Top Tips

[Majere]

As there are a new wave of Commanders getting access to the single player scenarios, I was wondering if any of the alpharites had compiled a list of tips for new pilots?

I have only played for a couple of hours but managed to complete all the scenarios up to and including taking down the Anaconda.
Felt it was a good stepping up of levels.

On the last two that get opened up though I have struggled a little, particularly being outnumbered. Not quite sure what I am doing wrong there, maybe my evasive manoeuvres are not good enough.
The big battle one, there seems to be no end. Is that right?

Incidently - running full screen (1920 x 1080) in Parallells (trial) Win8 (evaluation) VM at medium graphics settings on a 2010 iMac. 1GB of graphics memory and given it 2 of the quad core.
BootCamp needs just one initial partition to create it's windows partition and I don't run my disk that way. All my media is on it's own partition as I have a different backup workflow for that from the system drive.

So either have to shuffle all my disks around or stick with parallels. More cost though.

 

[ZeeWolf]

A couple of really good community videos I recommend:

Elite Dangerous - To Yaw or Not To Yaw?:
http://youtu.be/FO_I9QGIsBg

Elite: Dangerous Alpha - Back To Basics - Part #1:
http://youtu.be/d4y8FDDVKT4

 

[Steve_T]

As there are a new wave of Commanders getting access to the single player scenarios, I was wondering if any of the alpharites had compiled a list of tips for new pilots?

I have only played for a couple of hours but managed to complete all the scenarios up to and including taking down the Anaconda.
Felt it was a good stepping up of levels...

I'm at the same point as you. Not tried the final scenario but on "Incursion", I keep getting killed by the Cobra (wave 5 I think). I didn't have a controller (on order) so was just using keyboard. I think maybe I'm just being too gung ho, and taking him on head on. I assume I need to adopt a different tactic at this stage.

 

[Ayo]

I'm at the same point as you. Not tried the final scenario but on "Incursion", I keep getting killed by the Cobra (wave 5 I think). I didn't have a controller (on order) so was just using keyboard. I think maybe I'm just being too gung ho, and taking him on head on. I assume I need to adopt a different tactic at this stage.

That Cobra is a tricky little blighter! I beat him but had only 1% hull left so didn't get much further.

 

[ZeeWolf]

I'm at the same point as you. Not tried the final scenario but on "Incursion", I keep getting killed by the Cobra (wave 5 I think). I didn't have a controller (on order) so was just using keyboard. I think maybe I'm just being too gung ho, and taking him on head on. I assume I need to adopt a different tactic at this stage.

Few pilots beat incursion which is why you can skip it ;-) If you manage it you are doing very well!

 

[Zieman]

I'm at the same point as you. Not tried the final scenario but on "Incursion", I keep getting killed by the Cobra (wave 5 I think). I didn't have a controller (on order) so was just using keyboard. I think maybe I'm just being too gung ho, and taking him on head on. I assume I need to adopt a different tactic at this stage.

Don't let the Cobbie fly away and charge towards you - jousting guns blazing you lose. Be on the lookout for his arrival, get close & personal right away and stay on his six. Power management helps here - when he tries to flee, more pips to engines and use boost if needed - if he comes at you guns blazing, more pips to systems and once you get to shoot, pips to weapons.

Spoiler

Or you can reverse & snipe him from 2,5 - 3 km distance, get out of range to recharge your shields if needed.

 

[Steve_T]

Don't let the Cobbie fly away and charge towards you - jousting guns blazing you lose. Be on the lookout for his arrival, get close & personal right away and stay on his six. Power management helps here - when he tries to flee, more pips to engines and use boost if needed - if he comes at you guns blazing, more pips to systems and once you get to shoot, pips to weapons.

Spoiler

Or you can reverse & snipe him from 2,5 - 3 km distance, get out of range to recharge your shields if needed.

Yeah. Thinking about it this morning (at work), it occurred to me that I need to get close ASAP. As I've been playing with keyboard, I didn't really start messing with power management yet. Got my 360 controller delivered today, so I'll practice with that and see how it goes.

I remember people using reverse when Alpha first came out. Just feels a bit like cheating to me, so I'll persevere with your initial tips.

Cheers for the advice. +1

Edit: would have added rep to you but it appears I need to spread the love first.

 

[Ayo]

Edit: would have added rep to you but it appears I need to spread the love first.

It's OK I'll do it for you

 

[HaB1971]

I went from KB+ mouse to my old Logitech joystick ($30) and it improves your game play significantly... you can turn and side thrust using the twist rudder and joystick hat to get sliding sideways and get on the Cobra's tail as if you engage is a standard turning fight you'll die...
I died on my first attempt only because I focused on the Federal fighters instead because I had not realized there was a Cobra out of the 3 ships... mapping a key or button to the highest threat is worth doing as I think the targeting system leaves a little to be desired...

 

[Majere]

More questions

Thanks all - I think my problem is not keeping the speed in the sweet spot, I was slowing down to much in an attempt to turn faster which I think is making me a big fat target.
Will try adding a little yaw to proceedings as well, I am old school and that was never in the original so not in my old flying style.

I get the power management generally (shields/engines/weapons) but don't understand how to do silent running. I toggled it on but all it seemed to do was lose my shields. I have no idea how I can tell if it is working, the heat bar on the side menu still was high and there was no frosting up. Still got attacked was the way I figured it was not working. Is it something to so with the signature thing?

