How to properly lead a fighter attack on a ship *need demo help*

[Starmage21]

Ive been playing the demo for less than a day, and Ive wasted wing after wing of fighters trying to assault a couple of ships.

Whats the proper way to attack a ship without getting torn to bits by missiles and defense guns?

[Zanthras]

This is my strategy, it's fairly effective. Others may have different thoughts.
Call for back up as soon as you leave, fighters should come to escort you...sometimes.

Change your approach angle to strike from the side if possible.
Keep your strike group close to you up until 100km from target. You'll need to order them to stay in formation, as the your AI commrades will sometimes begin the strike run long before your ready.  I use trail formation for the first leg and spread for the last. Don't use the A/B unless intercepted by fighters. Keep speed around 750km during the last leg before the run.

Target the vessel and order the element to attack target using radio commands.
They should hit thier A/Bs and begin run on target, let them and follow close behind, let them fire first.
Fire everything you got and turn and burn, once you unload your ordinance there is little you can do.
Don't get within 50km of the target or you will be eaten by her defenses.

Get your men home, get your F/A reloaded and go back. It may take a few missions to destroy a ship or starbase, be patient.

Good luck!

[Starmage21]

thanks for the help!

What is A/B?

In addition, the only anti-ship ordinance you can carry are the ASMs, and you get 2 of them at max. You start the mission with 4 fighters in your wing, and thats 8 ASMs. It also takes a really long time to get out to the frigates just to launch those ASMs. Sensors only pick up those ships at 75km or less as well.

I tried clickin that auto button that pops at the top but I have no idea what that actually does. Since often I get the little travel cutscene and im farther back from the nav point than I started.

[smaff]

A/B - Afterburner. Makes you move quickly, but makes you terribly easy to track. So never use it when decoying missiles.
 
AUTO button takes you to your next nav point. If you then don't fly through it, or skip to the next nav point, then AUTO will take you back to one you've already visited. You have to kind of "claim" it. Fly through the little white cross-in-a-circle, it will disappear. There's also the skip navpoint "key combination", could also be called "Next Event" or similar.
 
As for assaulting starships. Usually they're pretty tough beasties, so try using the bigger Assault fighters, which can take 4 harpoons (assign yourself to the appropriate squad). Once you can target the enemy, order your wingmen to attack (alt-a), and they should fly in and launch. Unload yours last, if you want to try for the kill. After you've unloaded, turn around whilst ordering to follow and head home.
 
Shooting it with guns(tm) is effectively suicidal. If it isn't dead after the missiles, go home. The damage you do will remain (largely - it can fix some), and you may get another hack at it..

[Toshiro]

[:)]    Afterburners or augmenter in manual.      The Auto button will give you a cutscene and you should be closer to the next navpoint.  If you don't want to wait for the duration of the flight the auto feature will allow time to pass, and you see a flyby scene, and you will travel closer to the next navpoint. Kinda like autopilot.  Press N  and look at the map. Remember your flights name and find your ship.  You don't want to be on autopilot when close to the enemy or you will get shot down.  It doesn't know anybetter[:'(].
 
T
 

[Starmage21]

Im still getting used to the game, so some things are still new to me.

Eventually, I'll be buying TGS when I can find it, so at least then Ill be getting a manual.

How can you reassign what squad youre in so you can use a heavy fighter? Remember, Im using the demo that you can download from www.starshatter.com redirects.

[Zanthras]

You can transfer to another squadron or fleet by selecting the FORCES tab. Fleet directories can be expanded by clicking the + sign. You are limited as to where you can transfer based on rank.
 
hope this helps...

[Starmage21]

Thanks for the advice all. I took down the Udel(a frigate) no problem with your help.

[Bryax]

Shooting it with guns(tm) is effectively suicidal. If it isn't dead after the missiles, go home. The damage you do will remain (largely - it can fix some), and you may get another hack at it..

Completely disagree with this one.

Steps to using guns effectively on targets.

Step 1. Find friendly cruiser/destroyer that is about to engage an enemy cruiser/destroyer, NOT A FRIGATE
Step 2. Come in on the targets flank. Meaning, if your friendly is coming in on the ships side, then you come in from the front of the enemy or the rear.
Step 3. Wait for ships to engage. Push up speed, move in.
Step 4. Slow down once in gun range. Way down.
Step 5. Target PDBs, by computer and by hand. Kinda hard to miss.
Step 6. Contuine blowing up PDBs. Once all are gone, move to front or rear of enemy.
Step 7.A Target Lasers/Torpedos of ship. Effectivness differs on model
OR
Step 8.B Target engines of ship. Effectiveness differs on model
Step 9 When ships hull begins to go down, start running

Works for me :p

[Bryax]

To prove my point that guns can be fine and effective against capitol ships, let us study PDB 3 of this cruiser.

[Bryax]

And...




Six seconds of concentrated gunfire later, the PDB is no more. Unless its a frigate or carrier, guns work just fine against warships. Every weapon can be hit, and eventually destroyed.

(Yes, I was in a raptor for that mission. It has shields because without them, it gets absolutely pulverized. Quantum drive too :p)

[Zanthras]

certainly an interesting tactic and one that, apparently, does work.
 
Different tactics will reap different results. Some may be more effective than others. Along with that, one may feel a specific tactic is far more effective than another.
 
The world is made up of different people all spinning their tops a different way...it's what makes us who we are.
 
The proof lies in kill ratios and loss percentages.
 
Use any tactic you like, those numbers will tell you if it works.