Forums » General

Combat Tips?

Apr 23, 2005 icbm1987 link
Hey, I'm currently still on a trial account, but I do plan to move on to a full account later (just need to take care of prom costs first ^_^ ).

When I play though, I seem to have a very hard time with combat... which I'm sure is in part due to the fact that I have really no clue as to common strategy and binds, etc.

Do I need to have a mouse to be able to hold my own in combat? Or is my trackpad enough?

And what's the best way to go into combat? (assume I'm in a small fighter or a Wraith) Is it to sit back, strafe and just let cannons fly? Or is it better to just go on what might be considered "bombing runs"?

Also, what's the best way to upgrade my large-port weapons rank? it goes really slowly...

I could get along fine just mining (I love to mine for some reason... I know I'll pick up a moth sometime during play), but I would be really appreciative if someone could give me tips on combat.

Thanks In advance,

icbm1987
Apr 23, 2005 Dasus Vanos link
i use the strafe/roll method while botting, and I find that it works quite well. and yes, upgrade to a cheap mouse, anything is better than a trackpad unless youve got the skill.
Apr 23, 2005 everman7 link
First off, play around with your flight assist off. Get to be GOOD without it, it will help in the long run.

With bots, they are very predictable, always fly in pairs to attack. Strafing is a good tactic for new players, bombing runs will take too long for the kills.

If you have access to a wraith, equip whatever you can for a weapon in the L port and use it as much as you can. The weapon you kill the bot with will give you the xp for that weapon, ie kill with s port, get light weapon xp, kill with the L port get heavey weapon xp.

Good luck, and welcome to VO

kernel.panic
Apr 23, 2005 Lord Q link
i finde that the default key binds are realy dificult to use properly. i myself use a joystick and a nostromo array, but i did farly well previous to that set up using a re-bound keyboard and a 2 button mouce. I recomend having your strafe keys set to a diamond pattern with the accelerate and decelerat yeys mapped to a pair of keys nearby.

as for leveling heavy weapons: damage your target with your more efficent light weapons and fire the killing shot with the heavy weapon.

in general for comabt tactics it depends grately on what you are flying and what you are fighting. in a light fighter i finde that it is better to be a bit cautious, and dart in and out attacking only when you have an opertunity, whereas with a heavy ship you have to be more agressive or lighter ships will dance around you picking at you untill you die. (be carefull with this advice i die more often than i win in PvP)
Apr 24, 2005 Snax_28 link
ICBM, what levels are you?

Get in touch with me once you are 4/x/x/x and I will give you some ingame advanced combat training (light fighters).

Gavan
Apr 24, 2005 Bobsin link
pretty much any of the BLAK members are willing to give combat pointers in game... as well as most other players.

binds are for lazy people imo. i pay for this game so i can play not so my computer can play for me! i have found that a controller did wonders for my wrists. when playing using the keyboard i would get sharp pains sometimes.

as for techniques, i perfer the dodge and jab method with my light fighter. dodge as much as you can and take oppertune shots when they unwittingly line up.

most important of all would be the "/givemoney 100000 sebastian" command.... never leave monitored space without it :D
Apr 24, 2005 Shapenaji link
Yeah, to summarize:

light fighters are good, I would start there, with either vultures or centurions, you can move on to heavies later, but if you go directly to heavies you can lose out on the ability to aim :).

FA mode off is really the only way to go against bots (except for guardians, for some reason FA mode on works against them), however against players, there seem to be players on both sides of the FA mode toggle.

Mixing the 2 is nice as well. FA mode lets you be VERY aggressive, and pull very controlled turns. FA off lets you do more distance control.

To echo Sebastian's point, binds are for teh lazy. You want to be able to adapt your style for ANY situation, and binds just don't let you do that. (Calder apparently has a dodge bind that he uses at long distance, and then switches off as he gets closer. This is much better, but it still makes me feel dirty)

Come see any member of Black Lance (BLAK) in a Fighter-class ship and we'll give you some combat practice, if you come in a wraith, you'll probably get pirated.
Apr 24, 2005 CrippledPidgeon link
Go in an Atlas! The BLAKs won't mess with you if you're flying an Atlas. I always fly Atlasses into combat...
Apr 24, 2005 mdaniel link
Welcome to VO!
:)
For gods sake get a mouse. Trackpad is almost certain death, plus you will have a hard time learning PvP, since trackbad really does not allow to learn the right movements.

<EDIT> ...and take Shape's advice... if someone can teach you the "real" stuff then it is him </ EDIT>

M. Duncan
Apr 24, 2005 Borb II link
And you don't need a "real" mouse too be good at PvP. I use a track pad and I'm good. :D

I'm gonna assume your still fighting bots. Later on when you move on to people let me know I often charge people to train them in PvP. But On to bots, when I'm botting I like to use a vult or a cent, they are both fast and maneuverable. Hogs and Atlases are both great for combat as well but you'll need higher levs to get them. So what you want to do to kill the basic bots (collector bots) is strafe up and move forwards, now I recommend not having FA on at all. Most of the time if you have it on when the bot blows up it will hurt you with it.