While I am at it, what is the % number to the left of the scanner?

I don't know how to target subsystems - I can see them in the list but do I have to then do something to actually target them?

 

[Steve_T]

Thanks all - I think my problem is not keeping the speed in the sweet spot, I was slowing down to much in an attempt to turn faster which I think is making me a big fat target.
Will try adding a little yaw to proceedings as well, I am old school and that was never in the original so not in my old flying style.

I get the power management generally (shields/engines/weapons) but don't understand how to do silent running. I toggled it on but all it seemed to do was lose my shields. I have no idea how I can tell if it is working, the heat bar on the side menu still was high and there was no frosting up. Still got attacked was the way I figured it was not working. Is it something to so with the signature thing?

While I am at it, what is the % number to the left of the scanner?

I don't know how to target subsystems - I can see them in the list but do I have to then do something to actually target them?

Yeah, silent running cuts shield power. You'll need kinetic weapons which don't generate as much heat as lasers. Not sure how effective silent running is against multiple targets due to the risk involved when you have to disable it and then wait for your shields to come back.

% indicator to left of scanner is target's remaining hull strength.

Not sure if targeting subsystems worked in Alpha 1.1. Even if it does unless you've got gimballed weapons or you're attacking something big like an anaconda, it's probably not worth worrying about.

 

[Majere]

I have been trying to do it properly but sometimes failed to work out how you so that so resort to brute force.

I tried silent running in the scenario you were supposed to, with a Cobra bounty hunter. He just started shooting at me anyway so I killed him then took out the others.

The %age number I was referring to is not the target's shields, it is the one directly to the left and up from the scanner. In the left-hand position of where the speed is.

Yes, I was trying to target the systems of the Anaconda - gave up and took the less subtle "empty everything into the sucker" approach.

 

[Zieman]

% indicator to left of scanner is target's remaining hull strength.

Nope, that number & bar is your ship's internal heat generation. It goes high enough, you go BOOM.

I get the power management generally (shields/engines/weapons) but don't understand how to do silent running. I toggled it on but all it seemed to do was lose my shields. I have no idea how I can tell if it is working, the heat bar on the side menu still was high and there was no frosting up. Still got attacked was the way I figured it was not working. Is it something to so with the signature thing?

In silent running you close you ship's heat vanes/vents, so the signature goes really low (your visibility on others' scanners goes down & gimballed/seeking weapons lose lock), but your internal heat will rise fast or faster, depending on how much power you use. You don't get the frosting effect even in silent running unless you shut down engines, IIRC.

 

[Stormy66]

he one directly to the left and up from the scanner. In the left-hand position of where the speed is.

That's the heat build up. If it climbs over a hundred you need to disable silent running in order for your ship to vent heat or use a heat sink. If you disable more systems while in silent running it'll climb more slowly.

It's bugged in alpha-1

 

[Steve_T]

...The %age number I was referring to is not the target's shields, it is the one directly to the left and up from the scanner. In the left-hand position of where the speed is...

Oh yeah, forgot about that one. I was wondering about it too.

Edit: Ninja'd.

 

[Mysturji]

In "Incursion", when the Cobra mk III appears, you need to get up close & personal and keep switching power management modes to stay with him and keep your shields up and your laser cool. It's hard work. If you don't have 100% hull by the time you kill the Cobra, you're toast not long after. The next opponent is easy, but the one after, there are (I think) 4 really aggressive fighters to deal with and they usually kill me pretty quick.
I've only made it to round 9 (once). How many rounds are there?

Also, in the "Factions" scenario, I'm not dumb enough to attack the Federal forces, as they vastly outnumber the other faction, but once all the cobras are dead, the scenario doesn't end, and it gets boring just following the Anacondas to the planet (I assume they would get there eventually). How should it end? (assuming you survive)?

 

[Majere]

Aha - understand about the dial and the heat. Although if bugged in Alpha 1.1 might be tricky to pull off - will give it a go though.

Will try it out tonight, to turn off systems I guess you just navigate down the list and use left/right (A/D) ?

Thanks everyone.

 

[Zieman]

I've only made it to round 9 (once). How many rounds are there?

10 waves.

Also, in the "Factions" scenario, I'm not dumb enough to attack the Federal forces, as they vastly outnumber the other faction, but once all the cobras are dead, the scenario doesn't end, and it gets boring just following the Anacondas to the planet (I assume they would get there eventually). How should it end? (assuming you survive)?

IIRC the scenario would end in a message saying your side is victorious, even if you just backed off the fight and watched it weapons stowed...

 

[Jason S]

A couple of really good community videos I recommend:

Elite Dangerous - To Yaw or Not To Yaw?:
http://youtu.be/FO_I9QGIsBg

Elite: Dangerous Alpha - Back To Basics - Part #1:
http://youtu.be/d4y8FDDVKT4

Thanks a ton for that.

 

[CaptainKremmen]

Few pilots beat incursion which is why you can skip it ;-) If you manage it you are doing very well!

I did it! Finally, after many tries.

Really loving this combat demo... and X52... and my new pc. Tooling around in a Sidewinder, shooting up Cobras and stuff - what a great use of technology!

K.