61 replies to this topic

[Alphawolf]

I have always used the keyboard setup from mechwarrior 2. I even use it for MW4 when I did play. I cant help it I am just old fashioned.

[Pariah Devalis]

Personally, I'm so used to the Keyboard and Mouse config that it will take time to get used to a joystick set up for me. However, what I personally use?

Basic controls:

• Top row 1-0 is my throttle from 0%-100% power
  
• Backspace shifts gears from forward to reverse
  
• Q for targeting items under the reticule
  
• W for toggle friendly targeting
  
• E for nearest enemy
  
• T for cycle enemy targets
  
• R for radar mode.
  
• A for auto pilot if it exists
  
• S for shut down/start up
  
• F for a coolant flush if it exists
  
• O for override auto shutdown sequence
  
• N for cycle Nav points
  
• Arrow Left/Right control my steering
  
• \ selects firing mode (Group/Chain/Single)
  
• Enter is -select next weapon- from the weapon list

Mouse controls my torso and weapon systems:

• Left Mouse Button is fire selected weapon/group
  
• Right mouse button is Zoom
  
• Scroll wheel is a secondary throttle for fine changes in speed
  
• Scroll wheel click is my easy coolant flush button, if it exists
  
• Bottom thumb button is cycle DOWN weapon groups
  
• Top thumb button is cycle UP weapon groups
  
• Mouse movement itself rotates and elevates my torso

All this doesn't even touch my look left/right/back/down commands, jump jet control, squad communication controls, weapon group reassignment commands (and sometimes you WILL reassign them mid fight), or incidentals like vision modes or spotlight.

In short, look at your keyboard. Maybe 25% of the keys will not be used. Maybe.

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 24 January 2012 - 06:35 AM.

[LordKnightFandragon]

I use a joystick for movement or flying and the keyboard for other various things like coolant, shutdown/start up, crouching in flight games keyboard for engine startup/bailout and the like...I used to use mouse/keyboard for MW4 and did surprisingly well, beat the campaign numerous times, but after using a joystick it was like....now why was I doing it that way?

I use the Saitek ST290 or something...I quite like that thing....its simple and the buttons and throttle are right were i need them. Ive used that x52 thing..I find it cumbersome and clumsy, its a big monstrosity that i cant get a good handle on....

[Mechteric]

Like a boss

[Star Captain Obvious Kerensky]

Dear MWO community,

Please use joysticks as much as possible. Everyone should use one. If you don't, you are clearly a COD4/BF3/ROFLBBQ7 twitch fest newbie, who doesn't know how to pilot a mech like a real man.

Of course, you will have a much harder time hitting a moving target, while I will have little trouble sniping you with the precision that only a mouse can provide.

-- Love and Kisses,
Eldragon

Edited by eldragon, 24 January 2012 - 07:10 AM.

[Pariah Devalis]

eldragon, on 24 January 2012 - 07:09 AM, said:

Dear MWO community,

Please use joysticks as much as possible. Everyone should use one. If you don't, you are clearly a COD4/BF3/ROFLBBQ7 twitch fest newbie, who doesn't know how to pilot a mech like a real man.

Of course, you will have a much harder time hitting a moving target, while I will have little trouble sniping you with the precision that only a mouse can provide.

-- Love and Kisses,
Eldragon

I see what you did thur. XD

[McScwizzy]

I used a joystick in MW2, used a mouse/keyboard in MW3 and MW4. I am currently using a mouse/keyboard in MWLL. I tried a joystick over the weekend, but I stopped when I could not get the throttle to work on my Sidewinder 2 in MWLL. I could not get it programmed correctly. The joystick just felt funny. I feel so much more accurate with the mouse/keyboard even though it is more of an immersive experience with the joystick. The best way to find out what you like best is just to experiment. Everyone has their own person preference.

[Elizander]

If they let me twitch the game I will. Reflexes are the least of my worries.

[Kaemon]

Part of the issue with teh keyboard/mouse setup is with doing multiple commands (run, twist, toggle weaps) simultaneously, where on a keyboard and mouse it'll be buttons that can be spread (think doing ctrl alt del but with 5 fingers) but on a joystick HOTAS setup it's foot, left hand 2 button right hand (joystick, yes I'm wrong handed) joystick 2 button.

Basically it's the difference between moving actions from one/two hands, to involve as many other limbs as possible (which in theory, unless you're slightly spastic like me, should speed up the time to do the command).

Experiences differ, plus for me, driving a mech with a mouse pretty much takes immesion and flushes it down the toilet.

[Valdor Constantine]

Dar1ng One, on 24 January 2012 - 05:38 AM, said:

I have had surgery to allow "enhaced imaging" control via my brain. Unfortunately my brain is half damaged so I don't know how effective it will be.

that and you'll most likly go insane due to the effects of the "enhanced imaging system" over time have fun

[CobraFive]

For MW2 I used originally, a keyboard only layout. +/- for throttle, arrows for reticle movement, enter/brackets for weapon selection and space to fire. It was weird but whatever...

I got a Sidwinder 3D with the built in throttle and I started using that, and it was easier.

But after playing MW3 I started using keyboard/mouse and I couldn't go back. For MW4 I stuck with it and instead of mapping a fire button, I mapped each weapon group to a particular button, so I never had to worry about which weapons were selected at a given time and I could fire any of them as needed:

WASD: Throttle, Turning
Mouse: Torso/Reticule Control
Left Click: Fire Group One
Right Click: Fire Group Two
Mouse Wheel: Select weapon group
Mouse Wheel Click: Fire selected weapon group

Other functions were keyboard keys.

So this way group one (Usually rapid fire) and group two (Usually slow shooting weapons) could be fired by the two mouse buttons, and whatever else I had (usually missiles) could be selected and fired by the mouse wheel.

