Forum suggestions: Newbie area & Welcome message

[SandJ]

a) Would it be worthwhile setting up a "Welcome" or "Newbie" area? Specifically for people to introduce themselves. And littered with some sticky threads:
- newbie OXPs;
- how not to die so much;
- best eye-candy;
- debugging.

b) I cannot remember - does this board send a "Welcome!" email with instructions and tips?

[CapnSkweek]

I didn't get one. Once I got my account validated and my first post was approved, there's been very little guidance.

It might be a silly offer, but if somebody could compile a list of tips/techniques for the novice pilot, maybe a few screenshots, I can knock it into a PDF in short order. "SandJ's official guide to surviving the Galaxy Charts". Or, if you're not into putting your name on it directly "Oolite Bulletins Guide to a Long Healthy Career". I have been experimenting for several months on the finer points of page layout, I'd look forward to the job if nobody else is interested.

Another 'issue' I have as a semi-new pilot, the Wiki doesn't go into any noticeable detail about how to hunt. The nearest to guidance I have seen is that "It is assumed Bounty Hunters know what they are doing" On the "Dealing with Piracy" page. I'm not suggesting a full write-up down to the finest detail, but just a few tips on how to handle large bunches of pirates when the goal isn't to survive, but to ensure that they don't short of tossing a Q over the side and running like your undies are alight.

[Diziet Sma]

Quite a few forums I hang out on have an Introductions section where newbies can say hi.. The idea of combining it with a few stickies on various newbie-type subjects strikes me as a good one..

I vote Yes.

[Lone_Wolf]

Another 'issue' I have as a semi-new pilot, the Wiki doesn't go into any noticeable detail about how to hunt. The nearest to guidance I have seen is that "It is assumed Bounty Hunters know what they are doing" On the "Dealing with Piracy" page.
I'm not suggesting a full write-up down to the finest detail, but just a few tips on how to handle large bunches of pirates when the goal isn't to survive, but to ensure that they don't short of tossing a Q over the side and running like your undies are alight.

1. make sure you have fuel injectors / fuel scoops added
2. Have atleast 1/2 your tank filled BEFORE the fight, look up sunskimming or use 1 of the oxps that allow to add fuel tanks.

3. target the smaller/weaker ships first, they tend to need only a few hits to be killed.

4. If a ship flees, don't pursue it.

5. If shields/energy gets low, use the fuel injectors to run away.

6. If one or 2 enemies follow you, take them out. A rear laser helps a lot with this.

7. Once shields/energy / laser temp are back to full/normal head back.

8. repeat 3 to 7 repeat until all enemies are gone or have fled

[Commander McLane]

It might be a silly offer, but if somebody could compile a list of tips/techniques for the novice pilot, maybe a few screenshots, I can knock it into a PDF in short order.

Well, there is the [wiki]Oolite Instruction Manual[/wiki] and everything it links to, especially the Pilot's Reference Manual for learning the controls, [wiki]Oolite Trading[/wiki] for the basics of market dynamics, and [wiki]Oolite Tactics[/wiki] for various aspects of gameplay, from the basic [wiki]Laser tactics[/wiki] and [wiki]Missile tactics[/wiki], to the finer points of Dealing with piracy and [wiki]Dealing with Thargoids[/wiki].

And of course we have the basics of that in an in-game form by the friendly dockmaster of Lave station, [wiki]Mr Gimlet[/wiki].

I think that's a pretty rounded pack for an introduction.

[SandJ]

Well, there is the [wiki]Oolite Instruction Manual[/wiki] and ... <snip> ... [wiki]Mr Gimlet[/wiki].

I think that's a pretty rounded pack for an introduction.

Indeed. Well done, Commander McLane. It looks like you've written the guts of the "Welcome!" email.

[CommRLock78]

Another 'issue' I have as a semi-new pilot, the Wiki doesn't go into any noticeable detail about how to hunt. The nearest to guidance I have seen is that "It is assumed Bounty Hunters know what they are doing" On the "Dealing with Piracy" page.
I'm not suggesting a full write-up down to the finest detail, but just a few tips on how to handle large bunches of pirates when the goal isn't to survive, but to ensure that they don't short of tossing a Q over the side and running like your undies are alight.

