Anyone Using Dual Sticks?

[Bosmang]

I love my dual sticks for ED. I'm about to give X4 another go and I want to know from experienced players if this is worth setting up.
Or, should I just go with a more common control setup?

[grapplehoeker]

The early game sees a lot of time spent at the helm, while the mid to late game is mostly time spent behind the map screen.
Therefore, the majority of your time will require mouse and keyboard and not that much stick ;)

[yes]

just keep a mouse and keyboard near by

[Ayar]

I configured HOSAS. However, I'm definitely not experienced (48.5h you see)

For me, I only use the keyboard to rename my ship. If one doesn't rename ships, one can ditch the keyboard in X4 it's not much use otherwise.

Other than that, I use about 98% mostly HOSAS in space (occasionally click an object with mouse) and HOSAM in the map or person menu. The map is a lot of mouse. Running around on the dock chasing mission lines or trying to find a non-crap new hire is HOSAM.

Configuring is pretty straight forward, but my bar is super low.

[SakenSoul]

Originally posted by Ayar:

I configured HOSAS. However, I'm definitely not experienced (48.5h you see)

For me, I only use the keyboard to rename my ship. If one doesn't rename ships, one can ditch the keyboard in X4 it's not much use otherwise.

Other than that, I use about 98% mostly HOSAS in space (occasionally click an object with mouse) and HOSAM in the map or person menu. The map is a lot of mouse. Running around on the dock chasing mission lines or trying to find a non-crap new hire is HOSAM.

Configuring is pretty straight forward, but my bar is super low.

What equipment are you using?
I plan on getting VKB as I know that works with Star Citizen, and I want to pick this game up next.

[Ayar]

Originally posted by AR-870:

What equipment are you using?
I plan on getting VKB as I know that works with Star Citizen, and I want to pick this game up next.

• Virpil Constellation Delta left
  
• Virpil MongoosT-50CM2 right

Both grips are on WarBRD bases.
Both bases are mounted to desk via VPC DeskMount (small); no extension tubes.

IMO, if purchasing HOSAS, I would make sure the left stick supports a twist axis. I know you said SC, but I find the twist useful for HOSAM in other games.

It is really useful on turn-based games, and some rts games too, that have a free rotatable camera...or Legends of Grimrock style ones, if you ever play those sorts of things. Lots of dollars/euros, good to improve the ROI. Also twist axis is very useful in MW5. I mention this because the MongoosT-50CM2 doesn't have a twist axis.

Perhaps not relevent, and you just would use them for ED/SC/X4/etc.

I am considering replacing t hese with a pair of Virpil Alphas. All the things, everywhere! Ok, maybe just the left one, it gets the most use and I'm not actually made of money, hah!

My understanding is that VKB is good stuff, on par with Virpil (price too, weee).

[Sticky]

Though in some situations a flight stick would be nice to use for the fun of Dog Fighting. Though i consider X4 to be a mouse and keyboard game, but that is also from the perception of a player that spends most of my time riding as a passenger on a ship with a captain flying it so the captain gets experience. That gives me time to do manual stuff like building more ships or stations or setting up fleets, saving the universe for my own benefit.
If you plan on doing most of the flying i can see why you would want a Stick.

[SakenSoul]

Thanks for the response, now would I require rudder pedals, or could I get by without them?
Both sticks I would be getting have twist axis, and each will have a little throttle control too to use if i need to, plus many buttons. I am looking at the Gladiator K

[Ayar]

Originally posted by AR-870:

Thanks for the response, now would I require rudder pedals, or could I get by without them?
Both sticks I would be getting have twist axis, and each will have a little throttle control too to use if i need to, plus many buttons. I am looking at the Gladiator K

"Require"...we've well left the "require" part of the universe. :) Like Sticky says above, X4 can be considered a very K&M game. In fact, after some time in-game it can become a mainly space empire management game, not a space flight sim. Still space sim, just less a space flight sim. If you want; it's quite flexible for play styles & focus. I like the flying around and exploring, although that causes some viability issues long-term; the consul must lead the city at times, not just the army.

So for pedals you're adding more options for axis control. Many space flight sims make full use of the 6 degrees of freedom (DoF) for movement of an object in 3D space: translation in the 3 dimensions and rotation in the 3 dimensions. With HOSAS and twists, you've got the 6 DoF covered reasonably. Note that HOTAS does not cover all 6 reasonably; but that is totally appropriate for atmospheric flight (ahem, mostly) and stompy mech sims.

The "reasonably" is the bit pedals can help I think. While the twists can take care of your yaw and roll (or however you prefer!), you might find the pedals are more natural for yaw (or roll, you do you). I definitely can see that. They give you another 3 input axes to employ how you like; and often include toe-brakes and such.

I don't have pedals, I'm not that level. I know some YT/Twitch SC folks I follow use them. If it were me, I'd maybe start with your Ks and see what you think. I feel you can very nicely get buy without them, if you have HOSAS with twists. But that's also all I have, so what do I know? And I'm no skilled pilot or anything, hah! I just want to enjoy the experience and I'm not into PVP at all, so trying for an edge via high-performance rig not a motivator.

Also consider that the more input axes and buttons you have, the longer config time takes! (And god forbid an SC update changes all the mappings and you have to start from scratch as a result. That's not infrequent from what I understand. Star Configurator doesn't sound like a fun game, at least not to play often.)

[Sticky]

Personally i like the Joysticks that twist counter clockwise and clockwise for the Roll. You know like a real spaceships. If you are not watching Space Balls at times, while playing X4, something could be wrong.

[SakenSoul]

So how much time percentage wise would you say you spend piloting in X4?

[Sticky]

5% for myself, most of my time i spend, Setting up traders and miners or stations and observing to know what i need to do next. There is no right or wrong way to play X4, the important thing is to enjoy what ever you decide to do.

[SakenSoul]

well, i would want to spend about 80 percent of my time at the minimum piloting through space and wherever else....is that possible?

[SakenSoul]

Originally posted by Sticky:

.....If you are not watching Space Balls at times, while playing X4, something could be wrong.

ROFL....i love that movie...wish they could do the sequel already.
I just put an order in for a bunch of movies for my kids...completely forgot to order that, have to remember for the next one. Been ages since I seen it.

edit: so yea something wrong...my Schwartz is very small at the moment

[Sticky]

Originally posted by AR-870:

well, i would want to spend about 80 percent of my time at the minimum piloting through space and wherever else....is that possible?

Yes it sure is, you do not need to let any captain fly for you. You can fly the entire time if you like. With exception of getting off the ship to talk to people on stations. Though if you are flying you do not have time to do other stuff as often. Keep in mind you can play different starts and you do not have to play them the same way each time.
Just you may want to if you do take over a ship that has a captain to clear all orders and assignments before you take control. Also never get up from the cockpit while in Auto Pilot. You may cause a glitch.
Another Top tip, do not use your left click to move the map around use the W, A, S, D, keys.

[Ayar]

Originally posted by Sticky:

Yes it sure is, you do not need to let any captain fly for you. You can fly the entire time if you like. With exception of getting off the ship to talk to people on stations.

Lol, this is me. I feel like "Nick Burns" from SNL when I get in a ship:

"...MOVE!.....aaaannnd You're Welllcome!!"