Nice tip, thanks.

I've enjoyed using the Rhino class freighter in the demo.

I've mapped my turret view button right next to my standard awsd format. When engaging an nme, and he turns sharply to either my left and right I like to immediately flick to turret view and strafe him as he twists and turns away. Quick flick back to standard mode, then follow after him thru his turn.

I've also remapped my shield battery and nanobot keys, so as I have easier access to em.

When pirating, I like to set an emergency waypoint, that'll take me out of any possible skirmish if things go bad. If it all goes pear shaped, i use the "goto" command, then immediately switch to turret mode to fire behind me.

I've been practicing dropping mines, then trying to fire and detonate em as an nme passes by em. Not too sure exactly how effective this is, tho.. :/

I've also adjusted my mouse ensitivity so as to give me a smooth, steady roll, as I find it easier to keep turret fire locked on a target like that.

I'm betting I'm not the only one, but I use w,a,s,d for turning and pitch and q and e for strafes (though I rarely strafe). Then in combat I don't switch to the freeflight mode. Since the enemy does like to attack you head long this is useful in the sense that you can attack and evade (ie because your ship if no longer following your mouse) and it gives you the ability to attack at an angle. I found this pretty useful in third person against multiple enemies because you can see more easily where you are being attacked from and evade accordingly. I found I take much less damage against the AI using this form, but as I mentioned in another post, its a little bit harder to follow a ship with the wasd then it is with the mouse freeflight. Different folks, different strokes. Another evasion tactic I found useful is to shut off your engines and tap the afterburner. This basically gives you unlimited afterburning keeping a speed around 200. Since I can fire at angles I'll do this and sort of orbit around my enemies firing at angles... kind of fun, but not necesarily practical.

btw, I'll have to try your reverse thrust thingy.



Edited by - sellout b1tch on 28-02-2003 19:59:42

Strafing the oposite direction you're turning tightens your turn radius DRAMATICLY. Unfortunately, since you can't roll, you cannot take advantage of this to assist up/down turns.

I fight "Elite 2 - Frontier" style most of the time. I shut down my engines and do all the course corrections with thrusters. The advantage is that you often find yourself floating parallel to an enemy while you can keep shooting at him. Further you can do course changes without flying arcs like you would do with engines. The enemies can't keep up well with all those surprising zickzacks. It also is some sort of turret substitute for ships that don't have any. You can fly away from foes, to them or sideways while keeping the guns on the target, allowing for much more defensive moves while staying in the offense. Last but not least it gives you two thirds of cruising speed at max, while your guns stay operating. The classic rule: speed vs. strength = speed wins. Works for me.


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"In all likelihood you're going to die out there. We're all going to die out there, but none of us needs to be reminded of that fact. So you die, you never existed." - Lt. Cmdr. 'Angel' Devereaux

When an enemy thrusts away from you, don't thrust after him. He will turn around and head straight towards you(if you thrust after him he will most likely not turn around, but just turn sharply to one side). When he gets close enough (which isn't that close really) let loose a missile. It will hit every time (if you time it right of course). Don't forget to continue blasting away with your main guns though :p If you want, drop a mine at the same time. I haven't had very reliable success with mines though.

-Stregone