Anyone Unmap PAC from 1st Stage?

[TAIPAN_]

I had a CH Fighterstick, with only 1 stage trigger. I continued my maneuver to hit multiple targets in convoys etc.

 

However now I have the TM Warthog, 1st stage trigger when engaging is making it hard to aim.

 

I actually found it easier before to use no PAC, then put the pipper below the target, and let the recall raise the gun through the convoy (with slight stick and rudder movements).

 

Is anyone else preferring to have only one stage to the trigger?

[slug88]

I honestly think if you're finding it easier to aim without the PAC, that you're doing it wrong :). Are you deploying speedbrakes on your gun runs by chance? You shouldn't be for PAC to work properly. Either way, you should post a track of a gun run with PAC enabled, as I really can't fathom how anyone could think that aiming without it is actually easier :).

 

EDIT: Upon closer reading, I see you're engaging multiple targets on a single gun run. I can see why PAC could be a disadvantage in that scenario. However, if you're targeting individual targets which require very accurate fire (like tanks), then PAC is absolutely indispensable IMO.

[SmokeyTheLung]

toggle the appropriate switch (below the left MFCD) from "GunPac" to "GunArm". This will disable PAC

[WarriorX]

You are also getting used to the much different force requirements between the CH Fighterstick and Warthog button presses.

 

Trust me, you want to use the PAC. Just give it some time.

[Shake3000]

PAC is so great I even use pac-1 on my rocket runs, heh.

[FZG_Immel]

PAC for single targets. No PAC for straffing runs on convoys.

 

I toggle it in the cockpit.

[FZG_Immel]

PAC is so great I even use pac-1 on my rocket runs, heh.

 

same here

[TAIPAN_]

How often does one attack single targets :) I'm greedy I guess...

 

But maybe I was doing it wrong - I was holding first stage trigger to stabilise when lining up, this was locking me in position.

 

Are we supposed to just pull the trigger through BOTH stages at once as we run the pipper through each target, instead of holding 1st stage through the run?

[slug88]

How often does one attack single targets

Well,

if you're targeting individual targets which require very accurate fire (like tanks), then PAC is absolutely indispensable

 

So about as often as you attack tanks I guess.

[Rider1]

But maybe I was doing it wrong - I was holding first stage trigger to stabilise when lining up, this was locking me in position.

 

Maybe you were doing it right. :thumbup:

[nomdeplume]

How often does one attack single targets :)

PAC is useful for stationary (and also moving, predictable) targets, and suits the usual engagement method. A half-second burst from 1.5 to 2 miles will kill most lightly armored vehicles. 1 mile away for better armored vehicles. Half a mile to a mile for tanks (closer is better, but riskier). Without stabilisation, you're going to be sending far too few rounds to have much chance of hitting the target, let alone doing enough damage to actually kill it. If your targets are close together, you can easily engage 3 or more individual targets with high accuracy on a single pass - line up on one, squeeze of a burst, then line up on the next, and so on. Just don't become so fixated on getting "one more target" that you forget to disengage when the time comes.

 

But maybe I was doing it wrong - I was holding first stage trigger to stabilise when lining up, this was locking me in position.

That's exactly what its purpose is. You line up, pull through the first stage, confirm you're still on target as the wind ranges down to your firing range, then let off a nice accurate burst and disengage before they can shoot back. You can very easily smoke Shilkas and other AAA as well as those pesky APCs from outside their range using this method, with a minimum of ammo wastage.

 

Are we supposed to just pull the trigger through BOTH stages at once as we run the pipper through each target, instead of holding 1st stage through the run?

In the event you're engaging a convoy who's thoughtfully lined themselves up in a nice tight column and are happy to sacrifice accuracy/pK for scaring the crap out of everyone in the convoy, you'd disable PAC by setting the gun switch to the down position (GUNARM?).

 

But the normal practice isn't to "spray and pray". The GAU-8 has a high rate of fire and tight grouping, but if you're firing from over a mile away the spread is still pretty big and the likelihood of killing anything rapidly dwindles.

 

Even against convoys, it's often better to make an accurate attack against one or two priority targets (e.g. air defences) to make sure you get them, rather than just spraying the convoy and hoping for the best. It does depend on the convoy makeup though.

