Getting into sim games - the HOTAS binding dilemma

[Knightshark]

For a dozen time so far I have thought 'now I will finally get back into flight sim gaming'. I bought DCS: FC3 and A10, and I got IL-2 BoS&BoM in sales. But everytime I start these games I am immediately put off by the thought that the first thing I need to do is bind my HOTAS, which is currently T16k with throttle and MFG Crosswind pedals. I start the game, open the options and there are tens or hundreds of commands to bind. I don't know which are important, where to find them, I don't really know where to start. Sometimes I google and find bindings from someone else where 50 functions are bound 40 of which I don't know what they do.

I find it really strange that no well documented bindings exist for these games, together with tutorials that help you learn them. It's just so off putting to have to spend hours with a game before being able to even play it, in particular when I come home from work in the evening and am tired.

How do others approach this?

 

[Fishy]

First with familiarity I'm afraid... Going through the controls, I sort ok know what I need (roll, pitch, yaw, throttle and weapons is your bare minimum), what I want, and what I don't need or need so rarely that the keyboard will do just fine. But yeah, it's pretty bad. I picked up BoS at the weekend, and once again, I had to do the dance. Almost nothing bound to the joystick by default, and what was pre-bound was bound to my xbox controller rather than the stick, throttle or pedals...

That said, look around on youtube, most games have beginner's videos that dedicate a large section to setting up controls, for axis to buttons and including response curves.

 

[Vasea Azure]

I can only speak about DCS, you can download control profiles created by users for certain hotas models. Look up user files here:
https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/

I usually first bind my axis, then things like gear up/down, flaps, speed brake, wheel brakes and test it. After depends on DCS module, gun trigger, weapon releases/selection, radar cursor slew/lock on.
Also for full fidelity DCS modules look up pdf manuals, basic layout of hotas buttons are explained there.

 

[Knightshark]

First with familiarity I'm afraid... Going through the controls, I sort ok know what I need (roll, pitch, yaw, throttle and weapons is your bare minimum), what I want, and what I don't need or need so rarely that the keyboard will do just fine. But yeah, it's pretty bad. I picked up BoS at the weekend, and once again, I had to do the dance. Almost nothing bound to the joystick by default, and what was pre-bound was bound to my xbox controller rather than the stick, throttle or pedals...

That said, look around on youtube, most games have beginner's videos that dedicate a large section to setting up controls, for axis to buttons and including response curves.

Yeah, just had the same problem with my xbox controller, too. And you have to find out by trying, or at least I only saw the generic name and couldn't make out which device they referred to.

I can only speak about DCS, you can download control profiles created by users for certain hotas models. Look up user files here:
https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/

I usually first bind my axis, then things like gear up/down, flaps, speed brake, wheel brakes and test it. After depends on DCS module trigger, weapob releases/selection, radar cursor/lock on.

So you say just ignore the things I don't know at first but need to take off (and just go with clicking inside the cockpit)?

 

[Mole HD]

I found with BoS that starting off in normal flight mode (no radiator control etc) and just setting the basics for flight got me started. Once flying for a few sessions, I changed flight models and set buttons and switches to the things I needed for that.

DCS...I don't have it since the thought of clicking on a fully interactive cockpit would do my nut in [where is it] I'm not a real pilot so I'm more interested in the simulated experience without the requirement for ultra realism per se...I want it to be enjoyable but I'm willing to let the simulation help by automating some things like radiator controls to aid that experience nowadays.

Tank games are another matter...since I was a tank crewman and eventually commander for a good part of my previous life

 

[Fishy]

DCS...I don't have it since the thought of clicking on a fully interactive cockpit would do my nut in [where is it]

Actually, I find clickable cockpits to be a great help. All the controls are still bound to keys, you just *also* have the option to click on them. And once you used a button a few times, you know where it is and what it does, you no longer need to remember which ctrl-rAlt-shift modifier key is needed for it. For example, I have absolutely no idea how to operate the radio in the DCS Huey with the keyboard, but clicking on the on/off switch and twisting the frequency dial is pretty natural.

 

[Mole HD]

Actually, I find clickable cockpits to be a great help. All the controls are still bound to keys, you just *also* have the option to click on them. And once you used a button a few times, you know where it is and what it does, you no longer need to remember which ctrl-rAlt-shift modifier key is needed for it. For example, I have absolutely no idea how to operate the radio in the DCS Huey with the keyboard, but clicking on the on/off switch and twisting the frequency dial is pretty natural.

I suspect it's the level of keyboard complexity that puts me off DCS...played for too long on the Xbox and going back to PC a couple of years ago, I find that having to glance down at at the keyboard ...since I apparently have no muscle memory of where keys are... for every minute function kinda dents my experience enough to be frustrating rather than enjoyable. I see what you mean by clickable cockpits though so I'll have to try it...

BoS seems to hit that middle ground quite well for me with controls and functions, enough selectable realism to be very, very good so I get the experience with as much or as little complexity as I want.

 

[DD_Crash]

There is an automated start up sequence for DCS and for BoS a good idea is to select pre-warmed engines in the difficulty settings

 

[Vasea Azure]

Yeah, just had the same problem with my xbox controller, too. And you have to find out by trying, or at least I only saw the generic name and couldn't make out which device they referred to.



So you say just ignore the things I don't know at first but need to take off (and just go with clicking inside the cockpit)?

Yeah, and learn basic controls of the aircraft.
After depending on what you want to learn just look up tutorials on Yt and familiar yourself with specific part of the manual.
Then just map necessary buttons where you feel comfortable.
If you hover the mouse over clickable button it will show its function/name so you can easily find it in the binding options.
I have all Dcs modules so pm me if you need any help

 

[PhanttoM]

I try to look up and follow the logic of the real life HOTAS controls as closely as possible, while using the clickable buttons for everything else. (which is easy with headtracking)

For example: On the A-10c, the coolie switch is in a spot to be used by the left hand index finger — so for the Thrustmaster 16000m FCS, I would bind it to the throttle ministick for the index finger as well.


That being said, I haven't played any of the full DCS modules since my Saitek x-65f HOTAS died. I could only afford the T16000m as a replacement, which I think have way too few 4-way hats — especially on the stick.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

I am in same the boat (plane)

Add to that I play in vr in a flight seat with no real access to keyboard.

Still what an experience

 

[BlackSpaceCowboy]

I know what you mean. It can seem overwhelming when you look at all those buttons.

1. Just bind the basics (pitch,yaw,roll,bank,throttle). Then start by flying one plane and add keys as you need them.

2. Remember you can bind two different actions to the same key if you're running out of keys

Don't try to bind every key at once. And for IL-2 there are some planes with multiple engines that have far more complicated binding that you can ignore until you're ready to fly them.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

Usually I find most important the ones that are regularly use. And that's mostly flight controls, targetting, weapons release and trimming. Headlook if no headtracking or VR. Navigational stuff, avionics. It's pretty much "context sensitive" in what the model offers in systems. The Idea of a hotas is you keep that hand onna stick and need not move it away. I mostly fly DCS for simming - yes there are all kinds of bindings possible, but i dont need a binding for a switch i need to flip just once on startup in a clickable cockpit.
Concentrate on the most often used commands and the Hotas will lower your workload (i.e. hovering hands over keyboard or looking for a concealed switch)