so I can play 3S, Marvel, etc. perfectly with a dreamcast controller. but now that I live in a place with a decent arcade scene I must learn how to use a stick. what are some tips? expected time to become fully able to use a stick, etc?
using a stick is hard ;(
Best way to learn is to buy a good stick and practice, all the methods in Marvel, IE Claw,Slide.
And Word using stick is hard but practicing makes you better.
so you can do kara throws and stuff with a dreamcast controller?
Catch Flies With Chopsticks.
Check up some thread before that has “From Pad to Stick”…
Pick up in that one some people have already offered some advice…
Its in FGD.
ROFL, you deserve more rep for that 
ya for me doing supers is easyer on the ps2 pad then the stick, but then again i cant play mvc2 on a pad.
use the stick for every game. and even if you’re not playing anything carry it around and mash some buttons.
Jack off with your left hand and do tempest combos with your penis.
Start with charge characters and a square gate stick.
Other than that, only practice and repititions of standard movements will help.
Just play with a stick every time you can and it will eventually feel natural.
Firstly find a comfortable position to hold the stick that will allow you to do everything. A common position I see is to hold the bottom of the stick in between your middle and ring finger, then to grip it with your thumb. Use both your hand and your wrist to do special and super motions; just flick with your wrist in a quater circle or whatever type of move your trying to execute. Just know exactly what motion you’re doing and learn to do it in the way that’s most comfortable for you.
Secondly and lastly is to just practice. At first you may be crap and yor confidence might be down a little, but just plod along. The more you play with it the easier it will get and the faster you’ll realise the superiourity of playing on a stick.
If you dont have a piano or keyboard, then just practice on a table.
For your button hand: repitively drum your thumb or first finger alternation with your pinky or index finger as fast as you can every day all the time. Forget that your middle finger exhists except when playing.
For your stick hand: Work with counter angles not just doing the motions…for example…if you are doing this :qcf: …
try to do that move while doing this … :bdp: in your mind … with the smallest motion possible. Then start letting go of the stick as often as possible or popping it back to neutral. thats all i know.
How much time will it take you? Give it a year and a half.
Practice with stick.
It takes awhile but once you get used to it the stick is 10x easier to use.
My made this thread a while ago, hope the information help you as if helped me.
Repeated for the Nth time:
Repetition, practice, and breaking the urge to go back to your pad.
I am not saying that being a pad user is a bad thing. Just refer to my previous argument to know that I feel anyone should play the way that they are comfortable.
Once you have decided that you wish to play on a stick, however, then that is the only way you should play. Fighting games start with muscle memory. Once you do not have to worry about what your hands are doing, then you can get into the meat of the strategic game.
As for the way that you hold the stick; find what is comfortable for you, and allows you a full range of motion without hesitation. There is no one right way to hold a stick. Once you get used to a method, do not let anyone change the way that you play for any reason. I tell this to many many many PC n00blets. They believe that if they use the keyset of a professional player, that somehow they will become a professional themselves. The way the keys are laid out, or the way that you hold a stick does not matter when you get right down to it. Take the advice that people give you, and use it as a reference tool but not an absolute.