Minefields: What''s the trick to staying alive?

Tue Mar 18, 2003 4:19 pm by Ether Dragon

There's nothing I fear more in this game than a mine field. I'm not talking about the mines you drop out of your ship, but those huge mines that look like "Sputnik on steroids." In the few times when I've braved a minefield, I've almost always died. On those occassions where I didn't, I was probably down to my last nano-bot. I'm not exactly blundering through these things like a bull in a china shop, either. I've tried a couple different tacts.

First, I tried creeping through. I chose a nice slow speed, and edged into the mine/asteroid field. I did my best to steer well clear of any mines. Bam. I never saw the mine(s) that killed me, I was just dead. That made me suspect that they had some homing ability, and I needed to go through faster. I kicked in the cruise engine and zipped through. Even at this speed, the minefield I was in didn't seem particularly cluttered (Dublin system.) Bam. Never saw it.

The problem is, if I'm going slow, I can't tell if a mine is racing up behind me. If I'm going fast, I can't be sure that I didn't somehow skim too close to a mine. I tried one other approach, I used the "goto" command and let the ship choose it's own course around obstacles. While the AI did try to avoid mines, it didn't always get far enough away, and I was dead again.

So, what's going on? Are these mines homing in on passing ships? Are they magically appearing as I pass? Am I getting tunnel vision on the one on the left, and hitting the one on the right? What?

Tue Mar 18, 2003 4:30 pm by guptasa1

If you're talking about the type in Zone 21 in New York, you CAN'T navigate through them like that. It's impassible.

*SPOILER*
Though in that particular field, there is a hole which will allow you to get through, and I would imagine a lot of the other fields have similar holes.

Tue Mar 18, 2003 4:59 pm by Nephilim

Certain types of mines are much, MUCH more dangerous than others. The ones protecting Zone 21 will turn any ship you're flying into spacedust really fast, whereas those in Omega-somesuch will hardly scratch the paint (with L10 shielding, anyway).

Tue Mar 18, 2003 5:18 pm by Ether Dragon

No, not the ones in New York. I'm aware that the Area 21 minefield is impassable. I'm just talking about mine fields in general.

Tue Mar 18, 2003 6:06 pm by MrJake

the best way in my knowledge to avoid dieing in a mine field, is to avoid the mine field.

Tue Mar 18, 2003 6:31 pm by jucah

the best way to pass through minefields and gas clouds is to switch to first person view (ctrl v). They hardly ever hit me in this view and you can travel with full afterburners

Tue Mar 18, 2003 8:29 pm by Ether Dragon

Ah, and I suppose I should just don my peril-sensitive sunglasses while I'm at it, eh?

Flying in cockpit view sounds a lot like putting on horse blinders.

Wed Mar 19, 2003 1:06 pm by Zaratomb

Think this is in the edinburgh system, system where the Hood is located. There are 2 asteroid mining areas, and both have mines in them, try flying them with cruise engines on, tons of fun

More fun is getting jumped by 4 ships while in the minefield. At least enemy ships can also kill themselves on mines. Only solution is learn the mines detonation range from your ship and stay out of it, not much of a solution, but only one that works for me, hehe

Wed Mar 19, 2003 2:04 pm by Benja

you can get through the ones in the new york system find the hole

Wed Mar 19, 2003 4:28 pm by Ether Dragon

I haven't tried it, but last I heard, there's no point to attempting the minefield in New York if you're playing multiplayer. Either the hole is missing, or the jumpgate isn't working, I forget which.

Wed Mar 19, 2003 4:36 pm by ColdJustice

In multiplayer the Alaska JG is shutdown. It is there though. And as for how to navigate those nasty mines in Z21 in New York. That was a simple task of mine over matter

ok seriously - There is a patroll that goes into that mine field, If you follow them, you should be able to reach the Alaska JG without too many bumps.

Stop.
Before you reply just remember, the truth hurts.
Now chances are if you hated what I said I was right

Wed Mar 19, 2003 6:14 pm by Lev Arris

An even easier way to find the opening is just looking in which direction the front of the jumpgate is pointing (you can see it form outside the minefield). It points directly at the opening.

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"Sorry for offending your delicate sensibilities. Perhaps my next film will be about a talking dog who braves the harsh realities of the world in a heart warming attempt to find his rightful owners, who mistakenly thought he was dead. That way you could watch it and get a fuzzy feeling inside and when it was over you could all go f*ck yourselves." - Troy Duffy, director of The Boondock Saints

Wed Mar 19, 2003 7:46 pm by sp00n

as for minefields, i tend to switch to 3rd person view (im used to flying in cockpit mode). makes it easier to evade those darn mines. even a class 10 shield will get eventually ripped of.

hmmm, i would like to have those "sputniks on steroids" on my ship. they do alotta damage and dont even disappear when they explode...

Thu Mar 20, 2003 5:09 am by Mirax

depends what sort of mine fields, there is one near the molly base in i cant remember where

i could just cruise through it and ram every mine i see without any dire consequences

but not the one in omega 5, 2 hits and im dead

Thu Mar 20, 2003 8:43 am by Easy Rhino

In Dublin and one of the Tau's, I can just fly along at cruise speed and dodge mines. Just, you know, don't fly close to them

Also, I don't think "scenery mines" move. So if you stop... they won't explode.

ER

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