20 replies to this topic

[Kloreep]

So, I'm trying out the demo now that my joystick issues are resolved.

Turning down sensitivity made my maneuvering acceptable, but the aliens still go by fast. And that isn't really the problem in itself, but it's what leads to me being unable to hit any of the damn UFOs, especially once my teammates are down: They come at me shooting, overshoot due to going faster, then come around for another pass. By the time I'm turned around to shoot at them, they're already on top of me and heading the other direction. By the time I do another 180, they're again already on top of me, and once again going past, once again requiring a 180.

Short of doing my best to keep my squadmates alive so that there are UFOs I can approach from a k or more away (and so that they can finish off the ones I can't), what do I do? How should 1-on-1 combat be handled? I do notice I haven't tried the afterburner yet... maybe I just need to run away and then turn around and face them when they're distant again?

Edited by Kloreep, 22 August 2004 - 10:33 PM.

[SupSuper]

ummm... i don't think there's afterburner in interceptor
anyways, the main weapon against ufos is the missiles/torpedos. just keep the ufo on target until the thing locks-on and fire away, and you'll see the missile go straight after the ufo. depending on the difficulty and ufo size, the ufo will avoid it or not. probably not, if it's the start of the game.
anyways, if you're going to hit them with beam weapons (specially if you've used up your missiles), it is hard, but not impossible. first, the trick is to not try to go as fast as them or always on their tail, since they easily change directions and you'll hardly have them on radar. either increase shield / weapon recharging (iirc, somewhere between F9 and F12, by default) to use more power and decrease your speed, or try to keep a distance from the ufo. if you get too close just reverse (default: Z key) and then go back to normal (same key). as long as you always have the ufo on screen, you should be able to hit it without too much fuss. beam weapons can hit up to a distance of 1km, i think.

btw, what difficulty you're playing in? i'm guessing something high since your squadmates keep going down. my squadmates are always much better than me and nail most of the ufos, which is quite useful in high difficulties. and you can always boss'em around with the proper controls
btw, i play in Genius since Beginner is insanely easy and Superhuman is insanely hard. in high difficulties ufos have armour and are real tough to hit, while they hit you quite easily, which is BAD

[dipstick]

if you are really having trouble, then keep in reverse with a good engine, then you will exploit a bug in the system.

A tip for beam weapons is to aim at the cursor in FRONT of the UFO which guarantees you a hit more or less.

[Kloreep]

ummm... i don't think there's afterburner in interceptor

There seems to be in the demo. TAB key. Perhaps it was removed in the final game?

anyways, the main weapon against ufos is the missiles/torpedos. just keep the ufo on target until the thing locks-on and fire away, and you'll see the missile go straight after the ufo. depending on the difficulty and ufo size, the ufo will avoid it or not. probably not, if it's the start of the game.

I haven't used missiles much. Didn't realize they're the weapon of choice. Makes sense; you're not going to have more warping in, right? Only so many to deal with. I'll have to break this X-Wing/TIE Fighter mentality.

anyways, if you're going to hit them with beam weapons (specially if you've used up your missiles), it is hard, but not impossible. first, the trick is to not try to go as fast as them or always on their tail, since they easily change directions and you'll hardly have them on radar. either increase shield / weapon recharging (iirc, somewhere between F9 and F12, by default) to use more power and decrease your speed, or try to keep a distance from the ufo. if you get too close just reverse (default: Z key) and then go back to normal (same key). as long as you always have the ufo on screen, you should be able to hit it without too much fuss. beam weapons can hit up to a distance of 1km, i think.

I normally have both weapons and shields at high recharge. I guess I'll try raising them higher.

The Z key I haven't tried yet, I'll look at that too.

btw, what difficulty you're playing in? i'm guessing something high since your squadmates keep going down. my squadmates are always much better than me and nail most of the ufos, which is quite useful in high difficulties. and you can always boss'em around with the proper controls

Beginner. But again, it's the demo, so things may not be quite the same as the full game if they did it before the full game was released.

btw, i play in Genius since Beginner is insanely easy and Superhuman is insanely hard. in high difficulties ufos have armour and are real tough to hit, while they hit you quite easily, which is BAD

I get hit often enough as it is. Probably about a 1/3rd of the demo missions I've done so far ended with my death.

if you are really having trouble, then keep in reverse with a good engine, then you will exploit a bug in the system.

