Newcomer / Intro Returning after a long time: what functions are vital to map to the X52 Pro?

[Davewaveman]

Hello everyone,

I only played ED for a short while after the initial release. I've gotten the itch to actually properly give it a try lately, but I'm finding myself confused when setting up the controls.

I have a X52 Pro HOTAS. I remember that the original button layout for the X52 Pro was a huge mess at launch, but it seems like the current version of ED has a different button layout suggested for the X52 than it used to have. I'm actually quite liking the default setup (it even shows icons of the buttons now in the controls menu, rather than generic 'joystick button 6' type names).

I'm however ucnertain if there are any specific functions I need to bind to the X52. The default setup, apart from the mandatory flight and combat buttons, maps the following functions:
- Next weapon group (previous is unmapped)
- Landing Gear
- FSD
- Cargo Scoop
- Silent Running
- Ship lights
- Flight assist toggle (even though the button doesn't seem to be doing much. Does the game tell you when you toggle FA?)

These are pretty useful functions, but I'm left wondering if it would be useful to map previous weapon group as well. In addition, there are three functions that also seem very useful, but I'm unsure if they are really required to be mapped, or if they can be used as combination of any of the other already mapped buttons:

- Deploy Heat Sink (I'm not entirely sure what this does? I thought it's supposed to draw missiles, but what does the chaff do then?
- Deploy Chaff
- Use Shield Cell (Perhaps these can be tied to a weapon group? I really don't know since they didn't exist when I played)

Are any of these functions necessary? I'd appreciate anyone helping me out with this, as it's just not clear to me.

Kind regards,
Dave

 

[the100thmonkey]

I have a custom bind set, but I'll answer about where I put the functions you mention:

Next weapon group: T4 (Previous: T2)
Landing gear: T6
FSD - Supercruise: mousewheel click; Hyperspace: left mouse click
Cargo Scoop: T5
Silent running - not mapped; I don't use it.
Ship lights - L on the keyboard.
FA toggle - I use the thumb slider on the throttle - all the way up is off; anything else is on. Set to "hold" in the controls menu.
Heat sink: not mapped - Cf. silent running.
Chaff - Mapped to the C button on the stick.
Shield Cell: mapped to the E button on the throttle.

the i button is boost. Remember to switch it from clutch mode to button mode in the MFD menu in the Saitek software.

 

[ethelred]

The "select next destination" button is good to map on an explorers setup, as well as the system map and gal map.

I'm currently experimenting with the programmable software and the different "modes" to get a good fit.

 

[the100thmonkey]

I'm currently experimenting with the programmable software and the different "modes" to get a good fit.

Good point - one I forgot to make too.

I use different modes for combat, docking and supercruise. In supercruise, for example, my thruster controls become target selection controls as I don't have enough free buttons to map all but the most crucial combat controls to the hats while still having thrusters on the stick where I like them. The mode switch puts all the controls in a really convenient spot so I almost never have to use the keyboard.

 

[Cmdr Zach]

I've added to the main x52 bindings: (most on shifted buttons)
Select next system in jump route
Target wingman 1,2 and 3
Target wingmans target
Slave FSD drive to wingman
Chaff, shield cell, heat sink
External camera (for sweet screenshots f10)
Reverse gear (hold for throttle to be reverse)
FA off (hold for fa off)

Think thats it. Good luck!

 

[Davewaveman]

Thank you very much for the suggestions everyone!