Tracking Targets

[Muzzy]

Does anyone have any advice with regards to tracking a target in a fight?  Do you prefer the snap setting (hat switch snaps from one view to the next) or the slow track (hat switch moves the view around and it stays wherever it's pointed).  Can anyone recommend some practice drills that will help you learn how to keep an eye on a con through all the twists and turns? 

-Muzzy

[Jayhawk]

TrackIR.

I do prefer snap views though.  In a dogfight you're going to be focusing on a lot of things, and trying to keep up with a con by moving the joystick and hat switch at the same time would be very difficult.

I think the best practice is just going out and fighting.  Maybe go to the DA and go one v. one with someone. 

[Muzzy]

TrackIR.

I do prefer snap views though.  In a dogfight you're going to be focusing on a lot of things, and trying to keep up with a con by moving the joystick and hat switch at the same time would be very difficult.

I think the best practice is just going out and fighting.  Maybe go to the DA and go one v. one with someone. 

I've heard the phrase TrackIR before...what's it mean?

MuzzNoob

[Jayhawk]

Here, this video will explain it better than I can. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AO0F5sLdVM

It's expensive though.  There are cheap or free options some use, but I can't offer any advice on those options.

[Ghastly]

Muzzy, tracking comes with time, and practice.  I tried TIR at one point, and I couldn't fly with it. I also at one point spent a significant amount of time using the panning views, and had similar problems.  The reason was that I'd spent YEARS using the hat switch with snap views, and what's burned into my brain is where I am relative to the bandit based upon what hat switch I'm pressing.  With the TR, I was generally "lost" - not sure what direction I/he were moving relative to each other.   And frankly, the increased stuttering as you move the point of view from one place to the other doesn't help.  The only thing that's worse than any of the above that I ever tried was a padlocked view,where your view autoswitched to the padlocked bandit.  That was worse of all, because you had no clue where you were looking.

Now having said all that, some folks swear by TIR. 

If you think you might like TIR after you review the video, I'd suggest spending more time in panned views and less in the snap views.  If you aren't, then most people use snap from what I know.

<S>

[Jayhawk]

I use trackIR, I can't imagine how bad I would be now if I tried to fight without it.  However, I don't think I could use panned views.  It's a similar concept, but vary vastly in difficulty. TrackIR was extremely intuitive for me, and simple to adapt to.

[BaldEagl]

I've never used a hat switch for views.  I learned the numpad method when I first started in AW and never looked back.  It offers more views (26 total although the nine down views aren't worth much) than a hat can and with AH I can also slide my thumb to the arrow keys to customize my views on the fly.  I use snap views.

You can practice off-line by rolling around the drones.  Fly over them, under them, beside them, etc. and keep them in view at all times.  You can also practice with off-line missions.

[Soulyss]

Between the three view settings in game, snap, pan, and instant.  I think that "snap" works the best for me.  I find pan to be too slow and hard to control in a fight when you have to be looking all around you.  I also feel that instant leaves some potential gaps in my visual coverage.  The snap view is nice and fast but does have that transition from one view to the next so I can at least see if someone is there.  

Keep track of someone during a fight comes with a little practice and after awhile just becomes somewhat automatic.  There are a few different ways to set up the joystick, personally I have the hat switch set and then "look up" set to a button I can reach with my pinkie on the joystick, holding it down and working the hat switch allows me to scan above in all directions.  

The drones offline can be of some help here, or if you prefer drop by the TA and I'd be happy to play target drone for a little while.

Come to think of it, I really don't need to go to the Training Arena to be a target drone.

[bbosen]

I've never used a hat switch for views.  I learned the numpad method when I first started in AW and never looked back.  It offers more views (26 total although the nine down views aren't worth much) than a hat can and with AH I can also slide my thumb to the arrow keys to customize my views on the fly.  I use snap views.

You can practice off-line by rolling around the drones.  Fly over them, under them, beside them, etc. and keep them in view at all times.  You can also practice with off-line missions.

I agree. The standard, numeric keypad views in "Snap" mode work best for me. More views, more intuitive, freeing hat views for additional options.


-Peabody-

[flatiron1]

I don't like the num pad because i want my left hand on the throttle. If you have a separate throttle with hat switches you would be in good shape.

[Muzzy]

It sounds like I've got a lot of options open to me.  Thanks, guys!

[badhorse]

Does anyone have any advice with regards to tracking a target in a fight?  Do you prefer the snap setting (hat switch snaps from one view to the next) or the slow track (hat switch moves the view around and it stays wherever it's pointed).  Can anyone recommend some practice drills that will help you learn how to keep an eye on a con through all the twists and turns? 

-Muzzy

Muzzy a way to practice keep a target in sight. Give this a try. Go off line and practice with a drone. Loop and roll around it and use your hat switch to always keep the target in sight. I think off line practice will help because unlike doing it on line,  you will know where your target is "suppose to be", or at least where it is going. This way when you lose sight of it and you will, you will be able to reacquire it quicker. You'll soon get the hang of it.

[RTHolmes]

I've never used a hat switch for views.  I learned the numpad method when I first started in AW and never looked back.  It offers more views (26 total although the nine down views aren't worth much) than a hat can and with AH I can also slide my thumb to the arrow keys to customize my views on the fly.  I use snap views.

map the "look up" and (optionally) "look down" modifier keys to 2 buttons on your throttle and you have access to all 27 views using one hatswitch without taking your hands of the HOTAS

[morfiend]

map the "look up" and (optionally) "look down" modifier keys to 2 buttons on your throttle and you have access to all 27 views using one hatswitch without taking your hands of the HOTAS

  QFT.

 This is exactly what I've done and although I dont use the "look down" modifier often,there are times when it's handy to have.

   

[shiv]

 This is exactly what I've done and although I dont use the "look down" modifier often,there are times when it's handy to have.

Glad to see others use the look down also, thought I was the only one.

One way to practice the views is to go offline and roll around the drones.    Do some barrel-rolls and try to get the drone in your view as you're rolling, then come down on it and try for a shot.   Even though the drones are flying relatively straight it's tough to do at first.