Tutorial Buoys for Connecticut

[Kyoi]

I think strafing is an extremely important mechanic, and a noob should learn this before trying to master EK, because it is fairly easy to do, but the guide briefly touches on it. So I think you might want to add a bit about it.

Survival

The most important asset for survival is to know how to not get hit by enemy shots. In order to dodge projectiles, change your vector often by:

-turning (move the mouse from one edge of the screen to another)

-strafing away from your opponent if thrusting towards them (if your opponent is to your right, strafe left. If he's coming from above, strafe down)

-strafing in alternate directions (move sideways using A and D keys or verticaly with customized controls or reverse strafe with X key)

-altering speed with your thruster (press and release Tab key)

Pressing TAB to thrust will make your turns more effective at dodging fire, but keep an eye on your energy so you don’t become a sitting duck when it runs out. Learning to Engine-Kill will help you save energy. Keep in mind that dodging fire becomes easier with greater distance and slower projectiles. Turning (mouse movements) while thrusting is the most effective way to dodge when you aren’t fire at an enemy yourself, but strafing allows you to avoid enemy fire while still aiming and firing in front of you at the same time. Thrusting combined with strafing will keep you out of enemy fire as it keeps the crosshair off your ship, even when you are not alternating strafes. It is thus important to constantly be using the strafe, except when in engine kill (see below).

You can practice these techniques when fighting against NPCs in Sirius or against players in Connecticut. The more agile and smaller your ship is the better it is at dodging fire, which is why small craft often survive longer than large ones in Player vs Player fights (see Tactics and Strategies). Light Fighters are nearly impossible to hit when controlled by a skilled pilot, while Heavy Fighters, Very Heavy Fighters, and bombers are balanced for agility, firepower, and armor hit points.

Purchasable armor upgrades will multiply your ship’s base armor by a certain factor so it can survive more hits. Be sure to mount the armor in an engine shop on a station so you don’t lose it when your ship explodes. Learning skills like quick-docking with lanes, gates, and stations will not only get you hit less while docking, but also allows for faster travel.

Just as important as knowing when to EK, is knowing when to stop. A lot of noobs like to EK, and when constantly being hammered for all their hp, they still stay in it because they have no idea why they are getting hit. So just adding a bit about when to come out of it.

Using Engine-Kill

Shutting off your engine in order to drift freely is one of the most important techniques to become a proficient pilot.
Its uses include saving thruster energy, being able to fire multiple Cruise Disruptors (CD) while still moving at cruise speed, out-maneuvering your opponent in a dog-fight, and firing without getting in the way of your wingmen in group fights.

Go to the F1 Options/Controls Menu and assign Engine Kill to a key that is easy to reach without moving your hand away from the A,S,D, and W keys (mostly used are X, Y, or Z depending on your keyboard). Press the Engine Kill key and you should hear the sound of the engine being turned off. Then press and release the thrust or strafe keys, and you should keep drifting in the same direction even after releasing the trust/strafe key, and even when turning your ship with the mouse. Pressing the Accelerate or Decelerate keys turns the engine back on.

You can use intermittent Engine Killing to move at thrust speed for an unlimited amount of time without draining your energy to 0, by simply keeping your engine off and tapping the thrust key from time to time. You can also dodge enemy fire doing this, if you turn in different directions while thrusting.

Engine kill also works while cruising, which is useful for firing cruise disruptors (CDs) at a a fleeing target without having to slow down.

Killing your engine to keep drifting in one direction while turning your ship around is a good way to get an enemy into your gun sights during 1 on 1 fights. When done right, it also allows you to out-turn your opponent in a way that keeps you out of his/her gun sights. Check the tutorial videos on discovery.gc and practice this technique if you want to become a dog-fighting ace.

Keep in mind that while you drift in a straight line you are easy to hit, so don't do it at the wrong moment! If you realise you are getting hit while in engine kill, come out of it immediately with thrusting and/or strafing and use intermittent engine kills to face your opponent while turning and dodging.

Might be good to add a bit about reversing because it's a rather unknown mechanic that needs explicit teaching.

Reversing

Reversing (default key X) allows you to suddenly change your speed from maximum to 0 and below, and sometimes as a type of backwards strafing to dodge fire.

Reversing can be combined with other movements such as engine kill, and normal horizontal/vertical strafes. If you enter engine kill and reverse, you do not need to hold down the reverse key to stay in reverse. Engine killing while reversing is unique in that you can continue to stay in engine kill even if you strafe.

Reversing is a key movement in a technique commonly used and referred to as boxing. Boxing is used to sit still and fire at your opponent while dodging gunfire yourself.

To perform boxing, perform the following maneuvers:

-Enter engine kill
-Press the reverse key
-Constantly use alternate strafing to dodge gunfire.

It is important to note that boxing alone will not win you the fight, and that overusing this technique will lead to players finding ways to out-maneuver you as this is a rather predictable movement. If you realise someone is trying to take advantage of your box, it is advised to exit the box with thrusting, strafing or intermittent engine kills, depending on what you think is appropriate, as opponents will attempt to either drop a mine against your box, requiring quick dodging, or trying to fly around you and shoot you from the side or the back, requiring you to face your opponent.

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