Enemy ships inside shields of ship I am to escort?

wavek · Post by **wavek** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:40 pm

I have just started running more missions where I may have combat. I have done a few where I have to protect some larger ship from enemies while they get to a waypoint, or while I deliver some goods.

I found that often the enemy ships are sitting right against the larger ship and I cannot hit them. My guns seem to impact the big ships shields rather than the enemy.

Is this just a bug or is there some way I can get them to fly away from the ship so I can fight them?

Accountant · Post by **Accountant** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:04 pm

I've noticed this a few times, also. It seems that only missiles can take these ships out.

-Accountant

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:11 pm

It looks sometimes like these are in side the shield while actually they are behind it, If you get close behind these ships you should be able to take them out with guns!;)

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:31 pm

"Ramming Speed" will also work well in knocking them loose from their perch just outside of the shields where they perch to attack the ship you are escorting....Increase your shield energy and nail the hostile ship at full speed then redirect your energy to weapons and take 'em out....be careful in using Excals missiles....if that is the only hostile the rest of your missiles will hit your escort ship, turning them red and mad at you.

"Good Flying"

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 6:41 pm

Yes, Good one BraveHart! LOL:P:P:P

Post by **Vice** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:10 pm

That is intentional. They will take cover inside the shield array of the capital ship to make it more difficult for you to destroy them. It's part of their strategy. You have several counter-tactics available to you:

- Pick out the hostile ships heading directly for the escort ship and attack them first (and fast). Do not allow them to take cover behind the shields of the escort ship. Ignore the other hostile ships that often just try to distract you away from the other hostiles attacking the escort ship.

- As Eclipse suggests, if you miss one of them and they take cover behind the shield, switch to beam cannons and missiles to continue attacking.

- Sometimes the shield array will miss your particle gunfire if you can fire at the attacking hostile at point blank range (but this has a limited scope of effectiveness, best to focus on the first two tactics).

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:57 am

So, can I hide in enemy capships shield arrays?

Post by **Vice** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:22 am

Yup, from gunfire in a similar way, but the AI is equipped with the ability to use the tactics above as well, plus you'll be giving them free time to keep hitting the capital ship while you duck for cover. And any shots they do take at you that collide with the shields instead will just go against the capital ship anyway. So it's not a recommend escort tactic

[Edited on 7-16-2009 by Vice]

tha_rami · Post by **tha_rami** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:49 pm

Is this really intended? I must say it looks quite 'buggy' in game.

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 1:46 pm

Originally posted by tha_rami
Is this really intended? I must say it looks quite 'buggy' in game.

Actually It is fun.

Good method to protecting gun and missile fires sometimes.

And logical to me. It must be happen in this way.
Because shield has bubble shape.

tha_rami · Post by **tha_rami** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:01 pm

Yes, but the shields are bubble shaped and do reflect the player off normally. The AI ships seem to get 'stuck' instead of hiding.

wavek · Post by **wavek** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:42 pm

Doesnt seem to me like they should be in there. Either that or there should be a clear-cut boundary both inside and outside the shield perimeter. As it is, if I cross that boundary it seems like the space is filled with 'shield' rather than being an open area.

Also, how can a ship fly through shields that are designed to repel particle cannon fire and missiles? It should be an impermeable barrier to other ships.

Post by **Marvin** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:25 am

Originally posted by wavek
Also, how can a ship fly through shields that are designed to repel particle cannon fire and missiles? It should be an impermeable barrier to other ships.

Probably shield interaction ... one ship's shield negates the effect of the other ship's shield. Except when both shields operate on the same frequency ... like those of smaller ships.

Nigel_Strange · Post by **Nigel_Strange** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:48 pm

Yeah, I meant hiding in the enemy capital ship's shields. That would be nutty.

"Here I am! Come and shoot at me if you want!" hahaha!