I currently have a Hotas X which was £35 and I've worn out several of the buttons by playing >1000 hours of Elite. I'm giving serious thought to buying a £277 Hotas Warthog. Does anyone have one of these? And can you tell me if paying 8x the price of my original joystick will feel like money well spent? My last major Elite related purchase was the TrackIR and I haven't regretted that for a second, it's really enhanced my experience...
Can you talk me into buying a Hotas Warthog?
- Thread starter Nerwan
- Start date
Hmm, that's interesting. How do you find the accuracy? I'm kind of hoping it'll improve my PVP skills a little bit, specifically my ability to hit modules more accurately..
Ref the OPs question. I don't have a Warthog. I went the CH route (Fighterstick, Throttle and Pedals). Be aware that it's also used for DCS, and pedals are pretty much a direct requirement there.
Either solution is probably going to do you fine and will make a BIG difference to how you feel about interacting with the game. Seriously, you play 1000 hours, go throw some money at it.
Either solution is probably going to do you fine and will make a BIG difference to how you feel about interacting with the game. Seriously, you play 1000 hours, go throw some money at it.
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Legacy_LuckyLuke
Banned
Can't speak for the warthog - but I recently got the CH Products flight stick and couldn't be happier!
Thinking about getting the throttle soon.
Thinking about getting the throttle soon.
accuracy is great because of that TOUGH spring you can (once used to it) get fine control of your ship ( I shoot mining canisters on the surface from a KM away so as to not upset the skimmers until im ready)
Picking up on Runis it does not have a stick twist but I do use pedals I find the double use of pedals and stick is great for fighting interdictions and manually docking the larger ships
Its very difficult to Cross control (roll left and yaw right) with a stick only but stick and pedals make it a useful manoeuvre
Picking up on Runis it does not have a stick twist but I do use pedals I find the double use of pedals and stick is great for fighting interdictions and manually docking the larger ships
Its very difficult to Cross control (roll left and yaw right) with a stick only but stick and pedals make it a useful manoeuvre
Reports are that the centering accuracy is low unless you invest in a longer stick extension. Otherwise, not the best stick for accuracy with say fixed weapons. Which means CQC and most PVP builds.
I am similarly on the fence over this reason alone. I like the idea of an immersive meaty stick. But I also like centering accuracy and playing for hours without cramping up
Currently have an x52 pro, and thinking about going to the other extreme and getting a CH Hotas. Heard some of the throttle bases wobble though. So currently just waiting for a 4th option until my Saitek inevitably fails completely.
I think everyone with his own oppinion. I just find much faster and easier the use of twist for yaw.
The day they will add a twist option to Warthog i will get one, because i know its very good quality.
Because the OP is a twist stick user, i am speaking with him, not with the rest of you. If the use of pedals doesn't bother you, then yes, get the Warthog.
The day they will add a twist option to Warthog i will get one, because i know its very good quality.
Because the OP is a twist stick user, i am speaking with him, not with the rest of you. If the use of pedals doesn't bother you, then yes, get the Warthog.
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I also started with the X-Flight (brilliant for the money), then upgraded to the CH setup as I preferred functionality and comfort over looks (opinions may differ here
).I use the pedals a lot, but I also have yaw mapped to one of the hats when I'm playing standing up. Now I'm used to this I far prefer it over the twist grip.
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Money well spent is a function of how much you have (IMO). There is no way it is 10 times as good, but you get diminishing returns with pretty much everything as you move up the scale. For me, the upgrade was well worth it.
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The Warthog is clearly a solid piece of kit and many swear by it. Personally I did not like the resistances (the CH stick is very light in comparison) and I didn't like all the buttons on the base (The CH stick just has two trim wheels).
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I love the mini joystick on the CH throttle and I find the CH products fit my hand better (big hands). I get less wrist finger strain on the CH over the T-Flight and Warthog because of the low resistances and the fact that all the controls appear to be where my fingers sit naturally.
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Both choices are great over the T-Flight and both have far more controls than you really need (The T-Flight was lacking options here), but at the price differences, what do you expect?
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[video=youtube;ZXsQAXx_ao0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXsQAXx_ao0[/video]
Yaffle
Volunteer Moderator
See if you can find someone nearby who will let you use theirs for a bit.
