Inverse control for aft view

General discussion for players of Oolite.

Moderators: winston, another_commander

Mad Hollander
Dangerous
Dangerous
Posts: 84
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:57 am

Inverse control for aft view

Post by Mad Hollander »

Is there such button ? In the ZX and PC XT Elite there was a possibility to swich to aft view having controls inverted.
User avatar
maik
Wiki Wizard
Wiki Wizard
Posts: 2028
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:30 pm
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia (mainly industrial, feudal, TL12)

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by maik »

Mad Hollander wrote:
Is there such button ? In the ZX and PC XT Elite there was a possibility to swich to aft view having controls inverted.
No, there isn't. But hey, welcome :)
Mad Hollander
Dangerous
Dangerous
Posts: 84
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:57 am

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Mad Hollander »

maik wrote:
Mad Hollander wrote:
Is there such button ? In the ZX and PC XT Elite there was a possibility to swich to aft view having controls inverted.
No, there isn't. But hey, welcome :)
Oh, damn, I was pretty sure it is :(
When I fight with a dozen of ships the laser stops working very soon and without such inversion aft view becomes useless.

Without any misses the military laser stops working just about python or boa killing. How to deal with lazer temperature ?
User avatar
Disembodied
Jedi Spam Assassin
Jedi Spam Assassin
Posts: 6885
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:54 pm
Location: Carter's Snort

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Disembodied »

Mad Hollander wrote:
Oh, damn, I was pretty sure it is :(
When I fight with a dozen of ships the laser stops working very soon and without such inversion aft view becomes useless.

Without any misses the military laser stops working just about python or boa killing. How to deal with lazer temperature ?
If you have a joystick, you can turn it around ... but if you fly by keyboard you just have to learn to invert your brain. ;)

Dealing with laser temperature is an art, frankly: conserve your shots, and keep your distance, is my advice! Fire, flip, fire again, then dodge and weave until your guns have cooled ...
User avatar
Smivs
Retired Assassin
Retired Assassin
Posts: 8408
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:31 am
Location: Lost in space
Contact:

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Smivs »

Yes, as Disembodied mentioned if you use a 'stick you can just turn it around :wink:
Having said that with practice you'll soon get used to and very good at using the aft gun without any 'help'. It's just one of the skills an Ace pilot has to master.
Commander Smivs, the friendliest Gourd this side of Riedquat.
User avatar
Gimbal Locke
---- E L I T E ----
---- E L I T E ----
Posts: 293
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:32 pm
Location: Brussels
Contact:

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Gimbal Locke »

There are several possible tactics. Here's what I do:

- Use some missiles to keep the biggest ships busy. (I like plasma torpedos, they are cheap and ECM resistant. They will not destroy your enemy, but they'll buy you some time.)
- Shoot the small ships first: they deal the same damage as big ships, but they take fewer hits to be destroyed. (The exception to this are the Thargoids: kill the motherships first.)
- Learn to use aft and side view: when your front laser is hot, the others are still cool. By the time those are hot, the front laser is cool again. This takes practice: I'm still pretty lousy at this myself, but improving. Do some exercises on asteroid shooting.
- Retreat and go in again when your lasers are cool. Fuel injectors may be handy for that.
- Use the sniper sight to attack from a distance.
Last edited by Gimbal Locke on Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Cody
Sharp Shooter Spam Assassin
Sharp Shooter Spam Assassin
Posts: 16081
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:31 pm
Location: The Lizard's Claw
Contact:

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Cody »

I haven't used my aft laser for a very long time (and have never used my side lasers). Get in close, and use the mil laser as a single-shot weapon, is how I play.
For additional firepower (if needed), mount a [EliteWiki] railgun - an excellent dogfighting weapon, is that.
I would advise stilts for the quagmires, and camels for the snowy hills
And any survivors, their debts I will certainly pay. There's always a way!
User avatar
Disembodied
Jedi Spam Assassin
Jedi Spam Assassin
Posts: 6885
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:54 pm
Location: Carter's Snort

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Disembodied »

