Newcomer / Intro Realised last night I am rubbish at combat :-(

[Johnny Cyclops]

You heard correctly, Johnny Cyclops. You need to raise the nose slightly to ensure maximum firing effectiveness. You'll notice it when one gun fires but the other refuses, because the firing solution involves firing through your own hull.

The primary advantage with gimballed weapons, in my experience, is that you can target subsystems with them. This is really useful for the big ships. Elite Anacondas (the ones you have to kill in the assassination missions) pack a hell of a wallop, so taking out their thrusters (confusingly labeled "drive" in the targeting menu) is a priority - they won't be able to jump out if you disable the thrusters, and they lose all control over attitude and momentum, which renders their weapons platforms largely ineffective.

It's much harder to consistently hit the systems with fixed weapons.

Hence I always recommend fixed lasers with gimballed multicannons. The cannons do much more damage per shot, but missing with them is expensive, and gimballed weapons miss quite often, especially when they're leading the target at range.

Another point to raise it that switching flight assist off increases maximum speed and reduces the turning circle - you can drag your ship's ass around so you're effectively flying backwards while thrusting forwards. Toggling it on and off gives you much better maneuverability without sacrificing too much stability.

On that final point, I do toggle FA off/on briefly if I get caught in a 'spiral' with a nippier NPC at close quarters. But with keyboard only, and rudimentary speed control, I've not got anywhere near mastering FA off all the time. And good to know my understanding of other weapons are right. Now I'm back from a exploration trip out to the Coalsack I'm ready for some combat/missions.

 

[the100thmonkey]

I'd hate to fly with FA off all the time - it's a pain to keep yourself correctly oriented, particularly in battle. I think a mouse might actually be more useful for it than a joystick - you get very fine control with one.

Interestingly, I'm in the opposite position - I have to get my head around trading so that I can make enough money to buy a Cobra and deck it out for exploration (I'm looking at around cr 14,000,000). I want to head for the Scutum-Crux arm because of the hilarity down the pub when I get the pronuncation wrong. I think I'll practice first by heading to Eta Carinae.

 

[wigwam12]

Ok, i've found A4 shields. I searched for a federal high tech station, and they have loads of decent stuff. Went off to nav point to test the shield out though and high fired my first laser and life support shutdown!!!! 5 secs of oxygen left!

Now i've adjusted my power priorities and learnt another import lesson about power management!

Care to share where?
The slowly slowly was reference to slowly building up my confidence and skills.
Re placement of the beams - I did find they were more effective in the medium hardpoints rather than the small and vice versa with the multicannons

Monkey for the Cobra I think few grinds in rates is the way to go?
12million though???
I thought that was Asp loadout territory??

 

[lolanon]

Care to share where?

You can find somewhere local to you here
http://www.elitetradingtool.co.uk/

 

[the100thmonkey]

Monkey for the Cobra I think few grinds in rates is the way to go?
12million though???
I thought that was Asp loadout territory??

It is a lot of cash, but for proper long-range exploration I'm gong to need a bunch of A-rated modules like shields, auto field maintenance kits, FSD, fuel scoop, advanced discovery scanner, with E and F rated lasers on the hardpoints (there's no ammo where I'm going), etc., etc. Oh, and an A4 power plant and distributor to feed the beast.

Exploration requires a light ship with the flexibility to defend itself while jumping 20-odd light years.