and if so what ones would you recommend?

tar :D

I think what it comes down to is how good your typing skills are...If they are bad like mine then there is no substitute for a joystick.....

In my experience, I find that players who use joysticks become proficient at PvP combat quicker than those who use kb/mouse. The control of motion is more intuitive with a joystick, so dodging is more controlled and deliberate.

I can't fly for beans with a joystick, it's all up to personal preference and existing ability.

Keyboard and mouse. I think in the long run it doesn't really make a difference, but you definitely don't need a joystick

I dodge with the stick and aim with the mouse. My combat improved greatly with the addition of the stick.

I type >120 words/minute but I still can't fly without a joystick :p

Dual joysticks here, and I like them far more than a keyboard. It's much more instinctive.

Trackpad: reach out and touch yer target.

kb/mouse just remap the wasdrf to something more suited for multi-directional movements i recommend qawsrf so i can fly with three fingers and move on all axis

direct-to-brain interface.

just don't trip over the cord

i just sit still and pretend i'm the other player, win every time. And MAN i'm good. Don't even need a screen.

(Joystick: Saitek)

I've tried them all, and Joystick + mouse is the way to go. Seriously.

Gamepad setup, as well as the dual-joystick setup are too inaccurate for aiming for me. Although Martin is correct - the dual joystick setup "feels" right and is very natural.

Setup one 3-axis analog joystick (left-twist/right-twist/left/right/forward/backward) for your strafes and other menial controls.
Setup your mouse as your "look", i.e. your pitch + yaw. Use mouselook to keep track of your opponents...

Keyboard is no good because you don't have analog control, it's 100% strafe/roll or nothing. I like a slow strafe once ina while for just that little "scooch" to avoid incoming fire and throw off the opponent's autoaim.

Aye , one of the strengths of vo is that there are no bests . It all boils down to personal preference and messing about to see what works for you. That goes for all aspects of combat : ships , weps , controls vary from player to player.

BTW my logitech Joystick did well up untill I broke the hatswitch....

lol PaKettle... I had a logitech when I first started playing, and did the same thing to the hatswitch after less then 3 months of use :p

Got a Saitek Evo to replace it (now on my second Evo since, after more then 2 years on the original)... built very solid, and the hat switch didn't bust, though it became slightly unresponsive to up+left after about a year and a half... I abuse my Saitek alot though, and it's never complained :D

tar guys this was very helpful. settled for a solid trust joystick. cheap but sturdy. im thinking of the joystick and mouse. sounds like the best way to get an edge to me. :D

I got myself a logitech gamepad and use the dual joysticks and D-Pad for all my maneuvering, works pretty well for me. I have tried using the Saitek X52 but I found that it has a little too much play and doesn't work very well for small precision movements.