Space Fighting Tactics

Fri Mar 07, 2003 2:53 pm by Susuaran

Hey, guys. About dogfighting in space, so far I've been able to get by the first 5 or 6 missions no problem (with a Crusader, lvl 3 and 4 guns), but I feel that I could benefit from some advice to add a little finnesse to my fighting tactics. Right now, I have no fighting tactics whatsoever, he he!

All I do is head for the closest bogey (hitting R) and attempt to keep it in front of me as much as I can while I shoot it. If it gets too far, I hit TAB. If it's heading toward me with a missle and gun salvo, I head toward it shooting as well, but pressing D to strafe to the right slightly, so most of his shots just barely miss me. Of course, I release afterburner when I have to turn after him, so that my ship (going at a slower speed) can turn more effectively. When there are several hostiles around, trying to hand my a$$ back to me, I'm hitting TAB every 2 - 3 seconds, for 2 - 3 second hickups of speed, which help me shake enemies that may be shooting me from behind. I also drop an occasional mine. Aside from that, I just keep turning and TABbing once in a while and manage to gey by. I can destroy 4 or 5 Stilettos by myself by doing this, albeit using up all my shield batteries and a couple more I might have picked up from destroyed ships.

Is there anything more... more refined and effective than this tactic that anyone (probably mostly everyone) uses that I'm missing out on? Could you post your fighting "recipes" here, including cool maneuvers and the distance from hostiles at which they should be performed?

Sorry about the long post and any English mistakes (although playing the game *has* helped me practice my English again!)
Susuaran.

Fri Mar 07, 2003 3:04 pm by PCHolt

I like to use brake reverse (X) when they are about to make their turn after going head on with my ship. It almost instantly lowers my speed to -15, and then I can turn and fire more as they make thier turn.

Another fun thing to do is hit engine kill (Z), hold it down and turn as as they go past you. Using this and strafing, you still use your forward momentum, but can shoot at them and even change course when you release the (Z) key.

I've also had a lot of fun with freighters and using the turret view to fight. Just make sure you have at least one turret with a missile launcher, and a mine dropper, so that if you get too outnumbered you can run away, but maybe take a few of them with you.

Fri Mar 07, 2003 3:22 pm by Susuaran

Thanks, I'll try those! I'd never used either X or Z until now.

Susuaran.

Fri Mar 07, 2003 8:10 pm by sc4r4b

Yeah, I just realized last night how valuable the reverse engines (X) are... Before that I was thrusting my turns to stay on the enemies tail...

Sat Mar 08, 2003 4:29 am by Privateer-X

I dun recommend cutting your engines, unless you are on a 1-1 or 1-2. In a 1-5, you'll be a sitting duck.

I play freelancer, like i'd play privateer or WC series.

Upon contact with enemy, i afterburn to the side, moving up and down to avoid fire. Once the group past me, turn n concentrate on one enemy ship, stick to its tails, weaken its shields and hulls; and if they turn and headlong me, I'll pump out a mine just before they pass.. and kaboom. If they dun turn, but choose to dodge (and Im like exp lots of fire), i launch a missile to finish the job.

i afterburn away, regain my shields and sorta repeat...

I only cut engines when i'm targetting slower ships, or when I'm lost and needs a re-thinker... but nvr in heat of battle.

I choose not to rely on turrets, but on CMs and Missiles.. strafing, afterburning etc...

Edited by - Privateer-X on 08-03-2003 04:29:25

Sat Mar 08, 2003 5:38 am by Lev Arris

Hm... funny. The engine kill thingy is the most valuable maneuver for me, ESPECIALLY when the odds are totally against me. They don't manage to hit me often when i do all those wild zickzacks. Maybe you didn't use the thruster? It's essential for engine kill combat. Of course if you just kill the engines and keep floating in one direction with 80k/s you are dead meat for sure. But i wouldn't call that combat anyway. Sounds more like resignation to 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

Edited by - Lev Arris on 08-03-2003 05:39:04

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