You mean with engines at a high blast, to keep the UFO trailing you and in your sights?

A tip for beam weapons is to aim at the cursor in FRONT of the UFO which guarantees you a hit more or less.

Yeah, I know aiming at where it is when I fire won't do much. My aim does need work though.

[Kloreep]

I think the demo must have some things disabled. I can't seem to reverse thrust or transfer energy between shields and lasers.

That said, the game looks good. I just found the F2 key, which helps a lot with seeing the UFOs, even if they're still flying at ridiculous speeds. I think I'll probably buy it.

[Tuoppi]

There was the useful key to match speeds. Makes combat much easier, i have no problem in dropping them with beams, and you might want to try precision aiming with mouse.

[Kloreep]

You can use the mouse? Learn something new every day.

What is the button to match speeds? (Not that it looks like it'll work in the demo... but my full version is being shipped. ) That was indeed very useful the Star Wars space sims I've played, hopefully it'll help here too.

[dipstick]

Never used F2, what does it do?

I always keep the recharge rates at 100%, and never had any trouble.

Yep, you can use tha mouse, makes the game MUCH easier, no wonder you keep dying!!

In fact, I want to play again, but I can't find my game!! I have the box, but no cd If I could play again, I would give you a game...

[Cpl. Facehugger]

You can use the mouse? Learn something new every day.

What is the button to match speeds? (Not that it looks like it'll work in the demo... but my full version is being shipped. ) That was indeed very useful the Star Wars space sims I've played, hopefully it'll help here too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Match speeds is extremely useful. Don't remember exactly what it was though. Just go into the preferences and change it to whatever you want though.

[Kamikazee]

Its the D key i think...
After burner is the tab key

The best way to beat the ufos is to get ur wing men to use evasive action. Then while the aliens chase him you can line up behind them Blast their shields away then tell ur wingmen to fire at will...

Well it works for me....

PS. the aliens may be going fast cos u have a fast pc? try a slowdown utility or runa a virus scan at the same time or something....

Oh and it is possible to change UFO characteristics (i thinK). Its one of the CFG or ini files in the main interceptor folder... You can also change research tress and remove some probes from the game etc.... Not that I do that of course

Edited by Kamikazee, 25 August 2004 - 05:16 PM.

[dipstick]

if you want to meddle with the game ask j'ordos, but it usually works for components, and therefore also affects you too. Be warned, do not meddle with it without some knowledge what you are doing. I have the official strategy guide, which has some tips for meddling with it, so PM me if you are interested.

[Kloreep]

Never used F2, what does it do?

Gets rid of the cockpit. Basically it's like you're sitting outside the cockpit, with heads-up displays at the sides of the view, and without the opaque parts of your cockpit getting in the way. Very useful for me, as it makes it harder for the UFOs to get outside my vision, at which point I find it harder to catch up with their maneuvers since all I have then is a blip on my radar.

I always keep the recharge rates at 100%, and never had any trouble.

I still have some trouble with getting blown up, personally. But yeah, the reduced speed doesn't seem to be a problem, considering the UFOs either will be coming for you, or will be coming for a wingman and won't be trying to outrun you.

Yep, you can use tha mouse, makes the game MUCH easier, no wonder you keep dying!!

Hmm, Freelancer style. Sounds good. But I tried to use my mouse, and it didn't seem to work. Is there some sort of "mouse on" setting I need to use?

Edit: Again, I'm using the demo. Game hasn't arrived yet since I went for cheap shipping.

Edited by Kloreep, 26 August 2004 - 04:59 PM.

[Kloreep]

Weird, my post doesn't seem to show up in the forum menus.

[SupSuper]

Yep, you can use tha mouse, makes the game MUCH easier, no wonder you keep dying!!

Hmm, Freelancer style. Sounds good. But I tried to use my mouse, and it didn't seem to work. Is there some sort of "mouse on" setting I need to use?

