I just got the Logitech Extreme 3d Pro Joystick yesterday in the mail. Being an FPS ASDF user myself. (I use A=jump, Z=crouch, S=strafe left, D=strafe right, F=forward, V=backward, and mouselook)

What's the best Joystick & Keyboard setup for the Descent series? I would like to play them with tight and precision-ish controls in DXX Rebirth 1&2 & Descent 3

I have that joystick and like using the following:

W and S: Forward and back
A and D: Slide left and right
Twist stick: Turn left and right
Stick forward and back: Pitch
Stick side to side: Roll
Hat: Sliding in all 4 directions
Left big button near hat: Afterburner
Right big button near hat: Secondary
Button 1: Primary

That's a really good setup!! :)

I'll give it a shot then. BTW what about sensitivity on the axises?

If I recall correctly I lowered the sensitivity and raised the deadzone slightly for all axis...though honestly I'm not entirely sure. Play around with it till you find what you like :)

So can you tell me the difference between sensitivity and deadzone? Also can you send me a screenshot of your sensitiviy and dead zone settings?

Well deadzone is the area that you can move the joystick without it moving your ship. (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006031104229)

Sensitivity is how fast your ship gets to it's top turning speed.

I can't get a screenshot now...but I think I have the deadzone two or so notches up from the far left. And sensitivity a notch or so down (left) from the middle.

A=Forward
Z=Back
Space=Afterburner
Twist on stick=banking
Hat - sliding all directions

I've used this setup since D1 demo and I can keep myself in any game.

Got it. Now I understand what deadzone is now.

W/S (or E/D): Forward/back
A/D (or S/F): Slide left/right
Space/Left Ctrl (or Q/A, or Space/Z): Slide up/down
Left Shift: Afterburner
Stick forward/back: Pitch
Stick left/right: Yaw (I know, that's not how it works in airplanes, but for Descent and space "sims", this is easier to work with for me when it comes to aiming.)
Stick twist: Roll
Trigger: Primary weapon (of course)
Three thumb buttons of your choosing: Secondary weapon, flare, bomb/countermeasures
Hat switch: Inventory and countermeasure selection in Descent 3, headlights/rear view/map/energy-to-shield converter in Descent II

That should get most of them down and work with most stick setups.