I have to do a lot of CAD work and the marble mouse is great for doing 3D. I have the symmetrical style with the ball in the center and buttons on each side. The trackball with the ball/marble to the left where you use your thumb did not work for me; the muscles in my thumb would cramp.

Just a thought. With a trackball you don't move your arm just your fingers. I don't think there's a regular mouse that you don't move (but I could be wrong since I don't use those anymore).

GL HF Commander

I hadn't really considered using a trackball mouse because the main issue I find with using the mouse is that I go from my right hand controlling pitch, yaw, roll and vertical and left / right thrust with the HOTAS to my right hand controlling pitch, yaw and forward / reverse thrust with the mouse so I've lost two degrees of control. I find my left hand isn't up to the task of controlling vertical and left / right thrust, roll and all the other things like landing gear, chaff, boost, silent running, etc.

krylite · Mar 14, 2019

I haven't tried the Lexip mouse, but I've used the Logitech 502 ever since I started ED. It's got a tiltable input mouse wheel button which can be used for left/right roll. The side buttons can be set up for vertical or left/right thrust or programmble to however you want. There are also three sets of the button-sets which can be switched between by a central button. I've managed to be able to be keyboard free if I wanted although I still like to use my left hand for left side keyboard controls and macros. The 502 is wired (long enough about 5ft) with a protective covering and the underside of the mouse has metal weights optionally set. And it's also a great mouse for general use and probably on-screen graphic design or drawing. There seems to be new variants today also. (https://www.logitechg.com/en-roeu/products/gaming-mice/g502-proteus-spectrum-rgb-gaming-mouse.html) (https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G502-Performance-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B07GBZ4Q68/ref=dp_ob_title_ce)

the100thmonkey · Mar 14, 2019

bicarbon8 said:
I hadn't really considered using a trackball mouse because the main issue I find with using the mouse is that I go from my right hand controlling pitch, yaw, roll and vertical and left / right thrust with the HOTAS to my right hand controlling pitch, yaw and forward / reverse thrust with the mouse so I've lost two degrees of control. I find my left hand isn't up to the task of controlling vertical and left / right thrust, roll and all the other things like landing gear, chaff, boost, silent running, etc.

Put the translation axes on your left hand and your rotation on the right.

Also, consider an adjstable height chair.

It really sounds to me like your desk isn't deep enough and/or your screen is too small. You need room to put your elbow down on a solid surface for a HOTAS - that's where the shoulder pain is coming from, I suspect.

Aside from that, you can do wonderful things with MDF and C-clamps, like extending the arms of a comfortable chair to put the HOTAS on, or making a (relatively) quick release desk-mount.

bicarbon8 · Mar 14, 2019

krylite said:
I haven't tried the Lexip mouse, but I've used the Logitech 502 ever since I started ED. It's got a tiltable input mouse wheel button which can be used for left/right roll. The side buttons can be set up for vertical or left/right thrust or programmble to however you want. There are also three sets of the button-sets which can be switched between by a central button. I've managed to be able to be keyboard free if I wanted although I still like to use my left hand for left side keyboard controls and macros. The 502 is wired (long enough about 5ft) with a protective covering and the underside of the mouse has metal weights optionally set. And it's also a great mouse for general use and probably on-screen graphic design or drawing. There seems to be new variants today also. (https://www.logitechg.com/en-roeu/products/gaming-mice/g502-proteus-spectrum-rgb-gaming-mouse.html) (https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G502-Performance-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B07GBZ4Q68/ref=dp_ob_title_ce)

ooh, I like the fact that the mouse wheel has left / right click... don't know that I'd like using it for roll though as it'd mean I had to take a finger off the weapons.

bicarbon8 · Mar 14, 2019

the100thmonkey said:
It really sounds to me like your desk isn't deep enough

yes, this is true, but unfortunately I can't do anything about it right now other than holding the HOTAS in my lap (which is what I do)

the100thmonkey · Mar 14, 2019

bicarbon8 said:
yes, this is true, but unfortunately I can't do anything about it right now other than holding the HOTAS in my lap (which is what I do)

Have you considered a mounting arm for your display? You'll be surprised at how much space it frees up.

Slange Lands · Mar 14, 2019

bicarbon8 said:
ooh, I like the fact that the mouse wheel has left / right click... don't know that I'd like using it for roll though as it'd mean I had to take a finger off the weapons.

Razer makes 17 button mice. I have a Razer Epic Naga with 12 buttons on the side for the thumb. There are 5 buttons on top with the scroll being clickable. I boost, fire, land, hyperjump, use SCBs, etc with the thumb buttons. Very easy on the hand. So you can roll with the left right click and fire with one of the 12.

Han Zulu · Mar 14, 2019

The last couple of weeks, I've configured my laptop just for kb+m setup. I think I got a pretty decent config. Got access to pretty much all important things, and I've done some missions, scan etc, and mining, but at the moment I tried combat... eeek! Not good. And FAOff. oh dear... So I extended the config with a cheap HOTAS just to get the basic functionality for combat. And with cheap HOTAS comes flimsy responses, but hey, it's doable at least. KB+M not so much. However, most missions were totally okay in KBM, and even sometimes easier.

bicarbon8 · Mar 15, 2019

Slange Lands said:
Razer makes 17 button mice. I have a Razer Epic Naga with 12 buttons on the side for the thumb. There are 5 buttons on top with the scroll being clickable. I boost, fire, land, hyperjump, use SCBs, etc with the thumb buttons. Very easy on the hand. So you can roll with the left right click and fire with one of the 12.

I have a mouse with the 12 buttons on the side as well. hadn't considered using the left & right click for roll... certainly something for me to try out. Cheers.