Space Battle, why do I suck?

[Purlana]

There are only a few possible explanations.

 

1. You are not keeping your ship upgrades up to date.

2. You keep crashing into things.

3. You get hit by every single shot and don't bother dodging. Ever...

 

 

Most of the time I don't focus on avoiding enemy fire (I just focus on killing as much as I can) and I still come out with a pretty solid amount of health.

[Auhfel]

For MMOs, I've played Runescape, WoW, LotRo, DC Universe. Other than DC Universe, I have always gotten several level capped charaters with best gear.

 

As for Space Combat games, I completed the entire X-Wing and Tie Fighter series. Completed Freelancer 2 and Wing Commander.

 

So why do I suck in space combat in this game? I have won the first mission by the skin of my teeth. Other than that, I fail, fail, fail. I have my ship decked out with stuff of lvl 25-30 and trying to do lvl 20 missions. I destroy enemy fighters in droves. I get turrets at a good pace as well, but maybe need a little work here.

 

So, what am I missing?

 

I have 8 chars at level 15-21 and I do all the space combat dailies every day with all 8 of them. that's almost 3 hours a day of just space combat, so take my word for this.

 

count how many blaster bolts it takes to destroy a fighter. with no upgrades, it takes 3 clicks. with level 1 upgrades, it takes 2 clicks (these are for the first space missions, I honestly don't know if the fighters get tougher). don't hold the mouse button down.. that's for noobs =). Holding down will likely put more rounds into the fighter that required, wasting time, basically. Realize that the blaster bolts lock-on, so you don't need to lead any of your shots. Barrel roll a lot to dodge stuff.

[Nautius]

The only way it goes down so fast, is taking damage from enemy turrets/fighters. I don't think scenery does anything, at least I have never observed it hitting asteroids or the like.

 

 

 

Faster than the sedate manner in which the rest of the missions can be played.

 

I was hypothesising due to the crit damage it takes. It made no sense.

 

But then again, it WAS beta.

Edited January 9, 2012 by Nautius

[Dovahkien]

It depends on the missions, most are easy cheesy. only a one or two are even difficult if you don't have the right armorments.

[Chaulsin]

When you are going for the "secret" bonus parts of a mission (ie. bridge, antenna, e.d.) you can select the target for a missile and unload all 4 at the same time, they will still go for the only selected target.

 

Same for missions where you have to kill one special ship. Just target only that and unload.

[Auhfel]

The only way it goes down so fast, is taking damage from enemy turrets/fighters. I don't think scenery does anything, at least I have never observed it hitting asteroids or the like.

 

 

 

Faster than the sedate manner in which the rest of the missions can be played.

 

The escort ship in the first mission only takes damage from fighters. If you destroy every fighter that comes onscreen, the escort won't take any damage. I've finished it with like 95% hp left, still.

[Aloro]

I right click and hold, drag across multiple targets, and yet it seems to select only one of them (blue circle appears on only one).

 

Your missile tubes can hold up to four missiles at a time, ready to launch. They reload about once a second.

 

If multiple tubes are full, you can right click and drag across targets to fire missiles at them. If only one missile tube is full (because you've just been firing them) this won't work.

 

A lot of the advanced technique in space combat comes down to deciding when NOT to fire. You need to let your shields regen, and it's good to keep those missile bays full as well. If you're just clicking as fast as you can on every target, you're not playing optimally.

[Manukai]

I was referring to the escort ship. Not mine.

 

 

Same thing happened to me in that escort mission. Tried it several times and the same spot, after flying through asteroids the ship I was escorting's health plummeted. Thought it was my fault. I feel better now.

Edited January 9, 2012 by Manukai

[Ripebear]

I was sucking majorly until I realised you had to stop shooting and let your shields recharge.

 

Sometimes even when the right enemies are in sight you have to stop and let shields recharge

 

Hope it helps

[synfin]

This has probably already been said, but you can use your movement keys to keep your ship moving while keeping your targeting reticle in the same place. I rare get out of shields into armor in the first 5 missions after figuring this out.

[mezamashii]

Dont hit things. Asteroids and other debris hit your ship and do damage.

 

Let go of the trigger. Your shields recharge when you arent shooting.

 

Get the power converter (i think level 25) and actively switch modes to get max firepower to kill things and improved shield recharge in the small gaps between enemies.

[SwigMcJigger]

I can't right click in space combat because the game crashes to desktop. That's how awesome my space experience has been.

[Vassaggo]

I don't know if this was brought up or not, but on those escort missions, you CAN damage your escort target, So if you are firing at ships firing on him directly in front of you, chances are you are hurting your escort too. Even though it shows the green over it, they still hurt it. So if you lead it a little bit... viola.

 

 

Another thing to keep in mind is the dodging of stuff in space, I have found the asteroids and what not are not the only things to dodge, unless i found a bug.. it seemed that going through what looked like debris also affected me to some point.

 

and to elaborate on not knowing if someone mentioned it, I didn't read all posts in this thread.