Playing Squad with a controller (effectively)

[Delta Dan]

Gents,

Just wanted to post this because I know there are a lot of players out there like me who prefer using a controller versus a KB & M. This isn't to debate which is better because the KB & M players have a valid point about the speed and precision of a mouse. However, follow my recommendations and it will completely change how you game with a controller.

Squad doesn't support customizing the profile of your controller if you plug it in and boot up Squad. The controls are what they are and if you don't like it, too bad. That said, the default controls are terrible so good luck being effective at all with them. The KB & M folks have you here.

The second option is using Steam to customize your controls by turning on that function to override the default controls of the game. I've found the Steam software to not be that intuitive and it also doesn't allow me full customization of my controls. There's a solution though.

I use a KB & M emulator called Xpadder in conjunction with a controller from Razer called the Wolverine Ultimate. Xpadder allows me to completely customize my controls and dual purpose every button and the Wolverine Ultimate offers me some minor, but not necessary, advantages such as swapping out the right thumb stick for a longer thumbstick which provides me more precise aiming in FPS games.

Now, you can't just set up your controller profile on Xpadder then boot up the game. Like I said before, there's only two options Squad really offers you, the default controls for a gamepad or the Steam configuration. The work around that is that once you have Xpadder open and your Squad profile up, go into Steam and select "forced on" for your controller configuration. By doing that you're telling Steam to override the default gamepad controls of the game. Once the game is up and running, go back into Steam and select "forced off". That's it. Now what you have done is forced the game to use your KB & M emulator software to control the game.

The key to being successful with a controller in any FPS game is ensuring that your sensitivity settings on your thumbstick is spot on. I have mine set up so that when I am running around the sensitivity is fairly high but as soon as I depress the left trigger to ADS, Xpadder switches my profile to an aiming profile that dampens the sensitivity of my right thumbstick - enabling me to aim with much more precision.

Additionally, every button is dual purpose. If I press the Y button it switches to my primary weapon, but if I hold the Y button it switches to my grenade. If I press X it will reload, but if I hold down X it will deploy my bipod. If I press the right bumper it will toggle lean right, but if I hold it down it will activate my squad chat. With the Xpadder KB & M software you can customize all of this to the exact 1/100th of a second. I've done this for nearly every button.

I even have a driving profile set up so that when I get into a vehicle all I have to do is hit right on the d-pad and it switches the layout of the controller for driving. As soon as I get out, I hit right on the d-pad again and I am back into my infantry profile. It's that easy. All the controls of the KB & M right there in one controller.

I recommend watching the YouTube tutorials on Xpadder and determining if that's the route you want to go. I did it for more complicated games like Arma 3 so setting it up for Squad was a breeze. It takes time to learn the software, but once you do it makes gaming with a controller so easy. If you have questions just let me know because there's is a lot more to it than what's written here. I just wanted to let everyone know that it is possible and it is very effective when done right. If you try to just plug in a controller and go at it, the PC master race folks are right, you will have your butt handed to you. Follow my recommendation and you will be an effective member of your team with a controller. If anyone wants to team up on Squad hit me up and I will back up these claims too. Call sign is Delta Dan. Hope this helps.

[Drax]

Would you mind posting your whole control setup? I dont plan on using a controller, but I find it pretty interesting how youve done it.

[tselimov]

:(

[Delta Dan]

Drax, sure...

Profile 1: Infantry (default)
A: Press = Jump/Climb ; Hold = Action (get in vic/select ammo crate, etc)
B: Press = Kneel ; Hold = Prone
Y: Press = Primary Weapon ; Hold = Item 3 (Grenade/AT Weapon)
X: Press = Reload ; Hold = Deploy Bipod

Right Thumbstick: Look/Aim
Press Right Thumbstick = Bandage ; Hold Right Thumbstick = Shovel
Left Thumbstick = WASD (thumbstick moved 100% and it activates shift too and player will run)
Press Left Thumbstick = Map ; Hold Left Thumbstick = Freelook While Held

D-Pad
Up: Scroll Wheel Up
Down: Scroll Wheel Down
Left: Press = Approve Vehicle Request ; Hold = SL Menu While Held
Right: Switches Controller Profile to Driving Profile

Select Button: Scoreboard
Start Button: Press = Enter Button ; Hold = SL Chat

Left Bumper: Press = Lean Left Toggle ; Hold = Local Chat
Right Bumbper: Press = Lean Right Toggle ; Hold = Squad Chat

Left Trigger: ADS (switches to "Aiming" profile with slower right thumbstick for precision)
Right Trigger: Fire/Select

[Delta Dan]

Profile 2: Aiming (activated by depressing left trigger while in default profile)
There's only two differences from this profile and the default "Infantry" profile. The first is the decreased sensitivity on the right thumbstick that allows me to aim with more precision once I aim down sight. Second, if I press the left thumbstick it will go into ranging mode and allow me to adjust the range of my weapon using the up and down buttons on the d-pad. For instance, If I am using an RPG and I am ADS, as I am gauging distance I press the left thumbstick, hit up on the d-pad to increase the zeroed range, and then press the left thumbstick again to exit ranging mode. Now my RPG is ranged for the distance of the target I am aimed at.


