Flight stick or HOTAS for Arma 3?

[Not Revan]

Anyone have a preference? I'm looking to get a new one after my good olde Microsoft Sidewinder finally bit it.

[POT★SHOT]

The Rhino X-55 is amazing. Really well constructed. Only criticism I have (well, two actually) the shaft of the stick is a bit too tall for my hands and I think most other peoples hands as well so to reach the hat switches you have to either really stretch your thumb or actually move your whole hand from its position up slightly. Neither are ideal. Secondly, I would have liked some more buttons on the top/back of the stick. 3 hats seema little excessive.

Can't say much on its performance in Arma 3 because I very rarely use it but it functions perfectly in game. However, the throttle/control panel component is effectively redundant considering the simplified flight model of the game. So you could just as easily get away with just a stick + keyboard and save yourself some money going full HOTAS. But then again, if money is no issue and you want the full experience then yeah, spunk out on a HOTAS.

[Not Revan]

I might go for a cheaper HOTAS but it sounds like a flightstick might be all I need. I just picked up Falcon 4.0 on sale after years of losing my hard copy. So a HOTAS might come in handy for that. Strictly for Arma 3 though, a HOTAS might be overkill because of the simplified mechanics?

[VentHorror]

Originally posted by Not Revan:

a HOTAS might be overkill because of the simplified mechanics?

And you would be correct. Well sort of.
I paused Arma to play DCS with my hotas, and then went back to compare the two games.
Well they are not really comparable, but...
I always find it unsatisfying to fly and dogfight in Arma because its lack of features.
There seems to be a problem with precision when fling jets with my hotas no matter what sensitivity curve i set. (but I have no problem in DCS)
The lack of view distance Is what really kills the experiance, making you fly in a fog bubble and seeing your target when you are too close.

[Not Revan]

Originally posted by VentHorror:

Originally posted by Not Revan:

a HOTAS might be overkill because of the simplified mechanics?

And you would be correct. Well sort of.
I paused Arma to play DCS with my hotas, and then went back to compare the two games.
Well they are not really comparable, but...
I always find it unsatisfying to fly and dogfight in Arma because its lack of features.
There seems to be a problem with precision when fling jets with my hotas no matter what sensitivity curve i set. (but I have no problem in DCS)
The lack of view distance Is what really kills the experiance, making you fly in a fog bubble and seeing your target when you are too close.

Understood. I'm really looking for something cheap that will make flying helos a bit more entertaining while doing PVE ops with my friends. I'm not interested in dog fighting or really doing fixed wing much at all. Now, that might change if I ever hop back into Falcon 4.0 or anything like that.

[POT★SHOT]

A stick on it's own would be more than enough for Helos since all the needed controls can be mapped to the stick buttons + keyboard. Even keyboard and mouse is enough. Just look up Misconduct on YouTube and see the amazing things he can do. It would definitely add to the experience of in game flight though especially combined with 1st person view (I don't understand people who fly 3rd person honestly. I know it might be easier for some but it's like racing games in 3rd person; kinda defeats the point). I'd say if you have no interest in fixed wing then settle for just a stick. If you think you will one day require a HOTAS for other games at a later date, buy a HOTAS. The extra money you spend buying two peripherals may be spent on a more expensive HOTAS in the first place.

[Not Revan]

Originally posted by RedStateSurvivor:

A stick on it's own would be more than enough for Helos since all the needed controls can be mapped to the stick buttons + keyboard. Even keyboard and mouse is enough. Just look up Misconduct on YouTube and see the amazing things he can do. It would definitely add to the experience of in game flight though especially combined with 1st person view (I don't understand people who fly 3rd person honestly. I know it might be easier for some but it's like racing games in 3rd person; kinda defeats the point). I'd say if you have no interest in fixed wing then settle for just a stick. If you think you will one day require a HOTAS for other games at a later date, buy a HOTAS. The extra money you spend buying two peripherals may be spent on a more expensive HOTAS in the first place.

Copy that man. Thanks for your help!