[Suggestion/QoL] Boresight equivalent of "Target Object (Mouse)" input control for joystick

[azaghal]

When player is using the mouse during flight, it is very easy to select objects under the mouse using the "Target Object (Mouse)" input control. The result of this input control is (almost) fully predictable and precise.

However, when flying using a joystick, player does not have an equivalent control for the same operation. The closest available control is the "Target Object" control - but that one does not behave in the same manner - it will very often select objects that player is not interested in, such as security vessels sitting in-between the player and the station. This happens even at distances of 30-40km.

It would be nice if the player was provided with an additional input control that behaves the same way as the "Target Object (Mouse)" input control, except that it uses the boresight instead of the mouse cursor as point of reference.

[stooper88]

Although I fully agree, I'm not sure how this can/needs to be fixed. It feels like this issue has existed in X series since long before X4.

As for the current X4, it seems like "Target Object" has a preference for smaller targets as it often grabs onto the smallest object amongst potential candidates. When I want to select an entire station for docking, it will instead target a module if not a civilian ship or shield generator. When I want to target a ship for scanning or boarding, it will instead target the engines, turrets, or drones. I've become trained to just use the mouse to change target selections.

I just imagine that one way or the other, it will always be broken for somebody as joysticks are not as precise as mice. So allowing me to select an entire ship will agitate another player that prefers it always selecting surface elements.

[azaghal]

Although I fully agree, I'm not sure how this can/needs to be fixed. It feels like this issue has existed in X series since long before X4.

Imagine if the boresight was a cursor. When I invoke the new input control, game behaves as if I have produced a mouse click at that point. From what I can tell, the mouse clicks have some form of tolerance already that seems to work fine.

My current workaround to get this behaviour involves invoking external script to put the mouse cursor at the center (although this is usually not aligned with the boresight), and produce a left mouse click. Although this also has tendency to invoke a context menu for me (something gets borked when you combine _any_ mouse click with joystick button press at the same time, reported it, nobody cared).

As for the current X4, it seems like "Target Object" has a preference for smaller targets as it often grabs onto the smallest object amongst potential candidates. When I want to select an entire station for docking, it will instead target a module if not a civilian ship or shield generator. When I want to target a ship for scanning or boarding, it will instead target the engines, turrets, or drones. I've become trained to just use the mouse to change target selections.

I can easily understand why that is the case. I have actually tried quite hard to make the game work as much as possible with proper HOTAS (as in minimum keyboard/mouse usage), but that was basically a lost cause. I am _not_ suggesting to make any changes to the "Target Object" input control, mind you. I just want a new control that would behave as if I clicked with the left mouse button on boresight position.

I just imagine that one way or the other, it will always be broken for somebody as joysticks are not as precise as mice. So allowing me to select an entire ship will agitate another player that prefers it always selecting surface elements.

Ok, just one more emphasis - asking for a _new_ input control. Then people can choose what to use. I have noticed that when I use the mouse, I basically never use the "Target Object" input control, and when I moved to using the joystick it became very quickly evident why.

Generally speaking... Almost all targeting controls in the game (except manual mouse clicks) suck.

[Fahnenjoker]

It would be nice if the player was provided with an additional input control that behaves the same way as the "Target Object (Mouse)" input control, except that it uses the boresight instead of the mouse cursor as point of reference.

As a joystick user, I wholeheartedly second this!

[Magic Man ASK]

I'm a new user so probably missing something but I have Target Object bound to a button on my stick and use it to select target when they are effectively in my boresight...? What am I missing?

[vvvvvvvv]

When player is using the mouse during flight, it is very easy to select objects under the mouse using the "Target Object (Mouse)" input control. The result of this input control is (almost) fully predictable and precise.

I think there might not be a way to do it. You'd need a 3rd analog stick and an extra arm to control it. Controller barely have enough buttons to control the ship and stick is not as precise as mouse.

The way I saw it done well was in Rebirth VR. You could target things by looking at them. Maybe it can be reproduced with Tobii eye tracker.