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Why Is Throttle Decay Is Supposed To Be Less Effective ?


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#41 Tereva

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Posted 06 April 2014 - 10:47 PM

Ok I think I have found the best setup for me :

- Decay ON
- 1 mouse button to full throttle
- mouse wheel to accelerate / decelerate

That way with W and S I can do all the precise manœuvres and want I want cruise control I just hit my mouse button and chose the speed with the wheel.

Intuitive, and easy to use (at least for me)


Tereva

#42 Graves24

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Posted 07 April 2014 - 02:47 PM

I can't play without throttle decay. My movements are just so much more precise with it enabled. I tried playing without it but I ended up falling into pits and broke my mechs legs.

#43 n r g

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 12:51 AM

View PostTereva, on 04 April 2014 - 10:56 PM, said:

Started playing 2 weeks ago, and I followed the advised given by everybody : I put throttle decay off.
As a result I have trouble stoping exactly where I want to stop, and at peek and boo.

So I just put it back on again, and off course now I hate the beginning of the game when I have to keep forward pressed ;)

So here is my question why is throttle decay supposed to be bad. After all WoT is working that way, and it works very well.

Please provide factual example of why this is better.


Thx

Tereva

Old school MW4 players generally used 100% throttle and 0% throttle on W and S. We generally had a key to toggle forward/reverse and a button to stop.

I've seen some players use the accelerate/decelerate on W and S aswell, but still with some key designated as toggle forward/reverse and a stopkey.

Throttle decay off is what the old schoolers use. I'm a CSGO/BF player, but I don't think certain FPS functions translate to this game exactly since it has a simulation feel (i.e . using mouse 2 for zoom when mechwarrior generally needs all mouse buttons for group firing)

Edited by 3N3RGY, 15 May 2014 - 12:51 AM.


#44 Reported for Inappropriate Name

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 01:42 AM

you don't always want to go max speed, and you're often cruising for long periods of time. you can use the number pad for cruising but I prefer using WS as my throttle and spacebar as my brake.

i have been considering using a key for invert throttle. preferrably one that doesn't force me to take my hands of wsad. maybe left alt...

Edited by Battlecruiser, 15 May 2014 - 01:50 AM.


#45 Kain

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 01:43 AM

It is probably a personal preference,
I personally can't play with throttle decay, i'm to used to the old MW games

but the main problem with throttle decay is momentum...your throttle is on or off...of course you can key bind throttle percentages etc,

With Throttle Decay off, i love:
- how relaxing my left hand can be when i'm circle strafing an enemy.
- how i can use just the right acceleration and deceleration % to pop my head around a corner for a millisecond.
- how nice the strolls across Alpine peaks are without holding the W or S forever

Edited by Kain, 15 May 2014 - 01:44 AM.


#46 Grimmrog

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 01:44 AM

best is to set some often used throttle levels to keys 1-5
simply because with throttle decay off, you may need to instant set a wanted speed. unfortunately the Num block is quite far away.

#47 BOWMANGR

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 02:55 AM

I keep it on. I don't find it so difficult to control in tight turning as others have mentioned.

As for the constant pressing at the beginning of a match or other tedious times just use your numpad keys. Every time a match starts I just press 0 and go full throttle until I need to stop. From then on, its throttle decay ON all the time until I need crusing speeds again.

A counterargument can be made for those not using throttle decay, where sometimes I spectate some pilots and in the middle of the fight they forget their throttle in a lower setting thinking its already at max or not reversing fast enough and so on. It can be just as disadvantageous as it can be advantageous. It's a matter of personal preference NOT a 'good' player indication.

Now, Arms Lock this is an entirely different matter. You NEED to learn to play without Arms Lock as soon as possible.

#48 Androas

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 03:34 AM

I keep it off too, because, especially my Assault mechs, tend to have 5-6 Weapon groups, and i find it easier to use those + other keys like zoom, and the ocasional Item (UAV/Arty/coolshot) when i dont have to hold down the throttle all the time.

#49 Satan n stuff

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 06:45 AM

View Postaniviron, on 05 April 2014 - 12:28 AM, said:


It's related to this. Many mechs accelerate and decelerate faster than the throttle decay settings work, meaning that especially in lights where it is important, you're losing out on acceleration and stopping speed. Almost everyone who doesn't use throttle decay pairs this with a full stop key and often also a full forward and full reverse key.


