Re: Combat is too hard with a keyboard
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2020 1:08 am
For me the joystick is essencial and ultimate tool. Playing with only keyboard is terribly difficult (and was in Elite too, but I had simple joystick even back then and did rely on that heavy too).
I started yesterday another session, in Strict Mode (= no OXPs) and with Wire Graphic (real nostalgia
). So far I was not killed, not used (or even buy) Escape pod and did not reload game (so still Iron Man mode 
).
I spend lot of time around Lave destroying meteorites and trading with Rock Hermits to be able buy Fuel Scoops. But my Pulse Laser usually just destroyed Meteorites or Boulders, without giving me Splinters to scoop, so I started stealing from Rock Hermist's Worms - I just waited near one, when he used his Mining Laser and reduced Asteroid to Splinters, then I used my higher velocity, scooped them and waited more for him to process another Asteroid.
Soon I got Injectors and Beam laser and was able defend myself somehow, not just run away from pirates (stil I avoid larger groups). Then came first delivery and interstelar trade and Large Cargo and money.
On the end of the session I had Military laser, lot of cheaper equipement, 5 successful deliveries, one missjump with Thargoids (I killed 4 Mother ships and then shot down all kitties, as bounty is 50 Cr, while Aliem Items are more like 40Cr best), full cargo of computers and 2kCr saved for rear military laser. (But got tired and so went to bed). I will continue soon again, to see, how far I could go with one life
So for me the joystick is way better, than any OXP. (Yes, I usually play with lot of OXPs and thanks to Telescope I got much better idea, how the life around is structured, so I can use the insight even without any OXP.)
While on Elite was possible to just start killing pirates and land only for buying new hardware (beam laser was usually first one), in Oolite that does not work this way. First I need make some money, equip my ship better and then I can start to think about hunting pirates. On the begining is very usefull to be able avoid hits and simply run away (simply = just rolling irregullarry around all 3 axes with full speed (or on injectors, if i have one and some fuel), while generally approaching Station or group of police Vipers, whatever is nearer). Joystick makes precision shooting (both pirates and missiles) a way easier, than just keys, mouse or touchpad.
About landing - I also first align my ship with dock and then speed straight inside, when the angle is good. It works for Injectors too, even for hyperspeed (on Rock Hermits without other ships around). The shorter time I spend inside the tunel, the lower chance is, that I meet somebody there, or that I desync with the Station rotation and hit the wall.
I started yesterday another session, in Strict Mode (= no OXPs) and with Wire Graphic (real nostalgia
). So far I was not killed, not used (or even buy) Escape pod and did not reload game (so still Iron Man mode ).I spend lot of time around Lave destroying meteorites and trading with Rock Hermits to be able buy Fuel Scoops. But my Pulse Laser usually just destroyed Meteorites or Boulders, without giving me Splinters to scoop, so I started stealing from Rock Hermist's Worms - I just waited near one, when he used his Mining Laser and reduced Asteroid to Splinters, then I used my higher velocity, scooped them and waited more for him to process another Asteroid.
Soon I got Injectors and Beam laser and was able defend myself somehow, not just run away from pirates (stil I avoid larger groups). Then came first delivery and interstelar trade and Large Cargo and money.
On the end of the session I had Military laser, lot of cheaper equipement, 5 successful deliveries, one missjump with Thargoids (I killed 4 Mother ships and then shot down all kitties, as bounty is 50 Cr, while Aliem Items are more like 40Cr best), full cargo of computers and 2kCr saved for rear military laser. (But got tired and so went to bed). I will continue soon again, to see, how far I could go with one life
So for me the joystick is way better, than any OXP. (Yes, I usually play with lot of OXPs and thanks to Telescope I got much better idea, how the life around is structured, so I can use the insight even without any OXP.)
While on Elite was possible to just start killing pirates and land only for buying new hardware (beam laser was usually first one), in Oolite that does not work this way. First I need make some money, equip my ship better and then I can start to think about hunting pirates. On the begining is very usefull to be able avoid hits and simply run away (simply = just rolling irregullarry around all 3 axes with full speed (or on injectors, if i have one and some fuel), while generally approaching Station or group of police Vipers, whatever is nearer). Joystick makes precision shooting (both pirates and missiles) a way easier, than just keys, mouse or touchpad.
About landing - I also first align my ship with dock and then speed straight inside, when the angle is good. It works for Injectors too, even for hyperspeed (on Rock Hermits without other ships around). The shorter time I spend inside the tunel, the lower chance is, that I meet somebody there, or that I desync with the Station rotation and hit the wall.
