Elite / Frontier Your best fighting ship

[DraQ]

Why would you pay 20 odd quid?

Because 30s is not enough even for the surface run alone?

Of course, I could try to work around it by seeking some decent free video editing software and such, but it'd be hardly worthy of my time, even if you put an actual RL video of yourself eating your hat on YT.

It all depends on your approach and how the AI chases you. Firstly make sure you have your escape star system locked into your galaxy map, this is important because you have to make a quick get away once the dirty deed is done.

If you fly directly above the target (matching target exactly centered on the planet name) at a high enough altitude (without attracting attention), dive directly onto the target as fast as you dare accounting for the gravity of the target planet.

This is important because the AI will launch ships at you but because you are closing directly above the target, many will crash leaving just a few to dodge on your descent. At about 500 to 250 meters release the nuke (closer the better :smilie, do a 180 and full burn away. Remember and go to an external rear view so that you can have the "Aliens" experience

If you are getting a lot of pursuers, simply do a 90 degree course correction. It will take time for the AI to correct for this giving you plenty of time to attain hyperspace altitude and get clean away. Laugh as you hit the jump key!

You should try my technique some day - tangent rather than radial approach - you can use very high velocities without risking cratering (on small planets without atmosphere you can even cruise with engines off with losing altitude), plus it eliminates 180 degree turn and resulting deceleration leaving no opportunities of successful intercept until well after you reach the base. 90 degree turn (preferably upward) is still desirable as it doesn't result in velocity loss (if there's no atmosphere) and you can shake the defenders off more easily this way. I've only tested it on classified missions in FFE, but photos are generally harder than bombings if I understand correctly.

 

[turwhitt]

I could try to work around it by seeking some decent free video editing software and such,

Use FRAPS to video it. There is a free version.

.....

 

[zmurf]

You should try my technique some day - tangent rather than radial approach

This is how I usually do it also. Requires much less fuel since you can fly by real fast and don't have to break so much.

Problem is that it´s relatively easy to miss the target if you fly to fast. And turning to do a rerun can take ages... And if you do all of the fighters are already air born. Which will make it all a lot harder to accomplish.

If I have to fight I usually try to stay as low as possible and fly as fast as I possible dare. This way most of the AI fighters will crash in the ground trying to follow you.

 

[DraQ]

This is how I usually do it also. Requires much less fuel since you can fly by real fast and don't have to break so much.

Problem is that it´s relatively easy to miss the target if you fly to fast. And turning to do a rerun can take ages...

That's why it's best to reach the surface slightly ahead of target and correct your course so you don't fly off back into space before reaching your objective.

.....

What part of "30s" have you not understood?

 

[turwhitt]

The part that is willing to spend as long describing a disputed tactic on a forum as they would have done actually showing that it works!

 

[Geraldine]

Try it and see

I do agree the "tangent" approach is safer, but if you can pull off the "radial" approach, it's oh so sweet!

And turwhitt? Why not try both approaches yourself and let us know how you get on?

 

[turwhitt]

Because i'm not claiming it can be done. That's the way theories work in science anyway!

I can hardly make a vid of myself dying in an eagle and call that proof. In this case only the positive can be proof.