Edit: Again, I'm using the demo. Game hasn't arrived yet since I went for cheap shipping.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

nope, no special option. maybe you need to use the keyboard configuration for it to work.

anyways, if you're gonna edit the game you should edit the ships. because editing equipment (weapons / missiles / craft systems) will effect you too when you use said equipment. just search for [Ship_AlienType1] (to [Ship_AlienType4]) in the GameSettings.ini. all you need to change is the HitPoints value to take them down easily (however you can't change their speed since that's engine-based)
or you can just increase the HitPoints of your craft - [Ship_IntType1] to [Ship_IntType3].
oh, and this should prove useful too:
S_INTTYPE1 "X-COM Lightning II"
S_INTTYPE2 "X-COM Firestar"
S_INTTYPE3 "X-COM Super Avenger"
S_ALIENTYPE1 "Alien Wraith"
S_ALIENTYPE2 "Alien Spectre"
S_ALIENTYPE3 "Alien Phantasm"
S_ALIENTYPE4 "Alien Shade"

[Kloreep]

nope, no special option. maybe you need to use the keyboard configuration for it to work.

The keyboard seems to work all the time, just like the joystick. But I'll try fooling around with the menus.

anyways, if you're gonna edit the game you should edit the ships. because editing equipment (weapons / missiles / craft systems) will effect you too when you use said equipment. just search for [Ship_AlienType1] (to [Ship_AlienType4]) in the GameSettings.ini. all you need to change is the HitPoints value to take them down easily (however you can't change their speed since that's engine-based)
or you can just increase the HitPoints of your craft - [Ship_IntType1] to

Thanks, but if there's one thing I'd want to edit, it's speed.

If it's too tough at higher levels, I'll just stick to Beginner.

[SupSuper]

anyways, if you're gonna edit the game you should edit the ships. because editing equipment (weapons / missiles / craft systems) will effect you too when you use said equipment. just search for [Ship_AlienType1] (to [Ship_AlienType4]) in the GameSettings.ini. all you need to change is the HitPoints value to take them down easily (however you can't change their speed since that's engine-based)
or you can just increase the HitPoints of your craft - [Ship_IntType1] to

Thanks, but if there's one thing I'd want to edit, it's speed.

If it's too tough at higher levels, I'll just stick to Beginner.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

well you can edit the engines, but don't use alien engines or you'll get slowed down too
then again, you can make the standard x-com engine faster, if you need to
btw, [EngineType1] for x-com engine, [EngineType2] and [EngineType3] for alien engines (just change the Special value).

not higher levels, just the highest one. a couple of wraiths (small ufos) beat the crap out of you easily in Superhuman
oh, and ufos have armor in higher difficulties.

[dipstick]

I enjoy that game on any level, especially when I employ the reverse trick, but trying that in an asteroid field, just don't, trust me, it don't work very well..... :whatwhat:

Edit: to be honest, this is the only XCOM game I am comfortable playing on SH level, AND the only one I have completed on any level.

I think that deserves a

Edited by dipstick, 30 August 2004 - 03:02 PM.

[floater medic]

its the only x-com game i havent finished on genius

x-com 1=sh

2=sh

3=genius

back on topic, i use beam weapons linked and the D key to match speed of my target then its only a matter of time before im directly behind them

doesnt seem to work with irates but they r easy anyway

[LokisPaladin]

well I'd say getting ufos down is really childs play on easy if you have set all the keys you just need to get behind enemies and its done because normally they dont manage to break off if you are not too near... and as soon as you have the tracking tracer its over for the aliens anyway

but my question is... can i increase mouse sensitivity? it sucks with the slow mouse, i barely manage to track the ufos with the crosshair...

[Arjuna]

You can't change the mouse sensitivity, but I do use the mouse at the start of the mission, to gain lock for my missiles while they're still at range enough to keep on him. Then Fox One, Fox Two, Fox Three at the bug and match his speed, then I can stay on his 6 o'clock high and light his donkey up with gatling lasers to finish him off. They're great weapons: the sheer number of munitions makes up for their lack of power, and they don't use much energy. Remember that there's a little yellow circle in front of the UFO. That's your lead indicator, what you are really aiming for. Trust your instruments, they're better than your eye.

But missiles are your real wonder weapon. Even the X-Winders are alright, if you fire a couple-three to make sure at least one hits.

[bif]

Hey guys ... i have a prob here ... how come during combat my teammates are so fast ? and when i try to mach speed increase speed or max speed it all droppes the same second ??? i have to rapidly press max speed to gain atleast 100 speed >< ... help pls

Edited by bif, 24 July 2007 - 09:23 AM.