Newcomer / Intro Targeting - leading/trailing - where is the option now?

[Red Anders]

Not a noob but the question is nooby As per the title, where the hell is the option for changing your targeting from leading to trailing now? I assumed it would be under the 'targeting' section of the controls menu because I'm kind of a literal thinker like that but unless I'm going insane it isn't.

 

[Red Anders]

Never mind, found it lol - in-game option in the right panel.

 

[P3nT4gR4m]

Just for the record, what the hell does this option even mean? I get that leading will point at where the target will be by the time your bullet gets there. It's a pretty basic concept in ballistics. Trailing suggests the sight would aim behind the target. So you'd never hit anything?

 

[D.G.Cerberus]

Just for the record, what the hell does this option even mean? I get that leading will point at where the target will be by the time your bullet gets there. It's a pretty basic concept in ballistics. Trailing suggests the sight would aim behind the target. So you'd never hit anything?

I'd love to know the answer on this too! Every time I look at the option in the panel I think to myself, "Why don't I try switching it and see what happens!" Never do it though!

 

[Chris Simon]

Leading means that you have a vector target that moves around the enemy ship, depending on their speed and direction. With moving target you have to "lead" - aim in front of them so the projectiles have time to travel there. I think you are familiar with this tactics from shooting ducks and whatnot.
So Leading - you are trying to aim at the vector indicator in front of the enemy ship (that indicates where in space the enemy will be once your bullets arrive there).

Trailing on the other hand is tied to movement of YOUR ship as well as enemy. As you aim around, you are "dragging" the crosshairs around with a delay, that indicates where would you hit, if you shoot now. I personally prefer this mode, because here you are placing the crosshairs on the enemy, whereas with leading, you are trying to hit some imaginary spot in front of the target.

Eh, it's really hard to explain this. Just try it goddammit.

 

[Codger]

Yes, I use trailing also, because then the crosshairs for both kinetic and laser-type weapons are in the same place on the enemy ship (or really, just closer to each other, but it's almost the same). It's less confusing to me visually, so that's what I use.

But it makes no difference at all in terms of damage or accuracy of the weapons. It's just player preference.

 

[D.G.Cerberus]

Lol ok - I guess this is only pertinent for kinetic fixed weapons as presumably the gimbals "dial out" any difference when not chaff affected?

 

[P3nT4gR4m]

Aha! That makes perfect sense to me. My guns are on gimbals and my lasers are hitscan (right?) so this has never come up for me

 

[Chris Simon]

All this trailing/leading business is of course just for fixed weapons with finite projectile velocity.

Gimbals aim for themselves and lasers, railguns and such creatures hit where you aim.