Newcomer / Intro Pips priority [SYS, ENG, WEP] and their circular buffer

[DerDzvero]

Greetings Commanders,

short question - is there a logic, and if yes what is it, behind pips' circular buffer? What I mean is how it is decided where pips are taken from, when we ask to assign some to a specific task?

I seem to misunderstand the logic behind pips' "path" since every time I put 4 pips to SYS, those are decreased if I try to set pips to WEP next...I'm expecting that after putting pips to SYS, any following pips change to WEP would take some from ENG..but it's not the case.

Any hints/explanations are appreciated!

Cheers!

 

[Wyaston Hypatia]

My understanding is:
It takes half a pip from the other two buffers. If one buffer is empty it takes a whole pip from the buffer with pips.
So if
SYS 2 ENG 2 WEP 2 then add one pip to ENG gives SYS 1.5 ENG 3 WEP 1.5
but if
SYS 3 ENG 3 WEP 0 then add one pip to ENG gives SYS 2 ENG 4 WEP 0

 

[DerDzvero]

Ouch, will test that!!! Thanks, didn't think of it

 

[Gavin Burke]

Ouch, will test that!!! Thanks, didn't think of it

It's exactly as Wyaston said, it's quick to get used to use but with the default 2,2,2, if you wanna arrive at a fight with 4,0,2 (I always do) then press engines twice (changes to 1,1,4) then shields three times (changed to 4,0,2)

EDIT: Or maybe it's easy to get used to on XBox anyways, not sure what platform you on, but basically to get from 2,2,2 to 4,0,2 I mash engines a few times then shields few times, means I don't have to think about it too much or take my view off the battle, I'll just know where my pips are from my actions

 

[DerDzvero]

It's exactly as Wyaston said, it's quick to get used to use but with the default 2,2,2, if you wanna arrive at a fight with 4,0,2 (I always do) then press engines twice (changes to 1,1,4) then shields three times (changed to 4,0,2)

Thanks Commanders,
I'll try to develop a good starting point and procedure in order to avoid re-assigning several times pips to a certain system..

Many thanks again!

 

[Gavin Burke]

Thanks Commanders,
I'll try to develop a good starting point and procedure in order to avoid re-assigning several times pips to a certain system..

Many thanks again!

Another tip also is if you're in the middle of a dogfight and don't wanna be looking at your pips trying to figure out what combination of button presses gets you where, I find it a lot lo easier to just reset them (down arrow on Xbox One) then set them again (i.e. to get from anything back to 4,0,2 again on XBox One it's, down, right, right, left, left, left), so if I'm a bit unsure in a fight where my pips are and I know I want to get my shields back strongest, I just reset and set them back to what I want (takes half a second, quicker than my thought process lol!)

 

[D.G.Cerberus]

If you are on PC, another method is using Voice Attack Macros. I have mine set up on commands "Shields", "Weps" and "Engines", together with a "Balance Power" command.

I find that this frees up my Pip management hat thumb to control the Target cycling hat instead and is just as fast if not faster than doing it manually. Also, because the macros are constant, there is never a mistake made.

And VA is cheap as chips too!

 

[D.D.Hariman]

Macros via Voice Attack or Genovation CP-48 keypad are the way to go.

------------------more info----------------------

Voice Attack is only as good as how well you trained MS Voice Recognition and the quality of your Microphone.

Started nearly 3 months ago trying to get voice attack to do even simply things and nearly gave up after many "missed" commands trying 4 different mics.

Went back to square one about a week ago. Re-tested all the mics with the same recording properties set in the PC. Turned out that my old Labtech AM-242 with a collector cone on it was hands down the best.

Then re-set and completely repeated the voice training.

So far I have not had a "missed" command in maybe 20 hours of playing.

I live alone. My cat is quiet. When I am playing the game, all I am doing is playing the game so extraneous noises are not an issue for me, but I think the collector cone would probably control them.

But, I always have a hard key back-up programmed.

