A "new" tactic for fighting multiple AI

[Wasp89]

I've seen a lot of questions about how to deal with the new AI systems, and a lot of good, different answers, which has prompted me to write my own.

Ever since Evochron Legends I've used my own tactic against AI, one that continues to work despite massive overhauls to the AI's fighting techniques. If you are interested, read on...

I call it the "Circle of Death" maneuver because it involves you literally strafing in circles around your enemy. Your enemy will try to follow you as you fly around them, which will result in them turning sharply and cause them to lose speed, making them easier to hit. When fighting multiple enemies, usually only one or two will ever be in range (and you can control that number) and your high speed drift makes it difficult for them to target you. Their missiles do pose a threat because of the constant afterburner use this maneuver requires, but you are almost flying backwards at an angle so it's easy to shoot them down. Here's how it works:

(This is for flying in a circle around them to your right, or counterclockwise when viewed from above. Reverse instructions for clockwise rotation).

1) Fly at a slight angle towards an approaching enemy, allowing them to pass you on your left
2) After you pass them, point your nose at them and engage IDS to bleed a little speed. Not too much!
3) Disengage IDS and continue to drift backwards, allowing them to close with you.
4) Engage your inertial drift thrusters (default "D" key) to cause you to accelerate to the right.
5) Engage your afterburner. Continue to use afterburner for duration of maneuver, except for slight adjustments
5) Stick (or mouse) left, keep the target slightly to the right of your gunsight.

If done properly, the combination of your left and rear thrusters with your ship pointing slightly to the left of the target will cause you to fly in a circle around the AI.

Use your IDS/disengage afterburner to slow yourself down some if you find the AI out of range. You can also roll 90 degrees, engage IDS to stop lateral motion and then re-initiate the procedure along a new axis. This will allow AI that are far away to catch up to you. If you get hit, stop thruster input, point in the direction you find yourself traveling in and engage afterburner to bug out.

Advantages:
-Difficult for AI to hit you
-Effective against multiple AI, one at a time
-Maintains high velocity, making it easy to get away.
-Cause AI to fly slowly, making your shots land with more frequency. Harder for them to catch you if you have to bug out.
-Easy to shoot down incoming missiles
-Only need to manage forward shields (you won't likely take fire from any other direction)
-New AI joining the fray will quickly get sucked into the whirlwind of ships in the middle of your circle.

Disadvantages:
-CM's don't work well because of continual afterburner use
-USUALLY does not work well against human players
-Can cause you to crash into large ships or stations if performed near such entities
-Difficult maneuver to master

I hope someone finds this useful.



[Edited on 12-28-2012 by Wasp89]

[Frost N7]

People call it the strafe maneuver (its been around forever) , you could just use the inertial reverse instead of risking ids . AI don't take "pot shots" anymore the only shoot when the chance to hit is higher. It is still a very effective move.

[Wasp89]

People call it the strafe maneuver (its been around forever) , you could just use the inertial reverse instead of risking ids . AI don't take "pot shots" anymore the only shoot when the chance to hit is higher. It is still a very effective move.

Yeah, as I said, I've used it for years. I've edited the title of the post to reflect its age.

[apo Spartacus]

I've been using a form of this recently, I'm quite a new pilot so I've been playing around with various techniques.

I find that this one works particularly well when coupled with some upwards or downwards thrust. The AI seems to have a real problem dealing with you if you're circling their Y axis.

[Busch]

Strafeing techniques are as many, varied, and as unique as are the combat pilots who fly the Evo-verse. It's very helpful to have so many suggestions and approaches to "successful" combat contract/mission completions. One may pick and choose, then hopefully practise the techniques in order to "learn" the skill-set. Wasp has done a workman-like job in describing his technique rather clearly, and it's easy enough to use. Well done!

[Maarschalk]

Yes, very cool, I use the after burner in the above scenario only when absolutely necessary to bug out fast when needed!.....Thanks for sharing Wasp89!....