Flight control - Mouse flight or keyboard?

Thu Apr 29, 2004 9:53 am by samedhi_13

I'm a n00b: Only played thru' SP once, have no access to MP but might get broadband just for this. First time thru' I used mouse flight, no engine kill. After reading threads, FAQs, etc. thought I'd try again with the 'kill.

In SP, the AI ships generally circle, fly head on, zoom past, repeat. It seems to me that ideally you want to be turning in front of them as they approach, so they stay in shot all the time. I can't do this with mouse flight - turn speed is determined by how off-centre the opponent is and I'm busy aiming straight at them

But, when I try turning with the keyboard I can't get my aim. Couldn't hit a bloodhound at 10 paces, altho' kept him on screen the whole time

So, is it worth persevering with the keyboard rotate and pitch controls, does anyone use them? Or is it just too ****y to bother with?

Apologies if this has been a thread before, I did a search with no joy.

Nothing matters very much, and few things matter at all.

Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:25 am by Megistos

If you want to keep the opponent in your sights, which is a good idea, it's ok to sacrifice the second or so of firing necessary to achieve maximum turn rate as they go past. Otherwise, you waste more time turning round. Keep that in mind. Welcome to TLR

"There are 10 kinds of people in this world: those who understand binary and those who don't"

Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:41 am by Nickless V2

Try using strafe (A+D). When you turn left strafe to the right (D) and vice versa. It won't keep the enemy in view all the time but if you keep some distance and fly a relative agile ship you should get a few nice shots before he disappears of screen.

Good luck and welcome, you can never escape from this day forward

<< ERROR 404 - SIG NOT FOUND >>

Edited by - Nickless Rare Admiral on 4/30/2004 8:41:09 AM

Mon May 03, 2004 3:03 am by samedhi_13

Thanks for the replies.
I've tried your suggestions and it works fine. Got the best results by turning towards the ship and thrusting just before it came on screen. I think this results in flying diagonally to its approach path, so it heads towards the edge of the screen slower.

Good grief this game is addictive. I like it more than I like eating. Or sleeping.
Thanks again.

Mon May 03, 2004 4:00 am by Trucidation

You'll be even more appalled to learn that we can modify it to make it even more addictive.

Hee hee

" In Defeat, Malice; In Victory, Revenge! "

Tue May 04, 2004 2:19 pm by black_phoenix

trucidation, dont get this guy too scared yet, dont want him to OD on the basic FL and die before he can get to enjoy the really good stuff

Who dares wins

Fri May 14, 2004 3:47 am by samedhi_13

Now you're scaring me. I'm averaging 5 hours sleep a night and that's just VHF hunting in un-modded SP.

I daren't look at the MOD board, it's full of bad people making bad things that will stop me leaving the house ever again

Fri May 14, 2004 7:00 pm by ???VivaHispa?a16!!!

Just stay above and behind in combat, thrusters (default tab) will help with that and the turning arch of a mouse flight is more or less decent with thrusters on. Besides, it lengthens out the battle, all the more fun, eh? I've completed the story line several times without worrying about strafing and all these other keyborad things (mainly because I didn't know them!). Mouse works fine, with thrusters. --- VH16

Whoever came up with "Mission Commision" should be lined up and shot

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