Newcomer / Intro New to spaceship games - does it get any better?

kislany

kislany
I'm primarily an FPS gamer (mostly playing Planetside 2 for the moment), so I'm totally new to these types of games. Well exept for having played Eve for about a year, but that was really easy (in controls, etc) compared to ED. Cannot even compare, tbh.

So yesterday I installed the game, and got onto the docking training module. And took me about 3 hours of constant dying in various 'interesting' ways (including dying of timer ending due to not finding my number) to finally be able to dock once, after which about 11 pm, I quit. And today I started again, just to make sure that I'm learning it well, before moving on.

I'm a keyboard and mouse type of girl, so I'm totally useless with consoles.

I love it when I see all those exploration videos on Youtube and Twitch (it's what I did mostly in Eve as well, that's one aspect that got me interested in the game, exploration, scanning), but if I can't even get the docking right after hours of trying, and have no idea what 90% of the controls in the Options mean...do I have a chance to ever learn this game at all?

I guess it shows just how 'newbie' I really am :)
 

Porina

Porina
I haven't tried using mouse and don't even want to think about it. Not saying you can't do something else, but I think this game is best played with a joystick + keyboard. There is a bit of a learning curve as to what controls do, even if you can map them yourself there's a lot of choice... I was also really worried about docking when starting, but once you get the hang of it and the little tricks you figure out on the way, it is now a relative breeze. I've been playing for about a week. I think it took me a few hours one evening to get used to the basic controls and general navigation/docking etc. Then I went into the solo game and have been in since.
 

purf

purf
IIRC, the default mouse controls have X mapped to Roll, right?
You might want to change that to Yaw and have Roll on A/D (or Q/E)
This is not from experience as I'm using Joystick/Keyboard but mouse
is/should be a viable controlling option. But yeah, spend some time
in the settings ;)
Also, note the compass thingy topleft of your sensor display - when
docking it shows you where your pad is.
 

daveystella

daveystella
Hi, and welcome.

It's a steep learning curve, I'll grant you, but well worth it once you get the hang of it. There's always something to learn and always something to do. Stick with it. Once you get the hang of docking (or, if it really comes to it, you could buy a docking computer to do it for you), You'll wonder how you ever found it so difficult in the first place.

If you look around the forums, there's a multitude of tips and tutorials and, from what I've sen, always someone ready to help you out.
 

matunaga

matunaga
I did use a Logitec G13 & Mouse combination at the beginning and it does work quite well - just don't try to jockey in as long as you're not comfortable with your controls. Just forget about "flying", your directional thrusters to the trick for you. Line up carefully with the letterbox at first - each coriolis station has a kind of crosshair (some spike-like structure optically appearing like one) exactly opposite the letterbox. Center on it and be sure it's centered in the letterbox by simply using your directional thrusters. Don't try to adjust to the station's spin until you can clearly see this "crosshair" well centered. Now approach in a straight line, stay well within the lower bluish part of your throttles gauge or even below it.
Once you pass the letterbox rotation will be compensated (if you didn't chose to switch that off...) and the left hand targeting help will show the direction to the docking bay. Don't stop moving completely, loitering is a crime.
Correct your alignment by centering on the aforementioned structure, spot your landing pad, rotate accordingly. From now on you only need throttle & directional thrusters to get you safely down to your pad. The rest is straightforward I'd say, but remember always to dock with your cockpit facing the landing pad tower building.
I mapped roll to the little Joystick on my G13 but as that's on/off and not analogue too a keyboard mapping will do as well. Felt natural to pitch and yaw with my mouse and add roll with my left hand. I had a hard time to get used to my warthog hotas in the beginning, mouse & keyboard were in fact as effective (but not as immersive) as a hotas is.
 
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mugendo

mugendo
I have the directional thrusters setup in a small key combination. When i am coming in to land I put my main engines down to zero and guide my ship in using thrusters only...that should help you dock without incident.
And welcome to Elite Dangerous, it's a steep learning curve, but you get an unlimited amount of free starter ships to practice with.
I tried the mouse control for a while, eventually I dug an old joystick out of the attic, and that really improves the feel of the game....you don't need the biggest/best/most buttons stick to enjoy elite :)
 

Evyl Minkey

E
kislany said:
but if I can't even get the docking right after hours of trying, and have no idea what 90% of the controls in the Options mean...do I have a chance to ever learn this game at all?

I guess it shows just how 'newbie' I really am :)
Click to expand...

Yes. I'm about 6 weeks in and I'm still learning new stuff all the time. Its great. And the stuff I learnt in the first week all seems completely natural now. Don't worry about it, take your time and enjoy the view.
 

kislany

kislany
Thanks everyone for the awesome and positive replies, wow I'm humbled!

I will get the hang of it, have to, as I love too much what I've seen in the many videos I've been watching the past few weeks before deciding to jump in and buy it.

I've been just reading technophebe's newbie guide and found a section on changing the main controls around, so that's what I've just done, changed the mouse x axis from roll to yaw and remapped a few other keys. Still at very basic stuff, wouldn't even dream of doing anything major, I'm taking one step at a time. I will get there!

Btw on joysticks, I absolutely have no idea how to use one. I do have one, but it's as alien to me as a mac computer, I guess (only ever used PCs). Been a mouse and keyboard user for the last 20+ years, so I figured I'll first learn the game with it (learn what the controls are, and get a relatively stable grip of the game) and then venture into learning the joystick I have (but never used), the Thrustmaster T16000m. But that, later on.
 
