WHy is it harder to hit a cobra than a viper/eagle/sw etc

[dioogio]

I have been bounty hunting in anarchy systems for quite a while and don't find Cobras as often as other ships.
My Viper is full decked and has two bursts on top and a MC and the 500k D2 Beam laser underneath. All gimballed.
the beam is in the same fire group as the bursts and I control when its firing by keeping it in the top/bottom part of the screen.
Just recently I have come across more Cobras and I am sure I have noticed that the gimballs seem to have more trouble locking and staying locked on on the cobra than any other ship.

I have also noticed some other strange behaviour.
The lasers nearly always initially lose lock when I fire the secondary for the MC.
Previously I used twin beams on top but I find them much more erratic locking than the bursts so went back to bursts.
Now however, when I fire bursts and single beam together the beam gets and holds the lock better than the bursts.
Is there a difference in locking ability between the D2 beam and the cheaper ones (cant remember the class)?
Only I might switch to two of the D2s on top and two MCs on bottom if that is the case.

I have over 700 kills so its not like I'm just starting out, but Im am pretty gung ho rather than methodical so dont have anything solid to back up these thoughts.

 

[Hooplah]

Sounds like Chaff is being used which can defeat the gimble weapons lock. Fixed weapons resolves this. Yes, NPCs can defend themselves!

 

[Axelmathew]

This is just a guess, but maybe it is about heat signature.

Cobras flies generally colder than other ships.

 

[OnePercent]

yeah as above cobras dissipate heat better than smaller ships, plus chaff and ecm.

 

[Tono Kopec]

Need good sensors too for gimbals

 

[Casimyr]

Sounds like Chaff is being used which can defeat the gimble weapons lock. Fixed weapons resolves this. Yes, NPCs can defend themselves!

This is just a guess, but maybe it is about heat signature.

Cobras flies generally colder than other ships.

Upgrade your sensors to better lock on cooler targets at better ranges
Buy fixed weapons x2 (IE your bursts). Stop relying on the game to aim for you if you want to avoid being rendered useless for a good clip of time as they deploy chaff.

 

[skydivertricky]

Even with A class sensors, they can still wobble around a bit.
Its why Ive ditched gimballed lasers and using fixed instead.

 

[Ogidch]

The ECM module has anyone used this?
Does it work against gimballed and turret weapons?

I have a point defence and this just runs itself, so presume the ECM works in the same way, or does it have to be fired/charged like chaff or a scanner?

 

[Tono Kopec]

You have to trigger the ECM
.
Only used it briefly, I think it's effective against missiles not gimbals

 

[Ogidch]

You have to trigger the ECM
.
Only used it briefly, I think it's effective against missiles not gimbals

Arh OK well the point defence works well against missiles have personal experience of that, not had a torpedo fired at me yet.

Chaff is pretty effective and had NPCs use that to good effect. Might switch my gimballed lasers out, but the spread on the Cobra is not so good for smaller ships under 500m range.

 

[dioogio]

Sounds like Chaff is being used which can defeat the gimble weapons lock. Fixed weapons resolves this. Yes, NPCs can defend themselves!

Yes I am familiar with what happens when chaff is released, its not that. Its all a load of Cobras.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

This is just a guess, but maybe it is about heat signature.

Cobras flies generally colder than other ships.

I didnt know this, but I am suprised its easier to hit an eagle. I would have thought that would have been designed to have a smaller heat sig than a big fat cobra. Interesting.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

Need good sensors too for gimbals

Did not know sensors affected targetting... doh.
I thought they were just for radar, silly me.

 

[Morbad]

I didnt know this, but I am suprised its easier to hit an eagle. I would have thought that would have been designed to have a smaller heat sig than a big fat cobra. Interesting.

Heat efficiency is based on your power plant and how much power you are using.

Eagles often have PPs with poor efficiency and are often running closer to peak consumption.

 

[dioogio]

Upgrade your sensors to better lock on cooler targets at better ranges
Buy fixed weapons x2 (IE your bursts). Stop relying on the game to aim for you if you want to avoid being rendered useless for a good clip of time as they deploy chaff.

I don't use Yaw at all in combat and I find it too difficult to hit anything with fixed - especially when dancing around with FA off/ FA on!!!
I find chaff a fairly minor inconvenience with NPCs as they only seem to let off a few bursts and then I am hard at em again. Guess I will have problems with Cmdrs with fixed and chaff but wth Im having fun.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

Heat efficiency is based on your power plant and how much power you are using.

Eagles often have PPs with poor efficiency and are often running closer to peak consumption.

Damn, thats one more reason the Conda may be better than the Viper then.
I have not experienced this issue with any ship other than the Conda. Perhaps I will have to change after all.

 

[Morbad]

I don't use Yaw at all in combat

You should really find a way to get some yaw control.

 

[dioogio]

You should really find a way to get some yaw control.

I have a ch combatstick and ch throttle, no pedals.
I have yaw set up on a hat on the stick but don't use it in combat. Very rarely I use it for alignment on the letterbox when I'm a bit off.

I managed the original elite on a joystick with no yaw (and managed to get elite too).
Could probably get my pitch and roll much more accurate by playing with sensitivity curves.
But even then, I don't think I could manage with fixed with the amount of FA off I'm currently using.
Its fun as it is, maybe later I will try again with fixed.

 

[Shotgun2097]

I don't use Yaw at all in combat and I find it too difficult to hit anything with fixed - especially when dancing around with FA off/ FA on!!!
I find chaff a fairly minor inconvenience with NPCs as they only seem to let off a few bursts and then I am hard at em again. Guess I will have problems with Cmdrs with fixed and chaff but wth Im having fun.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -



Damn, thats one more reason the Conda may be better than the Viper then.
I have not experienced this issue with any ship other than the Conda. Perhaps I will have to change after all.

im guessing you mean cobra .. the cobra is in a different league to viper , over all a much better ship ... btw if you want to use gimbals you go ahead your the pilot after all !!

 

[Katkon]

Upgrade your sensors to better lock on cooler targets at better ranges
Buy fixed weapons x2 (IE your bursts). Stop relying on the game to aim for you if you want to avoid being rendered useless for a good clip of time as they deploy chaff.

This is a myth. All a gimbaled weapon user needs to do when the target deploys chaff is to remove target lock and the gimbaled weapon functions as a fixed weapon.

 

[dioogio]

im guessing you mean cobra .. the cobra is in a different league to viper , over all a much better ship ... btw if you want to use gimbals you go ahead your the pilot after all !!

Yup your right Cobra not Conda

 

[schuesseled]

Upgrade your sensors to better lock on cooler targets at better ranges
Buy fixed weapons x2 (IE your bursts). Stop relying on the game to aim for you if you want to avoid being rendered useless for a good clip of time as they deploy chaff.

Chaff isnt a problem, i just ram them...well i get really close so the chaff has no effect and unleash hell and then accidentally bump them

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

This is a myth. All a gimbaled weapon user needs to do when the target deploys chaff is to remove target lock and the gimbaled weapon functions as a fixed weapon.

Hadn't thought of that, rep to you sir.

 

[Rennard]

Not using Yaw ?

You are missing about 50% of your combat effectiveness. Get a new stick with twist capability at the very least. Trust me, it will be worth it.