I'm a big fan of using any available cover. Shipyards and Jump Gates are perfect for using ambush tactics. I fly into the structure, always keeping something between me and the nearest enemies. The AI will form up into wings when they can, so you can cover yourself from most of the enemies by drifting behind a wall. As the enemies fly by, I afterburn out and engage the nearest enemy. If I'm still vastly outnumbered, I retreat back into the structure and repeat the ambush. It's dangerous sometimes, though, if the structure is neutral towards you... a poorly aimed shot will make the whole area go red. I like to use asteroids in the same way. I can't stay behind a rock nearly as long as I can stay behind a structure, but I afterburn from one rock to another when I need time to let my shields recharge. I also use rocks to perform Himmelmanns.
npanth

Flying head on in to battle with big guns and an even bigger ship.
It's kind of a suicide tactic, but it works for me

Read my sig: No more spoilers!!!

In SP, I have Never used Missiles.....Ever.

I fly directly at the enemy, firing at them until the pass over, kill my engines and 360 taking them from behind.

It's obvious that most people are low on cash on Freelancer. I dont have much of a problem for me I have a Sabre with a Level 10 Brigadine Shield. 2 Nomad Cannons, 2 WILD FIRE, and 2 Wyrm Type Twos. Along with my Level 9 Skyblast B turret with refire rate of 8.33 not many enemies stand a fair chance.

Playing lawful freighter captain, I've found dogfighting bad for buissnes so my prefered tactic was: avoid fights. If it is unavoidable, dock something as fast as possible (closest trade lane, jump gate) and run away with cargo intact When there was nothing to dock, and criusing engines were disabled by disruptors, I've used to fly in some safe direction (along trade lane for example), speeding up with afterburners and then killing engines. Short bursts from afterburners kept my speed at 200 and turret fire from turret-mode kept pursuers in check. They had to use afterburners to folow me and it sucked energy soon, so they were forced to break.

Not a very brave tactic, but merchants are survivors, not heroes

i dont see the real trouble with sp dogfighting. i did the almost all of the mission with a light fighter... all i do is reverse thrust as i close in on them doing as much damaga as possible to 1 target (usualy taking one out) then when they finally do fly past me i keep on jumping between reverse thrust (very good in turns) and afterburners. my agility lets me survive 4 (very)heavy fighters with ease. i only use guns (cheaper) but if i do take to much damage i just go full throtle, flying eraticaly untill i recharge...

Open space dogfights, for me this is all afterburn and engine kill, my attacks are high-speed slashes because my ship's so fast. No missiles. High-refire rate guns like Skyblasts, Rievers.

Asteroids and debris. No engine kill here, bumping into things ruins my aim. low-speed manouevring with burst of burner to change vector. No missiles. Mines are very useful here.

Capship and bases. it's all about position , isn't it? If you can avoid the fighters and flak, get behind the capship and close, chuck off a couple of torps (or 4 if you're doubling up) then run away in another direction quickly. For strafing make sure you carry some big hitting guns, and drop a chain of mines as well. I've been using the B-Wing for this, at which it excels. it's so different though when you primary target is a capship and it's swarming with escorts, not just fighters but gunboats and destroyers as well, and you're on a torp run.




..you think you're done with the past; but the past isn't done with you..

Another tactic for combat:

When playing with a friend, select them and use the formation key to "form up" on them.

You will basically follow them as a "wingman". Your buddy is "flying" your ship as he dogfights.

I am sure you all ask why...

Because you (being formed on your friend) are now free to go into Turret view and play turret gunner. The enemies (both AI and human) just love following on a ships tail.

While your friend is dogfighting (dragging you along with him), you are free to fire and fire and fire away without having to worry about flying.

Try it .. you will like it. It also works within the storyline flights. Form up on Juni or King (specially if you are in a freighter ship) and become an instant turret gunner.

[WARWarBringer

i tried that at first but got jolted around so much that i packed it in. I imagine it would work well for a decent formation of freighters though, almost like a B-17 box! just not too much maneouvering though.

..you think you're done with the past; but the past isn't done with you..

in SP it´s easy: take big guns and fire them. and push the afterburner, enemies will only hit you if they are 10 ships with 8.33 refire rate guns.

in MP, i allways work together with a friend (i have eagle for hunting, he has titan for shooting): target from front (best in a debris field, even better in the badlands). friend brakes off, i engage from front, strafing left and right to avoid hits. i have close combat with target until my friend forces the target away. then the hunting begins: i close in and hunt him while my friend has enough time to aim with his energy-sucking canons. that´s the end of the target.
p.s.: about mines: i somehow allways manage to avoid them, even if i´m VERY close.

EDIT: money: be merchant, or even better smuggler (if you are fast enough to avoid police) you can make 2 millions and more in 1 hour.

Edited by - gfiX on 04-07-2003 02:02:58

Missiles: Only useful if you have to kill enemies in a hurry. Ie, escort missions and the like.



- the First Evil

I usually approach at cruise speed, engine kill when about 1k away. Then I push the mouse all the way down and to the left, which sends the ship into a spin(making it more difficult to hit, since the first pass is usually when you take the most fire). As I pass the first time, I lay a few mines. On later passes, I leave my engines off, using only the thruster to move around and shoot from a relatively safe strafing position.

Reaper: $200,000,000.
Rockets: $100,000
The look on that pilot's face when you launch a full pod of screamers up his tailpipe: priceless

what ?! no1 mentioned the humble mine? get yerself a screamer mine at crete and as enemy ships pass u face to face , empty energy weapons to lower his shields and drop a screamer- u got yourself some fancy debris...

DIAMONDBACK + WILDFIRE + 2 CANNONBALL MISSILES = 1 dead mother****er...