 

[newman1702]

Voice attack macros might be good enough when fighting NPC's, I suppose, but it's hardly the best method. I have yet to see anyone that uses VA that doesn't have to repeat their commands at least some of the time. You do not want to be going "Shields. Shields.. SHIELDS!!!" when taking plasma fire from a player.. I use one of my HOTAS's hat switches for throwing pips around. Unlike voice recognition, it's fast, efficient, and works every time. If you are going to use VA I would recommend restricting it's usage to non-combat related commands, whose delayed execution don't have the potential of getting you killed. Even if you are a robot whose voice is perfect every time, there will be other sources of noise getting in the way from time to time.

 

[Maymo]

Assigning your pips becomes second nature after you've done enough combat.
I'm vaguely aware that there's a series of clicks I have to go through to get the correct pip allocation I need at a given moment but it's now so ingrained into my muscle memory that I couldn't write it down even if I tried...

Having watched YouTube players use voice commands to assign pips during combat I don't know how they stand it to be honest, looks so inefficient to me. Especially when they're forced to repeat themselves because the excitement got to them and changed their voice pitch...lol...

 

[D.G.Cerberus]

Voice attack macros might be good enough when fighting NPC's, I suppose, but it's hardly the best method. I have yet to see anyone that uses VA that doesn't have to repeat their commands at least some of the time. You do not want to be going "Shields. Shields.. SHIELDS!!!" when taking plasma fire from a player.. I use one of my HOTAS's hat switches for throwing pips around. Unlike voice recognition, it's fast, efficient, and works every time. If you are going to use VA I would recommend restricting it's usage to non-combat related commands, whose delayed execution don't have the potential of getting you killed. Even if you are a robot whose voice is perfect every time, there will be other sources of noise getting in the way from time to time.

Assigning your pips becomes second nature after you've done enough combat.
I'm vaguely aware that there's a series of clicks I have to go through to get the correct pip allocation I need at a given moment but it's now so ingrained into my muscle memory that I couldn't write it down even if I tried...

Having watched YouTube players use voice commands to assign pips during combat I don't know how they stand it to be honest, looks so inefficient to me. Especially when they're forced to repeat themselves because the excitement got to them and changed their voice pitch...lol...

TBH, I get minimal repeats (I use a HyperX headset with the built in boom mic) - a question of spending time on the MS voice recognition and making your commands unique sounding. I have my macros set to key presses of 0.1 seconds which means the execute faster than my hands - and for reference I am an accomplished pianist.
That said, I take the key presses on pips as the directional keys on the keyboard for my macros, but ALSO have them bound to the lower stick hat on the X52Pro. And I have the muscle memory as stated to move pips almost as fast with hands as the macro.

Where VA really comes into its own for me is multiple step command "Run" which near simultaneously retracts hardpoints, puts pips to shields and engines, auto boosts every 5 seconds whilst charging frameshift drive and spamming Chaff on ships fitted with it. This leaves me totally free to concentrate on flying the ship in anything but a straight line, and using laterals for evasion of slower weapons etc

TL; DR - I have a "belts and braces" set up which works perfectly

 

[D.D.Hariman]

Where VA really comes into its own for me is multiple step command "Run" which near simultaneously retracts hardpoints, puts pips to shields and engines, auto boosts every 5 seconds whilst charging frameshift drive and spamming Chaff on ships fitted with it. This leaves me totally free to concentrate on flying the ship in anything but a straight line, and using laterals for evasion of slower weapons etc

Yep. Yep. You were what inspired me to keep working on the mic and the MS Voice Recognition. Unique words for commands.

VA for evasion.. That is where it shines. https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/355399-Voice-Attack-for-Evasion

If it will let me, you will get another rep point.

 

[D.G.Cerberus]

Yep. Yep. You were what inspired me to keep working on the mic and the MS Voice Recognition. Unique words for commands.

VA for evasion.. That is where it shines. https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/355399-Voice-Attack-for-Evasion

If it will let me, you will get another rep point.

Happy it is working out for you Sir! Have some Rep back!

 

[Gavin Burke]

Urgh, sucks playing the game on XBox and reading these last few posts

 

[who?]

