Is Focus Fire needed when only one enemy?

[rolypoly]

If there is only one possible enemy to fire upon, does Focus Fire still increase accuracy and rate of fire against that enemy, or will that bonus still apply automatically if you don't manually choose it?

[Colonel Clank]

it applies a huge accuracy boost, so it will destroy the enemy faster, sparing damage from return fire

[✌Husker54✌]

Big time. Always focus fire doesnt matter what unless its like the last ship on 2 HP and its about to die

[rolypoly]

I see, so the ship AI is not smart enough to focus fire the only enemy ship when there are no other enemies in sight. Thanks, for the answers. That's a bummer. More tedious clicking that could have easily been automated for convenience, in my opinion.

[Mistfox]

Originally posted by Ivan The Kozel:

I see, so the ship AI is not smart enough to focus fire the only enemy ship when there are no other enemies in sight. Thanks, for the answers. That's a bummer. More tedious clicking that could have easily been automated for convenience, in my opinion.

Not totally. On very rare occasions, all round firing might be better than focused, like when you're surrounded by Raiders or there is more than one critically damaged ship in your firing arc. Very rare cases but it happens sometimes.

[Androgos]

noob question since i just got the game does focus fire mearly improve accoracy or is all my shots going to one target im still figuring out the mechanics

[GrenadeMagnet6]

Originally posted by Ivan The Kozel:

I see, so the ship AI is not smart enough to focus fire the only enemy ship when there are no other enemies in sight. Thanks, for the answers. That's a bummer. More tedious clicking that could have easily been automated for convenience, in my opinion.

One way to make it less tedious is to use the keyboard command (which may default to the letter T), which is what I use. Then just press the number-keys for each ship and loop through them and press T for each, and if one enemy is left the UI should default to select the remaining enemy ship.

But I agree it would be nice to have an option to have all ships default to focus-fire if one enemy ship remains. Or perhaps an option to have all ships default to focus-fire on the closest enemy ship.

[Zloth]

Or you use the numbers with your left hand and click the button with the mouse using your right hand.

Originally posted by Androgos:

noob question since i just got the game does focus fire mearly improve accoracy or is all my shots going to one target im still figuring out the mechanics

Both, I believe. It's good for keeping your target even when another comes closer. However, guns that are out of arc will still fire on targets of opportunity... badly, but they'll try.

[Sir Wagglepuss III]

When targetting an enemy with focus fire accuracy is increased. Alongside this, weapons that have line of sight on the target will fire only on the target designated. Any weapons not in line of sight will fire on targets of opportunity as their orders dictate (Closest, capital, squadrons as appropriate) but at a largely reduced accuracy value. Rate of fire is NOT affected by focus fire. You'll always throw out the same quantity of direct fire regardless of orders. Focusing a target or spreading fire is up to you as the situation calls for it.

[RabitSalvokelk]

i dont usually reply in these threads and sorry for the necro but i simply MUST thank you... I just got the game on sale and holy crap i was getting rekt all the time not understanding why my ships are such ♥♥♥♥ shots. It is insane how big of a difference focus fire makes....

[Chibbity]

Originally posted by RabitSalvokelk:

i dont usually reply in these threads and sorry for the necro but i simply MUST thank you... I just got the game on sale and holy crap i was getting rekt all the time not understanding why my ships are such ♥♥♥♥ shots. It is insane how big of a difference focus fire makes....

Agree 100%, focus firing is pretty much always worth it; just wish it wasn't such a micro-management PITA lol.

[Half Phased]

If you have a ship selected, then right click on a hostile ship, a radial menu will come you where you can set the focus fire or launch munitions.

You can do this with multiple ships at once as well, to cut down on micro.

[kucsidaveee]

focus fire hotkey: T
Just select your ships, T and select the enemy ship.
And focus fire can also be a tetriment if you have enemies on both sides of your ships, as your ships get a debuff to acuracy to anything you are not focusing fire on and you lose a lot of damage output there.

[Mandalore]

Dont forget ( whilest tedious ) you can also adjust what turret shoots at what ( capitals, fighters etc )

I always change them to closest as the A.I typically bum rushes into your firezones anyway, that way if you destroy a focus fired target during the middle of the cinematic sequence at least the next closest target is already recieving as much damage as possible.

[twosnark]

The Debuff is real - - - so I always focus fire my ships

The default targetting (after the "focused" target is destroyed) is not too bad - - - rarely have to change it. Captial ships tend to target "nearest capital". Frigates like Adaments, I believe default to "Closest". Most often, if Cylon captial ships are in range, it does make sense for the battlestars to default to targetting capital ships.

I do, sometimes, elect to have Battlestars focus on "squadrons" in the height of the fighter battle. . . . especially when the raiders massively outnumber the vipers. . .then this frees up both vipers and ships to "focus" on capital ships a turn or two later.

I generally focus the entire fleet one enemy ship. . .unless that ship is 1/2 to 3/4 gone; in which case I start switching ships to +a fresh target. When swatting squadrons, one battlestar to one squadron. One (maybe two) frigates on one squadron.. Wardrivers get priority. Heavy Raiders ignored if flak is active.