CQC A couple of beginner's questions

[Sireei Lieesi]

I have played Elite Dangerous for around 24 hours and have done no combat (mostly hauling cargo to earn credits). I want to improve my fighting skills though, and with that in mind I thought that "well, let's try CQC. That's a safe way of improving your skills".

So, I logged on and chose Deathmatch (as I'm not in any wing/group). I have read that others have to wait a long time to be matched up, but yesterday this was not a problem. I waited perhaps 15 seconds, and the match started... only, the deathmatch wasn't a match. It was only death.

I'm fully aware that being a complete beginner, I will get killed. A lot. I mean... A LOT.

The thing, though, was that of the 6 people (I think) in the match, me and another pilot were rookies (level 1), and the other 4 commanders were level 14-18. The other rookie and I were not competing with the others. We were prey. Within seconds of being attacked, I was killed... each and every time (and with seconds I mean 2-3 seconds after being hit the first time). There wasn't much of a learning curve to be found - it was a vertical learning wall.

I had expected that the matchmaking system would match up commanders of approximately the same skill level (like level 1-4 or somthing like that). As it was, it was like matching up 7 year olds with professional football players.

This brings me to my first question: Is this really how the matchmaking system works in CQC, or was I just really unlucky?

I have one question more: I know about PIPS and use them when I'm attacked in the real game (mainly 4 to System and 2 to Engines to escape, though). I have also read about PIPS management in CQC (shifting between different setups when attacking, and when trying to defend/escape). So I know how I'm supposed to distribute the PIPs in the different fases of the match.

My question is this: How am I supposed to change the distribution of PIPS when I'm litterally destroyed 2-3 seconds after being attacked? That's almost the time it takes for me to move my hand to the right position on the keyboard

I'm looking forward to seeing you guys and gals in CQC and (eventually) perhaps even getting a shot in.

 

[Blian]

Hey, man! It is really tough for new pilots like yourself, but don't give up! They were killing you because they were using powerups probably, the weapons powerup is especially nasty. Here is a good starter's guide from Sowelu: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showth...8879-CQC-Guide

If you're interested join the (un)official CQC Discord channel:
https://discord.gg/014DWLGks4z4Hdg5r It is open to everybody.

After a while you'll get used to the dynamics and will do a lot better!

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Level 1 to level 4 is basically "win 2 matches" - though it takes everyone longer than that the first time round! Level 14-18 is "has played for a week or less", in general. That's actually pretty good for the matchmaking - though of course some level 1s are genuine rookies and some are people playing CQC for the first time who've done a lot of main game combat, maybe even main game PvP. So... about all I can say is it does get easier with practice, but you have a lot of dying to do first. I was rank 30-something before I actually won a deathmatch, though conversely I'm now rank 290ish and recently lost a match to a rank 10 player, so rank really isn't everything!

(Exception: were any of the 14-18 people yellow rank badges - if so, they're veterans and you got a bit unlucky with the matchup: sometimes the matchmaker tries to avoid that, sometimes it just pulls together a match with whoever is about - it depends how many people are playing)

Anyway, some concrete tips:
1) Yes, pips are really important in CQC: your distributor is worse than main game ones so you never have enough power. If you're having trouble getting switched to 4 to systems fast enough, I'd recommend flying around in either 4-2-0 or 4-0-2 until you get the hang of things. Knowing the theory is one thing, getting it totally right in practice takes months (I still need to improve!)

Also: if the "pips to systems" key is too far away, remap it (or put a second mapping of it) on something closer to your hand's normal position - I have a pretty weird keyboard mapping precisely so that I can reach 90%+ of the important combat functions without moving either hand very far at all. (A lot of people would recommend a proper HOTAS which puts basically all your controls in reach without moving your hand - but they can be expensive and it's not necessary for even top-level play. You could also try third-party programs to set up keyboard macros which let you switch multiple pips in a single keypress (again, I don't).

2) Even with 0 pips to systems, your ship will usually survive more than 3 seconds of fire. There are two exceptions:
- you are being shot at by more than one person: this can't be avoided entirely, but hug the walls and asteroids closely and you make yourself harder to spot
- you are being shot at by someone with the weapons (RED) powerup. Best cure for this is to grab the thing yourself before they do! If you can't do that, the stealth (BLUE) powerup makes you tricky to hit, the shields (YELLOW) powerup will fully recharge and then supercharge your shields, and if you see someone else grab it do not start a fight with them immediately - let them get into a fight with someone else, then shoot them in the back.

3) Give Team Deathmatch a go - fewer people play it so you may have to wait longer for a match, but it does mean that at least some of the experienced players won't be shooting at you.

4) When you get to rank 2 you unlock the Sidewinder. This is a difficult ship to win a match with (if you can win in a Sidewinder you could have slaughtered everyone in a Condor or Imp Fighter) - but it has the advantage of being extremely tough, and having a SCB. Take a Sidewinder, put 4 pips to systems, and fire the SCB when you get down under 1 ring of shields, and you'll take so long to kill no-one will bother. You won't get many kills yourself - people can just run away if they're losing - but it gives you chance to get used to the maps, the controls, and so on.

