ATTENTION - OLD TUTORIAL STILL APPLIES BUT..
With xim1 the closer the translation exponent value is to 1 the less acceleration there is.
With xim2 the closer the translation exponent value is to 1 the more acceleration there is.
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I have recieved many requests on this subject, seeing how many people like my configurations. I do appreciate it greatly, glad I can be of help to many. However, I would like to empower thee to experiment and come up with your own configurations so you can find your "signature" settings.
I will be covering the following topics during this session and what these mean to you and the Xim in it's current form. There will be a Xim2 config guide, which will most likely be a compilation of this and the newer config options (Like diagonal settings).
Let's start with the following options.
Primary Sensitivity
Secondary Sensitivity
Dead zone size
Translation Exponential
Smooth
1) Primary Sensitivity - This is pretty straightforward, it makes your mouse take more or less movement based on how high or low the settings is. For example, a setting of 10 would be considered pretty high, but it depends on the game, what the "in game" settings are (ie, insane, 10 or 3 on halo 3, cod4 etc). Also, it is important to note that this can CHANGE DRASTICALLY when messing with the translation exponent, which I will be covering and referencing back to this section
I will also comment, that sensitivity settings also depend on your play style. I for example, come from a "flick shot" background, so I like a nice "snappy" feel. Meaning that I like to turn fast. ALOT of console gamers are used to the slow style that a controller gives you, and they like to sometimes bring that to the table with XIM. While I respect that decision, keep in mind that the faster you go, the better it is TO A POINT. I am talking about a threshold between accuracy vs speed and the ever long quest to balance the 2. Is this an easy task, nope been struggling with this for a decade now haha.
2) Secondary Sensitivity - see #1 for all the points on this matter. Now, understanding how #1 works, will help you with #2.
The most common configuration (one that I swear by) is to use the Right Mouse button to initiate secondary sensitivity. This is done as a toggle within the xim config file. This is easy to do, open the config file and find where it says secondary toggle. Assign a button to it, in this case I choose right mouse button. Now find "secondary sensitivity" and use the following guidelines for a setting you want
a) Same look speed while unscoped/non iron sights and scoped/iron sights = set this to about 2 higher than what your primary is. Cod4 is about 2, Halo 3 is around 1.8 to 2.4 (sniper rifle makes it wierd, but that's halo 3's fault not xim).
b) Look speed while unscoped faster than scoped/iron sights (slowed down), or vice versa? Reference b1 and b2 below:
b 1) Faster look speed while unscoped/non iron sights = Start with 2 lower on secondary
b 2) Slower look while unscoped/non iron sights = Start with 2 higher on secondary sensitivity
Mix N' Match, you can find your own style with this one. I even go as far to have different config files If I am going to be sticking with a specific weapon set. Ie, sniper rifle, deagle. Or using a g3 and assigning scroll wheel up/down as a fire button in addition. This of course is beyond the scope of this tutorial, but I would be more than happy to share with you.
3) Dead Zone Size - This is a tricky one, For halo 3 and Cod 4 I have found around 30 to 35 to be pretty tight. Basically You can experiment with this and try smaller and larger ones and find out what works for you. My opinion on it, use one of my configs and start from there. Try other configs out too and find out what you like. This is where it's fun (for me anyway hehe) to tinker!. Just remember, too small and your mouse goes nuts and gets "jerky" go to large and you get "jerky". Gotta find the sweet spot!
4) Translation exponent - Ahhhhhhh yes. Good ol' translation exponent. This is to counter the acceleration feel you get while playing xbox games that were meant to play with a controller. This is basically a dither effect (reduction of function in a sort) of the built in acceleration in most games.
I have a few things to say about translation. It's the most IMPORTANT aspect in Xim. I know you need dead zone size too, but really without the translation XIM would NOT be as great as it is. Period.
Some guidelines to keep in mind, and how I test:
Lower = slower. More precise, but also takes more "whipping the mouse" to get it to speed up
Higer = faster. Meaning that slower movements can really haul some serious @#$%, which isn't always a good thing.
So how do you find out what's right? Well, let the fun begin my friend!
Open up xim
Open up config file.
Try this on Halo 3, or COD4:
Start with .01 translation and 50 primary sensitivity. How does it feel? Wierd, non responsive, too responsive?
Now try .01 with 49 and keep going down till you get sick of it.
Now try .02 @ 50 primary sensitivity and work your way down.
I do this basically all the way up to 1.00 for translation. As you start getting towards .20 you can start to "feel" the mouse starting to respond at lower primary sensitivities. You may be able to start at say, 30 sensitivity when you get to .20 translation.
Basically you will notice that around .30 to .50 and sensitivities as low as 2 to 20 start to feel right and get closer to where it should be.
Am I right about this? I don't know, I have done this up and down the stack so I'll let you be the judge.
Keep this in mind too:
When you find a setting you like, make sure to notate it. If you decide to increase translation, you need to decrease the primary sensitivity to keep same "feel". The same is true when you lower translation, you have to increase the primary sensitivity.
How much you ask. Well, it's a increasing/decreasing curve.
At .35 translation and 8 pri sens as an example.
at .40 translation and 6 pri sens would be "ball park" the same kinda.
at .65 trans and 1 or 2 pri sens would be about the same as the above.
Now you ask, well "It was minus 2 then you doubled it as translation went higher" . EXACTLY.
Translation exponent is just that, EXPONENTIAL, meaning that it's not doubling. Its like 1, 2, 10, 80, 110, 140, 190 (im just tossing out numbers here, just to say its not even spread up and down the stack).
5) smooth. this one is easy, more smooth = heavier feeling mouse. Less smooth = snappier feel mouse, but may be a bit jerky. Cod4 doesn't have the jerky feeling. Halo 3 does though, so sometimes has to have a bit of smooth in there to keep it nice.
Ok that concludes this portion of the tutorial. Hope you enjoyed it. Im out of town for a bit, so i'll add to it later on.
Happy fragging.
