War Zones

erkage · Post by **erkage** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:13 pm

Hey guys, I just made a combat pilot and I like it very much. Just one problem, I can't upgrade frames until I gain rank, which I do by completing the missions in the war zones right? Maybe I just suck but the missions at the starting one (Talson I believe) are kicking my butt.

What is the lowest difficulty war zone?
If it is Talson (or how ever that is spelled) then what I really need help on is how to increase my damage output. It takes me like 5 minutes to kill a single ship in the Talson war zone missions. I upgraded my cannons, bought a laser, gave more power to the weapons (I can't put more than +2 or I get vaporized immediatly).

Any advice?

Dingo · Post by **Dingo** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:20 pm

Hi Erkage,

Combat start is by far the hardest start and Talison Warzone is the easiest one. My best advice is to try a different start. If you don't want to do that, then team up with others in MP.

No matter what start you pick, you can play any role you like, so a person who starts as a miner, can become a combat pilot whenever they wish, and so on.

[Edited on 1-21-2012 by Dingo]

erkage · Post by **erkage** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:24 pm

I am committed to the combat pilot, I also don't have good enough internet at my house to play online unfortunatly so I am on my own. My biggest problem I guess is my lack of damage output even with a class 5 cannon and class 3 laser. I tihnk I might just sit back and let my allies handle the heavy lifting until I can get a better rig!

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:25 pm

Join online and ask some other players to help you run some missions. That will help you gain rank faster and learn from other players. Tip: when a player with a Higher rank chooses the contract in the Warzone to help you out the pay will be higher and you get the higher credits for completing the contract with the higher ranking player!........

erkage · Post by **erkage** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 7:28 pm

Maarschalk thanks for the tip, as soon as I am able to make it online I will try that!

Post by **Marvin** » Sat Jan 21, 2012 8:04 pm

Dingo is correct about where to go to increase your military rank ... Talison Conflict. It is the only war zone where you won't be contracted to destroy Vonari battleships. And you can even increase your rank by doing non-combat contracts ... just so long as you do them inside the war zone.

Flying Brick · Post by **Flying Brick** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:31 am

erkage - welcome, and kudos for sticking with combat!

I think, like all the other folks have said, that if you do a little mining or trading at first, it will quickly give you a boost in finances, which will allow you a beefier frame and better equipment. It will also allow you to hire more wingmen, which will make a pretty big difference - but they are rather expensive, and that's why I suggested to make a little more money via some non-combat contracts.

Also, are you dying from missiles? If so, just learn to spam more CMs - they're really free. You hopefully also know that you can refuel/restock during contracts, as long as you don't leave the sector - so if you run out of CMs, just go to the carrier/station and restock.
Another thing to do in combat is to run more

Hit that afterburner, if the plot thickens, gain some distance, let the shields recover and the repair system do its thing, and then fly back and hit them again.

Since you said damage output is an issue, until you can upgrade your weapons you can try using just the beam until you bring their shield down, and only then start shooting with your particle (by default F5 and F6, you can cycle between them with N by default). It does take quite a bit more control, I'll agree.
Alternatively, when you can afford it, but an Automatic CM or an anti-missile system - that may free you of worrying about CMs during combat, and give you more freedom to shoot your weapons separately.

Good luck, and don't despair, it's always hardest in the beginning, but once you get used to it, you can fly like a brick and still kill them reds!.... trust me, I should know.

erkage · Post by **erkage** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 4:46 pm

Hey guys, been doing some non-combat misisons and a few combat ones (while mostly running away until my allies kill all but two).

I can do 1v1 and 1v2 no problems, more than that though it becomes risky.

Flying Brick- thanks for the input but missles im fine against, its the lasers and cannons that shred me!

In any case I managed to unlock the third frame (the second one was barely an upgrade so i skipped it) and that is helping a little but im still having problems killing people fast. Not everyone, i guess that half of the ships are just much better frames and have more armor and shields and stuff. I tryed a level 6 cannon out but it was even worse than my level 5, im assuming because it was "kinetic" and i guess that means it does less shield damage and more hull damage?

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 6:55 pm

With the Higher class canons you have to get closer to your targets for them to be effective. Pay attention to their firing range. So the closer you get the more likely you will be hit by return fire!. The Class one Cannon is your safest bet as that has the fartest range and the enemy can barely hit you if you keep your distance between 710 to 800!. To use the higher class cannons effectively you have to be an Expert pilot and know excactly what your doing and more so in MP in a PvP fight.....

[Edited on 1-22-2012 by Maarschalk]

erkage · Post by **erkage** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 7:04 pm

Yeah I saw the difference the range made when I switched weapons. I do like my new cannons better though, and I am ok at dog fighting, I can always win a 1v1 or 1v2, it's when I have to fight 3-5 at once that things get tricky

I hate it that that AI will abandon the dogfight they are currently in with one of my allies to come shoot me down, it makes group engagements impossible!

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:10 am

Another tip: The AIs always go after the lower ranking less experienced pilot first. They are kind of cowards and choose the easiest targets.....So more reason to get your rank up quickly....

:P:P:P:P:P:P