Couple of ideas from a new guy

Vandil · Post by **Vandil** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:40 pm

Hello all! new owner here.

Spent the demo time putzing around, didn't get much done other than giving myself a bug to buy EL and a new joystick. 2 legit copies of the game and an X-52 later I'm slowly advancing my pilot.

I've come across one area that could possibly use some improvement\\expansion, chaff and active anti missile systems. At least as far as I've gotten in the game, chaff seems to be the only player anti missile system in the game?

I'd like to toss out a few alternative systems or systems that could be deployed in addition to chaff.

1. Tethered anti missile drones. Drone could consume a hard point and trail the mother ship via carbon nano tube tether. Emmits ghost IR\\Radar signatures of the mothership.

2. Energy based phalanx ciws. Only limited by energy charge and range, reduced size due to no ammo load, high energy usage. (cap ships seem to have a similar system now)

3. Anti Missile Missiles! Maybe they only work against the largest attack missiles. Or they are extremely large in themselves and deploy multiple smaller AMMs after boost for the final kill.

4. Active ECM, Radar\\IR spoofing, jamming, etc.

5. Anti missile drop pods. Dropped in the ships wake they either self detonate like a proximity mine, or they deploy a single pod consuming pumped laser blast.

While I'm on the topic of pumped lasers. A missile containing a gamma ray bomb pumped laser would make a fairly fun addition to the Anti Capital Ship missile load out. There would be a boost phase, and then a second phase where the weapon alligns on target and detonates.

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 7:43 pm

Hello Vandil, welcome to the forum and the Sim.

Post by **Vice** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:14 pm

As an additional option, you can also shoot down incoming missiles (if you're a good shot

AnakiMana · Post by **AnakiMana** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:46 pm

Creative ideas... I'm personally happy with the current countermeasures and shooting down missiles while taking advantage of inertia. I ain't 'fraid a' no missiles! Bring it on!

~AnakiMana

Vandil · Post by **Vandil** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:58 pm

Totally just tossing ideas around, I've successfully shot a few down.

Usually followed by me running head on into the enemy ship at 1K+\\ klicks.

Turbo + chaff spamming seems to work as long as I have time for evasion.

Mining in a system with occasional renegades can be a bit fun as they tend to warp in system, lock on, and launch quickly enough for me to get hit trying to boost away from the asteroid I'm mining at point blank range or before I can get my hands on the throttle+stick.

Post by **Vice** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:04 pm

If by turbo you mean afterburner, remember that engaging it results in a much higher heat signature for your ship, making it easier for missiles to keep their lock and track you. If you cut your engines and thrusters, including your afterburner, and allow your ship to drift freely while launching CM's, you'll find they will be much more effective when you eliminate your heat signature.

[Edited on 9-24-2009 by Vice]

Vandil · Post by **Vandil** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:22 pm

Originally posted by Vice
If by turbo you mean afterburner, remember that engaging it results in a much higher heat signature for your ship, making it easier for missiles to keep their lock and track you. If you cut your engines and thrusters, including your afterburner, and allow your ship to drift freely while launching CM's, you'll find they will be much more effective when you eliminate your heat signature.

[Edited on 9-24-2009 by Vice]

Any hints on how quickly the IR signature builds and fades? Can one say afterburner for 2 seconds, cut throttle, switch to inertia, and then chaff? Or would the heat still be bleeding off the engines at that point and then ship effectively has a larger signature than at full open throttle?

Post by **Vice** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:43 pm

With the IDS on, the heat signature can taper off gradually as the thrusters/engines gradually shut down after a turning or changing speed. If you turn off the IDS, then they shut down immediately and the heat signature is dropped immediately. So yes, you can use the afterburner for 2 seconds, turn off the IDS and then use CM's.

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 5:36 pm

He-he....and if you do get hit by a missile or two Just smile

because someone maybe out there taking your picture while your on fire to post in the screenshot thread....Just ask Eclipse and Scott

Manboy no 5 · Post by **Manboy no 5** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:26 pm

On the topic of new guys and ideas here's mine for what they're worth

Cargo filters, so you can mine for specific minerals without having to jettison to free up a slot
Forwarding of nav points to other players
Brought this up in another thread, but the way the shields around cap ships snag you when you get too close on strafing runs is something I find annoying. I'd rather collision was handled like cap ships were asteroids, you can fly fast close but risk destruction if you collide

Keep up the good work Vice, games like this and Mount & Blade make me feel pretty good about independent developers

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:35 pm

These point all have been brought up before. I agree with the First point.
The Second point I'm not sure if you mean Forwarding nav points to other players? If you mean your position coordinates then this can already be done!

