New Player tips

Quote

Originally posted by iceXIV
Does anyone have any tips for a new player?

The Rhino is a formidable ship. You can play the entire Single Player (SP) storyline in it. Defenders are fine, but there are many far superior Crossfire ships in systems that you can reach -- even from New York.

Note that you can purchase a Defender in New York.

Some tips:

• The best things are not on the trade lanes.
• You can see objects (jump holes, jump gates, stations, wrecks, and other clues) at long range -- farther than your sensors. Look around.
• Use the "H" key while in Autopilot ("Go To...") mode to look around as you travel.
• In vanilla systems, look at the Patrol Routes in the Nav map to find routes that friends, enemies, and neutral factions patrol. If several patrol routes go to one place, then there is usually a reason. Go check it out.
• Don't listen to Juni when she complains. She will wait as long as you want. You can even turn down her missions and she will still wait for you. Take the time to explore (and upgrade your ship).
• Use the "Z" key to slide. Sliding lets you fly backwards which is an effective technique when being chased by most AI enemies (a.k.a. NPC's or Non-Player Characters). Sliding is also excellent for circling a slow-moving target so that you can keep your guns facing the target while not flying in a straight line -- thereby making you a more difficult target.
• Sliding also makes your ship turn faster. Fast enough that you can fight any NPC -- even in a small freighter.
• Now that you have finished the Ashcroft mission you DO have jump access throughout Liberty.
• Look around in Texas. There are a few stations that pay more than $1 for captured pilots. (Much more!)

Look at the following threads for more tips:

1.8 difficult: http://www.swat-portal.com/php…oardid=106&styleid=23</a>

Altair advice - new player: http://www.swat-portal.com/php…oardid=106&styleid=23</a>

Here's my alternate firing mode "how-to" I finally typed out... It's the last post at the bottom of the thread.

http://www.swat-portal.com/php…b7c6630de4739681&page=1#7

Also, maps of all 3 known Milky-Way Galaxy sectors of the Crossfire 1.8 universe, Sirius, Altair and the newly discovered Inner Core sectors:

http://www.swat-portal.com/php…7c6630de4739681&page=5#88

Quote

Originally posted by Ryleous Arkane
Here's my alternate firing mode "how-to" I finally typed out... ...

Also, maps of all 3 known Milky-Way Galaxy sectors of the Crossfire 1.8 universe, Sirius, Altair and the newly discovered Inner Core sectors:

I really like your alternate-firing tip, Arkane.

Do I understand correctly that you suggest the following?:

[list=1]
[*]Assign half of your weapons to Weapon Group 2
[*]Assign all weapons to Weapon Group 1
[*]Fire Weapon Group 1 (and keep firing) (right-click)
[*]At the half-way time (before the second volley fires), Fire Weapon Group 2
[*]The result is that your weapons continue to fire at double the normal rate -- half of the weapons firing each time. The damage per second is the same, but you get more chances for a "hit", right?
[/list=1]

It is a great idea! This would be an excellent application for a keyboard macro that would do the job for you.

Your maps are gorgeous, but one small suggestion: "plain" is not the same as "white" background. The point of having a version with a white background is for easy (and cheap) printing on a color printer.

Otherwise, your maps are real works of art. It is cool to have them done by a pro like you.

Maps are here (Silver Arrows Clan website) : link

2Ryleous Arkane: temporary links for download maps from maps thread are not working. ..Your maps are really nice.

In map thread was also another version global map (simple A4 map ... realy usefull :D), which made Michael ... but his post is erased or edited.

Quote

Originally posted by Bullwinkle
I really like your alternate-firing tip, Arkane.

Do I understand correctly that you suggest the following?:

[list=1]
[*]Assign half of your weapons to Weapon Group 2
[*]Assign all weapons to Weapon Group 1
[*]Fire Weapon Group 1 (and keep firing) (right-click)
[*]At the half-way time (before the second volley fires), Fire Weapon Group 2
[*]The result is that your weapons continue to fire at double the normal rate -- half of the weapons firing each time. The damage per second is the same, but you get more chances for a "hit", right?
[/list=1]

It is a great idea! This would be an excellent application for a keyboard macro that would do the job for you.