Wait, we have a full reverse key now? Why wasn't I informed of this? Can I now stop using invert throttle so I won't accidentally press it one time too many when I'm dodging?
Fun fact: making your escape going backwards in the wrong direction rarely works.

#50 Dawnstealer

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 07:03 AM

View PostKoniving, on 05 April 2014 - 12:08 AM, said:

(You can -- with throttle decay on -- set cruise control with the numpad keys).

The disadvantage of throttle decay being turned on is the complete lack of throttle control under your fingertips. No slowing down for tighter turns, no adjusting speed to help evade enemy ballistic fire. No partial speed for 'sneaking' by enemies who have Seismic Sensor by traveling slower than is 'detectable'.

After all, unlike a gas pedal with Throttle Decay on you have the same speeds my grandmother once knew. Full Speed and stop. And the only way to go slow is to jam the pedal to the floor, hit the brakes, jam the pedal, hit the brakes.


Not sure I agree with that - when I want to make a tight turn, I just pull my finger off the "W" key while turning for a moment. Works the same way. I do it without thinking, now.

Edited by Dawnstealer, 15 May 2014 - 07:03 AM.


#51 RedPandaPrince

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 07:16 AM

Personally I got used to having throttle decay on from my days of using my ppc/LL stalker, it was helpful for peeking over a hill, shooting and slamming it in reverse. For me it seemed to take too long to hold "S" or move to the number pad and hit period. But I have played an extensive ammount of other FPS games where there is no throttle system like MWO. Honestly there are some very good reasons to go with the standard throttle system, but I find that I can do the "sneaking" tactic with throttle decay. And should I really need to lock my throttle in a certain place I can easily hit a number pad button should I not be in a combat situation. For newer players I would recommend turning off throttle decay and use the standard system in order to actually use a proper system. But for my own preference, I like decay.

#52 DEMAX51

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 07:34 AM

I still strongly prefer using throttle decay, myself. The benefits that Light 'Mechs get from using it are too good to pass up, and once you get used to it, it works very well.

#53 Mechteric

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 07:36 AM

I've found this very effective, instead of using the number keys for firing weapons groups (since my mouse has the buttons I need):

1 - set speed to 30%
2 - set speed to 50%
3 - set speed to 80%
4 - set speed to 100%


then use X key for braking to 0%.

#54 n r g

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 12:39 PM

And I still disagree with people suggesting using numbers 1-5 for for 10% speed etc.... All those binds are NOT practical and are TOO SIMULATION-esque. Modeling your keys for a traditional FPS is much more beneficial in this game, ESPECIALLY for elite precision sniping.

YOU generally want to use either 100% throttle and STOP or THROTTLE UP and THROTTLE DOWN on your keyboard cluster. This can be either WSAD, arrow keys, number pad or WHATEVER YOU WANT theoretically.

Throttle decay OFF is more efficient because mechwarrior has many more keybinds than traditional FPS so ITS MUCH EASIER to have free fingers to utilize other keys like jump jets, zoom, coolant flush, toggle reverse etc... without having to hold W or S at the same time.

I used to find the best players in Mechwarrior and analyze their keybinds to find what works best. I've been doing that since mechwarrior 4.

The main philosophy is to re-map all *critical* keys on the keyboard so they are in CLOSE PROXIMITY of each other. Having a key near your "cluster" can give you that ~100ms advantage over your opponent and allow you to shoot first or maneuver your mech away from the threat quicker.

Again, you can choose ASWD, arrow keys , num pad pr whatever feels comfortable ( you could use [ to turn left, ] to turn right, + to accelerate, and - to decelerate, its subjective. For example, my wingmate Le0 uses arrow keys while I use ASWD.

I go into much more detail here and plan to make a revised video/guide soon:

Edited by 3N3RGY, 15 May 2014 - 02:30 PM.


#55 Adiuvo

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 12:48 PM

Throttle decay should always be used for light mechs given the need to match speed, round corners, and outmaneuver opponents. You need to be able to quickly vary your speed to do any of these.

On other classes it really comes down to personal preference though the top assault pilots all seem to turn it off. Force of habit may affect this, not sure. In any case, if you're a light pilot primarily turn it on.

