Wed Jan 28, 2004 3:45 am by Switchblade
try binding the "Tractor all" key to something fairly close to where you keep your hand on the keyboard (mine's bound to the "=" key, as I use BACKSPACE for my afterburners and "O" for missiles) so that you can hit it the moment you kill somebody. considering the range of most energy weapons, you'll easily be in range to pick up any nanobots and shield batteries they drop, meaning that you should manage to keep a replenished supply going throughout the fight.
further tactics: try hiding yourself behind something indestructible, like an asteroid, station, jump gate, etc, and using it as a shield against incoming fire.
remember that it may be better to stay out of the line of fire and pick off the weakened stragglers rather than get stuck in. concentrate on avoiding death, and let your AI comrades get on with the dirty work.
more specific tactics may depend on which mission it is you're having trouble with.