Couple of gameplay questions.

[adoredtv]

I've read that thrust helps turning but while practicing it in the sidewinder tutorial mission, I just can't see it clearly. Are there any hard numbers on this, videos or any evidence of it being a fact? For example, I'm "chasing" the sidewinder as we try to loop around each other, using maximum pitch while holding down upwards thrust - I can't see that the upwards thrust is making any real difference, so it's either very subtle or I'm missing something...

On a similar note, I'm wondering if different levels of the "blue zone" affect your turning speed also? Obviously there is a big difference between blue and orange, but if you say increase engine power then the blue bar gets bigger. Does that just mean that you can turn faster at the top of the larger blue zone, or does the larger blue zone mean that you can continue to turn optimally at a much larger or smaller speed?

Sorry my terminology is very crap but I'm pretty new to most of the terms. If anyone can clarify I'll be much obliged.

 

[CMDR Blagbyrn]

keep your throttle in the blue zone for maximum turning. It may get better toward the middle of the blue zone but I don't know.

When they say thrust helps with turning, they're talking about the separate button for your burst or whatever. You can turn really fast when you do this, but only very briefly. After that you are back to having slow turns because you have to decelerate back to the blue zone. Also the burst propels you forward very fast so you want to watch your distance to the target. Sometimes I combine it with lateral thrusters while doing a sort of dip maneuver.

 

[adoredtv]

Ok cheers for that Blagbyrn. Would you say that thrust (outside of the boost) is otherwise useless then, in a combat situation? I mean I've re-bound my W and S keys to thrust up and down, clearly those would be better as something else otherwise.

Does anyone know if different levels of "blue zone" make you turn faster or not? The blue colour fades near the top at least, so that was another reason I had wondered about it.

 

[flint read]

you can supplement your turning with your thrusters in order to tighten or widen a turn and thus gain a positional advantage on your target.

the middle of the blue zone represents a sweet spot for turning fastest.

 

[Unfluffydave]

Ok cheers for that Blagbyrn. Would you say that thrust (outside of the boost) is otherwise useless then, in a combat situation? I mean I've re-bound my W and S keys to thrust up and down, clearly those would be better as something else otherwise.

Does anyone know if different levels of "blue zone" make you turn faster or not? The blue colour fades near the top at least, so that was another reason I had wondered about it.

Thrust still has its uses, especially with fixed guns to make minor adjustments. It is also useful for evading incoming fire from ships that are armed with heavy slow weapons like dumbfires, cannons and plasma accelerators. You can dodge their fire while still keeping your own aim.

 

[adoredtv]

Ok yeah you're right about that guys, and in fact it's not bad as a (very) fine-tuner. I think I'll keep it as it is for now. Cheers everyone.