Gimbal Locke wrote:
Shoot the small ships first: they deal the same damage as big ships, but they take fewer hits to be destroyed. (The exception to this are the Thargoids: kill the motherships first.)
+1 on this ... one of the best pieces of combat advice you'll ever hear!
User avatar
Diziet Sma
---- E L I T E ----
---- E L I T E ----
Posts: 6312
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:20 pm
Location: Aboard the Pitviper S.E. "Blackwidow"

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Diziet Sma »

El Viejo wrote:
I haven't used my aft laser for a very long time (and have never used my side lasers). Get in close, and use the mil laser as a single-shot weapon, is how I play.
Similar to my play style.. but I do use short bursts when the opportunity presents. I mostly use the aft laser to deal with stern-chase situations. The target is reasonably steady then, and it's easier to remember that inversion is needed.
Most games have some sort of paddling-pool-and-water-wings beginning to ease you in: Oolite takes the rather more Darwinian approach of heaving you straight into the ocean, often with a brick or two in your pockets for luck. ~ Disembodied
User avatar
Cody
Sharp Shooter Spam Assassin
Sharp Shooter Spam Assassin
Posts: 16081
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:31 pm
Location: The Lizard's Claw
Contact:

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Cody »

Diziet Sma wrote:
I mostly use the aft laser to deal with stern-chase situations. The target is reasonably steady then, and it's easier to remember that inversion is needed.
That becomes far too easy after a while, which is why I stopped using the aft laser in the first place!
I would advise stilts for the quagmires, and camels for the snowy hills
And any survivors, their debts I will certainly pay. There's always a way!
User avatar
Smivs
Retired Assassin
Retired Assassin
Posts: 8408
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:31 am
Location: Lost in space
Contact:

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Smivs »

El Viejo wrote:
Diziet Sma wrote:
I mostly use the aft laser to deal with stern-chase situations. The target is reasonably steady then, and it's easier to remember that inversion is needed.
That becomes far too easy after a while, which is why I stopped using the aft laser in the first place!
Yeah it is easy - too easy really - but is a useful technique nontheless. The root problem really lies in the NPC behaviour, where they just sit behind you in a fairly central position and never try to get closer.
Commander Smivs, the friendliest Gourd this side of Riedquat.
User avatar
Cody
Sharp Shooter Spam Assassin
Sharp Shooter Spam Assassin
Posts: 16081
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2009 9:31 pm
Location: The Lizard's Claw
Contact:

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Cody »

The term turkey shoot comes to mind, to be honest!
I would advise stilts for the quagmires, and camels for the snowy hills
And any survivors, their debts I will certainly pay. There's always a way!
User avatar
Diziet Sma
---- E L I T E ----
---- E L I T E ----
Posts: 6312
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:20 pm
Location: Aboard the Pitviper S.E. "Blackwidow"

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Diziet Sma »

Hey.. if they wish to become roast turkeys, I'm happy to oblige. :twisted:

Seriously, though, I seldom use it, except to occasionally encourage some annoying git to go elsewhere..
Most games have some sort of paddling-pool-and-water-wings beginning to ease you in: Oolite takes the rather more Darwinian approach of heaving you straight into the ocean, often with a brick or two in your pockets for luck. ~ Disembodied
User avatar
Bothkill
Above Average
Above Average
Posts: 30
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2012 2:35 pm

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Bothkill »

Mad Hollander wrote:
Is there such button ? In the ZX and PC XT Elite there was a possibility to swich to aft view having controls inverted.
I used this feature a lot in the ZX version.

Maybe you should request this feature in the "Suggestion Box"?
I'll back you up, but unfortunately I don't see too much interest for this among the more experienced players.
User avatar
Gimi
---- E L I T E ----
---- E L I T E ----
Posts: 2073
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2006 5:02 pm
Location: Norway

Re: Inverse control for aft view

Post by Gimi »

Bothkill wrote:
I'll back you up, but unfortunately I don't see too much interest for this among the more experienced players.
That should not stop you from asking, and it has been requested before, so you are not alone.
I suspect that it's a matter of how difficult/complex it is to implement the feature in the code.
"A brilliant game of blasting and trading... Truly a mega-game... The game of a lifetime."
(Gold Medal Award, Zzap!64 May 1985).
Post Reply