#56 Modo44

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 12:53 PM

View Post3N3RGY, on 15 May 2014 - 12:39 PM, said:

And I still disagree with people suggesting using numbers 1-5 for for 10% speed etc....

You have not played enough MWO, then. Due to how movement works in MWO, throttling down to around 75% gives you the optimal turning speed on most mechs. That is much easier and faster to just set with a key instead of tapping 100% and 0% keys repeatedly to keep within the desired range. Z=0%, X=70%, C=100%, Shift=reverse is my setup. I kept WS for the rare situations in which I want a specific speed, e.g. when following something slow.

#57 1453 R

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 01:50 PM

Decay Off is more precise, while Decay On is (apparently) faster. If you want to match speeds with the fatties in your drop group and maintain something resembling proper formation, it’s hard as snot to do with Decay On but a veritable breeze with Decay Off. Having that precise control over exactly how fast I’m going, and also not needing to stand on the W key throughout the entire match, just feels better to me.

I honestly didn’t know about the acceleration advantages of Decay On because I’ve never used it. This is a war machine, not a racecar, and frankly I find the notion of setting half a dozen buttons for various different throttle settings to be ludicrous. Apparently it really helps with light ‘Mechs, which may explain why my Locusts are harder to do well in than I like, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to be switching over. Heh…I’m too set in my olde-fart ways by now.

Also, secondary note: anyone who isn’t using a multi-button MMO mouse, Naga-style, is totally and completely doing it wrong. I’m using an old Nostromo keypad under my left hand and a Naga under my right, and having my controls evenly distributed between both hands, instead of eighty percent relegated to the left hand, has sharply improved my play in pretty much every game I run ever. No, you will not get confused about which button to press when after a few weeks of acclimating to the mouse, not any more often than you occasionally fumble-finger a keyboard key in a thick fight. I can’t recommend a MMOuse + keypad setup enough for anyone who can afford it.

#58 n r g

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 02:33 PM

View PostModo44, on 15 May 2014 - 12:53 PM, said:

You have not played enough MWO, then. Due to how movement works in MWO, throttling down to around 75% gives you the optimal turning speed on most mechs. That is much easier and faster to just set with a key instead of tapping 100% and 0% keys repeatedly to keep within the desired range. Z=0%, X=70%, C=100%, Shift=reverse is my setup. I kept WS for the rare situations in which I want a specific speed, e.g. when following something slow.


I CLEARLY wrote one can use the "throttle up" and "throttle down" keys my friend. I have played the game for over 10 years mu friend and many players "figured" these things out long ago.

#59 Gyrok

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 03:22 PM

View PostDenolven, on 05 April 2014 - 05:57 AM, said:

Yeah, but what else would you use your left hand for anyway? I mean the whole purpose of my left hand is to handle movement and drop a UAV every now and then (while the right hand takes care of the shooting). So what is the saving in not having to hold this one button?
Because the price I would pay is that I need to find 3 more buttons for max/zero/reverse max if I don't use throttle decay. And honestly I'm running out of comfortly reachable buttons. Pretty much everything that is not targeting or shooting is on my left hand (no time to reach out for all those right side buttons in the heat of battle). If 4 buttons can handle all I need (most of the time), then why should I use 7?

Not trying to convince you or anything, just trying to understand. I was always wondering myself. The only button on the left side that doesn't do anything yet is capslock. I gave every other button a usefull thing. And I'm not even using everything I want - like override is still unreachable, and with consumables only UAV and cooling flush is supported right now. How do you tackle that?
(Also PGI needs to make one button per consumable slot on the mech, not one button per consumable in the game.)


I get around this by using a Razer Naga mouse with 17 buttons on it...which allows me to do far more with my mouse hand than I otherwise would be able to. For example, I have most of my consumables bound to mouse buttons, plus all my weapon groups, and push to talk for TS.

#60 JC Daxion

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Posted 15 May 2014 - 09:21 PM

I have zero clue about any post before me... So i am just going off the title....


I again have zero clue why anyone would use throttle decay....

that said, if you like it, use it, and want to use it go for it......



for me... it is the worst option around, and should be opp'd out as soon as you log in...


:)

one newbie to another.. :P (PPS, a year later i am still a noobie)





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