80 replies to this topic

[Tereva]

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

Edited by Tereva, 04 April 2014 - 11:14 PM.

[Dawnstealer]

I've been playing for a while and I keep it on. It just works more intuitively for me. I think it's a preference thing.

[luxebo]

What I do is use trottle decay and use the numpads to move most of the time, while the arrow keys are if I need to stop and go during battles, like when scouting and giving coordinates or shooting and scooting, stuff like that. Most people are used to just going all the way and mostly without trottle decay, like I am, but sometimes trottle decay is needed and so I use this kind of setting.

[AdultPuppetShow]

I've been wanting a throttle decay ever since I was introduced to the series all the way back in MechWarrior 3. In Mechwarrior 4 I had the control scheme set up so that it was like what we have in this game.

I've used throttle decay exclusively ever since it was put in this game, I think its wonderful, and you can still use the numberpad keys to set constant cruise control speeds if you're a long way out from something or want to keep pace with a slower mech.

[Modo44]

Throttle decay requires holding a key constantly. If you set up a few keys for direct throttle settings, you get much quicker speed control with fewer key presses (making it a must for 2KRO keyboards). Mine are: Z = 0%, X = 40-70%, C = 100%, Shift = reverse throttle. I almost never touch the faster/slower keys, since they move the setting slower than many mechs can actually accelerate/decelerate.

Edited by Modo44, 04 April 2014 - 11:26 PM.

[Koniving]

(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.

[aniviron]

Modo44, on 04 April 2014 - 11:16 PM, said:

Throttle decay requires holding a key constantly. If you set up a few keys for direct throttle settings, you get much quicker speed control with fewer key presses (making it a must for 2KRO keyboards). Mine are: Z = 0%, X = 40-70%, C = 100%, Shift = reverse throttle. I almost never touch the faster/slower keys, since they move the setting slower than many mechs can actually accelerate/decelerate.

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.

The other reason that throttle decay is frowned on by many serious players is that it requires you to feather your throttle to move any speed besides maximum or none; if you want to set your speed to match the assaults, or slow in combat to outturn a circling light, or want to advance slowly so that your deceleration time is minimal, you have to manually keep tapping the gas, and even then, you can't set the exact speed that you want to go, the best you can do is approximate it.

[Turist0AT]

Its a personal preference. Do we really need a topic for it?

Edited by Turist0AT, 05 April 2014 - 03:12 AM.

[Modo44]

New player help, remember? The mechanics are not all obvious, so it is nice to have it explained.

[Parappaman]

aniviron, 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.

Indeed! My W key is set to 100%, X key is set to 0%, and S is set to decelerate. This way I can launch start my 'mech and then control its cruise speed at will. On lights, it is much more dramatic than the acceleration/deceleration boost you get by unlocking efficiencies, even when doubled.

[Denolven]

Well besides the preference thing, I'd say it's also a playstyle thing. Because with my playstyle, I almost exclusively need "move your ass ASAP!" and "stop right now!". The rare cases where I want something in between, I use the numpad keys to set throttle.

The issue here is that in order to get what I want without throttle decay, I need like W and S and 3 additional buttons, plus it takes longer to execute (the mech could accelerate faster than I can set the throttle setting). With throttle decay on, I have the two things I need most on two buttons, and instant.
I'm glad it's adjustable, so everyone can set it up the way he wants.

[Redshift2k5]

On big downside to throttle decay is you have to hold down an extra button during maneuvers.

You also can't set a speed at less than top speed unless you use the throttle set button on the numpad.

To many veteran players of MWO, these two downsides are a problem. Users from other games may have a different experience, and PGI probably feels Throttle Decay is easier for new players since they have it defaulted to on.

among more experienced players, throttle decay seems more effective when running at high speed and less effective if your top speed is low or moderate.

[Denolven]

Redshift2k5, on 05 April 2014 - 04:21 AM, said:

On big downside to throttle decay is you have to hold down an extra button during maneuvers.

