How tough is it to play this game with a keyboard only, I plan to eventually get a wheel and all that, but I wanna know if playing this way is a major handicap. Btw I've been playing offline for a bout two years, and recently started playing online. Anyways I'm curious how much of a disadvantage it is, until I can get my wheel and stuff. I guess I've gotten pretty good with the keyboard, but still I"m behind an average of about 2-5 seconds per lap compared to people with wheels and such.

It seems I can compete for the most part, but it's just so tough having to mash the throttle coming out of corners at or around the apex, rather than just feathering it, to prevent throttle oversteer. My ghetto rememdy is to go ina little slower, to come out faster, but this is only a slight advnatage it seems on a corner with a long straight ahead of it, because others have the same idea, and do it normally with their wheels and such, so although it helps me, it's just not enough when facing tough competition.

I guess my question is, should I even bother trying to play like this, or wait for a good wheel etc etc, cause it seems to be what's killin me, the turning is touchy, I'm sure you guys know why, and also having to mash the throttle with 100% power rather than ease on it through the apex and and get on it when hte car feels on center and then can just wot when I'm coming out, preventing throttle oversteer. Recently I had to hit the apex a little short, comin in slow, and working my way into wot in order to come out of the corner faster than usual, but this only seems effective at all on a corner before a long straight. And others have the same idea's, and they're using wheels etc etc, so really it's no advantage for me.

I just don't have the money right now for a good wheel, but I love the game enough that I'll be getting one for sure when I can.

Advice? And sorry if I'm not to clear, I'm very tired.
Thanks for any imput, hope I was clear enough, though I'm sure anyone who's used a keyboard only for controls should understand what I mean, and even others. Pressure sensative throttle and a wheel must be sooo nice.

Well I've been playing with the mouse/kb for about 2-3 years as well, although not very regularly. I got back into lfs a month ago after I got myself a wheel.

I completely understand your troubles, its hard to drive a powerful RWD car without being able to control the throttle precisely. But with slower RWD and pretty much all FWD cars, you should not be in too much trouble. Check out the Hotlapping section in LFS-World, a lot of WR's on XFG or XRG,XRT are done with mouse/kb. On the other hand, you never see these people setting WR's in GTR cars.

The question to you though, is why do you not use mouse steering? Do you use a computer that has no mouse? (do these even exist?)
I'm sure you will be much quicker with mouse steering, + you can correct oversteer much more precisely.

Quote from xtm :

The question to you though, is why do you not use mouse steering? Do you use a computer that has no mouse? (do these even exist?)
I'm sure you will be much quicker with mouse steering, + you can correct oversteer much more precisely.

Second that. I have no idea why would someone want to steer with two on/off buttons instead of a mouse axis.


But of course it's easiest and most fun to drive with a wheel.

I couldn't drive with the mouse when I tried (not helped by cats jumping on the sofa) so before I got my wheel I had to use just the keyboard.
It's an absolute nightmare when you're in the higher-powered (read: more than XRG) RWDs. You need to keep tapping the throttle all through curves and wait until you straighten before powering back on, or you just spin out at every bend. FWD and AWD aren't so bad though, so you might want to stick with them until you can get a wheel.

Only one suggestion (see beginners forum for many threads related):
Adjust the button control rate in the game options, according to the car used.
You may be fine with a 5-6 rate for XFG / UF1, and probably have to lower it to 2-2.5 to get a LX6 around SO tracks or launch a FO8 from the start grid.
Good luck!

If you have a little money to spare, buy a second-hand wheel (a good guide can be found here). I found a good one for about the price of an S2 license.

Mouse + kb driving is an option. It should be easier than kb alone, but be prepared for a new learning curve. (Plus a second one when you eventually get a wheel.)

I started with kb, never used the mouse as just couldn't get to grips with it and i came from an arcade background so i played with what i was used to.

I got pretty good and quite fast on the keyboard with some weird ways of using the keys in different sequences to gain control of the faster and more difficult cars to drive.

Sad thing is once someone comes along with even a limited amount of control with a wheel, they will probably stick with you whilst you are doing your damnest!

Just keep at it. Your slow in fast out corner approach will pay off when you get a wheel, you shouldn't be surprised when you see your pb's constantly being beaten by a few seconds.

I drive with the kb, and find that, at some combos, I can be quite competitive. Of course, I'm not up there with the top people, but at lots of tracks I can give a few people a scare. Particuarly on CTRA Race 1 and UF-BR, you won't be that outclassed with a keyboard. Setup is key. You need one that won't oversteer too much.

i wuold recommend the mouse over the keyboard, because you can steer faster and also i think you have more control as you have an x-axis for steerinf, as for the gear changes just set up a few buttons for them, as a former mouse user myself, i found that after 3 weeks of mouse, i went to keyboard, got used to the game and then went back to the mouse, much better than keyboard

but thats just my opinion(hope you use it wisely

Thanks guys, I'm gonna try the mouse for a while and see how I like it, I'll be sure and give it time and not quit on it right away, I'm sure there's a learning curve. Again, thanks.

Also, for keyboard use, I don't use fast turn, just the regular left/right/ turn buttons, anyways my question is what's a good steer rate, or is it something that's different for everyone? I think my steer rate is 60 and return 55.

P.S. My best so far with the XFG ( I use this the most for practice, and mostly on Blackwood, I also use the FXO for practice to see how different the race lines are between the two. Occasionally I'll try the, ehh, Porsche looking car and the XRT Turbo for practice with RWD.