Pros:
Feels indestructible
Fairly easy to use software allowing you to map keys to switches, set response curves etc
Lots of buttons. Lots and lots and lots of buttons if you use the software
Depends on the user:
Stiff, chunky, quite large
No twist rudder - needs pedals or use a hat
Cons:
The price. OMG the price
Pros:
Feels indestructible
Fairly easy to use software allowing you to map keys to switches, set response curves etc
Lots of buttons. Lots and lots and lots of buttons if you use the software
Depends on the user:
Stiff, chunky, quite large
No twist rudder - needs pedals or use a hat
Cons:
The price. OMG the price
I switched to warthog from x-box controller and I have to say it took a while to fall in love with it. I regretted the decisions for a couple of week's and nearly sent it back; but once i got the control's configured how I like them it made all the difference. Using the controller I felt like I was playing a computer game but using the Hotas felt like I was piloting a space ship, just that qualitative difference was awesome. The stick is heavy and does take some getting used too, your muscles will need to adapt and it also favours larger hands. Someone with small hands might not get on with the stick or throttle so well.
The button mapping options are endless I only have to touch the keyboard for typing systems into the galmap and i can navigate it and pilot my srv with ease and intuition now. The lack of twist yaw isn't an issue now although i wanted it initially. I have yaw mapped to both my stick and throttle to use in different situations be it supercruise or or canyon running.
Now I am not really a combat focused pilot I tend to do bit's of everything in game and haven't tweaked my controls for combat yet, but I find combat maneuvering allot more challenging than my xbox controler. The heaviness of the stick and button placement while certainly more realitsic, for me reduce the utility of control in combat, but as i say there are plenty of way's that can be improved. I currently have mine set up on a desk so i don't have the optimal 90 degree angle to the hotas either which i'm sure impacts finer flight control negatively.
The build quality is exceptionally good it's endorsed as an official USAF replica and I am confident they wouldn't do that with any old hotas.
Obsidian ant also has a very informative review of his one here...
[video=youtube;530deMgrchk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=530deMgrchk[/video]
The button mapping options are endless I only have to touch the keyboard for typing systems into the galmap and i can navigate it and pilot my srv with ease and intuition now. The lack of twist yaw isn't an issue now although i wanted it initially. I have yaw mapped to both my stick and throttle to use in different situations be it supercruise or or canyon running.
Now I am not really a combat focused pilot I tend to do bit's of everything in game and haven't tweaked my controls for combat yet, but I find combat maneuvering allot more challenging than my xbox controler. The heaviness of the stick and button placement while certainly more realitsic, for me reduce the utility of control in combat, but as i say there are plenty of way's that can be improved. I currently have mine set up on a desk so i don't have the optimal 90 degree angle to the hotas either which i'm sure impacts finer flight control negatively.
The build quality is exceptionally good it's endorsed as an official USAF replica and I am confident they wouldn't do that with any old hotas.
Obsidian ant also has a very informative review of his one here...
[video=youtube;530deMgrchk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=530deMgrchk[/video]
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@OP - I have a throttle and stick that I used for a very short while and gave up on it. It's a solidly built bit of kit.
I really struggled without the twist yaw - for me there is nothing simpler than having it all controlled in one hand (my X52 was ideal till it broke) - though I haven't tried pedals - they just don't appeal to me.
I also found the stick sat high on the desk compared to my X52 which I found uncomfortable.
It's in virtually new condition - if you want to make me a reasonable offer - PM me!
I really struggled without the twist yaw - for me there is nothing simpler than having it all controlled in one hand (my X52 was ideal till it broke) - though I haven't tried pedals - they just don't appeal to me.
I also found the stick sat high on the desk compared to my X52 which I found uncomfortable.
It's in virtually new condition - if you want to make me a reasonable offer - PM me!
As dearly as I wanted the Warthog, after trying my neighbors for a week, I'm glad I got the X52pro instead. The Warthog was extremely well built and I liked the layout and number of buttons on the throttle. Stick forces do take some getting used to. I find my modified X52pro to be more precise (the magnet modification to the throttle). I also prefer the swivel stick to using pedals even though I fly with them at work. That will completely be personal preference though.
When centered the Warthog stick takes just a light force to move around, and it's quite precise there. The sensors are incredible. Centering precision is spot on for me, i have almost zero deadzone. I come from a Uber2 Cougar which as smooth as silk, feared i would lose in precision around center, i didnt. It's a fantastic kit.
(edit) i use fixed weapons on my FAS and can snipe small eagles from afar. Really no issue there - i am using the (now discontinued) Saitek Pro Flight and thinking about that Slaw Viper pedals...
(edit) i use fixed weapons on my FAS and can snipe small eagles from afar. Really no issue there - i am using the (now discontinued) Saitek Pro Flight and thinking about that Slaw Viper pedals...
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How long have you had it?