Newcomer / Intro Flight Assist Off...how common is it?

Erekos · Feb 2, 2015

So ive been watching the Flight Assist Off videos by Isinona and Im dumbfounded by the skill and precision hs shows flying fully FA off all the time. Im envious of the skill and I use the same HOTAS setup...but Im a joke compared to him. Ive been practicing and getting better...I can sorta circle strafe an outpost but no precision at all. I cant FAO land and I certainly cant target a moving ship.

in combat if I struggle getting someone off my six I will FAO and spin then re-engage FA so i can target. The skill gap is so huge it wants to make me run back to solo mode...Id have zero chance against a player of Isinona skill.

So my question is...how common is that level of skill? Is it like top 1% or actually pretty common? Ill keep practicing but honestly I dont ever see me gaining that type of mastery.

thanks

Kancro Vantas · Feb 2, 2015

I hear you..Isinona is probably the Yoda of FAO, a Jedi of sorts...like you I've tried to imitate him but man, is just too hard....and well, time and practice makes the master...

However, I also think there is no shame in FA On: as long as you master regular flught, know your ship, and put it exactly where you want, when you want it, it then becomes a matter of styles rather than skills. Kudos to him, but don't sweat it if you dont get it...

Ah, about the survey, yup, must be around 5-10% of people...my guess anyway....

adoredtv · Feb 2, 2015

Way less than 1% of people will be flying FA-OFF all the time, and most of those won't be near Isinona's level.

Jaiotu · Feb 2, 2015

At most I use FA off when running from combat. Get my ship going as fast as I can, hit FA off and turn to face my attacker. Briefly turn FA back on to steady my flight then hit FA off again so I can take shots while the attacker is trying to gain on me.

the100thmonkey · Feb 2, 2015

I have FA off bound to a slider on my x52 throttle.

I use it for docking alignment and combat maneuvers. It's not just useful for getting ships off your tail; it's also extremely useful for getting on to other ships' tails too. It gives you a nice little boost in engine output and maneuverability.

Himmel Tropf · Feb 2, 2015

This is still something i need to get around to actually having a crack at. From my few experiences i've just been warbling all over space, and trying to figure out what my speedometer is showing me. I think it's not going to be too much of an issue until i want to pick more PvP fights or go for the assassination missions, but i'm flying fine BH at the moment.

Tryst · Feb 2, 2015

Taking off FA takes a fair bit of skill to master. As an 84er, I got used to having no FA at all in the original Elite, it was all Newtonian physics. In the beginning, it did cause a fair few headaches when it does a Kami Kaze dive into a station.
Station 1, Ship 0.
After a few days...
Station 24, Ship 0
Few more days...
Station 100, ship... Yay, I managed to dock.
I'd suggest while you're learning, use the cheapest ship you can buy, you're probably going to do more damage to yourself than to others to begin with, especially if you get into combat near a station.

Ian Skippy · Feb 2, 2015

Never met any cmdr who came even remotely close to his skill level, me included.

Just try to incorporate FA off in your piloting: start with using FA off when leaving the docking slot (float away, align with target while in FA off). If it works, start using FA off in dogfighting: when 'jousting', disable FA off when he is coming right at you and just keep aiming at him. Eventually you'll be facing him while moving in revers. Slightly before that happens: boost and FA on again. When you can do this, start using FA off when aligning with the letterbox entrance of stations. For docking with FA off I've bought a disposible Sidewinder and practice when no cmdr is around.