Horizons Am I crazy (in regard to NPC flight tactics/capabilities)?

[StiTch]

What the hell is this thread?

No, NPCs do not cheat in combat. NPCs cannot even use FA Off.

But yes, OP and y'all are crazy.

Answered yet?

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I'm not sure if that is correct. Your forward thrusters are much smaller then the rear. You can try on your python. Boost forward, turn FA off and zero throttle while at the same time pull up hard 180 degrees. Right as you get to 180, throttle full reverse then FA
back on. Look at your full reverse speed.

My, that's a lot of complication and misunderstanding.

FA Off -> can travel as fast in any direction as you can forward. Simple.

 

[Morbad]

are they given special capabilities in flight/combat?

No.

I've never seen an NPC do anything I could not duplicate, and I can do many things they cannot.

So, with FA off, they can "hover" in space, keeping an equal distance to you, the whole time?

NPCs still don't use FA off.

Also worth mention that with FA on you are limited half vertical and reverse speed (and I think all other directions save forward).

If you use vertical, lateral, and reverse thrust simultaneously, you can reach full forward speed with FA on, and still be keeping a target in your sights as you move generally away from it.

I'm seeing this a lot myself in CZ's, and am putting it down to engineered modules, as a ship pointing towards me but at a ~45º angle off dead in seems to keep getting further away, despite non stop boosting towards them.

See above.

 

[CMDR Nightjar]

I haven't checked it, since I gave up on interdicting, but if I recall, YOU can't initiate an interdiction at 100ls. The interdictor is "out of range" on the HUD. So I still think getting interdicted at 100+ls is an NPC "trick".


I believe I've covered all forms/tenses of "interdict" above....

Interdictee?

 

[dayrth]

I wasn't aware the ships could fly as fast backwards as they could forward

I believe all ships can fly as fast backwards as forwards, but that doesn't apply to boost. Boost only works forward, but you can boost, FA off and turn. You will then be going backwards at boost speed (for a bit).