Elite: Dangerous PvE - Mobius

Hey fellow commanders.

I suck at combat.

I have to be at least twice the size of my opponent, and have thrice the firepower, to even stand a chance.

The safest option for me up until now, has been jousting. I actually get some kills this way.

I fly head on, full speed, firing everything I've got, and when we pass each other I go FA-Off and boost away in a straight line. I turn my ship while in FA-Off, wait for everything to cool down, turn FA-On and charge back at my prey. Rince and repeat.
All pips to systems(shields) and the rest to engines. I use ballistic (is that the correct term?) firepower as it doesn't generate heat, so no nead for pips in weapons.

I'm using an xbox controller, and happy with it. Only problem is that I don't have a yaw option that I like. Or is it even a problem? I like flying FE2 style, rolling, plus the added lateral and vertical thrust.

But I know combat can be done so much more gracefully.

So please Commanders. Share your tips, tricks and hints here!

Note: Videos and pics would be nice too. I'm a very "visually oriented" person. Did I mention I like explosions?...

If it's any consolation...this was me last night...



Shortly afterwards, I got rammed at full speed by a Fed (scum) fighter...

My count is now up to 3! Go me!

I always try and keep combat at close range. I mostly use multi cannons and to be effective I prefer distance less than 1000m to the target.
Full pips to engine . Try to keep my ship in the sweetspot (throttle at 50%) for best manoeuvrability. 1 pip in weapons because even multi cannons need that so they don't malfunction so often.
I also try and stay behind my target.
If an enemy try to outmanoeuvre me and get on my six I fly backwards temporary while I try and break his attempt and most of the time I will be back on his six.

I also use strafing if I have to avoid incoming fire by using left or right thrusters.
I avoid head to head combat.
I don't fire reckless. Only when I have a good fire solution to do most damage. I also change my pips quite often dependant where my enemy is relative to my self.

Its like dogfights they did in ww1 Position your self, close in, then fire.

I played a game called Rise of flight that simulate the ww1 and many of the dogfight tactics there have helped me in this game as well.
Some of the tactics is not possible as there is no gravity to take in account but some manoeuvres is transmissible.


Some of this guys videos on You tube could be helpful to learn some tactics and combat manoeuvres.

Check his playlist for different tutorials.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Requiem10NS

Neillm wrote:If it's any consolation...this was me last night...



Shortly afterwards, I got rammed at full speed by a Fed (scum) fighter...

My count is now up to 3! Go me!

You're a "peaceful" commander. Good to know.

Wouldn't mind your balance though.

Vikinger wrote:...Some of this guys videos on You tube could be helpful to learn some tactics and combat manoeuvres.

Check his playlist for different tutorials.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Requiem10NS

Thanks Vikinger.

Do you combat other commanders, or mainly npc's? What I mean is, do your tactics work against human foe?

GlobusDiablo wrote:

Vikinger wrote:...Some of this guys videos on You tube could be helpful to learn some tactics and combat manoeuvres.

Check his playlist for different tutorials.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Requiem10NS

Thanks Vikinger.

Do you combat other commanders, or mainly npc's? What I mean is, do your tactics work against human foe?

Ive only fought NPC. Never fired a single shoot at a player
But if you build up a combat tactic, and stick to it, I am sure it would be helpful against players as well.
Those dogfights tutorials on the ww1 I posted is actually a simulation of real dogfights tactics that was used.

And if I would fight against other players, I would still try to keep the battle at close range and do whatever I can to stay on their six And sometimes there is fights you cant win. So its nothing wrong to flee, so you can fight an other day
Fighting an anaconda is really dangerous. Either you have to be at maximum range and have correct weapon or you need to get real close to him so you nearly hug his hull to prevent him from fire at you.

There is many other things when it comes to combat tactic that I have not tried in this game but with some practice I think those could be helpful. However I still think that a good basic combat manoeuvres is needed first


Example
Fly whit FA off.
Go Silent running.
Target individual components and take them out. Disable their drive is effective

And when it comes to pvp I think its same in this game as in many others. Its straight forward, lots of head to head combat and a good tactic is to actually fly backwards when the enemy is chasing you. You have control of the battle that way. You can fire at him, he cant get close to you. And use strafing to avoid his shoots.
If you need to get away from the battle just hit the boost and pull throttle forward and you will fly past him real fast and before he even manage to react you have built up a large distance so you can engage your supercruise.

Oh and iam not an expert at all when it comes to combat but ive done some and in beta1 ive got about 150 kills and still have not died yet to an NPC.
I have 3 deaths in total. 1 was drunk and drive when I boosted my Cobra and missed the porthole when I was about to leave a station
And 2 deaths when I was in a hauler and got jumped outside a station by a greifer.

Neillm wrote:My count is now up to 3! Go me!

Well done! I got my first four kills last night (plus 3 Anaconda kills that were stolen from me at the last second ).

Vikinger wrote:Ive only fought NPC. Never fired a single shoot at a player
But if you build up a combat tactic, and stick to it, I am sure it would be helpful against players as well.
Those dogfights tutorials on the ww1 I posted is actually a simulation of real dogfights tactics that was used.

And if I would fight against other players, I would still try to keep the battle at close range and do whatever I can to stay on their six And sometimes there is fights you cant win. So its nothing wrong to flee, so you can fight an other day
Fighting an anaconda is really dangerous. Either you have to be at maximum range and have correct weapon or you need to get real close to him so you nearly hug his hull to prevent him from fire at you.

There is many other things when it comes to combat tactic that I have not tried in this game but whit some practice I think those could be helpful. However I still think that a good basic combat manoeuvres is needed first


Example
Fly whit FA off.
Go Silent running.
Target individual components and take them out. Disable their drive is effective

And when it comes to pvp I think its same in this game as in many others. Its straight forward, lots of head to head combat and a good tactic is to actually fly backwards when the enemy is chasing you. You have control of the battle that way. You can fire at him, he cant get close to you. And use strafing to avoid his shoots.
If you need to get away from the battle just hit the boost and pull throttle forward and you will fly past him real fast and before he even manage to react you have built up a large distance so you can engage your supercruise.

Oh and iam not an expert at all when it comes to combat but ive done some and in beta1 ive got about 150 kills and still have not died yet to an NPC.
I have 3 deaths in total. 1 was drunk and drive when I boosted my Cobra and missed the porthole when I was about to leave a station
And 2 deaths when I was in a hauler and got jumped outside a station by a greifer.

Thanks Vikinger. Great post.

W I T H my friend... with...

GlobusDiablo wrote:
Thanks Vikinger. Great post.

W I T H my friend... with...

Edited LoL


Going of topic a bit but I actually checked that out. There is a word that spells Whit But it have a completely different meaning. Often used as a negative statement. He has changed not a whit. or It does not make one whit of difference what we do.

Vikinger wrote:....Going of topic a bit but I actually checked that out. There is a word that spells Whit But it have a completely different meaning. Often used as a negative statement. He has changed not a whit. or It does not make one whit of difference what we do.

Excellent. New knowledge for me too.Thanks.