I just got the game yesterday myself. I have that same HOTAS but I've only used KB+M (and TrackIR) so far in Elite: Dangerous. I'm going to try out some different key bindings but so far I've liked KB+M (I've only done a few training missions and about 20 minutes of "real" game time, basically flying around lost/clueless anyway lol).
I haven't played enough of the game to say I'm digging it, but I think the potential is there for me to really enjoy it. Man the complexity and depth to the game is pretty incredible if you think about it, and it should only get more so.
I'm terrible at combat; I had to play the first combat mission (the one after shooting the stationary toxic waste) where you're only up against a single spacecraft about 5-6 times before I finally beat him, lol. It just took me a while to get a handle on maneuvering, and I'm still terrible at it. The guy (and two ships, in the next training mission) end up getting behind me and I just could not get back behind them for the life of me. Didn't matter what keys I press or directions I tried to fly. I'm kinda surprised it only took me one try to beat the training mission where you fight two Fed ships (I think it's the 3rd mission), but having the missiles REALLY helped I'm sure.
There's still quite a few questions I have on the game but I don't feel like listing them all here with a long ass post. Gonna play for a bit and see if I can figure some more stuff out.
There is definitely a learning curve with this game. It took me about 5 hours to get most of the common things down like navigation, landing, dropping from FTL speed to supercruise then to regular speed, trading, ect.
I still don't have a good grasp on all of it but it's getting better.
Don't feel bad I suck at combat too. It just takes practice. I spent most of the after noon re-training myself to use the HOTAS. I never should have started with a KB+mouse and then try to switch but I was impatient. Now that I got the HOTAS down I love it.
Um, go slower than you think you need to and stay behind them. :awe:
Use lasers to kill the shields, cannon-types are for the hull. I prefer gimbaled, but they do slightly less damage. Boost seems to make you maneuver better, but I think it's the fact that you're moving more distance. Time for that distance is much better though. Keep a half-pip on shields (if you play like I do) so your shield layers passively regen a little.
YMMV
That is great advice for n00bs like me. At first I went in full throttle but that's not how this game works. I found out if I keep my speed in between the blue bars to the left of my current speed I can maneuver so much better.
It made it a crap load easier to target ships.
So far I'm really enjoying this game. I've got about 15k credits to my name, got my own ship and take jobs when I need them. The rest of the time I'm exploring the Milky Way one star at a time.
I'm livin the dream guys..livin the dream and I LOVE it. hehe