26 replies to this topic

[Jarvis Lancaster]

I'm curious how many firing groups other players prefer to use. If your mech has an array of weapons that could be divided by range, heat dissipation, or torso vs. arms positioning; how many groups are you comfortable dividing them into?

[Felicitatem Parco]

I use a standard keyboard and standard mouse... I usually use Mouse 1 and 2 for groups 1 and 2, then spacebar for group 6.. anything else would be relegated to the 3->5 keys. I'll often use those for setting up stagger-fire on my JagerMechs, for instance.

So, I will typically drop with 2->4 groups with 3025-level Input Devices..

[80sGlamRockSensation David Bowie]

Dual Analog Gamepad, 2 main firing groups (then one or two for "running hot" situations)

[MuonNeutrino]

Personally I find using weapon groups not on a mouse very awkward; I have a 4 button mouse, so I use up to 4 groups on my mechs. Practically speaking, I can't actually recall a time I actually wanted more groups anyway - if your weapon loadout is so mismatched that you *need* that many groups, you have bigger problems to worry about.

[BP Raven]

Typically 3 main fire groups (mouse 1, 2 and 3) although mouse 4 sometimes for something arm mounted than can be used to take off axis shots with a little forethought. i do have all 6 fire groups profiled to my mouse (Mad Catz MMO 7) but can't use them effectively in combat, takes too long to work out what is mapped where.

Generally do best when it's only in 2 groups though, less time facing and more time evading...

[Cest7]

5 button mouse works great for 5 groups.

[Madara Uchiha]

I got that razer naga so, I have no problem making 3-4 groups. But it really just depends on the mech and how I want to use it.

[Sporklift]

Group 1 and 2 are the main mouse buttons and 3 is my left handed Joystick trigger, 4 is the scroll wheel button. If I need more I can use my Naga's #6 button (#5 is TS push to talk) or the PgUp PgDwn buttons.

[skullman86]

I never needed more than two thumb buttons on my mouse until I played this game.

m1 = group 1
m2 = group 2
middle click = center torso
m4 = zoom (waiting for them to add mouse wheel support)
m5 = group 6 (large group fire or alpha strikes depending on the loadout)

I use the keyboard for weapon groups 3-5

Edited by skullman86, 05 July 2013 - 03:37 PM.

[Monky]

4 firing groups is about maximum unless you have LRM's as a secondary weapon.

[Otto Cannon]

Group 1 and 2 on the main mouse buttons, 3 on the wheel button. Thumb button for targeting instead of 'R'.

[Tarrasque]

I use the left hand (throttle) of a Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS X along with a Razer Deathadder which has 2 side buttons, and I run up to 4 groups at a time.

For me it depends on the mech, but generally:

M1: Group 1 - Main feature of mech or left arm/torso weapons
M2: Group 2 - Secondary feature or right arm/torso weapons
M3: Group 3 - Tertiary weapons, LRMs/SRMs
M4: Group 4 - Alpha of multiple similar weapons systems
MW: Zoom

When I say 'main' and 'secondary' features, it usually depends on the mech's build - I don't run multiple PPC/Gauss builds, so usually my designs are something like boxing; one of M1 or M2 are my main, solid throw, while the other is a smaller jab or complementary strike. Typically I assign which button to the side the weapons occupy, if they aren't symmetrical.

Pushing a side button on a mouse can unexpectedly cause some movement of the reticule, so I use the M3 button my Deathadder for lock weapons typically, or smaller weapons with short recycle rates.


My throttle is obviously controlling my speed, and a rocker on the front is for torso twisting, and I have the target, jump jet, target overlay, shutdown override, and night vision or thermal assigned to various buttons. Most other functions I can simply hit once on a keyboard if I need it (ECM toggle comes to mind), so it's a pretty decent setup.

Edited by Tarrasque, 05 July 2013 - 03:45 PM.

[Victor Morson]

I get overly complicated with it, to be honest. For example, my 3D Cataphract is setup like:

1 - Gauss
2 - ER PPC + PPC
3 - Small Lasers
4 - Gauss + Small Lasers (All arm mounted guns)
5 - Gauss + Small Lasers + ER PPC (All weapons that do damage at close range)
6 - Gauss + ER PPC (All weapons that do extended range damage)

I find it very very useful, even if 80%+ of the time I'm only using groups 1, 2 and sometimes 3. But when they're useful, they're REALLY useful.

My philosophy is that any design should be operable by 3 buttons maximum, and the remaining groups should offer extra situation flexibility, when required. Allows you to have your KISS cake and eat it, too.

Edited by Victor Morson, 05 July 2013 - 05:37 PM.

[armyof1]

I seldom have more than 3 kind of weapons, but even then it's nice to for example have a fire group for left lasers and right lasers for those times you're just showing half the mech to fire at someone. That saved heat can really come in handy on hot maps. So for most mechs I have at least 4 fire groups.

[FactorlanP]

I am using a RAT7, but I typically only use Mouse 1 and 2 for groups 1 and 2 respectively... Then I put missiles on the space bar. I keep the Jump Jets and my Team Speak PTT on the mouse thumb buttons.

[Roland]

Logitech G13 and a mouse (a trackball even).
I have 6 groups mapped, but in practice tend to use 3-4 most of the time. The 5th and 6th are easy to hit though, if need be.

[Kaspirikay]

Stock Mouse and keyboard warrior here. 2 firing groups is optimal, as I get to focus on the action instead of my weapon groups. However, I'm usually using 3.

[aniviron]

Usually use four weapon groups. In simple loadouts (4xppc aws-9q) I have it set up where the left two ppcs are left mouse, right two are right mouse, mouse3 is chain fire on all four ppcs, and middlemouse/scroll wheel is alpha strike. On more complicated loadouts I tend to stick with four firegroups, but subdivide as makes sense; hbk-4sp is left/right for lasers, chain with all four lasers, and mouse3 for missiles. I do tend to prefer loadouts that have at most three logical firegroups, i.e. three range brackets or recycle times, which gives me the flexibility to use a fourth for chain fire, or to give arm mounted lasers a separate group from the torso lasers for wide shots, etc.

EDIT: Using a logitech g400 and keyboard, the g400 has a left/right button, two thumb buttons, a scroll wheel button, and three programmable dpi buttons.

Edited by aniviron, 05 July 2013 - 07:04 PM.

[WildeKarde]

Using the mouse and G13 myself. Usually two grp on the mouse and then the other 4 on the G13. Depends on the mech if they are all used however.

[Lightfoot]

Joystick with 12 buttons and 4-way hat, so 16 buttons total.

I usually use 4 groups defined by range, projectile speed, or weapon location on the mech. I can add a fifth if needed.

I have a dedicated Alpha-Strike button for use on shutdown mechs or when special battle events occur, like a mech charging straight at me with a superior loadout, say they have 2xAC20s. My mechs usually carry 3 to 4 weapons, but only one AC20 possible, so the Alpha-Strike is my equalizer of last resort.