Forums » Suggestions
Weapons Targeting
Caveats: I've looked through the forums and didn't see a similar thread, although I may have missed something relevant. I'm a noob to VO, so I don't have a mastery of the game. That said:
The physics and weapons-play of the game seems odd. I'm flying an advanced spacecraft, cruising the galaxy(ies) and I'm shooting big-bad-players, npcs., etc., with a pea-shooter. Not the amount of bang for the buck, but in terms of intelligence.
It would seem logical that weapons would be on floating platforms that can be aimed separate of the body of the craft, within limits maybe. More logical would be a targeting system that does the math for us -- the whole purpose of a computer -- such that I can mark a target and open fire, and the computer tracks the target until elimination. In an advanced fighting craft of this age, I should be able to target the next priority while the first target is still being eliminated -- in fact, I should be able to stack multiple targets for elimination, forming a take-down list.
Seems that the game has to be logical within the confines of space and time.
The physics and weapons-play of the game seems odd. I'm flying an advanced spacecraft, cruising the galaxy(ies) and I'm shooting big-bad-players, npcs., etc., with a pea-shooter. Not the amount of bang for the buck, but in terms of intelligence.
It would seem logical that weapons would be on floating platforms that can be aimed separate of the body of the craft, within limits maybe. More logical would be a targeting system that does the math for us -- the whole purpose of a computer -- such that I can mark a target and open fire, and the computer tracks the target until elimination. In an advanced fighting craft of this age, I should be able to target the next priority while the first target is still being eliminated -- in fact, I should be able to stack multiple targets for elimination, forming a take-down list.
Seems that the game has to be logical within the confines of space and time.
This is already in place. Each weapon has a certain amount of auto-targeting capability and allows for some adjustment based upon how close you are to the optimal point of fire. However, these ships are not large cruisers, but small one-man craft. Also, to have fully-automated, pintle-mounted weapons (or the futuristic equivalent) cheapens the game, which is based upon being a twitch-based, space first-person-shooter.
As for targeting priorities, you can write a plugin which will allow you to automatically target the next person/thing in your "stack."
As for targeting priorities, you can write a plugin which will allow you to automatically target the next person/thing in your "stack."
This game is about fun, not realism.
If you want the computer to play for you, go play EVE. That, or level up your heavy-weapons license and get a Gatling Turret.
If you want the computer to play for you, go play EVE. That, or level up your heavy-weapons license and get a Gatling Turret.
drbob, you may be right but it still not desirable. VO is a good blend of real physics and game "pheauxsics", and most of the ship and weapons speeds are a compromise to keep the game playable over a good variety of OS's and network speeds.
What I also would bet you are encountering is the NPC ai that starts evasive patterns once it detects a string of incoming fire. Bots especially are WAY easier to hit with single shots or very short bursts. If you can at all manage it, hold your ship's vector from point of firing until the shot gets to the bot before performing a change of direction. The follow-thru keeps them mirroring you in the same line. Once you get really zen about it, you will even learn to make the bot fly INTO your shot.
Some of the AI you meet in the Border Skirmishes are very good, and you will encounter the random Ninja Hive Bot from time to time, but all these can be analyzed and weaknesses can be exploited. Player to Player is extremely difficult at first, as there are many vets with years of experience. Ask someone to match your ship & weapons and give it a try. You will die but you will learn. It is very rewarding once you are at one with the flight model and find some ships and loadouts that work for you. Some of the best adrenaline rushes ever.
What I also would bet you are encountering is the NPC ai that starts evasive patterns once it detects a string of incoming fire. Bots especially are WAY easier to hit with single shots or very short bursts. If you can at all manage it, hold your ship's vector from point of firing until the shot gets to the bot before performing a change of direction. The follow-thru keeps them mirroring you in the same line. Once you get really zen about it, you will even learn to make the bot fly INTO your shot.
Some of the AI you meet in the Border Skirmishes are very good, and you will encounter the random Ninja Hive Bot from time to time, but all these can be analyzed and weaknesses can be exploited. Player to Player is extremely difficult at first, as there are many vets with years of experience. Ask someone to match your ship & weapons and give it a try. You will die but you will learn. It is very rewarding once you are at one with the flight model and find some ships and loadouts that work for you. Some of the best adrenaline rushes ever.