[NEWB] Should I finish the Combat Scenarios before jumping into Online?

[daniu]

I've been playing the Combat Scenarios for two nights now (once Mouse/KB, once joystick), and got stuck in Incursion both times. It did get frustrating to which I'm somewhat resistant, so the question is: should I force myself to hone my skills to at least be able to beat the scenarios, or is it enough to get so far and pick up the rest along the way?
What did you do? How did it go?

 

[gapper4]

I've been playing the Combat Scenarios for two nights now (once Mouse/KB, once joystick), and got stuck in Incursion both times. It did get frustrating to which I'm somewhat resistant, so the question is: should I force myself to hone my skills to at least be able to beat the scenarios, or is it enough to get so far and pick up the rest along the way?
What did you do? How did it go?

I got stuck on the third scenario when I First bought the game. Said "screw it", jumped in game and went straight to the distress beacons in Eranin. Lost a few Sidewinders until I figured it out and then the bounties started rolling in. My point is that you can practice in the training missions but you might as well practice in game since you'll start making Money out of it. Replacement Sidewinders are Free :smilie:

Out of curiosity, I went back to the training missions later and breezed through them with what I had learned in-game.

 

[Darth Krayt]

You don't have to complete them, but I would suggest you play up to mission 3 at least.

 

[Crumbs]

I just did 3-4 missions before I jumped online i solo-mode and started trading and learned the controls so I felt comfortable flying and docking. When I could afford gimballed weapons I started bounty hunting and now a few weeks later I'm in online-mode with 150+ kills an a million cash in the bank.

Good luck!

 

[Unknown Terror]

I made sure I completed them all before I jumped into the game. I got stuck on the one where you have to stealth from the Cobra a few times but did it in the end.

I'm experienced in space/flight games but I felt the need to complete the training before just jumping in even if the game itself seems easier than the scenarios.

But it was still fun, I enjoyed it and it got me used to the style and feel of the game.

 

[Munphf]

I think it is worth it to go thru combat scenarios also several times if you feel that you need some training in ship handling and enhancing your piloting skills at all.

For myself I have gone thru second scenario like five times hunting that NPC, playing with different approaches etc etc.

Yes, it is possible to learn on-the-go in online game, but you may find easier and more comfortable to get "instantly" into the battle in the scenario + there are also valuable hints at the beginning of each scenario.

 

[Hellhawk666]

Not at all - I'd suggest that as soon as you understand the basics of flight control you jump online.

Only the first solo scenario is really to do with control familiarity - from then on they are a series of combat arenas with increasing (more or less) difficulty. Some are fun, for sure, but others are more difficult than anything you will ever encounter online unless you specifically go looking for trouble.

Also, until you go online you can't experience docking, or trading, or missions, or supercruise, or hyperspace, or ... well, you get the idea

Your starting ship online is free, and until you start building up money you can crash it as many times as you need while practicing docking, or get shot up as many times as you like in combat and you'll just reset with a fresh ship. Take the time to learn the ropes in the basic Sidewinder - explore, do a little trading, take a mission, do some combat at Eranin 2, etc.

Don't start playing seriously and trying to build up cash until you feel confident, because a bad loss will cripple you and lose hours of gameplay, which is very depressing. Remember also that a progress wipe is almost guaranteed before too much longer, so don't focus on making money right now.

Good rule of thumb is to build up cash reserves of 50% more than you need to buy your next ship before buying it, to cover insurance, buy cargo, and allow for a total cargo loss.

Have fun!

 

[hawkenfox]

I completed the single player mission just so I understand the mechanics. Also spend many hours doing non assisted manuver just to hone a celebrated skill set, quite difficult I must say for me, lead me to tune up my joystick response curve to fit my clumsy hands.

 

[Herne]

From memory incursion is the scenario you get wave after wave, 10 in total I think, I don't think I ever got passed about wave 8.

So don't worry, play online and have fun

 

[Red Kite]

I have found the combat scenarios difficult, particularly because fixed pulse lasers are so hard to hit anything with! I jumped straight into the game and went trading, avoiding trouble until I could buy a Cobra and outfit it with some decent gimballed weapons, then went to learn combat round the Eranin and Dahan combat zones. If I get clobbered I just go back to trading for a while until I have enough cash to get my ship back and go fighting again.

Works for me, but as has been said many times elsewhere this game is whatevere you want it to be. Do your own thing. Good hunting.

 

[izzy]

I have done 9 missions solo during alpha phase

 

[Bingo Brewster]

Most of the scenarios are worth doing because you get to try out various weapon types in a short space of time. In the game you would need time to earn some money, find where the weapons are available, upgrade ship etc, etc you get the picture :smilie:

 

[Black Ops]

I've been playing the Combat Scenarios for two nights now (once Mouse/KB, once joystick), and got stuck in Incursion both times. It did get frustrating to which I'm somewhat resistant, so the question is: should I force myself to hone my skills to at least be able to beat the scenarios, or is it enough to get so far and pick up the rest along the way?
What did you do? How did it go?

just jump in. and when you do, scream "leeeeeroyyyy jenkins" on comms

Seriously, sidewinders are free. go do stuff.

when I get on tonight, I'm going to freeport and I'm going to shoot someone in the face. I'll lose, but I'll learn to pvp..and it won't cost me a dime.

 

[MikeSnos]

You don't have to but the practise is useful... You can always go back to them if you need to brush up your dogfighting etc

 

[DeepFried]

I've been playing the Combat Scenarios for two nights now (once Mouse/KB, once joystick), and got stuck in Incursion both times. It did get frustrating to which I'm somewhat resistant, so the question is: should I force myself to hone my skills to at least be able to beat the scenarios, or is it enough to get so far and pick up the rest along the way?
What did you do? How did it go?

There is no need to do them at all really, you have nothing to lose by going straight online.

 

[xxThe_Dice_manxx]

I recommend you go through them, I used the scenario's to test my configuration and get my controls just the way I want them.

I would recommend that FD put docking and navigation scenario's in as well, because doing it for real without any Idea of what you are doing is quite scary.But thanks to various online video guides I got it sussed.

But yeah do the scenario's several times, it certainly helped me.

 

[ste]

Just jump straight in. Its only a beta so its no better time or place to practice.

If you get killed a few times take it on the chin and keep in mind everything that you do in the next few weeks will soon to be erased anyway with stat wipes.

 

[Zephyriel]

Kid: Captain, I... I didn't finish the training program.

Mifune: [smiles] Neither did I.

 

[Eli Jack]

As others have posted, do what you want. You can always come back to the scenarios.

I never got past the Cobra in the incursion mission but went online anyway. Learned docking, navigation etc and made a ton of money through trading. Now I bounty hunt NPCs and hang out at the FDS at Eranin 2 collecting bounties on Fed Fighters.

I go back to the Combat Scenarios from time to time and I still can't get past that damn Cobra. I think I've taken my combat 'skills' as far as I can but that's ok I'm not planning on combat for a living in the real game.

So it's your game, your way. Enjoy.

 

[Stressfest]

You don't need no stinkin' training..