Help with Combat - Please - New Player

[microtogo]

I upgraded to Rebirth from a short run with X3 AP and love the game, but am having trouble killing anything moving around me.

I die constantly in the Campaign with just the first set of drones, and can't seem to progress further.
I am missing something, since most posts are how easy the AI is in this game..

In x3AP I had an Auto-Attack feature which was very cool for those fast moving ships, but I can't seem to lock in Rebirth and just spin around trying to find the little buggers and shoot them when they aren't moving too much.

Is there an automated firing sequence or auto target lock thingy.

Thanks so much for your help, otherwise the game seems to be on the right track for fun spaceship stuff.

[Santi]

If you are using mouse/keyboard you have "shift-E" and something else for targeting closest enemy and "page up" "page down" for switching for targets, I use gamepad so this does not apply (that I know of). Remember boosting uses up your shield, so make sure you arrive with shield fully recharged. Missiles are your friend too, remember to get the guided ones.

[microtogo]

Thanks for the quick response.

When I "Control E" does it stay locked and I just click fire and the ship automatically hits the target or does it just "target" the ship so I get the CIRCLE showing me where the target is at?

I was hoping for an "Easy Button" when I am learning if I need it, like the Auto Attack in AP.

The problem is I "MISS" so often that by the time I kill one of them, the other has hit me so many times, my shields are down and the hull is gone to boot.... shortly followed by the GAME OVER screen.

[Santi]

It just stays locked, I was having the same problem as you, did a bit of searching for crates, you can do a bit of long range scanning, sold the stuff and bought some Sunstalker Missiles. Strafing is really important too to evade enemy fire.

[wysiwyg]

Yes properly selecting your target so that it displays the lead indicator is important for a number of reasons i) it makes aiming a lot easier with the target lead indicator showing, ii) if the target goes out of line of sight you will pick it up more quickly as it will be highlighted compared to other enemies around you and, iii) your guided missiles (sunstalkers) will only lock on to a selected target. Try and close down your targets ASAP; use strafing as most smaller fighters have a tendancy to simply joust with you (come at you head on) on their first attack run. If you need a shield boost use cover e.g. a closeby asteroid, station or neutral big ship. I find small targets have a tendency to follow you behind cover making them a sitting duck as once they're close to cover they get very confused and just spin round frantically trying to escape. Fire in short bursts, don't let your weapons overheat and watch your shields.

Spoiler

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Packs of drones can be very effective and deadly if you aren't aware of how they operate. The lead drone will present itself as a target for you to follow and the other pack drones will chase you down and shove all manner of nasties up your tailpipe. Don't get sucked in to chasing one drone down whilst the others hack away at you. Vary your tactics.

As for settings you have an auto-aim setting in the game settings menu. I prefer it turned off as it's not great tbh. Targeting your nearest enemy is achieved using SHIFT+E. Once your target is selected it will stay selected until you destroy it or select another target. Note that left clicking somewhere on the screen that has nothing targetable will deselect your current target.

[microtogo]

So it's the type of Missiles.. I'll get those for sure now.
The other missiles I was using just missed all the time, so I gave up on them.

Makes sense.. I have been able to find enough junk around to buy stuff though. I like the Long Range Scanning Game and station stealing.

Thanks again.

[wysiwyg]

Yeah Sunstalker missiles are what you need - the others V-crushers are dumbfire i.e. they just go in a straight line until they hit something or run out of fuel at which point they detonate - good for hitting large very slow targets such as cap ships.

Astrobees are also guided, they fire multiple warheads that all seek the target, when the target is destroyed any remaining warheads will seek another target of opportunity making them very good to launch at packs of drones - they are quite expensive early game though.

Forget novadrones for now - these are like guided torpedoes, go really slow and steer like capships!

[Sockrox]

I upgraded to Rebirth from a short run with X3 AP...

[rguy1]

So it's the type of Missiles.. I'll get those for sure now.
The other missiles I was using just missed all the time, so I gave up on them.

Makes sense.. I have been able to find enough junk around to buy stuff though. I like the Long Range Scanning Game and station stealing.

Thanks again.

Also if you upgrade the skunk with better weapons,engines,and shields you stand a better chance of survival, There is no time limit on doing the plot so take your time and learn what you can before you progress.