How do I use the controll stick with my keybord?

[GlueckAhoi]

How?

[Troll Norris]

Cursor arrows.

[bingbean]

Trying to play this game without a joystick is a waste of time.

[MILFshake69]

By using your keyboard to enter the URL of an etailer like amazon, or the web-store of companies like Virpil, VKB, Logitech, Thrustmaster or Winwing to purchase a proper H.O.T.A.S. DCS is a Combat flight simulator that is not really designed to be used with a keyboard/mouse as your primary input device. Save your pennies in order to buy a proper H.O.T.A.S. You can usually find some decent bargains on lower end H.O.T.A.S, or even cheap little flight sticks with integrated throttles built right into the base. Alternatively used kit is always an option.
This isn't a normal game like Ace Combat, Warthunder, WoW, CoD or Battlefield that are more or less designed to be enjoyed with a Keyboard, Mouse or Xbox Controller, it's a legitimate combat flight simulator that require a bit of a financial investment as well as a decent amount of time devoted to study - either by reading the numerous manuals such as "Chuck's Guide" or by watching "how to" videos on YouTube. In either case, this is much of a casual endeavor and more of a long term hobby. That being said, the keybindings are found in the settings menu, and the manuals located wherever DCS has been installed in your system.

Good luck.

[flawlessnudle]

if you have a controller laying around, that's fine too i learned the ropes on my hornet with a controller before i got a hotas and it worked fine for beginner functionality. you'll def be able to get the most out of the game w a hotas tho. no matter what u do tho keyboard and mouse is just straight up not it esp considering all the keybinds u need. if u want i can send u the ps3 controller config i have for the hornet

[Jel]

I always like when ppl ask "where is the red paint?" and the answers are all "just use the green paint over there." :)

[startrekmike]

I will largely echo what others have already said. DCS World (and its flight simulation contemporaries like Flight Simulator 2020 and IL-2: Great Battles) are built around the idea that it is "possible" to play them with a keyboard but it isn't really intended on any real, practical level.

Think about it like one of the more realistic, "hardcore" racing sims like Assetto Corsa or iRacing. In those titles, you can use the keyboard to turn the wheel but since the keyboard only ever transmits a fully on or fully off input state, you don't really have the fine control the developers built the game around. Anyone who says that you can play DCS (or any realistic flight sim) with just a keyboard and mouse is either lying to you or just lying to themselves. It is "possible" in the sense that the sim won't stop you but it isn't really going to work and you will not get a worthwhile experience.

If you have a gamepad (Xbox, PS4, etc), that is a good start. It isn't a great solution and there are a lot of compromises that come with going with a gamepad but it is still better than the keyboard. Ideally, the gamepad is merely a stop-gap measure until you can get a joystick, HOTAS, or whatever else your budget reasonably allows.

[bingbean]

Originally posted by Jel:

I always like when ppl ask "where is the red paint?" and the answers are all "just use the green paint over there." :)

If someone is looking for red to paint a bedroom with, it is natural to warn them that red is not a suitable color for the bedroom.
But I understand what you mean. Especially in the Ace combat 7 forum, it is common that if someone asks how to set up the joystick, 90% of the answers are, use the gamepad.

[Wolff]

About a month ago I watched this video and found it very interesting. I myself wouldn't do it, since I fly the Ka-50. There is also a link that is available for setting up your key bindings.

Good luck and have fun!

https://youtu.be/iFTfKNQULhQ
https://youtu.be/yWU81tpnpPk