Very frustrating

[Huskalator]

You guys have a really fantastic idea. In fact, if I understand things right, this game could be the most innovative space sim ever made. Unfortunately, there are some real problems with the gameplay as far as the demo is concerned. I am hoping this is because I do not understand the game. Here are a few of the questions that popped into my head while playing.

Is there a way slow down(not decrease thrust) without doing circles?

Is there a way to auto dock? The current process is ridiculously complicated.

Is there a way to get the auto, and shift-insert to take me to my target instead of hundreds of kilometers away?

Auto and shift-insert work sometimes and other time I just get a "beep." Why?

There is auto-nav, auto which shows up on the HUD, and shift-insert. They all do the same thing, each in their own uniquely unsatisfactory way. Why isn't there a single function that takes me to my navpoints, everytime, and in a timely fashion?

Is there a way to increase power to my guns so that I don't have to wait long periods of time to attack again?

I have played about 6 missions in the campaign, do the battles get any bigger? I don't know why 4 fighters are being sent to take out DD Udel and why it isn't being escorted.

[Pheonix Starflare]

ORIGINAL: Deep Breakfast

Is there a way slow down(not decrease thrust) without doing circles?

Is there a way to auto dock? The current process is ridiculously complicated.

In response to your first question: Yes, hold down the 'end' key. That engages your reverse thrusters. These are very weak on the stock capships, so dont expect to stop on a dime. On fighters they are (seemingly) more powerful than the main thrusters. On a similar note, the 'home' key will speed you up without having to adjust your throttle.

As far as teh auto-dock, I'm curious to know what part you feel is complicated. You radio in that you're going to land, and then follow the rectagles to the x, making sure you are going under 100 m/s.

about your autonav/pilot questions I am not entirely sure what you are referring to. I know of three ways to get around (two, really) your nav points. One is to hit shift-N to engage the auto-pilot and then wait to get to the nav point, possibly engaging time acceleration if you want. The other option would be to click on the 'AUTO' that pops up when there are no enemies nearby and there's another navpoint to go to.

[John DiCamillo]

The answers to many of your questions depend on the situation, in particular whether you are flying fighters or commanding starships and whether you are using the standard, relaxed, or arcade flight model. You didn't say, but based on your questions, I'm going to guess that you are flying fighters in the standard flight model. I'm going to give suggestions based on that assumption, so please correct me if I am wrong.

First, a general comment: if you are looking for more Freespace 2 and less Falcon 4, you will probably be happier overall with the arcade flight model, and some of the simplified gameplay settings such as easier landings.

1. To slow down in the standard flight model, zero your throttle and press the reverse thrust key (default is key mapping is END).

2. I'm not sure what part of the landing procedure you are finding overly complicated - fly back to the carrier, press ALT+I to request clearance, press G to lower your landing gear, and fly slowly into the landing bay. However, you do not have to dock or land after every mission. Just get clear of the hostiles and press ESCAPE 1 to end the mission.

3. The time skip feature is designed to drop you off just outside of weapons range for your own safety. If you want to get closer, just go into the navigation map before you click AUTO and move the navpoint to where you want to go.

4. You cannot use time skip or end the mission when there are hostile ships within weapons range. You have to either kill the bad guys or make a clean escape first.

5. Autonav just puts your ship on auto-pilot. It has no effect on time compression. Shift+Ins and the HUD AUTO function are identical - they engage the autonav and advance the mission clock to a point where you will be close to your next navpoint.

6. Your ship will automatically balance the available power from the reactor based on need. Your guns will recharge a little bit faster if you back off the throttle. However, the better solution is not to waste your guns in the first place. Don't shoot until you get within ten thousand meters, and don't shoot unless you have a good shot at the target. Don't just hold down the trigger either - short, controlled bursts are the order of the day.

7. Yes, the battles do get somewhat bigger as you progress through the campaign. If you have an assault mission on an unescorted destroyer, it is because the escorting frigates have already been eliminated. Either by yourself in an earlier mission, or by computer generated flight packages or starship battles that happened while you were doing something else. You should be able to see this from the Intel tab messages and the Forces tab order of battle tree for the enemy forces.

Good luck,

[TheDeadlyShoe]

Important note on the use of accelerated time!

If you think you're going to encounter the enemy...Do not use time acceleration and time skip at the same time, particularly in a fighter! Or at least ensure that you are not in time acceleration when you exit time skip. This may cause you to emerge within weapons range.

[Huskalator]

Thanks a lot. That makes things much clearer.

Although I do still wish the battles were bigger.

[se5a]

actualy, I remap my keys so that I am using WSAD for my augmenters/thrusters. my joystick has a throttle which I use for changeing thrust.