Possible Play with Mouse and Keyboard or not...?

[mfg42]

What the title says, is it "worth" (or even possible) playing the game (beginning) without joystick /HOTAS and other Controls or should i wait till i got a "good piece" of hardware and then go to go on in DCS?
I also need a (good Direct Drive) Wheel/Pedals/Shifter, so my budget is limited...

[bingbean]

The free Su-25T or other attacker plane should be probably playable with mouse and keyboard only, but when you want fly fighters or helicopters then you will need joystick for sure.
You can start with logitech extreme 3D pro or thrustmaster T16000m.
If you find out the flight sim is not for you , then you can use the joystick as handbrake in racing games.

[Ironwu]

Not really able to fly effectively with just keyboard/mouse.

I can certainly recommend the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick for starting out at low cost ($30 - $40).

If you decide to get that one, be sure to download the older LGS 510 software. The newer LGS and the 'G' software does NOT currently work with the LE3DP stick.

Good Hunting :)

[Richardus]

Possible? Yes
Worth? Maybe
Enjoyable? No

Seriously, a secondhand joystick costs like $20 and makes DCS significantly more enjoyable

[freakshowfreak]

This is a hard one if you are sure you like the game then invest... In something like t16000m with hotas (pedals you can get later but I would advise to get a trackir the ability to look around is almost just as important as a decent stick..

[mfg42]

Thanks for your Answers... Ok, for the basics stuff i heard from your posts it's possible, but when i go deeper into game; advanced BVR and merging into gunfights forcing overshoots needing good controls, landing on carrier with crosswinds at night, usability of mouse/Keyboard ends would miss precison; playability and fun at all...

[Ironwu]

Originally posted by mfg42:

Thanks for your Answers... Ok, for the basics stuff i heard from your posts it's possible, but when i go deeper into game; advanced BVR and merging into gunfights forcing overshoots..., or doing supercarrier stuff, i would miiss some precison; playability and fun at all...

I would not worry about that yet. It is going to take some time to just learn the basics of your aircraft before worrying about flying against another person.

If you decide to go a slightly more expensive jump into DCS, then the above mentioned Thrustmaster T16000 set is a good start. If you are really serious about eventually flying on combat servers, such as the Growling Sidewinder server, you will need two additional things:

1. You will need to be playing on the Open Beta system. That's where the big boys play.

2. You will need Track IR Pro. Simply cannot effectively dogfight or manage your cockpit with Keyboard/Mouse, and your Throttle/Stick is going to be busy flying the aircraft. You need to be able to look around using Head Tracking. :)

Good Hunting

[freakshowfreak]

Head tracking is also for single player use a must I think... You need to be able to follow your target ground and air or look at the carrier or airfield you want to land on..

Only gripe is its a steep price if you don't know for sure it's you're thing... That said the op is also talking about a good wheel pedal and shifter... So guess he also wants to do Sim racing? Then the trackir is also a great option for that also.

[Goffik]

Originally posted by mfg42:

Thanks for your Answers... Ok, for the basics stuff i heard from your posts it's possible, but when i go deeper into game; advanced BVR and merging into gunfights forcing overshoots needing good controls, landing on carrier with crosswinds at night, usability of mouse/Keyboard ends would miss precison; playability and fun at all...

To be honest, I don't think that K&M is even a way to check out the basics of DCS properly. The point of a sim is the realism and immersion, but you're going to get neither without at least a basic joystick. The awkwardness and lack of playability with K&M might put you off a sim which you may well enjoy had you tried it with a proper controller.

If you don't know anyone that could lend you a joystick for a while, then there are plenty of dirt cheap second-hand ones out there. Grab one for £15-£20, give DCS a proper go, and then see if you feel it is worth upgrading to something decent. If not, sell the crappy stick for a tenner. Minimal loss.

[mfg42]

Originally posted by Goffik:

[To be honest, I don't think that K&M is even a way to check out the basics of DCS properly. The point of a sim is the realism and immersion, but you're going to get neither without at least a basic joystick. The awkwardness and lack of playability with K&M might put you off a sim which you may well enjoy had you tried it with a proper controller.

If you don't know anyone that could lend you a joystick for a while, then there are plenty of dirt cheap second-hand ones out there. Grab one for £15-£20, give DCS a proper go, and then see if you feel it is worth upgrading to something decent. If not, sell the crappy stick for a tenner. Minimal loss.

Yeah, i have a ps4 controller... this plus keyboard for a primitive control might be better than just k and mouse.

[DragonWhite4Gulf]

Ps4 controller at least would give you somewhat of a stick and throttle. Keyboard and mouse might work stable flight ground strikes. To me it would be way to weird lol. I started off like you. use Keyboard mouse and Ps4 controller together I still use my xbox control for some systems.
For a budget you can get a stick and throttle combo for pretty cheap. If you do not buy TrackIR make sure your stick has a good hat switch for looking around.

[SilvermistInc]

Not worth it at all

[TTDSI]

Actually yes, been on DCS for 3 years now, I own F/A-18, A10c, Huey, Apache, Ka-50 and other modules I don't recall. All three of those years have been on K&M, yes it's really fun and you can become proficient at flying with a mouse and keyboard allthough to ease the pain get a mouse with extra buttons. little preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOG9aaCcqz4

I fly the apache alot, you'l grow to love DCS, and playing with keyboard and mouse only shows your love for aviation! Mind all that on a sad laptop! DCS requires no extra hardware to enjoy!

[sivkon]

I've been playing with only M&KB and it is enjoyable and viable for 2 years. I've played mostly on the multiplayer servers both PVE and PVP. Try the cheaper planes such as SU-25, SU-27 and MIG-29 and other. They are perfectly flown with this setup.

Also, don't listen to those who say it is not enjoyable to play the game this way. I've been enjoying it for 2 years, others as well. These types of gamers are just salty because they get blown up in the sky by M&KB warriors. lol
P.S. Don't get mad, joystick users. Use whatever you like. :)

[Maki Nishikino]

I highly suggest before you invest into DCS modules that you get yourself a HOTAS. When I play DCS I use a VKB Gladiator NXT Premium, Thrustmaster TWCS and TrackIR5. This works out very well for the little over 20 modules I have.

[Delta Dagger]

Getting even a simple stick will elevate your experience. Diminishing returns very much apply here in regards to money spent on HOTAS vs. the experience you have, but having a full HOTAS with pedals produces the best one. Be prepared to purchase a joystick and throttle, it's definitely worth the money.