[Frantic Pryde]

Its all about what works for you. You should know that even MW4 doesn't really completely play like an FPS. I know some people play it that way though, so to each his own.

For me, its all about the cool/fun factor. I just got a Saitek X52(Highly reccomended!) to use with MWO and MW4 for now. I love that I never have to touch the keyboard or mouse with all the buttons and controls, hell, the throttle even has a little mouse control stick on it.

I even have external things like TS3 PTT mapped to it. Having both hands on the controls at all times with all controls right at my fingertips makes the game more fun and immersive for me.

[CyBerkut]

Much remains to be seen, so knowing what will be "best" (especially for someone else who is asking for advice) is still largely a crap shoot at this point.

We do know that MWO is going to have more things to manage (ie. Information Warfare) than earlier MW games. What that will require, control-wise, we'll have to wait and see. We also know the devs want to have far less circle-strafing and more tactical maneuvering / use of terrain.

A lot of it comes down to what kind of experience do you want to get from it, and what kind of gaming background you already have. If your past experience has been mainly WASD keyboard and mouse action, it seems likely that you'll want to continue on that path. There were plenty of deadly KB & mouse pilots during the MW4 days in the NBT league. If you come from combat flight simulator background, a Hands On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) setup is probably going to seem like a natural choice for mech piloting.

A simple joystick and keyboard (whether a full keyboard or something specialized like the Logitech G19) can be made to work of course. One potential down-side to that method could be having to move your non-joystick gripping hand back and forth between the keyboard and the stick base (throttle lever and/or base mounted buttons).

Another potential issue with joysticks or HOTAS setups is, sadly, manufacturer quality control. On the QC front, both Logitech and Saitek have had their ups and downs. CH products seem to be consistently solid. Thrustmaster's current high end stuff appears to be solid, but I've seen mixed reviews on the low end stuff.

After having been through a couple Saitek X-36 HOTAS (triggers/buttons eventually failed), Logitech Cordless Freedom 2.4 (reliable, but too few buttons/hats, and the batteries could die at inopportune times), a couple Logitech 3D Pro's (Both would lose their centering and start permanently drifting), a couple Saitek X-45's that had buttons/triggers break quickly... I eventually ended up with a Saitek X-52 HOTAS and have been quite happy with the design and function. I picked up a Saitek X-52 Pro in preparation for MWO, but haven't even unboxed it yet. It *should* be even better than the X-52 has proven to be. Time will tell..

Different strokes for different folks. If the developers do their job well, it should all be good!

[Solis Obscuri]

I adapted to using keyboard+mouse for MW4, and mouse undeniably is the most accurate way to aim. But I do still have my old MS Sidewinder 3D Pro joystick from back in my MW2 days (the one with the built in rudder/throttle controls ). So I could always revert...

[Rhinehart]

HArd to say.

I used a joytick for all the Mech 2 series,

Went keyboard and mouse for MW 3

Went back to joystick and throttle for Mech 4.

It also goes to what you are used to. I play a lot of flight sims so I have tons of practice using a stick throttle and rudder pedals. Others who don't might not be that comfortable with it.

Experiment a little, don't buy anything too expensive until you know what works. If you have friends that use joysticks, borrow an old one and get a cheap or free game to try it out and see what you think.

[Tipid]

keyboard only for mw2, mw3 both keyboard and mouse, and good ol joystick for mw4.

[Trogusaur]

I have a fairly simple setting. Using a joystick (just about any works, as long as torso twist is present) is your best option, set three buttons of your choice to fire your main weapon groups. Typically try to group weapons based on range, fire rate and/or weapon type (ie: keep lasers with the lasers, ballistics with other ballistics). Depending on how many buttons you have on the joystick, set them for commonly used functions, such as zoom, jump jets, or target nearest enemy. It's also helpful to have "hat" keys to toggle rearview and arm swing, and a throttle to move without help from your keyboard. Basically find what works for you and learn to use!

[Lorcan Lladd]

Mouse and keyboard.
And with a pretty standard configuration, too, except that, instead of dedicating over ten keys for throttle control, I just use three of them to go from zero to full throttle, reverse and back to zero throttle again; I use the W and A keys for finer throttle control.

Though I do use some twelve keys to control all weapon systems.
There's buttons set to fire each chain or selection of weapons and buttons set to cycle between continuous single weapons fire, alternating single weapons fire and weapon group fire; quite necessary if you're using different weapon types or weapons with different range profiles, which I tend to do.

Also a lot of key combinations for Jump Jet movement control on older MechWarrior games.

[Insidious Johnson]

Dakkonn, on 22 January 2012 - 02:56 AM, said:

I was looking into those. I need to buy a new joystick for MWO (maybe a throttle too if I can afford it) but its A hard to find something like the one I had (back in my MW:2 merc days) and B justifying the purchase since I would ONLY use it for MWO (usually if I buy a peripheral its for multiple uses not just one game) but then again I do LOVE Mechwarrior something fierce.

Bingo! That is how you drive a mech. Rudder pedals = direction, J/S = Turret, Throttle = Fwd/Reverse, Hat= Look left, right, down(dfa), behind, buttons = pew pew pew.

[pursang]

eldragon, on 24 January 2012 - 07:09 AM, said:

Dear MWO community,

Please use joysticks as much as possible. Everyone should use one. If you don't, you are clearly a COD4/BF3/ROFLBBQ7 twitch fest newbie, who doesn't know how to pilot a mech like a real man.

Of course, you will have a much harder time hitting a moving target, while I will have little trouble sniping you with the precision that only a mouse can provide.

-- Love and Kisses,
Eldragon

This man knows what's up.