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This is kind of a newb question, but is there a way to lock the turrets on either the hover assault tanks or the tracked assault tanks into their forward position for easier player driving? I haven't seen anything about this in the patch changelogs, though I did find the new weapon linking feature (very nice).

This question ties in to the Statue post below - on the GH map IA: Surprise, there are tunnel networks, on one side there is a nice Slug powerup for killing those evil Megas, but it is Assault-only. So, I decided to drive an Enforcer down there to get it. Since you can't see third person view in the tunnels, It is very easy to get all twisted around as to which way you are driving vs which way your turret is pointing. Aaarrrgh! (Maybe I am just turret challenged. ) Plus I was getting jumped by Sentries and Scrap Beasts, it was not a fun time.

Anyway, if this feature is not in, it might be nice to add in a future patch; even though you would still be steering via the strafe keys, it would simplify driving while not in combat in 1st person view, IMHO.

You can press the 'c' key to snap your turret rotation to the front of the asstank. Also there's an option in the options menu called 'Turret Compass' which will display directional markers whenever you are in a turreted unit (like an asstank or RT), you will want to have this enabled if it's not enabled by default.

Yeah, I tend to drive while facing forward while not in combat. the Deploy key (C default) helps that.

All right, thanks, I'll try that. Though it sounds like the "C" key just snaps the turret back to the front but doesn't lock it there, and a rigid lock would be better. If you could press a hotkey, like say CTRL-L, and have your turret lock solidly into the forward position until you hit CTRL-L again, this would be the way to go. Anyhow, I'll try the "C" thing.

Are there any other useful control keys that have been added into the 1.3xxx patch series that are not in the original manual I should know about, like the weapons link thing?

Yeah, they're in options > Input.

ssuser wrote:CTRL-L

Get a mouse extention cord, fixate one plug on your desk within reach.
CTRL+L == unplug mouse

I second Red Spot's advice. Unplugging your mouse is an excellent way to prevent the turret from moving while driving the asstank.

Well, maybe I could glue some velcro tabs to the mouse bottom instead, and then slap a piece of black felt on that sucker whenever i wanted to drive treads, be easier on the hardware.

Or... you could stop moving the mouse?

AHadley wrote:Or... you could stop moving the mouse?

This

Or you could NOT use that tank, the whole point of the assault hover class is that the turret moves.

Yah, I get what you mean, but - keeping my hand off the mouse is very counterintuitive - it just FEELS wrong. I want my finger on the trigger in enemy territory at all times, if possible. I guess what I really want is a way to keep the turret locked until I see an enemy, and then instantly release it with, say, a right click or flick of the mouse wheel, and then BAM!

Probably there is no really good way to simulate tank turret behavior using the mouse and keyboard.

BTW, the weapons linking key in Options>Input is listed as the "K" key, but pressing this in game does nothing. What I do is hold down the Shift key, right click, and then left click - this will link weapons.

The labeling is counterintuitive. The K key only links/unlinks same-type weapons on the few units that are set up for that (heavy sabres are I think). The actual method for linking weapons on most ships is to hold down the multi-select hotkey (shift by default) then (while still holding the multi-select key down) switch to the weapon you want to link (or unlink), then click the 'multi-select toggle weapon' key to link/unlink that weapon (by default it is mouse1).

As far as asstank moving, just hit the 'c' key when you want to look where you're going, its not hard to reach for and you are not crippling yourself when you want to 'fire while moving' or look at what's going on to the side or back of you while enroute to a destination. When you get used to it, it makes no sense to have a turret lock hotkey.

it was very disorienting at first, but then i got used to it. i remember throwing a request out there in the old bug system for a way to lock the turret, but it got lost when wiz considerately pulled the rug out from under us.

Dont want to tell anyone how they should play but it feels like asking for button that stops strafing or even movement completelly, just get your hands of the controls