Let's talk control specifics, Thrustmaster T.Flight X

[Vendraen]

So, I'm flying with the (very nice) Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X. Yeah, I know, so is everyone else! Great controller, and they essentially give it away for free. Anyway.

I realize that using the maneuvering thrusters in addition to the normal throttle/pitch/roll/yaw controls can give an advantage in combat situations. But I can't work out how to keep my hands on the stick and throttle and also use those thrusters. I'd have to take my hand off either the stick or throttle, move to the KB, and use the thrusters. Time off either of the HOTAS controls could be bad.

How are people setting up their controls such that they can use thrusters AND throttle/pitch/roll/yaw without having to move from HOTAS to KB?

 

[Duckfather]

I have left / right thrusters on the throttle rocker and the up / down thrusters on the two buttons to the right of the rocker. This gives me access to all thrusters from the throttle at all times. I also have power on the three buttons next to each other near your thumb and boost on the other button below these. It just made sense to me to have all buttons to do with thrust / power on the throttle

 

[PiLhEaD]

I use that stick (great value for money) - I have it configured this way:

In options -> Controls -> Flight Thrust: I mapped:

Thrust Left - JOY-POV1-Left
Thrust Right - JOY-POV1-Right
Thrust Up - JOY-POV1-Up
Thrust Down - JOY-POV1-Down

This works like a charm for me.

 

[Alec Turner]

I've got the thrusters mapped to the little 4-way thumbstick on the top of the main joystick - works a charm.

If you haven't discovered this already, the best thing I learned while setting up my T.Flight was that Elite Dangerous supports multi-button mappings. So, I'm using the three buttons that are in a vertical row next to your thumb on the throttle control as a set of "Shift" keys if you like. For that little thumbstick I've got lateral/vertical thrusters by default, and then with "Shift 1" held down they do my pips, with "Shift 2" held down they do my targetting (next/prev ship and next/prev subsystem) and with "Shift 3" held down they do my UI-focus panels.

 

[Bozeman42]

I've got the thrusters mapped to the little 4-way thumbstick on the top of the main joystick - works a charm.

If you haven't discovered this already, the best thing I learned while setting up my T.Flight was that Elite Dangerous supports multi-button mappings. So, I'm using the three buttons that are in a vertical row next to your thumb on the throttle control as a set of "Shift" keys if you like. For that little thumbstick I've got lateral/vertical thrusters by default, and then with "Shift 1" held down they do my pips, with "Shift 2" held down they do my targetting (next/prev ship and next/prev subsystem) and with "Shift 3" held down they do my UI-focus panels.

I wanted to do that but my 'shift' button wasn't affecting the POV hat. Was I just doing it wrong? When binding do I need to release them in a certain order? Thanks

 

[Vendraen]

I have left / right thrusters on the throttle rocker and the up / down thrusters on the two buttons to the right of the rocker. This gives me access to all thrusters from the throttle at all times. I also have power on the three buttons next to each other near your thumb and boost on the other button below these. It just made sense to me to have all buttons to do with thrust / power on the throttle

Realllllly? You can assign a "binary" control to that rocker? I didn't realize that. I assumed once you unslaved it from being a yaw mirror it was a proportional control and thus had to be assigned to some type of axis, thus I haven't mapped it to anything. I'll have to try that. Up/down thrust will be tricky, as I've got Hyperspace and Landing Gear on the two buttons you're using for the thrust...and I'm REALLY used to using them for that.

 

[beelbeebub]

I have

• thrusters mapped to the HAT stick on my right thumb.
• power dist is mapped to the 5,6,7 buttons under my left thumb (a prod of the button increases a pip to sys, eng or wep and I don't need a "reset")
• I use the 9 button under my left index finger as a "shift key", when held 5,6,7 are landing gear, scoop and hardpoints and the HAT is look around
• Targeting is via the 2 and 3 thumb buttons with the "shift" (9) key transforming to hostile next prev
• Boost is the 8 key with "shift"(9) + boost as SC/HS
• The big "paddle" on the throttle is used to look at the left or right screens and when looking at then the HAT stick and fire button activate the menus

Hope that helps

 

[Vendraen]

If you haven't discovered this already, the best thing I learned while setting up my T.Flight was that Elite Dangerous supports multi-button mappings. So, I'm using the three buttons that are in a vertical row next to your thumb on the throttle control as a set of "Shift" keys if you like. For that little thumbstick I've got lateral/vertical thrusters by default, and then with "Shift 1" held down they do my pips, with "Shift 2" held down they do my targetting (next/prev ship and next/prev subsystem) and with "Shift 3" held down they do my UI-focus panels.