Now then when you move on to assault bots your tactics will need to change abit. I usually strafe down or up and then to the right or left at the same time while also moving backwards. Mix up your strafe and get a feel for the bots, and you should almost never get hit.

Good luck, and have fun.
Jun 27, 2005 runlevel0 link
Where can a noob like me find:

A) More info to practice the fine art of RTFMming?

B) A way of practising combat w/o having to bot or loosing losing lot's of ships (=money) in the attempt to gain some PvP combat practice and also the +200 xp I need for 4/4/-/-/- ?

TIA,
--
yours
runlevel0 aka "Runne Levsky"
Jun 27, 2005 icbm1987 link
As of right now... It Is pretty much all having to bot.

If you're Serco or Itani... you could go do a border patrol mission...

but if you're UIT... I'm pretty sure you're stuck with botting.

Oh... and if you need pvp combat "practice"... get a mentor.
Jun 27, 2005 Sun Tzu link
Runne Levski: You can do BP missions if you're UIT, you just need to tank either your serco or itani standing.

If you want to get some PvP practice without losing ships, find someone to duel with. You can fight "to the red" or "to 20%", ie before somebody dies.

Last, if you want to get +200 xp at PvP without the risk of losing ships, I see two solutions:

- pay someone high-level to get killed and see if your self-esteem can live with that;

- or become a pirate, kill peaceful traders, and be prepared to live a hard life ;-).
Jun 27, 2005 Renegade ++RIP++ link
You can as a UIT join eithe rof the 2 sides of the BP, if a serco/itani groupleader takes the mission for you. There does not seem to be a check on each member, just on the person taking the mission.

In my view, there is no supreme fligtingstyle. I use FA on and off interchangeably, but it all depends on the adversary... as shape said. You'll notice what I mean once you have some fights behind your belly with different people.

And no at present there is no other way of getting pvp experience without dieing, but hey a death in this game has no real consequences so this doesn't form a problem, especially since money is quite easy to get.

cheers

PS: some people swear with a joystick, other people swear with a mouse, its just preference and training.
Jun 27, 2005 UncleDave link
You forgot arrow keys. >_>
Jun 27, 2005 Borb II link
Come to b 8, we'll help you learn the hard way.
Jun 27, 2005 VincentV link
There goes my Kill to Death ratio, pesky thing...
Jun 27, 2005 smittens link
KILL THE KILL DEATH RATIO

Yes, echoing everyone else, BLAK always has good things to say regarding training. The two tips I can give you are:

1) Don't put a slow firing weapon in a heavy ship
So some people will disagree with that (And can kick my ass with that) but if you load a Corvus Maurader with three Gauss you'll be too heavy to turn fast enough to line up your shots propperly. Sure you might get the occasional nice shot but if you put in something faster, say neutrons, you can use the "Spray and pray" method which is much more effective

2) Don't turbo PAST your opponent in combat
Like the last one there are some occasions where you can pull this off, such as if they're using Flight Assist and you can't turn fast enough to line up, but 9 times out of 10 you're giving your opponent the easiest shot possible. And if they're using rockets? Say good bye to your ship.
Jun 27, 2005 Renegade ++RIP++ link
smittens:

1)

This is purely a matter of taste. I know people that if you guve them a neut in their hands, they will not know how to aim it. Give htem however a gauss and they can kill you in 4 shots. I'm one of the latter... probably because of my lack of aimingskills...

2)

As you evidenced, turboing past people is sometimes dangerous. But it has its merits, it makes for very quick dodges on the lighter ships, especially once you go against the bulkier ships. Sice this helps you getting behind a ship and then pumping it. Although as always, this might get you killed, since I know people that wait for that to shoot a couple rockets in your face... but as before its a matter of taste, opponent and weapons.

PS: I just wanted to point out with this, that there are no universal codes that will guarantee you a win always... improvisation and the understanidng of your weapons is the major part (especially knowing its weaknesses)
Jun 27, 2005 TRS link
The EC-88 bus is free, and many players use it to duel each other in. You won't get any combat ex for dueling, but it is a good way to practice you dog fighting skills.

For serious pvp, you need at least one of the following ships: Centurian Itani Border Guardian, Centurian Orion Rev-c, Vulture MkIII (or better, there are many versions of vultures). These are the easest of the top fighter ships to get.

You can get by with light weapons but neuts are highly recommended.

The fast charge battery is a must when your chasing through multiple wormholes. The heavy battery may be a better choice if your staying in one system.

3/3/3/0/0 can get you into battle. (if just barely. go for 4/4/4/4/0)

mouse.