5) CQC is about speed and positioning (which the Sidewinder can't do - switch back to something fast after you've had a few games in it) - know your blue zone, use boost at the right time, and when you get more advanced, make strong use of your sideways and vertical thrusters. (Flight Assist Off helps too, but is less important)

6) CQC is also about target selection: if you see a yellow rank badge in the pre-match, they're a veteran and usually extremely dangerous. They're also often looking for some tough opposition to kill, so if you don't shoot them (and don't fly right in front of them) they may ignore you in favour of more dangerous targets ... especially if you're in a Sidewinder.

7) Practice, practice, practice! Hope to see you around sometime.

 

[Sireei Lieesi]

Thanks for the extremely useful reply, Ian!

 

[Sowelu]

There wasn't much of a learning curve to be found - it was a vertical learning wall.

I laughed so hard when I read this. I know your feeling, I have been in your shoes. After spending a few hours in maingame I went straight for CQC. I guess I was lucky people were not that organized back then, it must be even harder for new player now. There are a lot of great advices in the posts above. I will mostly repeat what Blian and Ian wrote (both are pilots par excellance and I am not shamed at all by losing against either of them). The focus of this reply is on community rather than on actual combat tips.

The fact that you read up on how things work in CQC speak volumes about you, we would be honored if you could join us on the Discord, I am sure you'll love it. I believe there is a huge difference between being pitted against a group of foreign elite pilots that shoot you down and playing with a few (virtual) friends that are having a great time and communicate with you. CQC now is very psychologically demanding - as you write there is a learning "wall" between a new and experienced player - and the community can (and does) make all the difference.
There are other benefits too, some combat tips and tricks are spread by word of mouth. Sometimes a veteran mentions how he does things. Sometimes you see somebody do a trick (usually just before you blow up) you can emulate. A great benefit of the community here is that you can ask questions and they'll get answered. Example: You'll get blown up in 2 seconds. You wonder what in all the hells had just happened. You can (and should) ask - I do it myself. The answer is sometimes very simple - you were shot at with multiple people, the guy who shot you will tell you appeared to have had lag, he had weapons powerup, he may even tell you that he attacked you because you had no shields and hull at 50% and you'll realize you just didn't notice. My point is that the factor of unknown evil forces that mysteriously kill may be transformed into usable insight. Oh, and I myself wonder many times what just happened.

There is an excellent Dirty Fighting guide video. Watch it and you’ll learn TONS. It's basically a guide how to play against equal or better opponents. It also explains how veterans win so often. The truth is that you have to play dirty to win as there are too many skillcapped pilots around.

Oh and check out streams (and Youtube) if you didn't. I remember I watched some streams from Atrysu and I learned a lot.

I hope I didn't cross the boundary of a rant.

Good luck!!!

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

Fantastic posts Ian and Sowelu!

I wish I had got that insight at the start!

Sireei, starting in CQC is just one long "eject" message followed by a screen full of explosion. It can be very frustrating at the start but you will get better and as Sowelu says, come and join the discord channel. It´s a good crowd. CQC doesn´t have seal clubbers in the main. It´s no fun for the more experienced players and I, like many, actively avoid attacking the noobs unless they shoot at me (or I´m really close to winning a match and need an extra 100 points )

One more piece of advice. Avoid joining the noob cloud that develops when less experienced players are in the match. There is a tendency for everyone to rush off to a little spot and try and try to kill each other in a little cloud of mayhem. Far better to hang back when these develop and pick off the ones running from the cloud or at least, select targets carefully from a distance.

Best of luck and hope to see you in the discord.

 

[dutchy2000]

Avoid joining the noob cloud that develops when less experienced players are in the match. There is a tendency for everyone to rush off to a little spot and try and try to kill each other in a little cloud of mayhem. Far better to hang back when these develop and pick off the ones running from the cloud or at least, select targets carefully from a distance.

This is great advice, if you don't do that, I will, and if I do it I win.

 

[Sireei Lieesi]

Thanks for the good advice, Sowelu and Scoopy Doopy!

I am in the process of buying a new computer that hopefully arrives in a couple of weeks. Then I will take a look at Discord. At the moment my old computer (which is below minimum requirements for the game) sometimes lags just a little, so this could be part of the problem concerning my "almost insta-deaths"

 

[SushiCW]

Thanks for the good advice, Sowelu and Scoopy Doopy!

I am in the process of buying a new computer that hopefully arrives in a couple of weeks. Then I will take a look at Discord. At the moment my old computer (which is below minimum requirements for the game) sometimes lags just a little, so this could be part of the problem concerning my "almost insta-deaths"

There's also a pretty good Discord app for both Android & iPhone.

 

[Mysturji]

Try the flight tutorials from the game main menu - there are combat scenarios to practice with.

 

[VR micmacmoc]

Looks like the training missions are getting a revamp in the 2.2 which will help.
Great posts above, thanks!