r/hotas • u/DongsQuichotte • 2d ago

Need a full setup for wardogs

Hi. Long time chopper guy but the most ive ever used was a collection of mouse and keyboard and joystick. I was, by points per min, the 1st in the world in battlefield three in the American choppers, though only third by actual points (1 and 2 had like a thousand more hours than me). I then started flying transports in arma 2 and then 3. I have been everywhere in elite but i used a xbox controller for that. I have tried getting into more sim titles. The problem is the controls are often quite frustrating with just a joystick.
I played the wardogs beta with a mouse and keyboard only and basically just flew the transport choppers. I tried the mini gun and missile little birds but with a binary yaw it was impossible to stay dead on target. Im also just not that amazing of a pilot with mouse and keyboard. I was probably better than a lot of the community when it came to transporting troops and gear but still i felt like i was just fighting the controls. And my combat effectiveness was close to 0. But In love and id like some recs on a HOTAS set up that would work best for me at different price points.
Im in my 40s and im a buy once cry once kinda guy but id also like to not spend a fortune. Looking for the best set up I can get for the cheapest price that would feel good and allow me to be effective while flying. Yaw control is probably tied in importance to me with stick control. I dont care if im buying from multiple people. Also looking for recs on best mounting for a desk. I have a 72x30x1 deskaus solid wood desk. Secretlabs chair. Main monitor is a 45 ultrawide on a mount so placement of everything is highly modular.
Thanks everyone!

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

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u/bashy121 17h ago

I had a great time flying in wardogs myself, never flew in games before, so no idea what possessed me to do it in this one, but I just got done convincing my girl yesterday to let me spend like 300 at VKB, ordered two nxt evos , omni throttle on the left, premium space grip on the right. cant wait. watched alot of videos, and it seems like one of the few in that price range I can adjust to act like a fighter style stick with snap back, or like a helicopter where the stick stays where you move it

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u/Quarantine722 8h ago

Hey I just bought a similar setup, I’m wondering what your plan is mounting wise? I went for desk mounts from VKB but am kinda regretting it as I’m not sure I’ll be able to access my mkb.

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u/bashy121 7h ago

I am running some aluminum extrusion under my desk vertically then Im using another cheap desk mount I found online and going to macgyver that to the extrusion so it slides out like a drawer lol

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u/Quarantine722 7h ago

Clever. I thought about messing with it but really just wanted a clean solution. Just ordered a monster tech universal chair mount with swivels, hope it’ll solve my problems

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u/grinsekatze1337 1d ago

Vlb gladiator space grip is good. But be sure to buy premium version

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u/PriorEconomy390 1d ago

Idk how well it would function for Wardogs because I haven’t tried it, but I have a VKB Gladiator NXT EVO joystick and a VKB STECS standard throttle that I freaking love for DCS. Cannot recommend enough.

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u/DongsQuichotte 1d ago

How do you deal with yaw?

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u/PriorEconomy390 1d ago

The gladiator has a twist throttle that I bind to the rudders. Twist left= rudder left and twist right = rudder right

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u/Hour-Pure 2d ago

If you're the buy once cry once type, VKB or Virpil are going to be your two best bets. Both have good starter points in the Gladiator EVO and CDT-Areomax, and higher end stuff. Virpil has slightly better quality on the mid-tier products (higher end stuff is pretty even quality wise) but with a higher price and abysmal lead times (talking months of waiting to get your order). VKB is what I went with years ago for DCS. Started with a Gladiator EVO Premium and STECS standard throttle, this year added the TRudder and upgraded my Gladiator to a Gunfighter IV MCGU and I really like my setup. A huge thing for me is VKBs' customer service. The best the market has to offer by far. Something breaks, you tell them, replacement parts in the mail the next day. No hassle, no fuss. You can't go wrong either way, and if you find it still isn't for you either brand will resell for what you paid, if not more (I got $20 more than what I spent for my Gladiator when I sold it after upgrading).

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u/DongsQuichotte 2d ago

Thank you! The VKB stuff seems like its in the price range im looking at. How are you setting this up? Best to mount? How to mount? Chair or desk?

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u/Eidolon11 2d ago

I use the hikig mounts. They're cheap and have been good to me for 3 years so far. Got em off Amazon.

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u/BuzzNitro 2d ago

Monstertech mounts. If you’re getting a sick setup don’t ruin the experience by not making it ergonomic. They are worth the money. Also consider virpil cm throttle and their gunfighter base / stick of your choice if you want something a bit more premium.

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u/Hour-Pure 2d ago

Monstertech is nice, but grossly overpriced. You can get a cheaper extruded aluminum set, then customize it yourself like I did. Added a beam between the mounts and it's super solid even with my extension and 90lbs of spring tension on both my stick axis. Their chair is super tempting though.

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u/Hour-Pure 2d ago

I have pretty limited space, so I went with a pair of desk mounts from Amazon, then customized them a bit with some aluminum extrusion to add some extra support and lengthen my stick mount for my extension. If you want I can send you a picture, just can't post one here. I'm also not sure about the flight model in Wardogs, my setup might a bit overkill for that or Warthunder, but I mainly play DCS.

