combat ideas

[RetroNutcase]

So yeah, I hate to sound like a whiner, but I am still having problems with combat. In fact, I daresay since I've started trying what's suggested (Don't use IDS, strafe/circle enemy ships) as opposed to classic combat sim approaches (try and get behind enemy using normal maneuvers) I am getting pounded to bits by enemies in the Olympus system. The beginner combat zone.

My setup is...

FRAME: Arrow
ENGINE: 1
SHIELD: 9
CARGO BAY: 1
FUEL: 400
WING: 3
CREW: 1
EQUIPMENT: 4
CM: 1x25
HARDPOINTS: 2

Shield Boost x3
Mine/Tractor Beam
Fulcrum Drive C3
Repair Sys C3

Particle: IceSpear
Beam: Metal Vapor

Secondary: Echelon x2

I fly into battle, keeping my enemy in the upper corner of my view. Cut engines, start using thrusters to strafe...

And someone always eventually gets the drop on me, I try changing direction, but by the time I've managed to do that, my shields have failed and I'm dead. On top of that, when a contract says "Estimated fighters: 2" I find it's more like 5-7 of them.

How am I supposed to get anywhere when the combat is this frustrating this early on?

[Dingo]

Engine 1? That isnt going to cut it.

[RetroNutcase]

Unfortunately, in order to get a better engine, I'd have to sacrifice my shields. I'm stuck with the Arrow Frame because I can't afford anything better, all the frames beyond it require around 500k or more.

[Marvin]

If you can't afford a frame capable of holding up in combat, you need to do a bit of mining or trading ... something to get enough credits for a better ship.

[MiaZ]

How am I supposed to get anywhere when the combat is this frustrating this early on?

I remember feeling like this when I started.
One day something just clicked and I wasn't getting hit so often.
That frame and shield levels wont take many hits.
But an experienced pilot in a talon could take em on quiet easily but would have to be careful not to get hit much.

I noticed you don't have a cannon relay sys installed yet.
It is a must have item for combat in my opinion.
With only 4 Equipment slots would need to uninstall Mine/Tractor Beam though.
I haven't flown the Arrow frame in a long time but I think you could have a lower wing sys to give you more for a shield 10.
Could hunt around for a shield boostX5 too.

Keep your speed up, going too slow is going to get you hit alot more and don't fly in a straight head on approach.

Don't worry it gets easy after awhile.


[Edited on 1-24-2012 by MiaZ]

[WOLead]

Newbie here as well, but I'm starting to learn. Combat seems to be a rather DEEP pool to drown in, as there doesn't seem to be a good way to introduce you to hostile combat in-game.

First thing I learned? How I flew, mattered. I tried using a PS2-style controller initially, thinking it would be great. I was dead wrong, as I couldn't reach enough functions or buttons without needing to release something else for flight. I went to try the old Keyboard + Mouse, and it almost worked but my brain couldn't handle the hiccup of strafing vertically and horizontally with the left hand as well as the ship's rolling.
I finally broke down, and searched for a rather OLD piece of gaming gear that I barely even remembered I still had. A MS Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick. Still working great, and was exactly what I needed to be able to fly and fight in Inertial mode. Top-hat Strafing + 2x Thumb Buttons lets me control the thrusters in any direction, while in inertial mode for better maneuverability. Further, the six axis (left-right, up-down, twist-left+twist-right) further allowed me to control movement with the right hand completely.
Being able to dedicate one hand to movement? Priceless for me in combat. Its much easier to do the "orbiting" attempts around the targets. You may want to play around with your controls to make this tactic easier for you to pull off. Whether by a controller, or reassigning keys and mouse buttons so you might not get tripped up over the placement of them.

Further, take a break, head back to Sapphire, and Mine a bit. Between runs selling the Diamonds and Platinum from asteroids, also keep an eye out for Anti-matter that shows up in that first space station, and other ports. You can buy that up, visit one of the stations and craft it into something that you can sell for a rather large chunk of cash. Further, keep an eye out for Mechanical, Eletrical, Hydrogen, and such materials for crafting Shields, Fulcrum Device thrusters, and more. I forget which actually creates which, sadly.

On your ship? Drop the crew to 0, and either get another Equipment for Canon Relay sys or for another Hardpoint for another Missile. I would suggest to go for the Equipment, as I still don't trust missle usefulness just yet.

For positioning? Make sure you aren't arcing into the middle of the rest of the ships. I've found out that the hard way. Even if it costs you more fuel, its better to reverse the horizontal/vertical momentum completely and go the opposite when you are still approaching the target. If you do get behind the targets, hitting the IDS to kill a variety of vertical movement is something I've started to do, but I turn it off before it completely negates all movement and I'm usually holding the afterburner towards the targets during it.

Know about the IDS speed multiplier, being Numpad 7 for decreasing and 9 for increasing by default.

I remember doing easy mode practice for "orbiting" with the missions to blow up 20x meteors. Its not a good fit for actual fighting, but it did train my fingers/hands for Intertial Mode movement for orbiting.

Oh, on the Wings? You might be able to drop those down back to 2 or 1 for now. Especially in an Arrow. Gives you a bit of Assembly for Engines or more Shields.

