I really like the pilot mode, it makes up for the lack of joystick support and it makes flying around feel more "natural". The problem is, it's not very accurate or precise in combat and I constantly find myself switching it on and off between flying around and combat. This becomes really cumbersome and tedious. So why not do what all other space sims with similar mouse-based flight models do and make weapons fire at the mouse cursor instead of the crosshair? It would really makes up for the lack of precision. Of course, this means that projectiles may leave weapons at a slight angle depending on where you aim but, this already happens with weapons offset far from centre (like on wide ships) and it's barely noticeable. It's never a problem in other space sims anyway.
I don't care for "pilot mode" as it currently stands, but flexible aiming definitely gets my vote. Having target-lock to track an objective would help, too. Current "Homing missiles" are really hit and miss since there doesn't appear to be a definitive lock-on-target indicator, Sometimes they track, sometimes they don't.
Flexible aiming would be great for turrets as well, imagine how engaging CV combat would be if we could aim and fire turrets manually. Turrets that can aim where the player points is under player control, turrets that can't stays under AI control. Like Starpoint Gemini and Rebel Galaxy, for example. Missiles isn't too bad for me, they always track as long as the cursor is red when I fire them. They work great for taking out CV turrets and thrusters. But yeah, it would be great if we could actually lock a target/device properly.
It would be great if I could see the cursor, red or white. At present, that is often easier said than done.
In every game I can think of where this kind of fly towards cursor has been done, weapon always aim at the cursor - except this one of course... As it stands however, I find this mode completely useless.
I agree emphatically!! But notice how easy it is to see the cursor. I wonder how they did that? Hmmm.
Yep. Pilot mode definetly needs those gimballed main weapons. I SUPPPORT THIS SUGGESTION!!! That would actually make pilot mode the new stnadard to fly ships.