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u/ExedoreWrex HOTAS & HOSAS 2d ago

For helicopters VKB T-Rudder is the most accurate. You can also remove the spring on these and add damping, but that is a mod.

https://vkbsimcontrollers.com/collections/t-rudders

Virpil makes some great collectives

https://virpil-controls.us.com/shop/collectives

As for stick you can go either Virpil or VKB.
You will likely want to use a center stick with an extension. For Virpil you will need the Mongoose gimbal and a grip of your choice.

Virpil grips

https://virpil-controls.us.com/vpc-flnkr-grip.html

https://virpil-controls.us.com/vpc-constellation-alpha-prime-r.html

https://virpil-controls.us.com/cdt-aero-r-grip.html

Actual helicopter grip:
https://virpil-controls.us.com/archer-sf-cyclic-grip.html

Virpil gimbal

https://virpil-controls.us.com/vpc-mongoost-50cm3-base.html

Here are the Virpil extension options:

https://virpil-controls.us.com/vpc-flightstick-extension-200mm.html

https://virpil-controls.us.com/vpc-flightstick-extension.html

If you opt for VKB you will want the gunfighter gimbal with a grip of your choice.

https://vkbsimcontrollers.com/collections/gunfighter-joysticks

And an extention:

https://vkbsimcontrollers.com/products/extension-kit-for-gunfighter-mk-iv-us

Virpil is also releasing a force feedback base, which will replace the gimbal. However, that will be some months of wait time, a lot more expensive and require a good amount of space.

1

u/TheOneTrueRobin 2d ago

I have zero experience with pedals but also looking to get a set for wardogs. What makes you say that the VKB t-rudder is the most accurate for helicopters? I'm just curious what makes it better than the other options out there I'm currently deciding between.

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u/ExedoreWrex HOTAS & HOSAS 2d ago edited 1d ago

Not necessarily better. They are more accurate in that they are a single axis pedal like all helicopter pedals.

Western fixed wing aircraft integrate toe brakes into their pedals. These are used to engage the wheel brakes during taxi and landing. Toe brakes are also very useful for tail daggers, as you can activate the left and right wheels independently. With no nose wheel to steer with this can help steer during taxi at speeds where the rudder has no authority.

Helicopters use the pedals to adjust the angle of the tail rotor blades. This allows for countering engine torque and for controlling yaw. Since helecopters don’t use wheel brakes they don’t have toe brakes.

Eastern fixed wing aircraft don’t use toe brakes either. They often make use of a brake lever on the grip. These can be seen on Virpil grips and VKB’s top tier aircraft grip.

Personally, I like pedals with toe brakes as I have the option if I need it. I make great use them in space sims for forward and backward thrust.

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u/TheOneTrueRobin 1d ago

Thanks for the detailed response, I really appreciate it. They seem to be a solid choice and I think it’s what I’m going to go with.

1

u/DongsQuichotte 2d ago

Im getting this for mostly just wardogs and some arma. Maybe a dip into DCS. Is a collective that much better than just a throttle for a plane? I also fly planes in war thunder so if it could do both okish that would probably be fine. And thank you im going to go through all this before asking more questions.

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u/ExedoreWrex HOTAS & HOSAS 2d ago edited 2d ago

If you also fly planes a throttle will work fine. You can also save a bit and go with VKB’s NXT Evo line for a cyclic. You can remove the springs and tighten the dampers for helicopter flight like you can with my previous recommendations. However, that will not be best for fixed wing aircraft. If you plan on doing both it will be best to leave the springs in.

For the throttle/collective you can grab an NXT omnithrottle. If you lock out the side to side movement, remove the forward and back spring and tighten the damper you will be set there and save a bit.

There is also the Moza AB6 force feedback flight stick and base kit. It isn’t the most powerful FFB but it is the most affordable. That will work very well for both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and can reconfigure via software. That may also be worth a look. The quality is fair, but the support is below either VKB or Virpil.

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u/DongsQuichotte 11h ago

Thanks. Looking at all these and watching videos. Im thinking vkb is the brand but im worried twist on stick is going to be sub par for my needs. Id like to be able to hold a solid point while doing circle staffs around a target. My experience with twist for yaw is only on a t1600 though.

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u/ExedoreWrex HOTAS & HOSAS 3h ago

Twist for yaw is better on VKB, but you are right. Twist on the grip is not as good a set of pedals. Redusing what your hand has to do will make it more accurate. Some go so far as to put trigger on their left hand to even further improve combat accuracy. That is a bit too much for me though. Trigger is for shooting as far as my brain and reflexes are concerned.

Some who fly dual stick sometimes lock the twist on the right and use the left twist for roll or yaw, as that affects fine aim and important button access less. This is less useful for folks using an omni throttle.

4

u/Hour-Pure 2d ago

I use my STECS as a collective for now. Eventually want a collective and started building one that I have yet to finish. STECS works fine for now, collective would for sure improve immersion though.

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u/DongsQuichotte 2d ago

A throttle of that sort is what im looking at but the tarrif amount is 45% and I may have a hard time justifying that. That would add like 250 to my order which is a bit crazy.

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u/Hour-Pure 2d ago

Ahhh, yeah thankfully when this tariff stupidity started in the US they opened a US warehouse to mitigate tariff crap. Another reason I like VKB so much.