A while ago I was bored and typed out a generic joystick layout meant for any space sim I come across, using both a Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas (Large deadzone, but comfortable and durable) and a Thrustmaster T1600m (One of the few sticks that can be used in the left hand). While it is quite awesome to be playing a game with two flight sticks, unfortunately most space sims only like one joystick at a time.
Independence War 2 is sadly the only game I have played that not only allows multiple flight sticks, but also gives more then enough functions to justify using two joysticks (indeed, it's complex enough that a co-pilot would be helpful!) Newtonian physics is in full effect, and don't expect a medium sized starship to handle like a fighter.
Anyway, my 'default' layout is as follows:
Right Hand: Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas
Button 1: (Trigger): Fire guns/primary (what else)
Button 2: Fire Missiles/Secondaries (On this particular stick, this button really couldn't be used for anything else)
Button 3: Countermeasures
Button 4: Target Ship in Reticle
Button 5: Target Closest Attacking Enemy
Button 6: Target Mission Critical
Button 7: Target Bomb or Bomber
Button 8: Afterburners (Or full forward thrust, if for some odd reason your massive capital ship lacks afterburners)
Button 9: Target Next Subsystem
Button 10: Target Next Turret
Button 11: Next Primary
Button 12: Next Secondary
Hat Up/Down: Either lateral thrusters or target next/previous friendly/hostile.
Left Hand (Thrustmaster T1600m)
Joystick used for lateral thrusters.
Button 1 (Trigger): Forward Thrust (For when I take my left hand off of the Hotas X's Throttle)
Button 2: Reverse Thrust (A bit of redundancy in controls is good when using two joysticks at once)
Hat: Either transfer of shields to a given quadrant or for looking around (I-War 2 had some highly unusual shield mechanics)
The rest of the buttons are for obscure controls. I barely had room for all necessary controls for I-War 2 on both joysticks, especially since one of the joystick hats was reserved for the game's brilliant in-flight radial menu (manage dozens of ship systems with four buttons!)
What is your preferred setup in games like this?
