My 2 Cents About Space Combat
This info maybe updated in the future…
I decided to take on a Mission Board mission-
Destroy The Crimson Fleet Spector at Toliman. For reference, I am a L18, proud citizen of the United Colonies, flying an upgraded Razor Leaf. I have the Pilot 4 and Targeting 2 Skills.
I graved in, and was confronted by a UC ship warning me off that Toliman is quarantined due to terrormorph infestation. “Fine, I’ll leave” I said because my quest target was at one of Toliman’s moons, however, who knows, I may come back and push my luck. Graved in there to face a lot of red on my scope, 5 or 6 ships at a Crimson Fleet mayhem space party, also a lot of space debris.
Ok, game on, one of these ships zipping around I assumed was my target. I went after and killed some targets but died twice, but on the third try I prevailed.
I think I have confirmed some things about space combat.
- Pilot Skills 1&2 are musts, increased use of thrusters, turn rate and maneuverability. (Pilot 3&4 if you want to fly/hijack Class B/C ships.) Level skill in the UC simulator.
- Targeting Skills- Starfield’s version of “bullet time” (if you're familiar with the term), a MUST, the higher your skill, the greater your targeting buff and survivability in “1-V-many” fights. This makes such a difference. Level skill in the UC simulator. I believe this skill only raises if you kill a ship while in targeting mode.
- Designate target (E).
- Use weapon that primarily knocks down their shields.
- Look for a Locked designator on your HUD, engage Targeting (R key) which gives you a close up, slowed down view of the enemy ship. Use A&D keys to select the system you want to target and blast away.
- You don’t have to worry about pointing your cursor at the targeted system, your shots are directed there by the Targeting Skill. Think of this as the Tech skill it is, a system in your ship, even though it’s basically in you. Think of it as using The Force!
- I usually kill their engines first. If there is an opportunity to board, ie, not being shot by other ships, then disengage targeting to attempt to board them (Within 500m, R to board)
- Acquire ship parts- (O key) Can be the difference between success and your corpse floating in space. Your ship has auto repair tech, to repair during combat, but it needs material by way of ship parts to make the repair. Pick them up from the dead bones of your ship kills or buy them and put them into your ships inventory. Under your inventory, they are found in the ”Aid” category.
- Use Third Person ship view- (Q toggles) Another must for better situational awareness.
- Engagement- DO NOT fly straight at your target at the start of an engagement if you are uncertain about relative strengths. Head on passes, you are shooting them and likely they are shooting you. Granted, in a 1V1 this (Head on passes) can work, but in a multi-ship “1-V-Many” engagement, the more you fly straight the more you are going to get shot by the other ships.
- Maneuvers- I approach this by flying at my top cruising speed, and when multiple targets appear in front of me , I turn 90 degrees, punch the burners, extend, and make a 2 axis turn in towards whoever I’ve designated. Shoot, shoot, shoot shields, Target engines, target shield system to kill them. Immediately hard turn, punch the burners, extend, turn back in for the next designated target.
3rd try was a charm, yes, there is a learning curve. I finally triumphed in the Crimson Fleet Spector engagement, without repair ship parts and with about a quarter inch of health left. I immediately saved. collected loot from dead ships pointed at my little arrows around the edge of your hud.
