I've been playing around with flight-assist off as my only mode of flying for the last few days and have a few thoughts on it. Note that I'm not talking about changing any of the fundamentals of FA-off flying, but tools and controls which will help the player fly with the current model. Also, this is from the perspective of using a HOTAS as my control system: KBM users might have different perspectives and I'd be very interested to hear them.
First off: we need a velocity indicator. Velocity relative to current selected target is important when you're flying with flight assist on but critical with flight assist off due to the inability to stop. If this is the only change that was made then it would massively improve the life of both FA-on and FA-off pilots.
Second: please bring back FA-off in supercruise. If you are flying around with FA-off then you find yourself having to mentally readjust your controls every time you go in or out of supercruise. You also have to physically readjust your throttle every time you jump, as you go from throttle controlling thrust to controlling speed and back again.
Thirdly: please allow an FA-on button the same way that we currently have an FA-off button. Right now the only way to zero out your vectors is to turn FA on for a bit and wait until the ship stabilises then turn it back off again. Having a hold-to-stabilise control would be very handy.
Finally, there needs to be a way to zero out individual vectors. This could be done by having deadzones around each vector's 0 point, having additional binds for zeroing out each individual vector (although that would be a lot more keys) or allowing adjustable sensitivity for the various controls in FA-off. Right now the lowest input for (for example) roll is still big enough that it's easy to overshoot when attempting to correct.
I do really enjoy (trying to) fly with flight assist off but it does feel very much like a second-class citizen and it would be great if the devs could give it some love. Is anyone else out there flying purely FA-off, and if so what are your thoughts on how it could be improved?
First off: we need a velocity indicator. Velocity relative to current selected target is important when you're flying with flight assist on but critical with flight assist off due to the inability to stop. If this is the only change that was made then it would massively improve the life of both FA-on and FA-off pilots.
Second: please bring back FA-off in supercruise. If you are flying around with FA-off then you find yourself having to mentally readjust your controls every time you go in or out of supercruise. You also have to physically readjust your throttle every time you jump, as you go from throttle controlling thrust to controlling speed and back again.
Thirdly: please allow an FA-on button the same way that we currently have an FA-off button. Right now the only way to zero out your vectors is to turn FA on for a bit and wait until the ship stabilises then turn it back off again. Having a hold-to-stabilise control would be very handy.
Finally, there needs to be a way to zero out individual vectors. This could be done by having deadzones around each vector's 0 point, having additional binds for zeroing out each individual vector (although that would be a lot more keys) or allowing adjustable sensitivity for the various controls in FA-off. Right now the lowest input for (for example) roll is still big enough that it's easy to overshoot when attempting to correct.
I do really enjoy (trying to) fly with flight assist off but it does feel very much like a second-class citizen and it would be great if the devs could give it some love. Is anyone else out there flying purely FA-off, and if so what are your thoughts on how it could be improved?
