Dan was asking what my helicopter/jet settings are in the game. I actually converted from using a joystick to using a mouse and keyboard and found it much more intuitive and precise especially when targeting infantry. Using a mouse and keyboard, it is so precise for me right now that I can even target infantry using a 20mm cannon in a stealth jet. I never could be that precise using a joystick to pinpoint my targets which was why I converted from using a joystick. I do feel I'm getting better in a helicopter and jet. As of today, I have clocked in 815 kills in a scout helicopter, and 506 kills in an attack jet. Here are my settings:

 

In a helicopter,

 

W, Throttle Up

 

S, Throttle Down

 

D, Yaw Right,

 

A, Yaw Left

 

Q, Pitch Down

 

Space Bar, Pitch Up

 

Axis Y on the Mouse, Pitch

 

Axis X on the Mouse, Roll

 

X, Countermeasures

 

In a jet,

 

W, Throttle Up

 

S, Not Bound

 

D, Yaw Right,

 

A, Yaw Left,

 

Q, Pitch Down

 

Space Bar, Pitch Up

 

Middle Mouse Button Right, Roll Right

 

Middle Mouse Button Left, Roll Left

 

Shift, Afterburner

 

Z, Freelook Up

 

Caps Lock, Freelook Left

 

F, Freelook Right

 

Left Mouse Button, Fire

 

Right Mouse Button, Throttle Down

 

Of course, my settings aren't going to work for everyone, and I'm constantly changing my jet settings because I'm not 100% happy with them. I'm pretty happy with the helicopter settings, although I feel I need to utilize freelook more in a helicopter right now, and I'm not, otherwise, the settings for helicopter are close to perfect for me.

 

On the other hand, I feel it is absolutely necessary to utilize free look while flying a jet to be competitive. I have found that when our squad is attacking a certain base, I try to swoop in and try to clear out armor or infantry, and as I fly away using afterburners, I freelook left and right while holding course for any other targets to maintain control of the airspace. After this maneuver, I then fly straight up while at the outer boundary of the map and at the same time freelook up and it gives me a nice view of the whole map (an upside down view) so I can select my next target at our held base or spot incoming bogeys or telltale signs like jet contrails. Also, once I reach the max ceiling after I do this maneuver, I like to glance quickly at the map to see if there are any spotted threats which can help me decide the next target. Usually at this time, I'm also ready for another airstrike and awaiting any instructions from the squad members.

 

I use redundant buttons. I bind roll and pitch to not only the mouse axis, but to buttons as well. It is necessary to me to be able to do barrel rolls using a roll button and not just a mouse axis, and I feel it is necessary to loop using a button too. This is how I compete against a joystick player. A joystick player can do barrel rolls and loops easily, but a mouse runs out of space on a mousepad and a loop or roll stops. So I just bind a button to roll and pitch to complement the mouse roll and pitch. For example, when I chase a jet player using a joystick and they begin to loop, I hold down space bar and follow their loop and I don't have to worry about running out of space on my mousepad. Or, if an enemy bogey or armored boat engages me, I can roll very fast using 'caps lock' or 'F' and dodge their fire. I've even successfully dodged locked on heat seeking missiles using these techniques when I don't have flares to spoof the missiles.

 

In order to get freelook to work, use the BF4 settings editor downloaded from realmware and use the 'freelook fix'

WOW awesome post, thank you for that. I will try all this.

Yes, nice post.  You are very good in the jet, so maybe there is something positive here.  Thanks for posting "M"  

I tend to use the WASD and the arrow keys when I fly, is there any big difference between that and the mouse?

I would say there is a difference, because I'm using all the buttons commands you're using, plus a mouse. I am having all the benefits from having arrow keys control movement as well as the mouse. There are times when button presses (even quick tapping button presses) seem advantageous for flying, and there are times when a mouse is necessary, namely when precision is needed. How big is the difference? You're pretty skilled at the helicopter and jet too Rebel and you're just using the arrow keys. I think you'd be badass if you also used the mouse in my opinion. Start using the mouse too and lets dominate the sky for our team.

 

For example, I have my mouse set up so that the left and right arrow keys are my mouse middle left/right buttons which complements mouse axis X. Instead of having arrow up and down for pitch, I'm using Q and Space Bar in addition to mouse axis Y. The more the merrier!

 

I would suggest to use the mouse for pitch and roll, and move the pitch and roll commands from the arrow keys to some other keys that are easily accessed using the left or right hands. Don't forget to save some buttons for freelook!

I was asked about my jet settings, so I'm bumping this thread again. I also forgot to say in the original post that to keep the airspeed at 300 for the best turning radius for both stealth and attack jets.

300 is the ticket. I'm gonna try to win with dat. Thanks :cool:

Another good tactic is to use flat adaptive paint, or even just stick with flat snow or flat navy paint. The snow paint can blend in so well that sometimes all I see is a jet contrail.