Combat training required

I'm new to this game so it would be good if someone can help me out.

I'm on Act I and there are a few missions which require you to raid Transports escorted by Cruisers. Now, this may not seem very hard to you guys, but I get blown to little bits everytime and it shits me off so bad I think I need to get a new keyboard from me pounding at it and swearing at the death scene.

What the hell are you mean't to do? 1 tug (even if armed to the teeth) against 3 cruisers which seem to launch other ships.

SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP!!!

Something like what I should do, what I should attack first/second../where to attack/weapons I should use to attack, would be great help and maybe and maybe save me a few hundred bucks on computer hardware.

Hi ciphrix. Bottom line? You need to get better. Try reading the tactics pages on this site. You don't have to go through the missions straight away, so do some pirating on softer targets to hone your skills. Learn about the ship, practise with the un-assisted flight mode (a definite must). The tug is not the best ship out there but it's even worse in untrained hands. Believe it or not there are people who have used the tug throughout the game (except where mission gave otherwise) and won! .

The tug is not the best ship out there...

The tug is actually a fine ship... it's just not a powerhouse warship that can take on entire armadas.

Here's a strategy for grabbing lots of cargo in Act II. Set up 30km from an L-point. Wait for a heavily loaded frieghter. Accelerate with forward thrust override towards the freighter, and release four or five seeker missiles.

When you reach a speed of 1200m/s, hit Flight Assist Disable key (the 'N' key) and coast. Switch to cannons, target the freighter, and fire shots at it as you pass. After the missiles and cannon fire, the frighter will usually drop its cargo. Don't shoot the escorts! Your speed should carry you right past them.

They will persue, but have to break off their persuit when the freighter sorts things out and gets underway. Even without cargo, the freighter's saftey is their highest priority. Stop your ship about 50 km from the cargo and wait until the freighter leaves.

Do this as long as you desire... as long as you set up to pass near (but not too near!) the freighter, it's an easy haul. If your target is an SNRv, it's even easier... they only take one shot to drop their cargo.

Be carefull not to set a course too close to the freighter, or to pass closely in the direction it will release the pods in. Nothing more frustrating than firing upon an SNRv only to sail into the cloud of cargo containers it releases at 1200 m/s. [] Boom.

I've racked up over four hundred pods (in one trip) in this manner by visiting everything in the Hoffer's Wake system. That's in Act II, without the powerful weapons tossed about in the later acts. This same ploy works on ships at stations also (be careful not to shoot the station!).

The "kill anything that turns red" plan is not really an option in the beginning... Brains tend to win over brawn in the early acts. Remember, you're not an army... you're a pirate. Strike, grab the loot, and then melt into the shadows.

No confusion; just wrong or right ... Only Solutions

Just the standard advice:
Play instant action until you do have the skills to take on the cruisers. You'll then be able to take them in the game.

Of course, as Shane said, it's not necessary to actually be able to kill them in these missions.

ummm, okay, how about weaponary? What kinda stuff should I have equiped? What weapons are a must and what are opotional? Thanks for the advice.

ummm, okay, how about weaponary? What kinda stuff should I have equiped?

The simple answer is... the best weapons you can find.

Seriously. Everyone has a different combat style, thus, some people feel more at ease with one weapon type than another. Some prefer ammo-type weapons which pack a serious punch, but run out of ammo fairly quickly. Some rely heavily on missiles. I myself tend to prefer bolt weapons (pbc's) which allow me to stay out in the shipping lanes for long periods of time without reloading.

It's all a matter of personal style, and alot depends on what type of attacks you like to use. Best advice is to try out several different loadouts and see which one works for you.

No confusion; just wrong or right ... Only Solutions