I'm a terrible pilot. Combat wise. It's almost two years as I have my CMDR license and I can count on hand hand how many times I have participated in combat flying. And mind that this hand looks like old mutilated woodcutter's hand.
OK, skills aside, it always hit me how ships are unresponsive in combat, how sluggish they are and how it takes ages to get into position. Most cases I was trying to get away from being shot than trying to get the weapon lock. From my limited experience I noted that NPCs turn on a dime and are far more nimble then I. Obvious cheat mechanic tailored into design to give them any survivability. I get that. But I also noticed that FA is a thing.
I don't think there is a cheat mechanic in the maneuverability of the ships. Never have observed something unusual there.
This gives me issue. FDEVs envisioned combat as a dogfight. Extremely short range, visual range, literally sitting on tail. At the same time ships are slow to react, turn like a pregnant whales and generally are anything but fast and deadly combatants. Solution for that is FA off. Suddenly with assist off ships gain on maneuverability and responsiveness. True, inertia still remains and no X-Wing vs TIE Fighter duels that look like WWII ones.
So my gripe is - is FA off the answer for combat flying? I know I'm a biowaste pilot in terms of combat flying. I had my share of it in other games, but there at least I could feel like flying a fighter. I'm aware that in ED experience is gold. But somehow I'm unwilling to put at stakes my 10M (or more) worth of rebuy combat ship just to burn through my reserves in an attempt to gain that xp.
Using thrusters to support your turns and tapping FA-off for that bit more maneuverabiltiy are helpful indeed, if you like to fly heavyer ships. To fly a Python or Anaconda you are dead if you don't utilize these "tricks". All it takes is practice. Like many have said, try it with a cheap ship, or use the training tutorials, or CQC.
People state that NPCs are laugh, I struggle even with the easiest ones. I would like to part time bounty hunt but former experience showed two things:
- I suxx
- more effort and struggling than actual joy from the activity.
If you are having trouble fighting NPC's I'd suggest basic combat training. The tutorials are good for this, also CQC.
Also maybe try to optimize your control-scheme. Don't just take the basic controls, bind the keys to your liking. And yes USE THE LATERAL THRUSTERS. Drop into a asteroid belt and try to fly around asteroids with thrusters and then try it with FA-off too. That's a great basic flight training.
Play to your strengths. If you aren't a sniper try to get frags and get close and personal. You like flying big turret boats, make your ship into a shield tank and practice timing shield-cells and heat sinks.
FA-off, pip management, training the barrel roll, this is all good, but first get used to basic combat, then try to work your way up.
Fly safe!
