Hardware & Technical Elite Dangerous - eliminating the need for keyboard input

Erimus Kamzel

Erimus Kamzel
I've ordered the DK2 OR but am wondering how the use of keyboard hotkeys in conjunction with OR will work since you can't see the keyboard at all? It sounds all hit and miss and a bit fidgety to me. I don't particularly want to use voice attack either, so that leaves me looking for solutions to remove the need for keyboard use completely when playing ED.

I currently have a Thrusmaster joystick, but it only has 10 buttons. Also ordered a gaming mouse with 7 buttons, so that will help.

But I was thinking of getting an X52 joystick (23 buttons apparently). So surely that in conjunction with a gaming mouse will allow me to have everything I need at my fingertips when wearing OR ? I've briefly played the Alpha 1.1 and with my current 10-button joystick but I'm finding I'm still having to rely heavily on keyboard inputs for certain tasks.

Would OR + X52 make the keyboard redundant for Elite?
 

ianw

I
Reckon you could pretty much do it.

I'm using an X52 Pro - no OR - but apart from tabbing out of the game when it crashes I don't think I use the keyboard.
 

Stoo

Stoo
I'm using a Thrustmaster T-Flight X HOTAS thingywhatsit, and don't need to touch the keyboard. I have everything bound to buttons on the stick, and use VoiceAttack for anything else ;)
 

Erimus Kamzel

Erimus Kamzel
Thanks, that sounds promising. But with my current set up with the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X and a cheap 5 button mouse I still find myself having to configure a few hotkeys on the keyboard for certain things. Which is fine at the moment since I'm not using the OR.

Hopefully something like the X52 will be overkill with the options it'll offer :cool:
 

Rog

Rog
Anyone thought off using one of those USB numeric keypads as an additional controller for E: D (or even if it's possible)?

41qgrIDSPiL._SX342_.jpg


They're only a couple of quid on Amazon.
 

AngryBob

A
x52 should be plenty to make the keyboard redundant, you only really need the combat critical functions mapped to buttons as long as the rest of the functions are accessible via the in-game menus.

I'm also using the Thrustmaster Cheapas X for now, I'm thinking that when Elite and the Rift CV1 come out (and Star Citizen is further along in development) I'll treat myself to whatever seems to be the community consensus best HOTAS at that time. I'm actually looking forward to a second hat switch more than the extra buttons, I'd love to have power options and vertical/horizontal thrusters both mapped to hat switches.
 

psykokow

psykokow
The nose part of the OR is the secret... push the tip of your nose to the left or right and peer down the gap to find the keyboard.. that's how i do it!!

I suspect similar for Dk2 or maybe it has a fancy through camera button
 

Spiggs

Spiggs
I use a Thustmaster T-Flight HOTAS with an old Belkin n52te (Now marketed as the "Razer Nostromo") which gives me all the buttons I need, although its still a bit of a fudge and likely not as good or intuative as an X52.

PCF219.wired_flow.speedpad-420-75_590509224_o.jpg

However, since I've started using the Voice Recognition software Voice Attack, I hardley touch the keyboard now!
 

carlosg

C
Stoo said:
I'm using a Thrustmaster T-Flight X HOTAS thingywhatsit, and don't need to touch the keyboard. I have everything bound to buttons on the stick, and use VoiceAttack for anything else ;)
Click to expand...
Hi - just curious how you are mapping your HOTAS. I don't have the OR yet (plan to get DK2) but I would presume that when you put on the goggles on your ability to use buttons on HOTAS would be reduced to 11 on the stick (thumb for the target management directional switch, trim directional switch, weapon release push button, index for the trigger and a pinky button) and 10 on the throttle (three-way China Hat, directional Speed break and may be a pinky push switch... of course not counting the throttle itself for acceleration and deceleration). This is the TM Warthog setup by the way.

So with the player's options reduced to twenty or so switches and buttons... what would be the optimal way to set up the profile for Elite Dangerous when using rift in order to avoid having to take the goggles off? This goes for both dog fighting and for when inside a space station.

Obviously, the trigger would be for firing your primary weapon and the weapon release button for missile - so at least these two are already taken care of!
 

Aleksej

Aleksej
carlosg said:
Hi - just curious how you are mapping your HOTAS. I don't have the OR yet (plan to get DK2) but I would presume that when you put on the goggles on your ability to use buttons on HOTAS would be reduced to 11 on the stick (thumb for the target management directional switch, trim directional switch, weapon release push button, index for the trigger and a pinky button) and 10 on the throttle (three-way China Hat, directional Speed break and may be a pinky push switch... of course not counting the throttle itself for acceleration and deceleration). This is the TM Warthog setup by the way.

So with the player's options reduced to twenty or so switches and buttons... what would be the optimal way to set up the profile for Elite Dangerous when using rift in order to avoid having to take the goggles off? This goes for both dog fighting and for when inside a space station.

Obviously, the trigger would be for firing your primary weapon and the weapon release button for missile - so at least these two are already taken care of!
Click to expand...

It really depends on the joystick/hotas. E.g. Saitek X55 has 14 buttons + POV on the stick and 31 buttons on throttle. Also pedals can be used for vertical and lateral thrust.

Dual trigger is not suitable for all situations sometimes it is better to have separate buttons for primary and secondary fire.
 
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