Targeting individual components

Elprez · Mar 17, 2015

So, I am starting to enjoy the dog fighting. I can see where you can target certain parts of a ship like the power plant. Is there a quick way to do that? I found myself getting lit up when I took the time to try that last time.

Jastebro · Mar 17, 2015

I haven't tried it myself yet, but there are keybindings for "target next/previous subsystem".
Pehaps you can use these to cycle through the list?

Midian27 · Mar 17, 2015

Have target next and previous sub system bound to an easy to hit key. I always target the power plant.

Nexolek · Mar 17, 2015

I have an X-55 and have it bound to the pinky roller on the throttle (it's like a mouse wheel). I've gotten so used to it I can zip to the Power Plant without looking most of the time, and only in a fraction of a second. By that I mean without looking at the target info panel, I'm usually looking up trying to get visual on the target while I select the subsystem. Practice makes perfect!

Like the others have said, find something easy to hit and that you don't need to look at either. The more time spent laying down fire the better!

Top Cat · Mar 17, 2015

Set the target on the subsystem before you open fire. Same as using the KWS - makes sense to use it before your target turns hostile, than to worry about it in the middle of a fight.

snotface · Mar 17, 2015

I believe that if you key bind or use voice attack the power plant is the 6th item on the list every time. Taking out power plants is the quick way to kill.

Midian27 · Mar 17, 2015

snotface said:
I believe that if you key bind or use voice attack the power plant is the 6th item on the list every time. Taking out power plants is the quick way to kill.

Not every time. I've noticed ships with interdicters always seem to come before power plant so that adds one. And some of the smaller craft it comes before 6th.

snotface · Mar 17, 2015

Midian27 said:
Not every time. I've noticed ships with interdicters always seem to come before power plant so that adds one. And some of the smaller craft it comes before 6th.

I was talking about NPC ships, soz for wrong info regarding players

Smoon · Mar 17, 2015

I use KICS and all I say is next system and have it go through the modules. Never have to take my eyes off the screen.

Lucifer Hate · Mar 17, 2015

snotface said:
I believe that if you key bind or use voice attack the power plant is the 6th item on the list every time. Taking out power plants is the quick way to kill.

I think it is different depending on ship type. I have had to hit it more than 6 on certain npc ships

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Smoon said:
I use KICS and all I say is next system and have it go through the modules. Never have to take my eyes off the screen.

I use KICS as well but found it is faster to use buttons on my joystick for subsystem targeting

Danube · Mar 17, 2015

Elprez said:
So, I am starting to enjoy the dog fighting. I can see where you can target certain parts of a ship like the power plant. Is there a quick way to do that? I found myself getting lit up when I took the time to try that last time.

I have Voice Attack set up to target next subsystem and previous subsystem. It saves pressing the keys when I'm dogfighting... if I remember to do it!

Elprez · Mar 17, 2015

Danube said:
I have Voice Attack set up to target next subsystem and previous subsystem. It saves pressing the keys when I'm dogfighting... if I remember to do it!

Thats what I have yet to set up. I have the software and the headset. Just haven't took the time.

bsnaylor · Mar 17, 2015

FWIW I use the mouse-wheel on the throttle of the X52 to scroll through them, you quickly get used to the setup of most different types of NPC ships and it barely needs a glance.

VanQ · Mar 17, 2015

I cycle via "target prev. Subsys" so its almost always 7 klicks away and directly after the FSD which stand out because of its short name so you can easy recognize it with the glimp of an eye.

Given almost everybody target the powerplant, they could as well add an shortcit button ^^

JEJAGUA · Mar 17, 2015

I mapped it to left / right arrow. Been using that for a while. I mapped it to one of the rollers on my X-52 Pro throttle, but haven't tried it yet.

I find selecting the subsystem is only necessary when fighting larger ships (longer engagements). Additionally, I believe it doesn't come into play until the enemy shields are down...so I spend the first short seconds getting power allocated, flight orientation and weapon selection before I target individual subsystems.

epoch71 · Mar 17, 2015

bsnaylor said:
FWIW I use the mouse-wheel on the throttle of the X52 to scroll through them, you quickly get used to the setup of most different types of NPC ships and it barely needs a glance.

I used to use the X52 wheel for that, but often found during the excitement of combat that I'd accidentally nudged the wheel, and was now pounding the merry hell out of the cargo hatch or heatsink!

HipToss · Mar 17, 2015

epoch71 said:
I used to use the X52 wheel for that, but often found during the excitement of combat that I'd accidentally nudged the wheel, and was now pounding the merry hell out of the cargo hatch or heatsink!

How do you set it in the bindings page? Select it and scroll the wheel, or press down to click the wheel?

epoch71 · Mar 17, 2015

I think I set that particular option using the Saitek profiler (a tool I prefer to avoid).

CMDR Holycow · Mar 17, 2015

I have next and previous subsystems mapped to one of the hats on the throttle side of my hotas. I always target the drives first.

nosscar · Mar 17, 2015

I have one button on myh stick for next subsystem, keep pressing just cycles through, or i can use VA to do the same, targeting power plant works well for me, i had a python in a combat zone with 50% hull still when he died from me taking his power plant out first.