I really wish they'd add a simple option:
- Press Sys/Eng/Wep button to allocate one pip to this buffer.
- Hold Sys/Eng/Wep button for 1 second to fill this buffer.

There's too much hammering the pips buttons/hatswitch as it is. "I'm taking damage, Sys, Sys, Sys, Sys. Ok, he's past me, Eng, Eng, Eng, Eng, now I'm on his tail Wep, Wep, Wep, Wep. Now he's outturning me again, Eng, Eng, Eng, Eng..." I spend more time focusing on the distributor than the joystick or throttle!

 

[D.D.Hariman]

I really wish they'd add a simple option:
- Press Sys/Eng/Wep button to allocate one pip to this buffer.
- Hold Sys/Eng/Wep button for 1 second to fill this buffer.

There's too much hammering the pips buttons/hatswitch as it is. "I'm taking damage, Sys, Sys, Sys, Sys. Ok, he's past me, Eng, Eng, Eng, Eng, now I'm on his tail Wep, Wep, Wep, Wep. Now he's outturning me again, Eng, Eng, Eng, Eng..." I spend more time focusing on the distributor than the joystick or throttle!

This is something the CP-48 can make single key quite well.

Macro looks like this for 4 -pip- shields and 2-pip-weps from ANY power distribution starting point

Down arrow,, right,, right,, right, right,, right,, right,, left,, left,, left,, left

Now add two more lefts and you get 3 shield 3 weps

Now add two ups end up with 2.5-s 1-e 2.5-w

Start from BALANCED (DOWN ARROW) and remember the piping order noted by Wyaston Hypatia above.

 

[DerDzvero]

Down arrow,, right,, right,, right, right,, right,, right,, left,, left,, left,, left

Now add two more lefts and you get 3 shield 3 weps

Now add two ups end up with 2.5-s 1-e 2.5-w

Start from BALANCED (DOWN ARROW) and remember the piping order noted by Wyaston Hypatia above.

Hmm it doesn't look that bad if you put it that way. It's fantastic as a matter of fact, thanks!!
Sigh, at least we don't have to count to 40+ clicks as for the elevator trim

 

[YinYin]

I really wish they'd add a simple option:
- Press Sys/Eng/Wep button to allocate one pip to this buffer.
- Hold Sys/Eng/Wep button for 1 second to fill this buffer.

This is how my steam controller scheme works. Or at least it's similar. Touching the pad moves one as usual, pressing it auto fires to fill completely.

 

[D.D.Hariman]

Hmm it doesn't look that bad if you put it that way. It's fantastic as a matter of fact, thanks!!
Sigh, at least we don't have to count to 40+ clicks as for the elevator trim

D.G.Cerberus said it and I do it, you can embed the power pips setup into the longer macro's.

VA makes it MUCH simpler than my CP-48 because you can have the pips macro saved as a stand alone macro and then copy and paste it into the place you want it in the longer macro.

 

[D.D.Hariman]

Pips Allocation Change with Elite Dangerous 2.3.10 update

Hi all,
Well the FDevs in their infinite wisdom seem to have changed the way the pip allocations work.

I probably would not have noticed it quickly had I not been attacked while on a planet and decided that I needed to write some planetary combat/defensive macros. Once I have my AspX fully loaded I am going back to that same planet and test the macros.

I already had a pip allocation macro set up that gave me 4-shield, 1/2 - eng, 1 1/2 - weapons and I incorporated that into a much longer macro intended to get my ship up off the planet high enough to do a 180 degree roll, bring out the hard points, select the fire group for only the 4 small multi cannons on the belly of my AspX, use the targeting toggles to target the attacker so I could later try and get a KWS, set the pips, and continue getting altitude while I decided if I was going to stay and fight or run.

I have my multi cannons in auto fire so as soon as the punk hits me he will get a hail of bullets.

When I tested it in open space, I didn't get the expected pip allocation and so far I cannot get what I used to get.

Some video. >>> https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3UfwiG4zNJfYXdMNEpkZ3Frd2s

If there is someplace to make a report I would like to know because having the very granular control of the pip allocations the way is was should be maintained to allow us players to have full control.