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Thanks Bullwinkle! Just sharing my knowledge with all who are willing to listen and learn. Sadly, I've tried to use macros to accomplish this Bullwinkle, to no avail, maybe you'll have better fortune at trying to use them. I honestly don't think the Freelancer engine will allow any kind of macro input honestly, but maybe you can prove me wrong. :]

No, you have to have weapons groups 2 & 3 to establish the "rhythm" of the alternating-fire mode, once it's established, hit the weapons group 1 key to enable all weapons and it will "lock-in" the rhythm for you if done correctly allowing you to just hold down the fire button on your mouse. By doing that, it will allow you to resume full control of your left hand's functions, in my case, the strafes, afterburner, engine kill, reverse/full stop controls.

Yes, this technique has several advantages in my humble opinion:

1. Less energy consumption at a time than firing all weapons at once, resulting in better weapons power management. Combine this technique using Nomad weapons with certain power hungry lvl 10 weapons with the Mk. V Power Booster and in some cases you'll literally never run out of power!

2. Creates an effective higher rate of fire with any set of guns. With high ROF/fast projective guns it literally turns them into something like a gattling gun or remiscent of the mini gun of a A-10 Warthog! (read: Skyblast Bs, Kelyd-Ray Projectors, anything with a 8.33 refire rate!) Quite an incredible ROF!

3. Will improve slower ROF and slower projectile type guns % chance to hit due to a effective higher ROF.

4. Helps keep a psychological edge over an opponent with a steady stream of fire, of course this only works on humans in that regard...

Here's the explanation again...

Quote

Originally posted by Ryleous Arkane

If you don't know anything about weapons groups, now is a good time to learn. When you hit F1 and set your controls for your ship, there is a set of controls referred to as weapon group 1, weapon group 2 and so forth.

Typically I assign these to the 1, 2, 3 and so forth number keys above the lettered keys on the keyboard to access them with my left hand, which typically controls the afterburner, engine kill, reverse/stop thrust and strafes/thrusters of the ship nearby on the keyboard.(Q, W, E and S for the strafes, TAB for the afterburner, A for the reverse/stop thrust and D for the engine kill)

Now, once you've assigned them to your number keys, in game, you will notice your primary group of weapons is always weapons group 1 and they are all green, i.e. highlighted, save for your mines, CDs, torpedos and CMs. Hit 2 on the keyboard will active your weapons group 2(by default all guns are unhighlighted, i.e. BLUE) and then 3 for weapons group 3 and so forth. Now with this understood, you can assign half your weapons on the left side of your ship to weapons group 2(click on the weapons you want to use to highlight them for that group) and the other half to weapons group 3. This really works best with a "mirrored" loadout of guns on each side of the ship with simular refire rates and projectile speeds.

To initiate the alternating fire mode, you hold down your fire button, hit the weapons group 2 key, then immediately hit the weapons group 3 key and continue to alternate the groups. If your timing is correct, you will cause your weapons to on each side of the ship to alternate fire and effectively double your refire rate of the guns, keeping a much more steady stream of projectiles towards your target. This does mean less is hitting the target at one time, but it also requires less power than firing all the weapons at once. This works best IMHO with slower firing rate guns and also helps to deal better with their usually pretty power hungry appetite.

I've recently also discovered how to do this in a semi-auto fashion by accidently hitting the weapons group 1 key once the proper "rhythm" of the alternating fire has been established. This in turn, allows you to resume full control of your ship's afterburner and strafes on my left hand while dishing out a steady hail of fire at the target.

Try it out sometime. It's why I've come to favor the slower firing and heavier hitting guns for past few years, although I will always have my love for the Skyblast B and newer Kelyrd-Ray Projector guns. The alternating fire method also turns them into high-speed gattlings! LOL!

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Quote

Originally posted by Bullwinkle
Your maps are gorgeous, but one small suggestion: "plain" is not the same as "white" background. The point of having a version with a white background is for easy (and cheap) printing on a color printer.

Otherwise, your maps are real works of art. It is cool to have them done by a pro like you.

Thanks again sir, 'preciate the compliment. Yea, I considered that with the white background Bullwinkle, but my experience in drafting over the years has shown me an overly white background is rather hard on the eyes over a period of time.(ask me how I know! ) On the other hand, a darker background with lighter objects over it always seems quicker for "object recognition" and is easier on the eyes IMHO. I made a compromise over the decision in light of I could not get a true 100% black background anyway due to the color limitations of AutoCAD, so it ended up a dark gray, which is easier on the black toner cartridge of a printer as well.

Quote

Originally posted by Martind Forlon
2Ryleous Arkane: temporary links for download maps from maps thread are not working. ..Your maps are really nice.

