The Privateer games have limited joystick support due to their age. The first Privateer in particular only supports two buttons and two axes. You can use the DOSBox Mapper to map keyboard commands to additional buttons and axes that the games don't recognise directly.

Thanks

i installed priv 1 but no matter what joystick calibration is a headache, it either pulls hard to the left or the right or it just blocks if im trying to wing a less extreme (upper left lower right center) calibration, its frustraiting

Try editing the .conf file and set timed=false.

Download the logitech profiler.

http://www.logitech.com/en-nz/support/gaming-software?osid=14&bit=64

Install it. Make sure your joystick is plugged in. The profiler allows you to create game profiles for the joystick. To create a game profile do this:

1) Click 'select a game'
then in sub-menu 'Create New Game Profile'

2) Browse to dosbox exe

3) Then under options, global profiler settings, apply persistent profile to the dosbox profile you have created.

4) Launch game by clicking 'Play *profile_name_here*'

I have a Thrustmaster T-Flightstick X and with this DOSBox configuration

joysticktype=auto
timed=false
autofire=false
swap34=false
buttonwrap=false

it worked fine after calibrating the joystick once in Privateer.