Hmmmm, how do you define them as being Shift keys? I've seen discussions in various threads about custom shift keys and the like. I must have missed it in the gigantic controls page.

I've got the hat just setup default now (power management).

 

[streki]

 

[Alec Turner]

I wanted to do that but my 'shift' button wasn't affecting the POV hat. Was I just doing it wrong? When binding do I need to release them in a certain order? Thanks

In binding I just held down my required "Shift" button (e.g. button 5) and, keeping it held down, then pressed and released the required direction on the thumbstick (before finally releasing button 5). I haven't got it in front of me but the mapping then says something like "Joy-5+Joy-POV-Up"

 

[PiLhEaD]

If you have an android tablet, look up Roccat Power-Grid - it's a great way of adding extra buttons that avoid the keyboard - I use it, it really adds to the immersion!

 

[Ravenov]

I use the rocker for lateral thrust axis, and buttons 5 and 6 for thrust up/down. Make sure the light is green, not red as that disables the rocker afaik.

I also use shifted controls, but use the R2/9 button (left index finger). Currently using the throttle with a different stick (Defender Cobra M5) until i can get a CH Pro throttle for extra hats.

 

[Vendraen]

If you have an android tablet, look up Roccat Power-Grid - it's a great way of adding extra button that avoid the keyboard - I use it, it really adds to the immersion!

Yes and it's FREE. I can't believe they give it away for free. It's awesome. But, again with the "taking hands off HOTAS" thing. In combat that's a liability.

 

[Alec Turner]

If you have an android tablet, look up Roccat Power-Grid - it's a great way of adding extra buttons that avoid the keyboard - I use it, it really adds to the immersion!

Works with iPad too! You should also check out VoiceAttack and the Elite add-on pack. With that you can just say "landing gear down", "power to engines", "boost", etc out loud and your friendly on-board ASTRA computer will do it for you ... I kid you not! Not only that, but while you're on a 5-minute super-cruise out to some remote asteroid belt or somesuch you can ask questions like "what is an asteroid", "explain the big bang", "tell me about the cobra mark 3", "what are non-lethal weapons" and ASTRA will tell you!

 

[PiLhEaD]

Yes and it's FREE. I can't believe they give it away for free. It's awesome. But, again with the "taking hands off HOTAS" thing. In combat that's a liability.

Agreed - the only shame is that you need to be on-line, but what the heck!

Here's my setup:

Spoiler

View attachment 6907

 

[Phier]

T-flight is a great stick and it has some better features then the x52 pro, but I couldn't say no to the X52 pros 3 hats. I do miss the rocker though.

 

[Dukeajuke]

So, I'm flying with the (very nice) Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS X. Yeah, I know, so is everyone else! Great controller, and they essentially give it away for free. Anyway.

I realize that using the maneuvering thrusters in addition to the normal throttle/pitch/roll/yaw controls can give an advantage in combat situations. But I can't work out how to keep my hands on the stick and throttle and also use those thrusters. I'd have to take my hand off either the stick or throttle, move to the KB, and use the thrusters. Time off either of the HOTAS controls could be bad.

How are people setting up their controls such that they can use thrusters AND throttle/pitch/roll/yaw without having to move from HOTAS to KB?

I too use the Thrustmaster T. Flight but I also use foot petals (four of them) that I use mainly to temporarily turn off flight assist (when needed) and to press and hold down the "right control" key and "shift" key. This allows me to assign every button and hat switch function on my stick and throttle to another function simply by holding down a pedal.

The foot pedals I use aren't made anymore, but they are similar to this:

http://www.amazon.com/Control-Keyboard-Action-Switch-Pedal/dp/B00B3PV47O

 

[Alec Turner]

Actually, I have a question myself. I had a quick go at mapping the little thumbstick to the headlook controls but found, certainly while docked, that there seemed to be some kind of builtin override which forced the thumbstick to do UI up/down/left/right, even if I tried to use a shifted combination for headlook. Anyone else done anything similar?

P.S. and yes, I do use headlook while docked. I really like just sitting in dock while I eat my lunch, watching people come and go

 

[Alec Turner]

*bump*

Sorry, liked this thread and thought it might throw up some interesting and novel ways to setup the T.Flight.

 

[Vendraen]

Last night I setup the rocker on the throttle as left/right thruster and the J9/10 buttons as up/down. Made a big difference for me; great change. Thank you to whomever suggested it here!