Hi All-
On occasion I've been asked to help different players with fighter combat techniques. While I make no claim to being an expert, or an elite fighter pilot, I have learned a few tricks that enable me to walk(fly) away from the majority of my engagements the victor. So far, I have never taken someone to the DA and found them to have an effective set-up regarding their views and general joystick mapping. Obviously those pilots who are successful as a general rule have a good views/mapping set-up, but often those who are strugging to get better are being handicapped by a mapping set-up that is not conducive to good SA and flight function manipulation. Without a good views mapping set-up, you can't have good SA, and without good SA, you can't be an effective fighter pilot. Once the SA issue is worked out, you need an effective way to manipulate your control surfaces etc, without LOSING SA.
I recently sent an email to a fellow player, and decided to post it here in hopes that it may help some of those who are still trying to get the most out of their set-up. This is how I set my stick up. I use a Saitek X52, and no longer use the SST programming they offer. I do not claim that the way I set my system up is unique, but rather that after lots of website research/reading, talking to other players, and making my own decisions, this is how I do it...
I like to keep my hands in one position on my joystick and throttle at all times, and have the most important functions available intuitively, at my fingertips. My set-up is mapped for fighter's and small changes may help if you are more interested in bombers or Jabo's. Having your joystick mapped efficiently is key in AH.
I know I told you this last night, but first and foremost in importance is views, as without them your SA (Situational Awareness) suffers and you will die. You must be able to watch your opponent at all times in order to counter his moves, launch your own, and ACCURATELY read his E-state and attitude (not altitude). That will enable you to understand what his plane is capable of, and eventually you will often be able to anticipate his move before he makes it. Not reading the opponents attitude and E-state accurately is what leads to people complaining about "slower" planes catching "faster" planes, UFO flying, "limit-less E", "wonder flaps", and cheating to name but a few. In the end, all these complaints really come down to less-than-perfect SA.
In any fight, the one who SETS the rules, and forces his opponent to fight the way he wants is the one most likely to win. The one who is REACTING to the others moves, is a step behind the other and is playing "catch-up". He will likely lose the majority of the time. He is being "led" to his death. This is not to say that being over-confident is safe, as it's not. But flying offensively will get you more kills than flying defensively. Defense is just trying to stay alive, offense is winning. You can be angles, E, and altitude disadvantaged, and still be flying offensively. I'm not merely dodging bullets, but trying to manipulate my opponent into positioning his plane in front of my guns. Losing your view of the opponent will cause you to lose the fight. It is the number one most important element of SA
For views, you need an 8 position hat switch mapped to your joystick hand, with the forward position giving you a "Look up front" view. You also need a "look up" button mapped to your throttle hand, that can be used at the same time as your hat switch. You need to be able to use these view keys while also operating all the ESSENTIAL functions for flight. Your joystick takes care of elevator and ailerons, your pedals take care of rudder, and throttle is obvious.
Other essentials are WEP, flaps, and maybe gear. (Gear is important in an F4U as means for slowing down) Ideally you need to be able to use these items while also flying and using the hat switch, and the look up button, and the throttle, all at the same time. My throttle is set up so my palm operates the throttle, my thumb operates "look up", and my index finger operates the switch that is a combo for flaps and slide head left/right. My left hand comfortably holds the throttle, and my thumb and index fingers are ALWAYS ready to operate their buttons. NO looking away from screen to do so, and NO looking away from the opponent to do so.
All other functions fit into the "optional" category, but have a definate hierarchy of importance. High on the list for me, and almost considered essential for living, are the clipboard, and the "icon" toggle. Next is VOX. These three items greatly add to my SA. The clipboard and its associated radar show me friendlies, enemies, their numbers, and where "safety" lies. The icon toggle shows me what other friendlies are flying, which gives me an idea of how they will be flying/fighting, and what their strengths/weaknesses are. That may be important info when I am in trouble, or when they are, and need their six cleared. I fly the F4U, so if I need my six cleared, running at high speed won't work if my friends are flying Spit 5's. They'll never catch me to clear me. At the same time, turning the fight into a low, slow, tight turning fight doesn't help my bud's clear me if they are flying 109K4's. (At least for the most part). If I'm trying to clear a friendly who is flying a spit, I know his tactics will be different than if he was flying a Tempest or a P51. Running for the enemy field looking for safety doesn't work either, so I need my clipboard accessible to show me where "home" is.
So, if you still have buttons available on your joystick at this point, map them for VOX(both range and channel), clipboard, and icons.
Next in importance for me is manual trim, and the ability to turn Auto Combat Trim on/off. I fight with flaps, and in the vertical A LOT, and the auto trim makes adjustments I do not like for this. I prefer manual trim for landing too, so I don't have to fight the plane to land it. I leave Auto Trim off by default, and turn it on when I want it. I use it for general flying, and some fighting, but dont want it coming on by itself. I have a button on my joystick toggled to turn the trim on/off, and an extra HAT switch mapped for Elev, Aileron, and rudder trim. Just touching the HAT switch shuts off auto trim also.
Those are the functions that I use so often I wear them out on my sticks, and consider "most" important. They are the ones that need to be mapped to the "best" spots on the joystick.
Of less importance, but still likely to be mapped on my stick are "damage", "toggle secondary weapon", "fire secondary weapon", "tailhook", and "record film". These buttons are "nice" to have handy, but won't get you killed if you have to look away from the monitor to operate them.
Any other functions are just as easily mapped to the keyboard. They are not what I would consider "critical", so I put them wherever handy. The most notable changes I've made to my keyboard mapping are to make "Z" auto-angle, "X" auto-level, "C" auto-climb. I dropped the Alt-X default for an easier "X". I also mapped the "Zoom" key to my spacebar, so when I do need it I can access it by spastically slapping at my keyboard. It's a big key that I can't miss. It should be noted that I can't type, so a big key is good in a dark room, in the middle of a fight...
MtnMan
