Newcomer / Intro Throttle Axis Range

[Rafferty Santana]

Hi All,

I am a newcomer to Elite Dangerous (defector from EVE). As a keen beginner I naturally have many questions, many of those have been answered by reading posts individuals have submitted to this forum.
I am currently configuring ASTRA (HCS). The package works well, nevertheless I have a question re Keybinding. In Elite under the heading "CONTROLS > FLIGHT THROTTLE" is the item THROTTLE AXIS RANGE, under this heading two option are available i.e. FULL RANGE and FORWARD only. My question is, "What are the perceived benefit of using either option?" I would appreciate your comments.

Fly Safe

 

[the100thmonkey]

Full range means you don't need to brass a button to make your ship reverse. The centre point on the throttle is zero.

Forward only means you have to press a button the go past zero and make your ship fly backwards. You get the full range of the throttle for each direction, Which makes it more sensitive.

 

[Winterwalker]

Nice one Cmdr. o7

There are two basic flight modes in Elite D. ; Flight Assist On and FA Off.

With flight assist on, you basically move like an airplane does in the forward direction, with thrusters stabilising you automatically as you nose up/down, yaw, roll and so on. Flight Assist Off does away with the stabilisation and has a Newtonian Model (with one exception, you can't continue to accelerate. Ships in ED are speed limited to improve the quality of dogfight encounters by design. Combat is good for that, too).

Now FA Off (the Newtonian mode) is not auto stabilised. If you begin a roll, you'll continue to roll until you 'apply' a roll in the opposite direction, which is an opposite thrust that arrests and stops your roll. (Continue to thrust and you'll start to roll in the opposite direction). In the same way, you'll also continue to move on any vector you're flying on (eg. accelerate forward, stop thrusting, you carry on going forward). With FA Off, being quite different from the Flight Assisted Mode (where zero throttle = zero speed) you can gain advantages .. eg, by flying away from a ship and turning on your axis, to fire on a target, even though you're still travelling away from that target. This can be a very useful tool.

When deciding on your throttle axis range, you can bear this in mind; If you put your throttle into reverse you'll see that in the example above, you can face a target while flying away from it (you're flying backwards). This gives you a chance to use FA off 'type' maneuvres, without having to deal with the instability (the non arrested roll above) that's inherent to the unassisted Newtonian mode.

I'd suggest Full Range is a good starting point, with Forward Only 'possibly' being for more advanced pilots because you don't have the option of 'backing off' from a target. Full Range gives you a reverse gear.

Good Luck! o7

 

[Rafferty Santana]

Full range means you don't need to brass a button to make your ship reverse. The centre point on the throttle is zero.

Forward only means you have to press a button the go past zero and make your ship fly backwards. You get the full range of the throttle for each direction, Which makes it more sensitive.

Thank you CMDR,

Much appreciate your reply. Considering my underdeveloped skill I may persist in using the "FULL THROTTLE" until my skill show improvement.

Fly Safe

 

[Rafferty Santana]

o7 CMDR,

Thank you kindly for your reply and explaining the theory underpinning the two modes. Your example re facing forward whilst flying into the opposite direction explains the trust modes well and clarifies the issue for me. As suggested, I will persist in using the full throttle mode until my skills show improvement. As it is my skill at flying with assist off is extremely poor, indeed it would be comical for the casual onlooker to see me wallow all over space. Literally a danger to shipping.

Fly Safe

 

[Stealthie]

I could never get used to "full range" throttle.
It was way too easy to slow down to try and match the speed of something and find yourself creeping backwards.
Also, in general, it was too fiddly trying to find the "dead-stop" position.

I prefer to use "forward only" mode cos it makes the throttle more sensitive and I can always go to zero-throttle and then use my fore/aft OMS thrusters for instant reversing for times when, for example, you're making a pig's ear of cargo-scooping etc.

Course, I suppose the full-range throttle might come in handy in combat, for slamming on the brakes quickly prior to changing direction etc.
Personally, I manage fine without it though. FA-off and OMS thrusting is as tricky as I ever get.

 

[the100thmonkey]

I could never get used to "full range" throttle.
It was way too easy to slow down to try and match the speed of something and find yourself creeping backwards.
Also, in general, it was too fiddly trying to find the "dead-stop" position.

I prefer to use "forward only" mode cos it makes the throttle more sensitive and I can always go to zero-throttle and then use my fore/aft OMS thrusters for instant reversing for times when, for example, you're making a pig's ear of cargo-scooping etc.

Course, I suppose the full-range throttle might come in handy in combat, for slamming on the brakes quickly prior to changing direction etc.
Personally, I manage fine without it though. FA-off and OMS thrusting is as tricky as I ever get.