In map thread was also another version global map (simple A4 map ... realy usefull :D), which made Michael ... but his post is erased or edited.

Hmmm, I'll look into fixing the temp links, of course that's what they originally were for, a temp hosting site. I'll see about getting something more permanent. Tank j00 4 teh compliments sir.

Yea, I got a copy of Michael's map before he removed it, it came in most handy for providing a base of data for my maps to make sure they were accurate. Sadly, I've got a few errors on mine that need an update to them to correct them.

Quote

Originally posted by Ryleous Arkane
you have to have weapons groups 2 & 3

OK. Again, re-stating for simplicity:

[list=1]
[*]Assign half of your weapons to Weapon Group 3
[*]Assign the other half of your weapons to Weapon Group 2
[*]Assign All Weapons to Weapons Group 1
[*]Select Weapons Group 2
[*]Fire. Hold the right-mouse-button down while doing the following:
[*]At the halfway moment in time before the second volley, Select Weapons Group 3.
[*]At the instant of the third volley Select Weapons Group 1.
[/list=1]

Is that right?

Quote

Originally posted by Ryleous Arkane
Sadly, I've tried to use macros to accomplish this [without success]

AutoHotkey works great with Freelancer. The "Fire" button (right-click) works different than other keystrokes, so you would not want to include the right-click in your macro.

Quote

Originally posted by Ryleous Arkane
an overly white background is rather hard on the eyes over a period of time

I do not doubt that, but it is not relevant to the goal of making a printable map, is it? And who stares at a map for long periods, other than the map-maker himself?

It is not a big deal and I am glad that you did what you did. I am only suggesting that an easy-to-print version (with a white background) would be helpful to those who prefer a printed map.

Quote

Originally posted by Bullwinkle

OK. Again, re-stating for simplicity:

[list=1]
[*]Assign half of your weapons to Weapon Group 3
[*]Assign the other half of your weapons to Weapon Group 2
[*]Assign All Weapons to Weapons Group 1
[*]Select Weapons Group 2
[*]Fire. Hold the right-mouse-button down while doing the following:
[*]At the halfway moment in time before the second volley, Select Weapons Group 3.
[*]At the instant of the third volley Select Weapons Group 1.
[/list=1]

Is that right?

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Yes, this is correct, although the timing is critical and will probably take some trial and error "in-field" on the game for one to get the timing down right. You may have to take a while finding the "rhythm" firing with weapons groups 2 & 3 until you get the right "rhythm" and then hit weapons group1. This may make for some tricky left hand maneuvering and minimal ship controlling until you get it established while in combat! Practice makes perfect here... Once you get your left hand used to the technique though, it's easy to do IMHO, especially after activating weapons group1, from there on, you just keep the fire button held down. However, once you stop firing, it will have to be restarted again from the beginning of the technique as your ship's fire control will once again start shooting in "linked" fire mode.(yea, I've played too much Mechwarrior back in the day haha)

Quote

Originally posted by Bullwinkle
AutoHotkey works great with Freelancer. The "Fire" button (right-click) works different than other keystrokes, so you would not want to include the right-click in your macro.

Ohhhh now I haven't tried that! MS AutoHotkey 4-tehwin!

Quote

Originally posted by Bullwinkle
I do not doubt that, but it is not relevant to the goal of making a printable map, is it? And who stares at a map for long periods, other than the map-maker himself?

It is not a big deal and I am glad that you did what you did. I am only suggesting that an easy-to-print version (with a white background) would be helpful to those who prefer a printed map.

Haha indeed, I stare at maps and construction drawings for most of a work day, 5 days out of the week.

Yea, I'll give it a shot though and print out a "white background" set of the maps in PDF format this time around and see how the feedback goes. If some still prefer the old "plain gray" background I'll make another set of maps with it again.

Thanks guys for the feedback by the way, I haven't gotten much back on them since I've released the maps as I want everyone to be happy with as possible, which is why I released different versions of the maps. (meh, call it a force of habit, i.e. my job haha)

Quote

Originally posted by iceXIV
How do you assign weapons to individual groups?

Read the manual.

Or F1 / Options / Controls / User Interface.

Or Google.

Quote

Originally posted by iceXIV
I would assume you select which weapons you want then press the key for it

If "press the key for it" means "press the key to assign the currently selected weapons to a Weapons Group", then, yes, that is correct.

Note that Weapons Groups have some quirks could cause you trouble if you do not understand them... Google for those.