Thats all I got so far. I did a quick jump through further territories recently with some extra cash to get better frames and the hunt for that Maxim-R choice for the particle cannon. Really happy with it.

[Edited on 1-24-2012 by WOLead]

[Twilly Frost]

That's good advice, WOlead. And RetNut, if you're stuck on a particular mission, jump into MP an and ask for help. This accomplishes several things:

1) Having another target for your enemies to focus on greatly reduces the burden of juggling multiple targets by yourself.

2) Watching experienced pilots fight the AI is a good learning experience, even in the cold dark of space.

3) Having another pilot with you taking the heat off eases frustration, which will cause you to be rash and /or tentative.

One day it will click (although I've found that the "clicking" seems to correspond to upgraded equipment for some odd reason )

Seriously though, I was frustrated at first as well. I had a talon frame and I was on an IMG mission that put me against 7 reds, and it was brutal. When I enlisted the help of another pilot things got easier and I was able to relax and focus more on improving my combat skills instead of just trying to stay alive.

I would recommend completing the IMG missions (to all new pilots) for experience and financial reasons.

[Bralth]

I'm finding the combat pretty easy as the AI doesn't take advantage of inertia and flies like a wing commander or X3 game.

Close distance quickly when getting hit, and get into more of a 'dog fighting' mode up close on the enemies tail. What the AI should do is go into inertia and then turn its ship around firing on you as they pass but thats not what happens (if it did combat would be very painful).

Once you get on someones tail you can just hammer away at them. You can still die to missile spam of course.

Another thing to do is use your fulcrum drive as a emergency escape at just about any time in combat (personally I think there should be a longer drive warm up).

[BraveHart]

"Some good advice from your fellow pilots....My advice is simple....concentrate on making some good money in Sapphire by doing contracts, mining, racing, cleaning solar panels and dropping off cargo. Then when you can afford the new ships and frames and cannons, lasers, missile's, wings and so forth...then it's a good time to get into popping the hostiles. If you just can't wait to fight I'd suggest going online and do some co-op contracts...Hang in there as it will get easier"

[Marvin]

And always listen to Master Yoda.

[Crimen]

The following advice is from a noob, so take it with a grain of salt, but....

As you first enter combat, get your speed up to about 1000-1500 m/s, (... come to think of it, is meters per second the unit system EM uses? i haven't actually noticed one way or the other) while flying right at the enemy. At about 1000 range (more if you have a long range particle cannon), begin moving your inertial path to the sides (or up and down, which actually seems to work better). As soon as they're in range of your primary weapons, begin firing and don't let up until they're out of range.

Build up some Distance, about 2000 seems to work for me, then begin building speed towards the fighters again. Rinse and repeat until they're all dead. Also, if you do this right and you aren't getting hit, you may as well take some energy from shields into weapons (just enough that you aren't running out of energy during your salvo).

One thing to keep in mind is exactly how your ship is going to be affected by each use of your thruster. If you want to keep gaining speed in one direction, you don't HAVE to be facing it. (IE: if you're going forwards, but have to turn to the right, you can now use your left strafe button to keep building speed in that direction, or Strafe right to slow down. back/forward and up/down will allow you to arc your path)

Hope some of this helps.

[snapjaw]

Hi,

This is also advice from a newbie, but I am just telling you what has been working for me.

Even early in the game I was dying in every fight in the Olympus system with my starting ship. However, I found a way to finally take out 3 - 4 ships with that floating rock. I put on shield 5, engine 2, wing 2 and then got rid of a hardpoint and the extra crew slot to be able to have more main systems. Then I made sure to have the best Shield Boost I could find as well as a repair system and the weapon booster thing.

Next, once engaging into combat I went against ALL convention and just flew normally, since I was dying all the time like you were trying all of that strafing stuff. The big key is to shoot down incoming missiles if you can and to stay right on one enemy at a time until you take them out. If it goes well then go for the next one the same way. However, if you got slammed from the first fight make sure to keep pressing Num5 to even out shields and thrust out of combat to try and repair a bit before getting back to the fight. Another important key is the brackets, which allow you to transfer power to the shields when they get low. Just keep in mind that it will lower you weapons, so don't get carried away.

I think this might only work for the early sectors, but all I know is that I had much better success fighting dog fight style over special stafing runs and trick plays. The big key is shield management and get a good cannon and laser (I was using that cannon you get from the main quest line that does 140 damage or so). I just get really close to them and blast them as they are trying to avoid me.

Sorry if this doesn't help in the higher level battles, but it couldn't hurt to try it in the "easy" sectors to see if it works for you, for now at least.

snapjaw

[Marvin]

Those tactics will work just about anywhere. 'Though you might find that inertial will eventually give you the edge.

[Maverik770]

I understand exactly how you felt RetroNutCase. I was in the exact same boat until I figured out how to control my ship properly in Inertial mode and then correlate that into combat. Check out my most recent post in my thread linked below. I posted a ton of useful information about controlling your ship in Inertial mode and how this is extremely useful in combat. I think it will help you with your combat frustrations.

http://www.starwraith.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8559

[Edited on 1-25-2012 by Maverik770]