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.)

Edited by Denolven, 05 April 2014 - 05:59 AM.

[Modo44]

Denolven, 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?

Selecting targets, changing zoom, firing an alphastrike, checking the team/battle status, centering legs to torso, jumping, etc. (depending on your specific key bindings). If you try to do more than 2 at the same time on a 2KRO keyboard (which means most keyboards) while holding W, you are going to have a bad time.

[Malcolm Vordermark]

Koniving, 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.

I disagree. You do have plenty of control while using throttle decay. The downside is it takes a disproportional amount of focus to preform anything other than full speed ahead, full reverse, or dead stop. The advantage is that it is more intuitive.

Personally, I still use throttle decay with the occasional throttle setting thrown in.

Edited by Rouken, 05 April 2014 - 06:28 AM.

[NRP]

I use Throttle Decay. It just seems more intuitive to me. I also use a Logitech G700 mouse and program all the buttons to do many of the things other people do with their left hand, so my need to constantly manage throttle isn't really that much of a disadvantage.

[Redshift2k5]

On the left I'm using the throttle, left/right, as well as full-stop, sometimes zoom when my middle-mouse is being finicky, and also wepon groups 3-6 (Generally just 3, if I have LRM's or a few backup SSRMs they're on 3 on my keyboard). If I have my middle finger on W all the time, I can't flick 3.

I'm not saying throttle decay is bad, but I am pointing out some of the reasons why people think it is "less effective". I know people who use throttle decal effectively with light mechs, and it probably helps many users who are transitioning from other games that do not use a throttle set

Edited by Redshift2k5, 05 April 2014 - 06:39 AM.

[Malcolm Vordermark]

Redshift2k5, on 05 April 2014 - 06:38 AM, said:

On the left I'm using the throttle, left/right, as well as full-stop, sometimes zoom when my middle-mouse is being finicky, and also wepon groups 3-6 (Generally just 3, if I have LRM's or a few backup SSRMs they're on 3 on my keyboard). If I have my middle finger on W all the time, I can't flick 3.

I bound weapon group 3 to my E key. I don't think it was doing anything important and it is way easier to reach. Never used 4,5, and 6. Seems like more than 3 weapon groups and you're spreading yourself thin.

Edited by Rouken, 05 April 2014 - 06:47 AM.

[Buckminster]

I think a lot of it is personal preference. If you are used to an FPS control scheme, where you have to hold the buttons to move, then I think throttle decay is a bit more intuitive. If you want more control over your speed, then I'd take it off.








but really you want analog controls, like a joystick.

[Denolven]

Modo44, on 05 April 2014 - 06:14 AM, said:

Selecting targets, changing zoom, firing an alphastrike, checking the team/battle status, centering legs to torso, jumping

mouse, mouse, mouse, not done during a fight, A/D, space

I never use keyboard buttons for weaponry or "special movement orders". I always know where my legs are and use A/D accordingly. Everything except percentual throttle can be done with WASD on throttle decay, instant and with maximum mech capability (digital input). So I see no reason why I should reserve 3+ additional buttons, plus reducing mech reaction times (compare going 0->100 or 100->0 with a light mech with/without throttle decay), just for being able to set throttle with a somewhat analog input (which I can still do with numpad keys if I want, I could even remap them to the normal number keys).

But if you are using keyboard buttons for firing weapons, I can see how holding W is a problem. I have all shooting and targeting stuff on the mouse, with only 3 mouse buttons + wheel up and wheel down (you can set those in the config file, the game client doesn't recognize them in the settings menu but they work).

Maybe I'm just one of those lucky guys who never had a problem with that kind of movement. I already noticed that in Mount&Blade, where I had no trouble controling horse and rider independently like it was the most normal thing in the world, where others seemed to have trouble with coordinating different things. Give me WASD and I'm ready to go.
But then again my aiming and reflexes totally suck, so I guess we are even