Point number three I like the way it is because many times when you jump to contract way point involving capital ships you will fly right into the capital ship if you do not use strafe and might be destroyed before you have a chance to react as not to collide;)

Manboy no 5 · Post by **Manboy no 5** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 3:47 pm

Originally posted by Eclipse
You can prime cargo bays by keeping, or buying, a single unit in the cargo bay before running out to mine. Right-clicking on items at the trade stations allows you to buy/sell single units instead of the whole amount.

This is a workaround but not a very elegant one. Having a filter option would make mining and salvage less tedious, but I suppose it could start to clutter the interface.

The Second point I'm not sure if you mean Forwarding nav points to other players? If you mean your position coordinates then this can already be done!

Point number three I like the way it is because many times when you jump to contract way point involving capital ships you will fly right into the capital ship if you do not use strafe and might be destroyed before you have a chance to react as not to collide

By forwarding of nav points I mean having the nav point simply appear for the player being communicated with, after some kind of confirmation from them perhaps. You could broadcast your current position or current nav, and then the player you're talking to could click the coords like a hyperlink, and the nav would appear.

As to default navs making you ram into cap ships, I think it'd be better to have the jump exited early, or the nav placement altered gving you a chance to not ram the cap ship. As it is I don't get punished in an intuitive way for running into a capital ship at 3000-4000, but I do get punished for trying to drift close by a ship for a strafing run as the shield-snagging range and gun-range is not far apart.

Manboy no 5 · Post by **Manboy no 5** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 5:50 pm

Yeah, I've been jumping to a new nav just short of the waypoint to avoid getting close to the cap ship. What I'm saying is if ramming is ever made deadly, then the default waypoint is no good if you go straight at it. Even as it is, where you slide over the surface of cap ships, the "helpfull" waypoint can easily get you into trouble. Your employer is giving you a nav you shouldn't actually use directly; why would they do that?

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 5:54 pm

Originally posted by Manboy no 5
Your employer is giving you a nav you shouldn't actually use directly; why would they do that?

Actually if you use the closeness to your advantage you can complete the mission no matter how many 'reds' there are around, giving you a fast contract turnaround

Post by **Marvin** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:24 pm

Originally posted by Manboy no 5

Your employer is giving you a nav you shouldn't actually use directly; why would they do that?

Thud drivers would ask that very same question when given the same ingress route, day after day, into North Vietnam.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:45 am

If you know how to take out a Cap ship then this is the fastest way to finish the contract. Ones the Cap ship is destroyed it is much easier to complete the mission. You do not have to worry about unlimited missiles comming at you while trying to destroy the enemy escorts! And sometimes if you do not destroy the Cap ship mission will not complete till you destroy the estimated number of fighters or more!;)

[Edited on 9-27-2009 by Maarschalk]

Manboy no 5 · Post by **Manboy no 5** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:27 am

I'll give that trick a shot, Eclipse, I hadn't thought to pull the stick during a jump. I wasn't referring to it in that last post though, but about what happens if you jump in a straight line to a waypoint placed in the heart of a capital ship.

soulsacrifice · Post by **soulsacrifice** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:39 pm

I don't mind having to jedison minerals in favour of others, I just wish it wouldn't keep telling me I have no room for them. Especially in multiplayer as it clutters up the chat screen.

I like the idea of collision of Capital ships being treated as collision with asteroids, avoiding them after a jump is very easy - and if you can't, you'll learn soon enough.

Post by **Marvin** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:10 pm

Originally posted by soulsacrifice
I just wish it wouldn't keep telling me I have no room for them. Especially in multiplayer as it clutters up the chat screen.

The NumPad "/" key clears your chat screen. Combine it with the "Alt" key and you can scroll back through any missed messages. (Either that, or it's the other way 'round.)

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:33 pm

Originally posted by Eclipse

Numpad * clears the chat screen in one bang.

Indeed it does. Un-clutters chat really fast.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:32 am

I think there is also some kind of mute button. You can close the chat screen completely with. If I'm mistaken then maybe there should be one to shut down all comunication for if you wanted to take a nap without being disturbed. Like a Do not disturb sign! LOL:P:P:P:P:P

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:39 am

He-He....A thought just flew by about the Pilots that leave their ships parked in a Starport with a sign in the window that say's "Do Not Disturb" hahahahaha