Profile 3: Driving (activated by pressing right on the d-pad while in default profile)
A: Enter/Exit Vehicle
B: Squad Chat
Y: Local Chat
X: Hand Brake

Right Trigger: Gas
Left Trigger: Brake

Right Bumper: Right Click (add supplies)
Left Bumber: Left Click (drop supplies)

D-Pad
Up: Scroll Wheel Up
Down: Scroll Wheel Down
Left: Press = Approve Vehicle Request ; Hold = Start Engine
Right: Switches Controller Profile Back to Infantry Profile

Right Thumbstick: Look Around in Vehicle
Press Right Thumbstick = Lock in Gear
Left Thumbstick = Steering
Press Left Thumbstick = Map

Select Button: Scoreboard
Start Button: Press = Enter Button ; Hold = SL Chat

I tried my absolute best to maintain continuity between the profiles, but one thing I had to change was the local and squad chat buttons while driving because I can't press the right/left trigger and the bumpers at the same time. The best solution I came up with so that I could talk and drive at the same time was moving the squad/local chat buttons to B & Y.

[Drax]

Publicado originalmente por Delta Dan:

I can't press the right/left trigger and the bumpers at the same time.

You just arent trying hard enough. I played Neir Automata with middle fingers on triggers and pointers on bumpers. Got to say though, thats a real neat setup. Ill be sure to link this thread if people ask for it in the future (which happens every now and then, you arent alone).

[Delta Dan]

Haha, yeah I tried to drive that way and it was miserably difficult although it did work. Practice makes perfect though I guess!

Thanks though man. I have spent a lot of time with Xpadder over the years constantly refining and improving controls for FPS games like Arma and Squad. There's a lot of positives to using a controller and it's what I've always know after switching from console to PC just a few years ago. I love the PC culture a lot more than the console community. Just built my first PC from the ground up too. It's a very rewarding experience when it all comes together.

[HoTdOg313]

Publicado originalmente por Delta Dan:

Drax, sure...

Profile 1: Infantry (default)
A: Press = Jump/Climb ; Hold = Action (get in vic/select ammo crate, etc)
B: Press = Kneel ; Hold = Prone
Y: Press = Primary Weapon ; Hold = Item 3 (Grenade/AT Weapon)
X: Press = Reload ; Hold = Deploy Bipod

Right Thumbstick: Look/Aim
Press Right Thumbstick = Bandage ; Hold Right Thumbstick = Shovel
Left Thumbstick = WASD (thumbstick moved 100% and it activates shift too and player will run)
Press Left Thumbstick = Map ; Hold Left Thumbstick = Freelook While Held

D-Pad
Up: Scroll Wheel Up
Down: Scroll Wheel Down
Left: Press = Approve Vehicle Request ; Hold = SL Menu While Held
Right: Switches Controller Profile to Driving Profile

Select Button: Scoreboard
Start Button: Press = Enter Button ; Hold = SL Chat

Left Bumper: Press = Lean Left Toggle ; Hold = Local Chat
Right Bumbper: Press = Lean Right Toggle ; Hold = Squad Chat

Left Trigger: ADS (switches to "Aiming" profile with slower right thumbstick for precision)
Right Trigger: Fire/Select

Dan, Is there any way I can get this setup from you? I have xpadder paid edition but I am definitely new to using the program and I love your setup. There is a copy and paste option for sharing setups correct? Just bought the game and have always been a controller guy. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[wasti]

you could also edit the input.ini file to reflect gamepad inputs instead of keyboard inputs. It's ue4, lots of guides out there for changing input.ini around to fit your personal style :)

[CasinoBandit]

seems like a lot of work to use something inferior ;D

[DenoSteez94]

i know this thread is old, but do you have a download for your xpadder profile, i already have my xbox one controller setup for xpadder and have created specific profiles before for game like bf2 and i have downloaded a profile for arma 3. Your profile seems perfect and rather not go through the hassle of putting everything in lol.

[Chef_423]

Publicado originalmente por bandit:

seems like a lot of work to use something inferior ;D

Yea, as youre getting owned by those inferior peeps lol

[rockso the rock and roll clown]

you should feel bad if you spent more then 700 on your setup to use a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ controller

[kid]

I know this thread is fossilized, but is it easier to pilot a helo using a controller? I have reWASD and all if it matters.

[Cat Harsis]

Publicado originalmente por *becomes chungus*:

I know this thread is fossilized, but is it easier to pilot a helo using a controller? I have reWASD and all if it matters.

Depends on what you consider "easier". I can't fly with mouse and keyboard at all, just does not jive with my brain, I need a joystick for that. So I would probably have less of an issue flying with controller than mouse, but someone who actually enjoys mouse flight probably wouldn't find it easier.

[Barbaric Corgi]

Publicado originalmente por *becomes chungus*:

I know this thread is fossilized, but is it easier to pilot a helo using a controller? I have reWASD and all if it matters.

I will always love flying the Apache on BF4 with an Xbox Controller, but I can't stand it on Squad. The helicopter flies like a UFO/semi-truck filled with an olympic sized pool. I find it a lot easier to use the A/D keys for my antitorque, the W/S keys for collective, and pretend my mouse is the pitch stick. Highly recommend sampling a joystick if you have one. I just find it easier to fine tune the Squad heli with a mouse. Never an Xbox controller though. The tiny joysticks aren't good enough to fly the obese helis in Squad.