External View [A definitive discussion]

[Islata]

external and internal views

Hello,

In the standard beta...

How does one access external views?

Is there any way to pan around the cockpit, rather than just switch left, right or center?

 

[Stoo]

There is no external view... it's all through the pilots eyes....

You can use headlook to look around though, take a look at the options keybindings for the default key to enable it and pan around.

 

[bttlsgtmajor]

No external view.

There are several ways you can pan. To better answer your question though I have one for you: What input devices are you using (ie keyboard/mouse, HOTAS, etc )?

 

[rootsrat]

Hello,

In the standard beta...

How does one access external views?

Is there any way to pan around the cockpit, rather than just switch left, right or center?

Hello and welcome to the forums!

There is no external view at the moment, this will come in a later stage.

You can look around the cockpit using the mouse, but you have to activate the free look by pressing mouse wheel button by default. Double check in your key binding settings.

 

[Islata]

I am running a Saitek X-52


If there are no external views, how are all those youtube video shots done showing external views of ships and stations, etc?

 

[Adam Lusardi]

Think its with head look in a certain position in the sidewinder you get a frameless view. Oh and some skill thrown in.

 

[rootsrat]

If you look directly up in the Sidewinder ship, your view will not be obstructed by any cockpit stuff. That's how people make the videos at the moment.

Pretty cool, eh?

 

[Islata]

It looks like I cannot have BOTH the X52and the keyboard mouse at the same time?

Is there a way to assign the keyboard mouse functions to the X52?

 

[rootsrat]

It looks like I cannot have BOTH the X52and the keyboard mouse at the same time?

Is there a way to assign the keyboard mouse functions to the X52?

I use Thrustmaster T Flight X HOTAS and I am able to use mouse free look with it. The only scenario I know of where it gets disabled is when you use some kind of head track (Track IR, FaceTrackNoIR etc.).

: EDIT:

You can modify key bindings in the Options menu. Set them to your liking. I'm pretty sure you can use both X52 and keyboard&mouse.

 

[bttlsgtmajor]

... I'm pretty sure you can use both X52 and keyboard&mouse.

That is correct. I use the 52 pro as well and I can use either my mouse for free look or one of my hats on my stick. I just mapped the "enable free look" to one of the buttons on my joystick (can use keyboard bindings as well).

 

[Islata]

Yes...

That is where I am getting hung up. Only one or the other is working now.

I don't see any way in the controller option panel to assign the keyboard mouse functions to the X52 controller.

Or to make some kind of selection so that all three function at the same time.

 

[Draximus]

Using the default setup for the x52 for free look i can use freelook by pressing the wheel on the thrust controller. its on the left hand side of the thruster, underneath the hotas.

Once you have pressed the wheel, one of the hotas on the joystick moves your head around.

 

[TheJayZone]

External View

I have a suggestion. How about an external view while the docking computer is active. It could be an external view streamed from security cameras mounted on the space station itself, without spoiling the immersion. We could actually watch our landing gear be deployed and admire our new paintjob in full cinematic glory from different security station cameras as we sit back and relax as the docking computer works its magic. If the docking computer is disengaged the internal will be immediately restored. What do you think?

 

[Krow]

Taking shields offline during external cam would not only prevent the function from being used in combat but also encourage people to be careful when using it.

(I did consider the notion of weapons going offline, but we want to take sceenies of our ships with guns out blazing!)

 

[Mephane]

Taking shields offline during external cam would not only prevent the function from being used in combat but also encourage people to be careful when using it.

What would be the in-universe justification for shields going offline? A drone certainly would be able to launch with shields activated, we can scoop cargo with shields on therefore solid matter can pass through shields if slow enough.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

What would be the in-universe justification for shields going offline? A drone certainly would be able to launch with shields activated, we can scoop cargo with shields on therefore solid matter can pass through shields if slow enough.

power needed to run a drone, (a bit lame i cant imagine it would take that much juice!)

or ...

OK so maybe matter can get through shields - the notion that it is slow moving so can pass through - iirc Stargate used a similar mechanism for the goa'uld personal shields, but maybe they disrupt electrical/radiowaves so to control them your shields have to be taken down.

The latter works quite well from a logical stance imo, and would also tie in with the other thing which is important for those using 3rd person view, that the ship lights up on everyone's scanner, so you cant use drone view as a stealth mode in silent running - the radiowave interference given off whilst controlling the drone is picked up on other peoples scanners.

 

[Zireael]

Taking shields offline during external cam would not only prevent the function from being used in combat but also encourage people to be careful when using it.

(I did consider the notion of weapons going offline, but we want to take sceenies of our ships with guns out blazing!)

That's a pretty neat idea!

 

[Mephane]

OK so maybe matter can get through shields - the notion that it is slow moving so can pass through - iirc Stargate used a similar mechanism for the goa'uld personal shields, but maybe they disrupt electrical/radiowaves so to control them your shields have to be taken down.

If that were the case, comms, docking requests, would be impossible, unless they use a different wavelength than radio waves, in which case the drone RC would just do the same.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

If that were the case, comms, docking requests, would be impossible, unless they use a different wavelength than radio waves, in which case the drone RC would just do the same.

not necessarily.

maybe wavelengths below a certain length can get through, and those above it cant. perhaps the lower wave lengths do not have the bandwidth for drone control, or perhaps these bandwidths are reserved only for limited use by law.

Its not too far removed from what we have now. AFAIK it is illegal to broadcast on police radio frequencies, and if your drone worked on t he same ones as chat, and drowned out everyones comms am sure it would not go down too well.

alternatively (and actually this makes more sense) maybe you have a small radio antenna which is outside of the shield... (which we cant actually see - yet - but could be added)

This would mean it could be yet another piece of equipment which could be damaged in a fire fight.

 

[Mephane]

not necessarily.

maybe wavelengths below a certain length can get through, and those above it cant. perhaps the lower wave lengths do not have the bandwidth for drone control, or perhaps these bandwidths are reserved only for limited use by law.

Its not too far removed from what we have now. AFAIK it is illegal to broadcast on police radio frequencies, and if your drone worked on t he same ones as chat, and drowned out everyones comms am sure it would not go down too well.

alternatively (and actually this makes more sense) maybe you have a small radio antenna which is outside of the shield... (which we cant actually see - yet - but could be added)

This would mean it could be yet another piece of equipment which could be damaged in a fire fight.

How about we simply drop the notion that the player must be ultra-vulnerable because they are making pretty screenshots? FD stated there is no magical external view because it breaks the concept of always-1st-person, not because of any form of "combat advantage" that must be nullified at all cost. (Otherwise, they would have put in an external view just without any form of HUD, have fun shooting without even a targeting reticule.)