As a lefty I can't use the usual HOTAS sticks, which are right-handed only, so I looked into alternatives. I now use two lefty-friendly joysticks together, and it's so good I thought I'd describe it if others want to try it out as well.
Basically, I have a T16000M on my left hand, and then a Logitech Attack3 on my right. The left one controls pitch/yaw/roll, and the hat is used for targeting. The right stick is used for strafing, and the four buttons on top do the energy redirection. I use the throttle on the Attack3, so that I can always have my left hand on the stick. This dual joystick setup works by simply connecting the joysticks to USB, and in control settings you can assign each button and analog movement without hickups.
What I found awesome about this is that it provides analog strafing, which turns out to be crucial while battling Anacondas with smaller ships. The tactic is to get reasonably close and then strafe continuously in one direction, so that you never face the Anaconda head on. While doing this the pitch joystick is ALWAYS at full extent, and the way to regulate how much you are actually pitching is through the strafing.
The reason this works is that strafing speed adds to the total speed. So if you start with speed in the blue sweet spot, and then strafe fully, then your pitching speed will go down. Ease on the strafing and the pitching is more. So while circle strafing an Anaconda, the pitch joystick is always on full, and the strafing is used to actually keep the ship in the middle of the crosshair.
Works amazingly well, BUT this requires analog strafing controls, which is why it's so great to have a second proper joystick. I can do the same with a gamepad controller, with the main drawback of that being that I have to use "yaw on low roll".
So if you want an awesome joystick setup but can't use a HOTAS, then try the T16000M and Attack3 combo.
Basically, I have a T16000M on my left hand, and then a Logitech Attack3 on my right. The left one controls pitch/yaw/roll, and the hat is used for targeting. The right stick is used for strafing, and the four buttons on top do the energy redirection. I use the throttle on the Attack3, so that I can always have my left hand on the stick. This dual joystick setup works by simply connecting the joysticks to USB, and in control settings you can assign each button and analog movement without hickups.
What I found awesome about this is that it provides analog strafing, which turns out to be crucial while battling Anacondas with smaller ships. The tactic is to get reasonably close and then strafe continuously in one direction, so that you never face the Anaconda head on. While doing this the pitch joystick is ALWAYS at full extent, and the way to regulate how much you are actually pitching is through the strafing.
The reason this works is that strafing speed adds to the total speed. So if you start with speed in the blue sweet spot, and then strafe fully, then your pitching speed will go down. Ease on the strafing and the pitching is more. So while circle strafing an Anaconda, the pitch joystick is always on full, and the strafing is used to actually keep the ship in the middle of the crosshair.
Works amazingly well, BUT this requires analog strafing controls, which is why it's so great to have a second proper joystick. I can do the same with a gamepad controller, with the main drawback of that being that I have to use "yaw on low roll".
So if you want an awesome joystick setup but can't use a HOTAS, then try the T16000M and Attack3 combo.
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