So... Tracked vehicles control

[WrexTheOnly]

I must say this thing is very inconvinient and annoying by default. I would love to try arcade controls, but my keyboard don't have numpad, and the game won't allow me to bind WASD in the "Tracked vehciles (arcade)" controls. Any workarounds for that? Can I edit the config file to rebind numpad in arcade controls to WASD? Where it's located? I couldn't find it.

[PsychoCow]

Regardless if you selected Arcade or SAE/ISO mode...both control options for the tracked vehicles will work. So, if you do not own a numpad you can use Q/E (tracks moving forward) and Y/C (tracks moving backwards) to steer the machine.
(Note: On a US keyboard layout it shoulkd be Z/C instead)

[WrexTheOnly]

Originally posted by PsychoCow:

Regardless if you selected Arcade or SAE/ISO mode...both control options for the tracked vehicles will work. So, if you do not own a numpad you can use Q/E (tracks moving forward) and Y/C (tracks moving backwards) to steer the machine.
(Note: On a US keyboard layout it shoulkd be Z/C instead)

Hey, thanks for the answer. But it's not what I was looking for, and it seems what I was looking for isn't in the game. I assumed and hoped that arcade controls binded to the numpad are something like a different mode where you steer the vehicle like using WASD, but it seems it's related to the equipment controls. It's just QEZC scheme felt very counterintuitive, and I still fail miserably sometimes, so I hoped it could be changed to a more conventional layout.

[Uncle Mike]

I feel you. You just want to press the "forward" button and have the tracked vehicle move forward. A tracked vehicle normally works like a canoe; if you only paddle on the right, you'll only turn left. And you can't (easily) paddle on both sides at once.
If you wanted to, you could use a tiny downloadable key-mapping app that allows you to map macros and such, and map both Q&E simultaneously (forward left and right track) to W, plus Z&C to S. I found one on the Microsoft Store called "AntiMicro" that looks like it would work.

This would give you straight-line backward/forward. You'd still be able to (and be required to) use Q/E/Z/C to rotate and alter course (steer), and there are a lot of minor adjustments when using a tracked vehicle. The result is that, while I might just hold my fingers on Q/E/Z/C to do everything, you'll have the benefit/requirement of using all 8 keys.

I just ordered a Logitech Xbox-type controller. I imagine you could use that same method to map Q&E to the "up" d-pad, Z&C to the "down" d-pad and then use the shoulder buttons to move the tracks backward/forward.

There is a method that requires zero technology or configuring, which is what I did: join the Marine Corps at 17, drive amphibious assault vehicles and tanks, then every other kind of tracked vehicle there is, with levers,handles, buttons, yokes and pedals. Your brain will rewire itself to the tracked-vehicle paradigm. But you may not have time for all that.

[M.Mills]

Originally posted by Uncle Mike:

I feel you. You just want to press the "forward" button and have the tracked vehicle move forward. A tracked vehicle normally works like a canoe; if you only paddle on the right, you'll only turn left. And you can't (easily) paddle on both sides at once.
If you wanted to, you could use a tiny downloadable key-mapping app that allows you to map macros and such, and map both Q&E simultaneously (forward left and right track) to W, plus Z&C to S. I found one on the Microsoft Store called "AntiMicro" that looks like it would work.

This would give you straight-line backward/forward. You'd still be able to (and be required to) use Q/E/Z/C to rotate and alter course (steer), and there are a lot of minor adjustments when using a tracked vehicle. The result is that, while I might just hold my fingers on Q/E/Z/C to do everything, you'll have the benefit/requirement of using all 8 keys.

I just ordered a Logitech Xbox-type controller. I imagine you could use that same method to map Q&E to the "up" d-pad, Z&C to the "down" d-pad and then use the shoulder buttons to move the tracks backward/forward.

There is a method that requires zero technology or configuring, which is what I did: join the Marine Corps at 17, drive amphibious assault vehicles and tanks, then every other kind of tracked vehicle there is, with levers,handles, buttons, yokes and pedals. Your brain will rewire itself to the tracked-vehicle paradigm. But you may not have time for all that.

Joy2Key would be a program all gamers shall run.

[Jabberwock]

What is amusing is that e.g. a wheel loader animations show steering mode with one (left) joystick which work exactly like you describe, so the creators must be aware of such possibility in modern machines. This also takes from immersion, as you cannot set up your own physical controllers the way they are supposed to work both in real life and in the game...

[ExorMentor ☪]

Asphalt milling machines can be driven with WASD keys, even though they are tracked. No problem for excavators, they are already working where they are, but at least for dozers WASD can be applied. The blade of the dozer already has at most 2 functions, and they are already used with arrow keys.