14 replies to this topic

[Laurelion]

Hi fellow Mechwarriors,

Where in the Options menu can I find an option to inverse the direction my Battlemech turns when reversing?

The current default situation, when reversing :
- And A is pressed, the Battlemech turns counter-clockwise.
- And D is pressed, the Battlemech turns clockwise.

What I am looking for, when reversing :
- And A is pressed, the Battlemech turns clockwise.
- And D is pressed, the Battlemech turns counter-clockwise.

In one of the devblogs, the devs mentioned that "we have found that players differ in their preference in terms of which direction a BattleMech turns while reversing. This too will be added to the Options screen as a selectable choice" but I can not seem to find such option within the menu.

Thank you beforehand.

[Koniving]

I think someone finally stumped me.

I have no idea if PGI ever got around to this or not. Anyone else know? It'd be interesting to try.

[Hammerfinn]

You can do the full inverse for up-down, or the full joystick inverse, but cannot do any situational inversion, unfortunately. It works like driving a car: turning left, but going backwards, turns you right. It makes sense, and I'd be surprised if they ever change it. Though it might be something to put into an ATD to see if anyone else wants it.

[Durant Carlyle]

Yep. It's not an option now (for keyboard anyway), and I highly doubt this will be changed. It isn't in any games I have ever played.

[Sephlock]

Laurelion, on 08 October 2013 - 07:37 PM, said:

Hi fellow Mechwarriors,

Where in the Options menu can I find an option to inverse the direction my Battlemech turns when reversing?

The current default situation, when reversing :
- And A is pressed, the Battlemech turns counter-clockwise.
- And D is pressed, the Battlemech turns clockwise.

What I am looking for, when reversing :
- And A is pressed, the Battlemech turns clockwise.
- And D is pressed, the Battlemech turns counter-clockwise.

In one of the devblogs, the devs mentioned that "we have found that players differ in their preference in terms of which direction a BattleMech turns while reversing. This too will be added to the Options screen as a selectable choice" but I can not seem to find such option within the menu.

Thank you beforehand.

Aww, I can't find a clip of that part in DBZ Abridged where Frieza says "What are these, inverted controls? Who even uses-"

[Denolven]

Hammerfinn, on 08 October 2013 - 09:34 PM, said:

It works like driving a car

No, it does NOT behave like a car. That's the problem. A car drives a C curve, a mech runs an S curve.
It's probably like the y-axis inversion thing - half the people like it this way, half the people like it the other way. Only that this time there is the world wide standard that has been used by cars for decades. Normally you go for the more intuitive way (which is probably as it is now, not sure - after a short while I felt comfortable, and it has become second nature to me). But using existing standards is probably just as important, because that allows people to use what they already know.

There is another famous example in design: the computer keyboard layout. It's a relic from the past, where the layout was designed to deliberately NOT surpass a certain amount of actions per minute, because when it was working mechanically, the parts could block each other if used too fast.
It has been proven several times that other layouts are way more effective, now that the mechanic barrier is gone. But none of them is commercially successfull, because people are so used to the classic layout that nobody wants to relearn stuff.


I know I was confused and annoyed for like 200 games, before my brain remapped stuff well enough that I don't notice it anymore. At least it should be able to switch the mode.

PS: please put your future short questions here Short Question - Short Answer

Edited by Denolven, 09 October 2013 - 02:38 AM.

[Mycrus]

Sorry must be really jaded that I didn't notice it

[scJazz]

If it is any consolation I'll amplify Denolven's comments.

I totally forgot that this "issue" existed.

Muscle memory is a wonderful thing and my brain rewired itself in the first 100 games or so.

I can half imagine an AHK macro that would do the trick for you. You might want to send a PM to evilC who is the master of all things AHK macro to ask if it is possible.

[Krivvan]

Just think of your legs as entirely divorced from your torso. It is not like driving a car. It is like driving a tank. It doesn't matter if you're moving backwards of forwards, the A and D keys will turn your legs the same way.
With the throttle controls, how would reversing that even work? If I am at 100% throttle, then hit the reverse while I'm turning, I'd suddenly start turning the other way a few seconds after I hit reverse. It doesn't make any sense.

Honestly though, in a lighter mech you may not even have to ever reverse. You can learn how to jump jet and/or full stop and do a 180 degree turn which is preferable to reversing since you go so much faster forwards.

