Newcomer / Intro Hotkey to target power plant

Solarias

Solarias
I've seen this discussed but can't find a solution. Is there a way to automatically target power plants, or even to bind a key to it? I know people using Voice Attack have been discussing this as well, but am not sure if they have a solution. I'd rather just make a button on my joystick.

So much time spent in the left panel that could be better spent blowing up ships in half the time by targeting their power plants. :)
 

Draxxen

Draxxen
If you have a key set for previous sub-system, it only takes about 6 clicks to cycle to the power plant.
 

CMDR Memphis

C
Klab said:
Set the key for targetting sub-systems to your wheelmouse. To find the powerplant quickly, I just scroll backwards 4-5 clicks & it's targetted in seconds. I use a HoTaS set-up, but keep the mouse closeby just for this. Works great :)
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That is an excellent tip, rep'ed!

Dommarraa said:
I've looked everywhere, and I cant find a Win button
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It is actually a reasonable request. Yes, with a Rift setup it would make it unrealistic, but those who do not have one, yeah, your ship would have a button for it.
 

Zeeman

Zeeman
Klab said:
Set the key for targetting sub-systems to your wheelmouse. To find the powerplant quickly, I just scroll backwards 4-5 clicks & it's targetted in seconds. I use a HoTaS set-up, but keep the mouse closeby just for this. Works great :)
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You assume everyone uses a mouse, and that it has a wheel.

Regardless, this idea sounds too much like an "I win faster" button to me. I think the fact that the powerplant actually takes a bit of time to target is a good thing. Adds to the skill element just a tad.

Z...
 
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Arsen Cross

Arsen Cross
It would be cool.. But then you'd need a "target every other individual subsystem" key.... The only people that would get a real advantage from that is voice attack users. Not going to lie, that would be kinda cool.

On a side note though, the emergence of a thread like this, asking for the fastest way to kill a ship to be made even faster is a definitive show that a balance pass needs to be done on subsystem strength. As it stands subsystem damage mechanics are either way too freaking easy (powerplant) or way too damn difficult (cargo hatch).
 

JeffRyan

JeffRyan
Solarias said:
I've seen this discussed but can't find a solution. Is there a way to automatically target power plants, or even to bind a key to it? I know people using Voice Attack have been discussing this as well, but am not sure if they have a solution. I'd rather just make a button on my joystick.

So much time spent in the left panel that could be better spent blowing up ships in half the time by targeting their power plants. :)
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I have a problem with this whole targetting power plants in the first place. Had a thread on it a while back. I even made this nice picture.

millennium falcon pulverized.JPG
 
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the100thmonkey

the100thmonkey
The number of systems you have to cycle through to get to the power plant varies between ships. Sometimes it's six, sometimes it's eight.

On the Anaconda, it's eight. I think it's seven on the Dropship. I don't even bother with the Clipper because it's so weak anyway compared to a FdL or Vulture.
 

ocflyer

ocflyer
Currently, I assigned next/previous subsystem to the X52 Pro wheel on the throttle. I think I figured out a very convenient way to do this with Voice Attack but I'm away from home for a few days. When I get back, I'll test my theory and let you know.
 

Iskariot

Iskariot
On my x55 I use the pinky wheel on the throttle to cycle through sub targets. Works great.
One of the advantages of a good HOTAS is that you get a lot of convenient buttons and switches for use in a spacesim like this.
I only go for sub targets when I am targeting Pythons and Anacondas. The rest evaporates too fast to use sub targets.
For combat I am currently using a Python myself.
 

Solarias

Solarias
I agree that power plants in certain ships are overly vulnerable, especially the Annie and ASP, but if that weakness exists I'm going to take advantage of it! I also agree that a good solution would be to make the hull reinforcement packages substantially bolster power plants, especially at higher levels. Elite and Dangerous AI should equip these as well for a bit more of a challenge.

Thanks for the input, all! I'm really regretting my Thrustmaster's lack of buttons right now...
 

huwthomas

huwthomas
Solarias said:
I agree that power plants in certain ships are overly vulnerable, especially the Annie and ASP, but if that weakness exists I'm going to take advantage of it! I also agree that a good solution would be to make the hull reinforcement packages substantially bolster power plants, especially at higher levels. Elite and Dangerous AI should equip these as well for a bit more of a challenge.

Thanks for the input, all! I'm really regretting my Thrustmaster's lack of buttons right now...
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You might already know this, but you can assign multiple simultaneous presses to a game function, this lets you set one button to perform a "shift" function thus modifying what the other buttons do.
 
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ocflyer

ocflyer
ocflyer said:
Currently, I assigned next/previous subsystem to the X52 Pro wheel on the throttle. I think I figured out a very convenient way to do this with Voice Attack but I'm away from home for a few days. When I get back, I'll test my theory and let you know.
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Well I tested my theory and it FAILED. The position of the powerplant item in the subtargets list is at a variable location from the top and from the bottom of the list. The weapons and several other modules are near the top of the list so that a pilot can quickly look at the ship's weapons. This prevents a macro from reliably indexing down from the top of the list. And, at the bottom of the list you'll find the shield generator and the interdictor. Not every NPC has a shield generator. And not every NPC or human player has an interdictor. This prevents a macro from reliably indexing up from the bottom of the list. So, my idea for a separate VoiceAttack powerplant macro for each ship is hopeless.

Conclusion: Using a scroll wheel that is bound to the next/previous subsystem is the fastest way to find the powerplant.
 

Hellhawk666

Hellhawk666
By default, the "Y" key is bound to the target ship's systems. Any other binding can be substituted. I use the throttle "rocker" switch on the Thrustmaster T-Flight to step back and forth through the systems and select the one I want.
 
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