How to fight in this game?

[Lorenzo_BR]

I have tried quite a few times to start with the sparrow, and i have also tried to use other weapons such has missilies, but i still cant figure out ho does the combat work.
I know how to aim and how to fire, but it seems to be very hard to actually land enough shots to do damage.
Is there a targeting mechanic im not aware of, that locks your aim on to a ship you want to attack? I couldnt find any guides on the combat for this game.

[Gardchive]

You can click on a ship to target it. Alternatively, you auto-select the closest enemy by pressing "R".

[warp_core]

A sparrow start is generally the most difficult start, especially for new players.
Most of the ships that you'll have a chance against in a sparrow only have forward facing guns and you cuold take advantage of this by trying to keep away from directly in front of them.
The dev (MZ) has a video featuring this but it features ships that you won't have access to for quite a while so beware of spoilers for the sprites of later game ships:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m3WSzHWPEg

[Renisia]

I'd advise you to start with a Shuttle or a Star Barge and save up doing missions until you can get a light warship. After that i would suggest buying a Raven.

[Lorenzo_BR]

Originally posted by warp_core:

A sparrow start is generally the most difficult start, especially for new players.
Most of the ships that you'll have a chance against in a sparrow only have forward facing guns and you cuold take advantage of this by trying to keep away from directly in front of them.
The dev (MZ) has a video featuring this but it features ships that you won't have access to for quite a while so beware of spoilers for the sprites of later game ships:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m3WSzHWPEg

Is there a buttom that i press to lock on to it, or i just have to have good enough sterring and experience?

Originally posted by Gardevour:

You can click on a ship to target it. Alternatively, you auto-select the closest enemy by pressing "R".

That much i know, but aparently i have to aim on my own. Is that the case for non-homing weapons?

Originally posted by Renisia:

I'd advise you to start with a Shuttle or a Star Barge and save up doing missions until you can get a light warship. After that i would suggest buying a Raven.

I always start with the Star Barge, and i have now fully repaid my loan. I do want to get into combat though, so thats why im researching about it.

[tehhowch]

I generally activate the preference to autofire (which applies to "primary" weapons such as guns and turrets), and sometimes the autoaim preference, which will - when pointed near the targeted enemy - turn your ship to track your target. Manual steering disables autoaim steering, but thrusting will not.

As far as maneuvering, turret-only ships are easiest as you can simply circle the opponent and not worry about turning to face, firing, and then breaking off before they can face you. Nimbly dogfighting may require upgrading your engines first.

[w@ke_]

Ninjad mid-post by FREE BEER, but I'd add that the auto-aiming is really good in this game. Highly recommended to use it, especially if you're having trouble early on.

[Pompano]

If you want to get into combat, id suggest staying with starbarges until you have enough for a Clipper. Its a sturdy ship with a good bit of customability and has a decent compliment of crew for boarding and capping ships. Just pick your fights well and try not to challenge a whole fleet of ships. Just capping a hawk here and there will be your most beneficial route. Dont forget frag grenades, 1 set for each crew member (12 crew = 12 fragmentation grenades)

[Ker]

There is an auto aim preference that helps, too.

Esc-preferences

[Lorenzo_BR]

Originally posted by FREE BEER:

I generally activate the preference to autofire (which applies to "primary" weapons such as guns and turrets), and sometimes the autoaim preference, which will - when pointed near the targeted enemy - turn your ship to track your target. Manual steering disables autoaim steering, but thrusting will not.

As far as maneuvering, turret-only ships are easiest as you can simply circle the opponent and not worry about turning to face, firing, and then breaking off before they can face you. Nimbly dogfighting may require upgrading your engines first.

Originally posted by w@ke_:

Ninjad mid-post by FREE BEER, but I'd add that the auto-aiming is really good in this game. Highly recommended to use it, especially if you're having trouble early on.

Originally posted by Kiko:

There is an auto aim preference that helps, too.

Esc-preferences

Auto-aim and autofire, got it.
Activate those, target a hostile, ship will face it, primary weapons fire. Use trusters to evade, manual sterring stops auto-aim, after i bought better engines and gotten used to it i should be fine.
Got it.

[Ker]

Glad we could help

[jafdy]

You need to turn within about 20 degrees for auto aim to take effect.

[Lorenzo_BR]

Originally posted by jafdy:

You need to turn within about 20 degrees for auto aim to take effect.

Thats really usefull info, thanks!

[Luzilyo]

since the initial question seems anwsered, here's some additional advice:

when i started playing, of course, like probably every other totally uninformed noob, i took the sparrow. this obviously lead to a very rough start but i also learned a few things. in a sparrow it is best to first take on only the smallest of ships. mostly other sparrows. occasionally you will find that a pirate ship got disabled and not destroyed in a fight against militia or navy forces, then you scavenge this if you have some crew with laser rifles. if not, you can still at least take one or two pieces of equipment and/or some of the cargo, if you have enough space in your cargo bay.

but, when trying to capture scavenged ships, also stick to the very small ones. "big" interceptors might have too much crew to overpower with your 2 man (yourself included) and anything bigger than an interceptor will definitely be way too much to handle, even with laser rifles. once you have some good money from capturing maybe four or five sparrows, you'll probably be able to buy a better interceptor (with additional help from some minor delivery/tourist missions). look for something with good crew space. if you found an outfitter that sells them, you can also buy hand grenades for all crew members, that will help a lot in capturing.

once you have something with good crew space, try to capture a hawk. but this time, don't sell it as salvage. instead, use it as your own, especially if it is one with atomic engines (not all hawk pirates use them, but i have seen some) once you got a hawk with atomic engines, it should become much easier. then you just keep taking on smaller or equally sized ships and selling them at the nearest shipyard and once you got enough money you buy yourself a raven.

especially with upgraded outfit (atomic engines, etc. you should already have found places to buy everything you need once you get to the point where you actually own your very own raven). then make a quick travel to the aliens that live behind the wormhole-thing, i forgot their name and there you can buy awesome shields, a nice reactor and engines that are slightly less effective than the atomic engines but also use slightly less space and energy. but that's not really neccessary, you can also just keep going around capturing interceptors, light freighters and, with a bit of help, maybe even a light warship until you can afford the next bigger thing. everything should become much easier once you have a raven.

[jafdy]

I find fury is a better choice for the "bigger intercepter", it has more firepower so it can dual most other intercepters.

[Luzilyo]

yeah, fury is also nice. that was actually what i initially bought as my first "upgrade" from the sparrow. but when i captured a hawk and tested it, i liked it more so i kept it and sold the fury to buy better equipment.