Edited by Krivvan, 09 October 2013 - 05:29 AM.

[Laurelion]

The issue crops up most crucially when I am trying to circle/juke around a slower enemy, while piloting a faster mech.

For example, when I tried to circle an Atlas in a counter-clockwise manner around it, I would throttle up (W) and tap A to circle around the Atlas while plinking at his armor. The Atlas would initially try to track me by turning his torso counter-clockwise.

Soon after, he realized that it would be futile trying to do that, and swiftly turned his torso the other way (clockwise) in order to catch me during my juking around him. Realizing that, I would compensate by changing direction, reversing around him in a clockwise direction. To do this with the current controls however, I would have to change from W+A to S+D.

If the turning while reversing control could be inversed, then I could just change from W+A to S+A. A difference of merely one less button press, but during split-second situation like that, when one mistake could have blasted my weaker mech away, it is extremely valuable.

Edited by Laurelion, 09 October 2013 - 08:14 AM.

[Drakenn]

If you think of it like driving a car, yeah, it's backwards.. but you aren't driving a car, so the controls are different. It is just a matter of getting used to piloting a 'mech

[Denolven]

Krivvan, on 09 October 2013 - 05:28 AM, said:

With the throttle controls, how would reversing that even work?

If your actual speed is negative, invert the direction. It's really simple.

Drakenn, on 09 October 2013 - 08:25 AM, said:

If you think of it like driving a car, yeah, it's backwards.. but you aren't driving a car, so the controls are different. It is just a matter of getting used to piloting a 'mech

Of course it is just a matter of time. But the point is: why should you have to invest that time? It's just another bothersome thing that scares new people away. there is no technical need, nor any gameplay need. It's purely annoying time wasting.
Plus, if I now play WoT (or ANY other similar game for that matter), I move wrong constantly, because I'm used to MWO now.
See, making it different than everyone else has its price, and its a heavy one. There can be good reasons to do it - you just should be aware of the price you pay. And I'm not sure they are.

Edited by Denolven, 09 October 2013 - 11:13 AM.

[RallyPoint]

Durant Carlyle, on 08 October 2013 - 10:18 PM, said:

Yep. It's not an option now (for keyboard anyway), and I highly doubt this will be changed. It isn't in any games I have ever played.

Planetside2 allows you to flip between the two methods for vehicles. It's actually really nice.

[Dawnstealer]

I've heard people complain about this before, and I get it (the "S" vs "C" turn), but it seriously took me about 30 seconds into my first match to figure it out, so it was never an issue.

[Hellen Wheels]

Laurelion, on 08 October 2013 - 07:37 PM, said:

Hi fellow Mechwarriors,

Where in the Options menu can I find an option to inverse the direction my Battlemech turns when reversing?

The current default situation, when reversing :
- And A is pressed, the Battlemech turns counter-clockwise.
- And D is pressed, the Battlemech turns clockwise.

What I am looking for, when reversing :
- And A is pressed, the Battlemech turns clockwise.
- And D is pressed, the Battlemech turns counter-clockwise.

In one of the devblogs, the devs mentioned that "we have found that players differ in their preference in terms of which direction a BattleMech turns while reversing. This too will be added to the Options screen as a selectable choice" but I can not seem to find such option within the menu.

Thank you beforehand.

This is called the "switchback maneuver" to us old NetMechers.

What you have to do is, simultaneously hit reverse along with the directional OPPOSITE of the torso twist that you want (e.g., X + A) AND (this is most important) swaggle the mouse simultaneously to gain the torso twist that you actually want to occur.

Your mouse sensitivity is most important to this maneuver: you have to have your mouse set to the right twisty speed.

It is easier to do with jump jets, but in any case, it takes a lot of practice to get right, because you have to adjust the speed depending upon situational factors (e.g., speed of your opponent, direction of your opponent, and where your opponent is aiming.) This maneuver is easier with foot pedals and dual joysticks.

Once you have it mastered: priceless. ProTip: Talk to the Templars. BanditMan and his folks perfected this technique 15 years ago, and they are still experts in its use. It still works.

Good luck
=H=

Edited by Hellen Wheels, 10 October 2013 - 03:32 PM.