Personally, I map hotkeys for 0%, 50%, 75% and 100% throttle regardless of which mode I fly in or whether or not I use a HOTAS or other interface for controlling thrust. They're just too useful not to be able to use quickly and override throttle position. If I really need to kill an enemy ship quickly, 50% throttle with manoeuvring thrusters lets you put your ship in the prime spot and keep it there.

I actually find FA-off for scooping easier now than FA-on; it's much easier to match directions and use the thrusters to scoop.

 

[Rafferty Santana]

Interesting take CMDR, to paraphrase, you configure a set of keyboard keys to instantly access the listed speed ranges irrespective of any other interface you use at the time. Interesting comment re FA off for scooping, must give this a try.

Fly Safe

 

[Rafferty Santana]

o\ CMDR,

Thank you for taking the time to respond and sharing your experiences. I slowly work through the various examples of using trust. There is little doubt that information provided by experienced players like you will accelerate my learning and contribute to the enjoyment of being in simulated space.

Fly Safe

 

[the100thmonkey]

You're welcome!

75% throttle is useful for approaching stations in supercruise - once the countdown clock hits 7 seconds, apply 75% throttle. This will ensure that you don't overshoot your target. You can actually do it at 6 seconds, but it's possible sometimes to overshoot.

50% throttle puts your ship in the blue zone, which gives it maximum manoeuvrability for the distributor pip setting.

100% and 0% are there because sometimes you need to go fast and sometimes you need to stop!

 

[PhanttoM]

Everyone has already explained it pretty well, but I'm just gonna put this here anyway. — it's a visual explaination of the modes. with the Saitek X65f throttle that I made long ago.

I've pretty much only been using full range myself.

 

[bookmite]

I use a keyboard for the throttle...and set to full range. W for increase, S for decrease and reverse. I'm a lazy space hobo, and I use voice attack, and approach stations at 60% even then if you leave it too long you can end up doing a go around...it depends on how long you leave it until you reduce....if youre doing 60c you need a careful eye on the count down, at 300ls by the time you've hit the key or said 60 % you can easily miss your stop .

 

[the100thmonkey]

I use a keyboard for the throttle...and set to full range. W for increase, S for decrease and reverse. I'm a lazy space hobo, and I use voice attack, and approach stations at 60% even then if you leave it too long you can end up doing a go around...it depends on how long you leave it until you reduce....if youre doing 60c you need a careful eye on the count down, at 300ls by the time you've hit the key or said 60 % you can easily miss your stop .

Voiceattack is a bit slower than pushing a button, but the basic indicator is 7 seconds, not distance.

300ls at 60c is 5 seconds, or too late.

 

[bookmite]

The positive side of it, is that overshooting can thwart interdictions. Where you would be normally slowing down, the interdictors end up facing you[yesnod]

 

[the100thmonkey]

Try and put the planet between you and your pursuer - they're so dumb they'll fly right into the planet

 

[Rafferty Santana]

o7 CMDR,

Thank you, very useful information. I will experiment with this shortly, particularly approaching a station in supercruise. 50% throttle with 2 pips on engine?

Fly Save

 

[Rafferty Santana]

Everyone has already explained it pretty well, but I'm just gonna put this here anyway. — it's a visual explaination of the modes. with the Saitek X65f throttle that I made long ago.

http://i.imgur.com/NatyUtL.jpg

I've pretty much only been using full range myself.

o7 CMDR,

Thank you for sharing your configuration. I find it interesting how individuals approach this issue of throttle control. I am slowly coming to the conclusion that there is no "one mode fits all" approach and really it has more to do with individuals requirement and preference. Personally, I have taken a "shine" to the concept of having some hot keys defined as shared on this thread. Having said that never discount other options until thoroughly tested.

Best regards from down under.

 

[Winterwalker]

Personally, I have taken a "shine" to the concept of having some hot keys defined as shared on this thread. Having said that never discount other options until thoroughly tested.

Hotkeys are, really useful.

imho, 100% throttle and 0% kill engines are must have. Though are the only ones I use (personally).

(7 secs to target is, your ideal station/USS appraoch speed. Though you can just about surf six)

 

[the100thmonkey]

o7 CMDR,

Thank you, very useful information. I will experiment with this shortly, particularly approaching a station in supercruise. 50% throttle with 2 pips on engine?

Fly Save

75% throttle at 7 seconds out. It's the quickest approach.

Engine pips don't matter in SC.

 

[SMcA]

I'd suggest Full Range is a good starting point, with Forward Only 'possibly' being for more advanced pilots because you don't have the option of 'backing off' from a target. Full Range gives you a reverse gear.

Good Luck! o7

Interesting that you say that. When I started playing Elite, in PBeta, I had never used a j/stick and throttle. I found Full Range too difficult to control finding the zero throttle point. If there had been an indent on the throttle at that point it would have been much easier. Yes you can adjust the zero deadband but there is no positive feel to the throttle. So I would say that Full Range is the advanced option.
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