Wow, it was pretty fun night after all. At least the most action I've seen during my short piloting career.
I had four decent duels (1-on-1s), but unfortunately none of the attempts to enter the same instance in a wing worked... which is a shame, since that's exactly what I had built my FAS for.
Short summary:
1. Before the things started really heating up at Wolf 1301, I had a semi friendly duel with a guy called "Brandon" something, he flying a FdL with four medium multicannons. I didn't catch the huge hardpoint, maybe a cannon? We agreed to fight until hull is under 30 %, which was respected. The fight went pretty quickly to a turning game, with shots interchanged at every window of opportunity. After spending several rounds of SCBs, I decided to ram while firing few shots with rails. This worked surprisingly well, I actually accidentally brought his hull down to 1 % without noticing. Well, he said goodbyes and waked away. Good fight, I'd say. I tried many times to have a rematch on the course of the events, but the pilot waked away after a successful interdiction. (or tried to gank me in a wing).
- Then there was a countless number of attempts to get into the same instance in a wing, without a wing and of course guys ganking (can't blame you since this was probably the same from other sides as well). And many times escaping a ganking attempt. I almost decided to let it be, but then there was two or three pretty decent fights I got into.
2. Python interdicted me. Can't remember the name of the pilot. This was actually the first serious fight with a Python I've gotten in my FAS, so I was somewhat nervous what to do. Again, things went pretty quickly to a turning game. I tried and tried to take the shields down, but those SCBs just kept pumping the glowing things back. I figured FAS is really nimble ship for its weight. I actually literally tried if I could just fly circles around the Python and I could, though, that's not a very good idea considering the damage output. The problem is, if it gets to a turning game, you eventually make couple of mistakes here and there and a Python can really tear FAS's shields quickly when its facing you. I guess an experienced pilot won't let this happen, but I'm bound to make mistakes here and there. Well, I high waked after I got a soccer ball sized hole in my front glass (which made targeting a bit difficult too
)
3. Lock'n'reload and countless ganking attempts. Few attempts to instance with a wing without success. What started a ganking attempt by two Pythons, turned out to be a pretty fun fight after all. Again, can't remember the pilot's name, but seemed to be the only Python I encountered running prismatic shields. First, the two Pythons were just chasing me while I was popping chaff and SCBs to keep my shields up. Eventually, the other Python left and I guess the prismatic shield one was up for some 1-on-1 action. This time I was a bit wiser than in the first fight, trying to give less chance of the Python facing me. Though, again it went to turning games. Man, those prismatic shields were hard to take down, but at least I made the pilot to cycle few rounds of SCBs. I think it was going pretty well, but after some time my shields went down and I continued until maybe 14 % hull left and high waked to repair my ship. I think one should just try to hug Python's aft, no matter how gay that sounds.
In turning games you're bound to make a mistake if you're not very good, which gives a nasty window of opportunity to the Python. Well, next time I guess I'll be able to give a better challenge. And anyways, Python when outfitted is at least double the price compared to FAS. Actually, makes me want to try to outfit one for combat... it just requires some serious credit grinding.
4. I was already about to go to sleep when I found out a FdL was interdicting me - and not in a wing! I thought I could have one more duel before going to sleep. This time it was Crypto54 (if I recall right) I guess it was a pretty good match-up, I tried to use as an advantage every point where the FdL was turning to charge again to another attack. Crypto54 can probably comment how it looked from his side, but I think I was able to give some trouble every now and then. Unfortunately another commander in FdL joined the fight (on the wrong side from my point-of-view) and I decided to go back to the station and called it a night.
Afterall it was tons of fun. To me, it was first really good PvP stuff this far. I think there was a decent smell of danger in the air. The instancing problems of course spoiled 80 % of the time spent... and it was a shame I didn't get into any fight in a wing, since I think it's there where FAS really shines. Anyways, the short moments in between the instancing problems I think I haven't had so much fun in Elite this far.
