Star Citizen: Chris Robert`s new space sim (the Wing Commander guy)

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rivethead

Platinum Member
Jan 16, 2005
2,635
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I think generally they get news a little earlier, additional "behind the scenes" updates, and the ability to choose the 10ftc questions each week.

I think the biggest thing is the freebie in-game stuff. Like museum artifacts you can display in your hangar.....stuff like that. Subscriber Flair is what they call it.
 

Sabrewings

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,942
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What are you getting from that?

I think generally they get news a little earlier, additional "behind the scenes" updates, and the ability to choose the 10ftc questions each week.

Pretty much sums it up. You get access to Jump Point which is like an in depth magazine with a lot more art and how things came to be. For example, my favorite feature thus far was the making of the Retaliator. You see the back and forth between CR and the designer as the model evolved from the initial wildly different concepts to something roughly like what is in game. Then it went to an in game artist who focused on making it work in the game engine and the design process that led to what we have in the hangar right.

They're pretty long and come out each month with multiple features. Then there's the specific subforum, a subscriber exclusive store with some interesting little add ons, and the opportunity to ask the devs your own questions. The devs seem to be more active in the subscriber section of the forums, as well. The Vault has a lot of art not available outside the subscriber section. You also get free REC based off how many months you subscribe. They dumped some 130k REC on me when I subscribed for a year.

Subscriber funds go to the making of stuff like 10ftC, AtV, etc. All the videos don't come out of game funds, but are paid for by subscribers.

If anything news worthy comes up, I try to spread the word a bit. They do have some awesome Connie redesign art that gets me hyped up about it every time I see it.
 
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Stringjam

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2011
1,871
33
91
Got my CH HOTAS in the mail today and got it calibrated and mapped for basic flight (easy enough).

I had no idea what I was missing out on by using a mouse to fly....scrap that. HOTAS is a blast just flying around doing nothing.

I mapped pitch and yaw to the flightstick, and mapped roll to the mini-joystick on the throttle. Feels really natural, and it's nice to have fine analog control of roll now.

91CO8hLzZWL._SL1500_.jpg


I mapped all the strafing movements to the throttle buttons....after about 10 minutes it all felt very natural, actually far easier to integrate strafe movements than using keyboard.

I can tell though this is going to take a big chunk of practice hours before I'll be proficient enough to even jump back into Vanduul Swarm, though. But at least I'm having fun flying again. This completely changed the game for me, whether it's as good as mouse control in combat or not.

I even have a totally custom, super expensive flight desk to mount it properly. ;)

flightdesk2.jpg
 
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Sabrewings

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,942
36
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Very nice Stringjam. It's hard to go back to mouse input after using HOTAS. The fun factor is just missing.

I used a similar setup to what you have when I was using my X45. Pitch and yaw on the stock with roll on the rudder buttons on the back of the throttle. That's my preference, but my X52 Pro is twist yaw so it wouldn't work out as well.
 

SLU Aequitas

Golden Member
Jul 13, 2007
1,252
26
91
Got my CH HOTAS in the mail today and got it calibrated and mapped for basic flight (easy enough).

I had no idea what I was missing out on by using a mouse to fly....scrap that. HOTAS is a blast just flying around doing nothing.

I mapped pitch and yaw to the flightstick, and mapped roll to the mini-joystick on the throttle. Feels really natural, and it's nice to have fine analog control of roll now.

91CO8hLzZWL._SL1500_.jpg


I mapped all the strafing movements to the throttle buttons....after about 10 minutes it all felt very natural, actually far easier to integrate strafe movements than using keyboard.

I can tell though this is going to take a big chunk of practice hours before I'll be proficient enough to even jump back into Vanduul Swarm, though. But at least I'm having fun flying again. This completely changed the game for me, whether it's as good as mouse control in combat or not.

