A tip for runners

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

I've been running away (a lot) in my Adder and I've come to the conclusion that the loadout of the NPC, rather than their skill, has the biggest impact on the survivability of the encounter. Evasive maneuvers are not a lot of use against lasers, but are extremely effective against projectiles - it makes the difference between watching your shields melt and watching the rounds pass harmlessly by.

So, fit the mirrored surface composite armor - since they reduce laser damage and projectile weapons just aren't going to be getting to your hull.

I'm wondering if fitting bi-weave shields in conjunction with the mirrored armor is the way to go.
Yes, they'll drop quicker, but then you spend less time vulnerable to cannon fire before they come back up.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Good tip. +1

Chaff works well too, assuming your attacker is using turrets or gimballed weapons.

Actually 'dueling' (getting behind) your attacker (if there's only one), while charging your FSD for hyperspace or supercruise (if not mass locked), is also effective.
Can't damage you if they can't hit you.

 

[Deleted member 115407]

I've been running away (a lot) in my Adder and I've come to the conclusion that the loadout of the NPC, rather than their skill, has the biggest impact on the survivability of the encounter. Evasive maneuvers are not a lot of use against lasers, but are extremely effective against projectiles - it makes the difference between watching your shields melt and watching the rounds pass harmlessly by.

So, fit the mirrored surface composite armor - since they reduce laser damage and projectile weapons just aren't going to be getting to your hull.

The next time I get engaged, I'll try to pay more attention to what I'm being hit with. I've never used the specialized armors. Thanks for the guidance.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

The next time I get engaged, I'll try to pay more attention to what I'm being hit with. I've never used the specialized armors. Thanks for the guidance.

They're not very good for general combat, as many ships carry multiple weapon types. So you would be opening yourself up to additional damage. But as the OP stated, perfect for reducing thermal damage while fleeing.

Also, on larger ships, they're very expensive. Lol

 

[Metkis]

Good advice.
I find boost, fa off, main thrusters to zero and full pips to shields, then an induced barrel roll ( side thrust and roll) is quite effective at reducing laser hits while the fsd charges. When ready, fa on and boost to engage.
Cheers,

Metkis

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

Good tip. +1

Chaff works well too, assuming your attacker is using turrets or gimballed weapons.

Actually 'dueling' (getting behind) your attacker (if there's only one), while charging your FSD for hyperspace or supercruise (if not mass locked), is also effective.
Can't damage you if they can't hit you.

Yeah, I've used this technique against a FAS which mass-locked me and melted my shields (before I fitted mirror armor) and which I couldn't outrun. I knew I was toast unless I got out of his firing arc. I survived long enough for security to show up and help me out.

 

[CMDR Harada]

Hah ! In my 'Cutter, with 8 boosters and an SCB, it goes something like this :
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On the bridge, sipping Lavian brandy in a large crystal glass..INTEDICTION ALERT !
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First Mate : Captain, a gentleman in an FDL appears to want to talk. He says he's 'finally found us' . What shall we do ?
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Captain : Hmmm, well, not to be rude. All that violent turning about might spill my drink. Lets see what he has to say.. full stop, and submit.
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Pirate Pete : AHa ! Cargo ! Mine ! Now ! Arh ! Buckets of blood and all that !
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Captain : I say, thats just not polite.        off.
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First Mate : He appears to have started shooting at us, Captain.
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Captain : Really ? Double check that, at once.
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First Mate : Confirmed Sir ! He REALLY is shooting at us. What should we do ?
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Captain : We could return fire. Should we have a battle ? We haven't had a battle in weeks.
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First Mate : It takes forever to clean the laser ports after a battle, sir. The crew would grumble.
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Captain : Yes, quite right. Well, if we aren't going to fight, and you can't parley with someone who can't speak the Empresses English..
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First Mate : Captain, Shields to half !
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Captain : I say ! Persistent ! Well, deploy one of those boosty things... We haven't used one in a long time, but they should still work. We do still have one, don't we ?
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First mate : A Shield Cell Booster ? Yes, we do. Has it come to that, sir ?
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Captain : I'm afraid so, if my new paint job gets damaged, I shall become quite cross. And power up the FSD. We're done here.
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First Mate : At once Captain ! Deploying SCB !
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Captain : Bring us about and line up the next jump.
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First Mate : He continues to fire, Captain !
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Captain : This simply defies the way civil people behave. I have a mind to report this when I retire to my cabin this evening.
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First Mate : Jumping out Captain ! High Waking to OrishPucho.

 

[kofeyh]

If you wish to have your shield be more effective; place 4 pips to shields, then come about and face your attacker. You can then boost toward and past them (closer the better, as they will have a greater turn required to reacquire weapons lock) then leave to SC or high-wake out (if mass lock is a risk) with minimal shield loss.

You can armour up, but mirrored is expensive, and won't save you from some AI. 4 pips to shields (roughly halves incoming damage) and boosting past your aggressor maximises survivability. Neither of these two actions are intuitive, but are highly effective.