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celebroom

celebroom
Pure M&K player here. To be honest Ive actually grown fond of the X == Roll. I feel a lot more in control of my ship (odd I know) and for coming in hot I can make it through the letter box with little to no effort.

So I guess what Im saying is that it just takes time to get used to the controls. As long as you learn how to control your ship's subsystems you'll be fine and will pickup the rest pretty quickly. Just dont boost when inside a station :D
 

alexios

alexios
I struggled with various aspects of things on the training missions (I'm a keyboard and mouse type person too, but also a high-functioning with the IQ of something with a very low IQ).

I solved it by customising my controls in ways that make sense to me personally. And getting a joystick. And then customising the joystick and its response curves.

By the time I first had to land, most of the ship's handling was become muscle memory and it was easy.
 

celebroom

celebroom
Eagle Eye said:
Read up the harmless guide to the galaxy:
As long as you don't intend to PvP K&M is just fine. I don't even bother with my joystick anymore if I am just doing my daily trading grind, I only use it when I actually want to blow something up.
Click to expand...

heh, my only PvP experience ever (yes, just one) involved the interdictor running away from me when I actually fought back. Otherwise, I cant talk much to the effectiveness of M&K. Although some of the videos Ive seen do seem to indicate that a joystick is far better for dog fighting, especially where complex manoeuvres are required.
 

SpydersByte

SpydersByte
kislany said:
Btw on joysticks, I absolutely have no idea how to use one. I do have one, but it's as alien to me as a mac computer, I guess (only ever used PCs). Been a mouse and keyboard user for the last 20+ years, so I figured I'll first learn the game with it (learn what the controls are, and get a relatively stable grip of the game) and then venture into learning the joystick I have (but never used), the Thrustmaster T16000m. But that, later on.
Click to expand...

If you have a stick there no reason you shouldn't plug it in and use it. Not only are joysticks much easier to navigate with, they're also a ton more fun. Because none of the controls transfer between mouse and joystick you're not doing anything but hampering yourself and delaying the inevitable. I highly suggest you plug that bad boy in and start learning! :)
 

Vampyre111

V
purf said:
IIRC, the default mouse controls have X mapped to Roll, right?
You might want to change that to Yaw and have Roll on A/D (or Q/E)
This is not from experience as I'm using Joystick/Keyboard but mouse
is/should be a viable controlling option. But yeah, spend some time
in the settings ;)
Also, note the compass thingy topleft of your sensor display - when
docking it shows you where your pad is.
Click to expand...

This is one of the best things you can do. I am a KB/mouse user as well. With the mouse controlling roll, you'll be seasick long before you ever manage to land. I set my roll to the A/D keys. Things got much better after that. I also set my throttle to my mouse wheel. If you have thumb buttons on your mouse, you can choose tem to be what ever you want. mine are for selectiing targets.

I did the tutorials, espcially the docking one for 3 days before I ventured forth into the game. The landing tutorial has a platform to land on as well if you didn't notice it.

I also used the target practice tutorial as a cargo scoop tutorial.

Have fun.
 

paul1828

P
kislany said:
I'm primarily an FPS gamer (mostly playing Planetside 2 for the moment), so I'm totally new to these types of games. Well exept for having played Eve for about a year, but that was really easy (in controls, etc) compared to ED. Cannot even compare, tbh.

So yesterday I installed the game, and got onto the docking training module. And took me about 3 hours of constant dying in various 'interesting' ways (including dying of timer ending due to not finding my number) to finally be able to dock once, after which about 11 pm, I quit. And today I started again, just to make sure that I'm learning it well, before moving on.

I'm a keyboard and mouse type of girl, so I'm totally useless with consoles.

I love it when I see all those exploration videos on Youtube and Twitch (it's what I did mostly in Eve as well, that's one aspect that got me interested in the game, exploration, scanning), but if I can't even get the docking right after hours of trying, and have no idea what 90% of the controls in the Options mean...do I have a chance to ever learn this game at all?

I guess it shows just how 'newbie' I really am :)
Click to expand...
welcome ,,,, i was in just your position not that long ago..... now im using extreme 3d pro stick(not that pricey) which is great,,, its all setup to fly and docking etc is so much easier..and the game is a blast,,, it all seems daunting at first but its not at all really ,,,.. keep at it ...
 

ScottGust

ScottGust
Flight mechanics in ED had me frustrated for the 1st few hours also...n then it happens, u get the hang of it and u realize how dynamic and amazing the amount of control is...
 

Vampyre111

V
AXIS said:
Flight mechanics in ED had me frustrated for the 1st few hours also...n then it happens, u get the hang of it and u realize how dynamic and amazing the amount of control is...
Click to expand...

Yep I saw a video not long ago where a guy was messing around and landing his ship on top of a NPC anaconda because he could.
 

Syax

Syax
Takes time unfortunately. Been using the mouse and though to myself (im never going to be able to play this game!)! not so bad now thankfully.
 

paul1828

P
Syax said:
Takes time unfortunately. Been using the mouse and though to myself (im never going to be able to play this game!)! not so bad now thankfully.
Click to expand...
please all that struggle with mouse and keyboard get a joystick.... its a flight sim ....
 
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