I even have a totally custom, super expensive flight desk to mount it properly. ;)

flightdesk2.jpg

I like that we have nearly identical rigs, except my 4790k is sitting in the home server downstairs :p

I've got one of those long Ikea Gallant corner desks with extensions that my wife and I use, so I have enough room to just put the HOTAS on top. It's also one of the first questions guests always ask me (what do you fly?) :lol:
 

SithSolo1

Diamond Member
Mar 19, 2001
7,740
11
81
I have a lil ole cheap Logitech Joystick but I enjoy using it much more than the mouse. Doesn't matter that I can't hit the broadside of a barn.
 

Stringjam

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2011
1,871
33
91
Got in about 12 hours today with the new HOTAS...think I need an ice pack for the wrist now. ;)

I'm finally starting to get the hang of aiming though. Got to wave 14 before my 315p starting bugging out and twitching back and forth for some reason. Didn't have the heart to restart and try to make it through again. :|

Very nice Stringjam. It's hard to go back to mouse input after using HOTAS. The fun factor is just missing.

Indeed! It's just way more fun!

It's also one of the first questions guests always ask me (what do you fly?) :lol:

After spending all day with the thing my wife said "I guess that's the only joystick I'm going to see for awhile." ;)
 
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chimaxi83

Diamond Member
May 18, 2003
5,457
63
101
Got my CH HOTAS in the mail today and got it calibrated and mapped for basic flight (easy enough).

I had no idea what I was missing out on by using a mouse to fly....scrap that. HOTAS is a blast just flying around doing nothing.

I mapped pitch and yaw to the flightstick, and mapped roll to the mini-joystick on the throttle. Feels really natural, and it's nice to have fine analog control of roll now.

91CO8hLzZWL._SL1500_.jpg


I mapped all the strafing movements to the throttle buttons....after about 10 minutes it all felt very natural, actually far easier to integrate strafe movements than using keyboard.

I can tell though this is going to take a big chunk of practice hours before I'll be proficient enough to even jump back into Vanduul Swarm, though. But at least I'm having fun flying again. This completely changed the game for me, whether it's as good as mouse control in combat or not.

I even have a totally custom, super expensive flight desk to mount it properly. ;)

flightdesk2.jpg
Same HOTAS I use for DCS A10 and Black Shark. I also have Saitek pedals. The setup has been good to me, even though the hardware itself looks plain jane. TrackIR completes my setup. Have any of you used it for this game?
 

Sabrewings

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,942
36
51
I can't get into TrackIR with VR about to hit. I looked at it a couple months ago, but the cost didn't seem worth it to me. Very overpriced for a camera and a jacked up thing to put on your head.

I looked into the open source equivalents since I have a decent webcam to use with it, but it still didn't seem worth the setup. Once VR hits I'll have even better head tracking and the visuals to go with it. I just can't see me spending that much for something I'll use only 6 months.
 

Stringjam

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2011
1,871
33
91
TrackIR completes my setup. Have any of you used it for this game?


I'd like to try TrackIR just for free look.


Any of you joystick users want to share some preference on settings? I've been messing with curves all day and ended up here:

curve2.jpg


I'll probably bump it up a little more towards the top...I'm still just a tad behind some of the ships when they really take off from the lag PIP.

Still stuck on Wave 14, although my attempt today with the Gladius was gimped thanks to the glitchy holotable only giving me 2 missiles instead of 6. Too lazy to go back to the hangar and fix it. ;)

I honestly wish they would drop that stupid thing and use a simple drag-and-drop inventory UI. It would be a hell of a lot faster setting stuff up and seeing what's equipped.
 
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taserbro

Senior member
Jun 3, 2010
216
0
76
I can't get into TrackIR with VR about to hit. I looked at it a couple months ago, but the cost didn't seem worth it to me. Very overpriced for a camera and a jacked up thing to put on your head.

I looked into the open source equivalents since I have a decent webcam to use with it, but it still didn't seem worth the setup. Once VR hits I'll have even better head tracking and the visuals to go with it. I just can't see me spending that much for something I'll use only 6 months.

I agree that the experience is way more immersive with VR but honestly I don't see myself playing with an occulus for longer than an hour at a time especially in games like arena commander.

