Posted August 23, 2021
Do you have a Steam Controller lying around? Do you feel neither of Crusader's control schemes works all that well for you? Maybe I've got a remedy for you!
I just got into playing Crusader: No Remorse and was rather curious why I read about its controls being bad all the time. Indeed, the controls don't feel nearly as polished as they could be, but I think each control method offers something unique - precise mouse aiming for combat, easier access to important functions with the numpad, but also several important functions only available when using the rest of the keyboard. The main problem for me really was that the different control styles don't work well together, which is where the Steam Controller comes in. The configuration described below features all functions you should need on the controller alone and, at least for me, makes for a very comfortable experience once you've become accustomed to it.
What do you need?
For the Steam Controller to play nice with Crusader, you need to add the game to your Steam library and run it via Big Picture Mode. Unfortunately, when you just add it, the configuration still won't work correctly. You need to download and install GloSC (Global SteamController) first. Thankfully, it's very easy. Start GloSC, create a new shortcut, for the path select the "Launch Crusader No Remorse" shortcut in your Crusader installation folder, add the launch parameters from the shortcut to "Arguments" (namely: -conf "..\dosboxCRUSADER.conf" -conf "..\dosboxCRUSADER_single.conf" -noconsole -c "exit"), click "Save" and then "Add all to Steam". This will automatically add a shortcut for Crusader to your Steam library which will work with the Steam Controller.
As for the configuration, you can find it by either
a) Copying this link into your browser adress bar: steam://controllerconfig/crusader%20no%20remorse/2582924334
or
b) Downloading this configuration file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T2AJD2R3hHIEmT4fAWWq7cKU9k9M_joy/view?usp=sharing
and copying it into your Steam Controller configuration folder, the easiest one being "\Steam\controller_base\templates". You'll then find the configuration whenever you select "Browse configs" and then "Templates".
But what is it?
See the image below or here for a reference.
Basically, the left trackpad moves the character and always allows for strafing, the right trackpad lets you aim and turn, while the triggers serve as mouse buttons for shooting and advancing with the gun drawn. The grips are mapped to rolling left and right. Crouch is toggled by clicking the left trackpad.
For combat, this configuration allows for quick and precise aiming and has all movement options always available. However, when not in combat, rotating the character with the mouse during movement always felt awkward and imprecise to me. For this reason, when you move forward with the left trackpad, the right trackpad switches to Left and Right arrow keys for easier turning (for example, a quick 90 degree turn just requires 2 quick taps on the trackpad). This also applies when holding the center of the left trackpad if you want to rotate more easily while standing still. Sprinting is activated by double tapping and holding "Move forward" on the left trackpad.
What about direct movement control with the numpad? This maps very naturally to the joystick. As I found this control method to feel clunky I mainly use the joystick for inventory management, but clicking the stick toggles stick movement on and off.
Everything else is mapped to still be easily accessible when needed: Weapons and items can be switched using either the joystick or without even taking your hand off the right trackpad by clicking it in one of the 4 directions. The face and Select buttons have 2 functions each: Press Select to Quick Save, hold Select to Quick Load. Press X to lay down a Detpack, hold X to detonate it. Press A to use a medkit, hold A to use an energy cube, etc. And as a little extra, a full push of the left trigger automatically "double clicks" the right mouse button to instantly equip or holster the current weapon. Which is probably useless, but I like it!
Long story short, this is a niche configuration for a niche controller for a (nowadays) niche game. But, without any prior experience with Crusader and after tinkering for quite a while, I found it immensly helped me enjoy the game. So, as I'm now ready and fully equipped to take on the role of the Silencer, I thought I'd share this in hopes that it might help one individual or another out there at some point. I haven't yet played Crusader: No Regret, so I don't know how well this applies to that game, but I suppose it requires some alterations.
So, have fun and good hunting, fellow rebels!
I just got into playing Crusader: No Remorse and was rather curious why I read about its controls being bad all the time. Indeed, the controls don't feel nearly as polished as they could be, but I think each control method offers something unique - precise mouse aiming for combat, easier access to important functions with the numpad, but also several important functions only available when using the rest of the keyboard. The main problem for me really was that the different control styles don't work well together, which is where the Steam Controller comes in. The configuration described below features all functions you should need on the controller alone and, at least for me, makes for a very comfortable experience once you've become accustomed to it.
What do you need?
For the Steam Controller to play nice with Crusader, you need to add the game to your Steam library and run it via Big Picture Mode. Unfortunately, when you just add it, the configuration still won't work correctly. You need to download and install GloSC (Global SteamController) first. Thankfully, it's very easy. Start GloSC, create a new shortcut, for the path select the "Launch Crusader No Remorse" shortcut in your Crusader installation folder, add the launch parameters from the shortcut to "Arguments" (namely: -conf "..\dosboxCRUSADER.conf" -conf "..\dosboxCRUSADER_single.conf" -noconsole -c "exit"), click "Save" and then "Add all to Steam". This will automatically add a shortcut for Crusader to your Steam library which will work with the Steam Controller.
As for the configuration, you can find it by either
a) Copying this link into your browser adress bar: steam://controllerconfig/crusader%20no%20remorse/2582924334
or
b) Downloading this configuration file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T2AJD2R3hHIEmT4fAWWq7cKU9k9M_joy/view?usp=sharing
and copying it into your Steam Controller configuration folder, the easiest one being "\Steam\controller_base\templates". You'll then find the configuration whenever you select "Browse configs" and then "Templates".
But what is it?
See the image below or here for a reference.
Basically, the left trackpad moves the character and always allows for strafing, the right trackpad lets you aim and turn, while the triggers serve as mouse buttons for shooting and advancing with the gun drawn. The grips are mapped to rolling left and right. Crouch is toggled by clicking the left trackpad.
For combat, this configuration allows for quick and precise aiming and has all movement options always available. However, when not in combat, rotating the character with the mouse during movement always felt awkward and imprecise to me. For this reason, when you move forward with the left trackpad, the right trackpad switches to Left and Right arrow keys for easier turning (for example, a quick 90 degree turn just requires 2 quick taps on the trackpad). This also applies when holding the center of the left trackpad if you want to rotate more easily while standing still. Sprinting is activated by double tapping and holding "Move forward" on the left trackpad.
What about direct movement control with the numpad? This maps very naturally to the joystick. As I found this control method to feel clunky I mainly use the joystick for inventory management, but clicking the stick toggles stick movement on and off.
Everything else is mapped to still be easily accessible when needed: Weapons and items can be switched using either the joystick or without even taking your hand off the right trackpad by clicking it in one of the 4 directions. The face and Select buttons have 2 functions each: Press Select to Quick Save, hold Select to Quick Load. Press X to lay down a Detpack, hold X to detonate it. Press A to use a medkit, hold A to use an energy cube, etc. And as a little extra, a full push of the left trigger automatically "double clicks" the right mouse button to instantly equip or holster the current weapon. Which is probably useless, but I like it!
Long story short, this is a niche configuration for a niche controller for a (nowadays) niche game. But, without any prior experience with Crusader and after tinkering for quite a while, I found it immensly helped me enjoy the game. So, as I'm now ready and fully equipped to take on the role of the Silencer, I thought I'd share this in hopes that it might help one individual or another out there at some point. I haven't yet played Crusader: No Regret, so I don't know how well this applies to that game, but I suppose it requires some alterations.
So, have fun and good hunting, fellow rebels!
Post edited August 23, 2021 by Syrion