[mckee14]

one more thing - when you are new in using PAC, and used to line up the targets by yourself, it really seems to work against you. i had that issue, until i realized i need to STOP MANEUVERING the damned hog :)

 

when the pipper is on target, just press and hold the 1st stage and IMMEDIATELY cease all inputs on your stick. otherwise, you start fighting against the PAC. for me, this was quite hard to grasp after lining the shots manually in FC for ages.

 

i'm still having that strange feeling of "not being in control of the plane" here and there when using it...

[RichardG]

Does PAC work with single stage trigger? I mapped first stage detent to my spacebar. I mash that for a second to PAC stabilize before pulling my stick trigger. I didn't try gunning without it, I just assumed it either didn't work, or engaged at the same time gun fired.

[Mugenjin]

You need to hold whatever key you assigned for as long as you want to engage PAC.

[GGTharos]

Leave the first stage trigger as it is. If you don't want to use PAC, just set the gun arming switch to GUNARM instead of GUNPAC.

 

I had a CH Fighterstick, with only 1 stage trigger. I continued my maneuver to hit multiple targets in convoys etc.

 

However now I have the TM Warthog, 1st stage trigger when engaging is making it hard to aim.

 

I actually found it easier before to use no PAC, then put the pipper below the target, and let the recall raise the gun through the convoy (with slight stick and rudder movements).

 

Is anyone else preferring to have only one stage to the trigger?

[FZG_Immel]

Maybe you were doing it right. :thumbup:

 

 

no no...

 

you don't stabilize while lining up..

 

you stabilize when lined up on the target... than you pull the 2nd stage.

[RichardG]

What I meant was, does PAC work with just a single stage trigger (plain old sidewinder joystick)? Or do I need to keep using a mapped key for first stage detent?

[FZG_Immel]

maybe you can affect the PAC and the gun trigger, to the same key, aka your fighterstick trigger.

[RichardG]

I don't think the game will allow you to map 2 controls to one button.

[RodBorza]

I don't think the game will allow you to map 2 controls to one button.

The game doesn't allow two controls on one button. So, if you want to engage PAC, you have to hold the button assigned to it and the pull the trigger. Is what I do.

For stationary targets, you use PAC.

For convoys, infantry and anything that you want to maximum spread, then you use GUNARM.

[159th_Viper]

What I meant was, does PAC work with just a single stage trigger (plain old sidewinder joystick)? Or do I need to keep using a mapped key for first stage detent?

 

Yes.

 

With a single-stage trigger you will map PAC-2 to the trigger. Herewith previous post of mine explaining:

 

 

 

Keybindings are as follows:

 

Gun Trigger (First Stage) - P

Gun Trigger - Space

 

Now 'First-Stage' is PAC-1. What this does is it just 'stabilizes/trims' the aircraft to the point on the ground that your Gun-Pipper is aligned to. Aids in the wobbles so to speak - so if you're running in and stabilize the pipper with PAC-1 and you're off-center, you just take your finger off the trigger, adjust and stabilize again with PAC-1 without firing the cannon.

 

Now when you pull the trigger through the second stage, ie PAC-2, it is doing the same thing, ie Stabilizing in addition to firing, ie PAC-1 with Bullets.

 

 

The difference with a One-Stage trigger as opposed to a two-stage trigger is that you do not have the luxury of a 'Dry-Run' so to speak. With a single stage, where you are about to put that pipper down is where it's gonna hurt - no second chances. With the two-stage, you've got time to make sure you're on target.

 

That's why the manual states that you can assign it to a single-stage trigger (Space). Works and does the same job at the end of the day - just not as effective/safe. To confirm, look in HUD - assuming you have the PAC system armed (GUN/PAC) it will show PAC-2 when firing on a single-stage trigger.

[TAIPAN_]

Excellent ideas thanks guys you have convinced me to keep PAC, no reason not to. I was just not using the right tool at the right time.

 

I'll switch it off just for those occasions I don't want it.

 

Also - I will try not to engage stage 1 trigger too early! I will only squeeze stage 1 when I am sure I'm lined up.

 

Cheers