Semi-New pilot greeting and questions regarding xbox control

[zero192]

Hello all

I discovered starwraith games sometime early last year with Evochron renegades I believe. It quickly became one of my favorite games of all time. Im struggling with some serious health issues and I eventually had to give up playing. That and due to financial problems I had only had an atrocious old laptop.

I finally have a newer PC and decided I would try to muster the energy to try out evochron mercenary And hopefully try out some multiplayer for the first time too if I feel well enough.

I was hoping someone could help me out with getting an xbox 360 control to function well. My hands are very painful and I don't think I can fly with the mouse, especially since mine is crap -_- I managed to acquire a 360 control and have just begun setting that up and Ive ran into a few issues:

1. As I have seen others note as well through searching the forums about this, the 2 joysticks and the 2 triggers on the control seem to register as default 50. So if I try to set up/down on the right stick to throttle as soon as I release it the throttle (or energy levels) returns to mid point.

2. The triggers do not register as buttons, only axis. seemingly the same axis.

3. I cannot figure out whether or not the d-pad (or hat in the controls menu) can be configured?

If anyone could help me out it would be greatly appreciated I've done my best to search the internet regarding this but have yet to find anything helpful. I have bad migraines and some vision issues so that makes it hard to read also :/ I have heard a bit about xpadder, but don't quite know what it is.

Thank you very much!

I hope I will be able to see some of you guys in multiplayer soon

[Marvin]

There have been a few players who managed to adapt game thingys to Mercenaries ... hopefully, one of them can point you toward a thread dealing with their configuration. Although I find that, when you're all thumbs and even your thumbs are a bit stiff, a joystick is a lot easier to control.

[zero192]

There have been a few players who managed to adapt game thingys to Mercenaries ... hopefully, one of them can point you toward a thread dealing with their configuration. Although I find that, when you're all thumbs and even your thumbs are a bit stiff, a joystick is a lot easier to control.

Hey Marvin, thanks for the reply Ideally I would prefer to use a joystcik, but my wrists/hands are just too painful right now. The xbox control would allow me to just rest my hands in my lap and hold it loosely.

[Edited on 9-13-2013 by zero192]

[DaveK]

Welcome to the game zero192.

Sorry to hear about your health issues, but impressed at your determination and grit!

Good luck with the X-Box stuff, sorry I can't help - I just use a desktop plus stick/throttle

[zero192]

Thanks Dave

Before I created this account I was browsing the forums looking for info on xbox controls (and wishing I was playing the game instead ) and I recall seeing your 'humble bumblebees' signature and thinking it was awesome

For anyone else who reads this looking for xbox control help; I decided to try out the xpadder program and so far I am impressed and my control mapping is going quite well. I will update when I finish.

On that note, Ive been going through the list of commands to map and I came across a few things maybe you guys could explain to me if you dont mind.

1. 'stealth generator on/off'-Im assuming I need an actual stealth generator?

2. augmenting specific shields. I attempted to test this using the default numpad keys but it doesnt seem to have any effect. Do I need certain equipment for this or am I missing something?

Thanks

[Edited on 9-14-2013 by zero192]

[Marvin]

1. 'stealth generator on/off'-Im assuming I need an actual stealth generator?

Yup. They are hard to find. There is also a stealth field which is deployed like a missile ... not as hard to find. The generator is a piece of equipment.

2. augmenting specific shields. I attempted to test this using the default numpad keys but it doesnt seem to have any effect. Do I need certain equipment for this or am I missing something?

Check to see if your ship has a shield generator as a piece of equipment. If not, buy one at most any trade station.

[Busch]

Hello zero192 and welcome! - You don't actually 'need' a stealth generator. They do however, come in handy for certain types of missions, as you may discover.
- Forward, starboard, aft, and port shield arrays do work and are 'covered' by numpad 8, 6, 2, and 4 respectively. Whilst numpad 5 enhances all four equally - tapped once sufficiently. The best way to test shield strength reportage I've found is to engage in some form of combat (PvP/PvAI) and watch which shield array(s) is/are affected/impacted. Then react/adapt accordingly.

- 5 basic 'necessary' equipment items are: Shield Battery X1 - X5; Repair System C1 - C3; Fulcrum Jump Drive C1 - C5; Cannon Relay; Mine/Tractor Beam. Pretty much all else is 'icing the cake'. The additional equipment items and options really do benefit the ship where applied. Use as needed where indicated!

[zero192]

Thanks MArvin and Busch

Yes, that would explain why my repeated tapping of the stealth button did not have the desired Klingon cloak effect

Yes, I did have a shield generator equipped. Im not that bad

Ah okay, after reading that I went and made a large ship rather angry (fear not, just running a dummy game file right now to map the control-no intergalactic wars started here ) and took significant shield hits, then tested the augment shield controls and saw the effects. For about 3 seconds before I ate about 6 missiles -_- I was just confused because I did not see any sort of indication before when I tried them, unless I just missed it?

In terms of the shield augmentation, Im assuming that you are just switching power between the shield arrays? So, drawing power to forward shield takes power from the other 3?

Thanks again.

[Edited on 9-14-2013 by zero192]

[-splosives-]

Be careful when augmenting one of your shield arrays, I have noticed that only the shields that point in the direction of your own flight path get hit. So if you fly forwards, augment front shields, if you fly sideway, augment your side shield array (left or right, depending on where you're going).
I think it's better to equalize shields instead of augmenting. More efficient and easier to do (requires only 1 button).

[Busch]

The 'usual' operation/employment of the stealth generator requires only one tap of the kybd 'i' key to engage the field. Repeated tapping may send the system into a dither! As you may find, doing anything other than stealthy creeping will negate your 'invisibility".

And as you may have found, you can set/adjust your energy bias (between weapons and shields), by using the left and right bracket keys, [ and ]. You may further support your shield management efforts by acquiring/installing a shield recharger. Which is a little difficult to use in concert with a stealth generator, because they each essentially work at cross-purposes to the other. The one takes down the shields and uses that energy to create the stealth field. In fact, you'll actually see your shields 'change state' as this happens. Sorta cool. The other is trying to maintain 100% shield strength, all the time.

Splosives has a point - one-button shield augmenting is more facile, especially in a combat scenario. Yep, the way the system works; one-button augmenting one shield array pulls power equally from the other three.

There's a 'shield core' - usually confused for C1 thru C10 shield/ship's equipment offerings at any shipyard.
There's a 'shield battery' - usually confused for X1 thru X5 offerings at any station. (once called shield boosters.)
There's a 'shield recharger' - as discussed less confusingly above.
Never heard of, nor seen, a 'shield generator'. Confused?

[Edited on 9-14-2013 by Busch]

[Marvin]

Never heard of, nor seen, a 'shield generator'.

Probably wrong terminology. Anyway, keep in mind that, when augmenting shields, it takes power to do it. Ergo, your shields will suffer slightly in the process.

[Maarschalk]

Hi Zero192, welcome to the game and forum!.....Hope to see you out there some time!.....working 2 jobs at the moment 7 days a week so not much time to play lately!......