1. make sure you have fuel injectors / fuel scoops added
2. Have atleast 1/2 your tank filled BEFORE the fight, look up sunskimming or use 1 of the oxps that allow to add fuel tanks.

3. target the smaller/weaker ships first, they tend to need only a few hits to be killed.

4. If a ship flees, don't pursue it.

5. If shields/energy gets low, use the fuel injectors to run away.

6. If one or 2 enemies follow you, take them out. A rear laser helps a lot with this.

7. Once shields/energy / laser temp are back to full/normal head back.

8. repeat 3 to 7 repeat until all enemies are gone or have fled

Appendix: If you're hunting a special target from a seedy space bar, make use of your space compass while searching the space lanes. 'N' for station buoy toward the planet and 'W' for the witch point beacon as your searching away from the planet. (This is something I failed to do when I first started hunting special assignments, so I would have to frequently leave the system and come back if I didn't find the target right away).

[Shipbuilder]

Some tips for countering missile attacks in combat: -

1) Get yourself an ECM to destroy enemy missiles before they can hit you.

2) If being chased by a ECM hardened missile, (or if you don't have an ECM), and you don't have injectors increase speed to max, view the missile in your rear view and when it gets close quickly reduce speed and pull up/down to change direction by 90 degrees then increase to max speed. Once you get the hang of this missiles tend to overshoot. Do this 2 or 3 times and the missile exhausts its fuel and explodes.

3) Make sure you set your hyperspace target system before entering combat so that you have a chance to jump to safety in an emergency.

When involved in a dogfight and an enemy ship is approaching you head on activate your ECM just before he flies by. I died many times when I was starting out as a common tactic used by the npc ships is to hit you a few times as they approach thus weakening your forward shields than launch a missile as they pass giving you no time to react - resulting in you seeing the remains of your ship and cargo floating in space and you starting again.

[Cody]

Make sure you set your hyperspace target system before entering combat so that you have a chance to jump to safety in an emergency.

Not necessarily to safety - some bandits may follow you through your wormhole, occasionly lots of them.
It is always a good idea to have a jump laid-in though! The missile evasion tactics are sound, as well!

[Commander McLane]

2) If being chased by a ECM hardened missile, (or if you don't have an ECM), and you don't have injectors increase speed to max, view the missile in your rear view and when it gets close quickly reduce speed and pull up/down to change direction by 90 degrees then increase to max speed. Once you get the hang of this missiles tend to overshoot. Do this 2 or 3 times and the missile exhausts its fuel and explodes.

2a) continue to hit the ECM-key. ECM hardened missiles are, as their name suggests, ECM hardened, not ECM proof. Your second or third ECM burst may get them. This shouldn't prevent you from prophylactically running away, though.

[Smivs]

And try shooting them...it's very possible.

[cim]

And try shooting them...it's very possible.

Indeed. Practice on ordinary missiles that have been launched by a distant fleeing/destroyed ship. If it gets close and you still haven't got it, you can just ECM it.

[Agis Silverfish]

a) Would it be worthwhile setting up a "Welcome" or "Newbie" area?

Yes!

[Styggron]

Hello all,

No I didn't find a welcome area on here so I thought I'd post here.

I just wanted to say I think the Oolite development team are absolutely amazing as are all the wonderfully talented people that are contributing to expanding Oolite via OXP's and other add ones. They are just amazing. This means Oolite can be just about anything we want it to be. I like playing with the standard cockpit because it is just like Elite and this is what got me here in the first place. This is the closest experience to Elite there is without playing Elite itself.

The fantastic graphic upgrades, compatibility across OS' it is all wonderfully positive. Loading OXP's and even writing them is achievable. I really need to have a go at writing one myself.

So sorry this post is a little bit fanboyish but it is said with the utmost sincerity. What would I change ? Nothing at all, keep going the way it has been keep developing OXP's....and I am sooooooooo glad energy bombs stayed as they were after all in the original

You are all fantastically brilliant !

[Smivs]

Hi Styggron, and Welcome to the friendliest Board this side of Riedquat. (I think the 'Welcome Area' is wherever people choose to 'first post', and it seems to work OK. )
The game...yes, it's a bit good isn't it.