TrackIR on the other hand doesn't add to fatigue at all so there's no way I'm getting rid of mine any time soon.
 

Sabrewings

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,942
36
51
I agree that the experience is way more immersive with VR but honestly I don't see myself playing with an occulus for longer than an hour at a time especially in games like arena commander.

TrackIR on the other hand doesn't add to fatigue at all so there's no way I'm getting rid of mine any time soon.

It's certainly not for everyone. My experiences with the DK2 in Elite have taught me I can go all day with it and there's no replacement for the experience.
 

Sabrewings

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,942
36
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This ^^ Easily 4 hours no issues minus text (resolution issue primarily).

Amen on the text. It makes me feel like an old man in the game, having to lean forward to read certain things. :awe:

Edit: Stringjam, regarding the sensitivity curves, I haven't messed with them. Haven't felt the need, but maybe some poking around might net some gains.
 

Stringjam

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2011
1,871
33
91
Spent a couple of hours last night in Battle Royale for the first time. Pretty frenetic, and I didn't do that great, but it was fun (IMO). I'm mostly in there just to practice aiming / maneuvering and get REC to rent stuff...I didn't even load up missiles.

One thing I did notice...it's hard as hell to hit those little Merlins. At one point an M50 showed up and it was just as difficult to get a bead on, especially for a guy who's only had about a week with a HOTAS.

I think these "Arena" battles will be a lot more fun when they expand the map and give players a chance to break off from the furball. It's the one-on-one stuff that I think is the most fun.

I heard a lot about strafe wars, but honestly it takes two to strafe. I got in several strafe battles, but if you don't want to do that, it isn't that difficult to maneuver out of. Maybe it's a good way to get on the leaderboard, but I don't really care about that - just looking for fun.
 

Sabrewings

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,942
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The Merlin is pretty rocking to fly. Nothing but an M50 can stay with you if you don't want it to.

I've found myself having much more success the lighter the craft is. With a Super Hornet I tend to take several good hits while I take out a few others. During that time I'm fighting more and more gimped. With the Merlin, my kill to death ratio is much better. Sure, each kill takes longer but nothing touches you. Missile? Rotate 90* and tap the boost while dropping appropriate countermeasure.

I have been finding my Avenger to be a good compromise. Smallish with more firepower. Usually pretty untouched in it and it can still take a slight beating. My 325a I haven't figured out yet. It packs some good punch, but that cannon on the front has way too slow a rate of fire. Also, it's a pretty large target. It would do better with ambush attacks and less dogfighting. Too easy to hit.
 

Stringjam

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2011
1,871
33
91
I have been finding my Avenger to be a good compromise. Smallish with more firepower. Usually pretty untouched in it and it can still take a slight beating. My 325a I haven't figured out yet. It packs some good punch, but that cannon on the front has way too slow a rate of fire. Also, it's a pretty large target. It would do better with ambush attacks and less dogfighting. Too easy to hit.


I've noticed a bunch of Avengers the past couple of nights - they've been giving me a hard time. ;) Seems like they can take a lot of damage. I've only tried one in VS thanks to the "free to fly" this week and really liked it. I think it's going to be a great all-around ship.

My best combo so far seems to be my 315p with the Mantis GT-220 on the nose and Tarantulas on the wingtips. It all has the same firing velocity so it doesn't split the PiP.

I also have a Gladius, which I really like (especially the mad acceleration), but for some reason I'm a lot smoother and can aim better with the 315p. I wish you could get / rent its Scorpion nose gun because I'd love to hang a pair of those on the 315p wings.
 

Sabrewings

Golden Member
Jun 27, 2015
1,942
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Yeah, the Avenger is a surprising little ship. I hope they sell a lot after people try them out on this free fly week.

I wish I had your luck with the 300 series. My 325a is a good flier, but I feel like I'm wearing a bullseye in it and it doesn't have as good defenses as a Hornet or Gladius. I'll hopefully work out an efficient weapon loadout for it.