Still in my first week of playing this game. Just wanted to say a massive THANKS to @forger for his great manual, and thanks to the help and advice from this great community.
Two days into this game and I tried combat scenario 3 - dogfight with Crimson Thingumibob. I managed a handful of hits, getting him down to a terrifying 92% and then he absolutely creamed me. I didn't stand a chance. Knew I had to work at it, but @forger's manual shows the vertical thrust / circling technique (amongst a lot of other stuff) and I managed to get that pesky Sidewinder last night.
Okay, so it took me 40 minutes +, and half of that was with my hull at 13%, but I was surprised I survived that long at first, and got increasingly optimistic as I desperately tried to finish him when he was down to 3% hull.
Thing is, the combat is AWESOME. I know some have commented here that they don't like the flight mechanics, but with a HOTAS (sorry about banging on about that in other posts too), it is so satisfying and immersive, and unless you are a skilled mouse & keyboard gamer, I'm sure it makes it much easier.
Anyway, I loved Frontier back in the day, but ED's combat is soooo much better. Proper dogfighting, up close and personal at times, watching the pretty ripples as you hammer the target's shields, seeing the hull and cockpit up close, before you see their boosters light up and then you're trying to get a bead a 2km. A 40 minute dogfight with one ship? Sound dull? Actually it was brilliant. Tension, frustration, nervousness? Yep. Sense of achievement and immersion? Priceless. Likelihood of RSI in your wrists? Highly probable.
Thanks @David Braben, thanks @Frontier - this is brilliant.
Two days into this game and I tried combat scenario 3 - dogfight with Crimson Thingumibob. I managed a handful of hits, getting him down to a terrifying 92% and then he absolutely creamed me. I didn't stand a chance. Knew I had to work at it, but @forger's manual shows the vertical thrust / circling technique (amongst a lot of other stuff) and I managed to get that pesky Sidewinder last night.
Okay, so it took me 40 minutes +, and half of that was with my hull at 13%, but I was surprised I survived that long at first, and got increasingly optimistic as I desperately tried to finish him when he was down to 3% hull.
Thing is, the combat is AWESOME. I know some have commented here that they don't like the flight mechanics, but with a HOTAS (sorry about banging on about that in other posts too), it is so satisfying and immersive, and unless you are a skilled mouse & keyboard gamer, I'm sure it makes it much easier.
Anyway, I loved Frontier back in the day, but ED's combat is soooo much better. Proper dogfighting, up close and personal at times, watching the pretty ripples as you hammer the target's shields, seeing the hull and cockpit up close, before you see their boosters light up and then you're trying to get a bead a 2km. A 40 minute dogfight with one ship? Sound dull? Actually it was brilliant. Tension, frustration, nervousness? Yep. Sense of achievement and immersion? Priceless. Likelihood of RSI in your wrists? Highly probable.
Thanks @David Braben, thanks @Frontier - this is brilliant.
