Space combat! Oh noes!

[Karoline Dianne]

I wanted to clarify something, specifically regarding space combat.
Are you supposed to drift around when you turn and such? It makes things very difficult when trying to aim something...
Especially when you're a close combat mech. Just trying to face your opponent is near impossible.So my question is...
How do you improve the space flight capabilities of a mech, not a ship or aerofighter, a mech. I've found it increasingly frustrating trying to get my spartan in arm-blade reach anytime I'm in space.

[Keiseth]

Ish called Iner.. Inar... Ener... Enert... Inertia, my friend! In space, nobody can hear you break, because you can't. Logically enough, getting two mechs moving at totally different speeds (relative to the nearest star) close enough to each other for more then one melee attack (or any melee attack at all!) is extremely difficult; as it should be.

The only contraption suitable for melee attacking in space with a mech would be, say, a starship.

That being said, if the lack of gravity has got you down (Or HASN'T got you down, Haha!) one can hit "5" on the numpad to "stop". I'm not sure if that would aid your melee attacks in any way.

If you absolutely, positively MUST melee in space, I suggest using an EXTEND weapon, because that extra space (I love this) makes a huge difference. - Space combat adds a lot of pressure (Kekeke!) to the game, oddly enough.

Lastly you could try haywire missiles or something. Perhaps that would subdue their evasion.

...On the other hand, since this is a mecha rpg with anime influences, perhaps melee in space should be easier despite the illogic? o.o; I wonder if you can get a Space-Rat-Flail.

EDIT: If it is only the turning driving you nuts: before you wish to turn, hit 5 (or 'stop') and then rocket away in a new direction.

[Karoline Dianne]

Thanks! But one thing is bothering me... Wouldn't mechs had some way of killing inertia  in space?
I actually saw one anime where a mecha pilot was complaining about inertia in space, then figured out how to use the breaking system designed for zero-G. Basically miniature exhaust vents on each part of the mech that shoot out a very brief pulse of air (or whatever) to help stop the movement, thus helping with balance. When you think about it, it would work. so, it is possible to have breaks that work in space, but they would only work in space. Just like conventional brakes would only work on ground.

[macksting]

I assume that's what the "stop" button is for; 5 on the number pad, if you're set up to use it for maneuvering. Otherwise, I dunno yet. Retrothrust, especially vectored, would do wonders for controlling movement.

That said, a pilot who learns to control momentum strategically and use to his/her advantage the benefits of inertia is at a significant advantage in space, at least in theory. How this applies to GH2 I've yet to determine with any precision, but a person whose tactics are still ground- or air-based will find him/herself unable to cope with superior use of inertia in handling. For an idea how this sort of thing can be useful, try studying Verner Voss' handling of a Fokker Dr.I in the first World War.

[Burzmali]

I have a better question,

Why do I have a turning radius in space?  It seems simple, you cut the main thrust, turn with the verniers and then punch the main engine again.  So what's up with the bizarre need for massive turning radii?  It's not like I am going to fall out of space if I fail to keep my speed above the "stall" speed!

[draconuszero]

Unfortunately, I don't think you can use inertia to shoulder-charge your way through enemies in space.  It would be a sight to see though.

[Karoline Dianne]

I've noticed another thing... why can't you turn while moving when you're in a mech? You stop your movement everytime you hit the turn button... I think that when your meck is in space flight mode, it's turning should e similar to an aerofighter. that way you don't have to continually stop, turn, move foreward, stop, turn, move foreward... just to turn.

[Albijoe]

In my experience:

1.  You don't stop when you turn, except in that turning takes a very small amount of space-time compared to 1 square.

2.  The movement can be used to your advantage, such as strafing past an enemy mech sideways, having multiple F90 weapons usable at closer ranges than a head-on rush.  (or alternately, turning after the rush to shoot at their back, while still moving away from melee range)

[PotatoEngineer]

Quoting: Burzmali

Why do I have a turning radius in space? It seems simple, you cut the main thrust, turn with the verniers and then punch the main engine again.

Yes, that would work, except you'd have to be pointing somewhat back the way you came in order to make a left turn.  Going forward, rotating left, and punching the engine just makes you go forward-and-left, until you kill your forward momentum.

[Imam]

Hey, the space combat inertia rocks. it adds realism and you can use it to evade melee type mechas. I know it gives melee types severe disadvantage in space combat, but in reality doing space melee combat really IS next to impossible.
thats why you should do a combination of fighting skill (melee-gunnery,or melee-artillery) or if you still wants to stick to pure melee, you should improve your piloting to survive the 1 turn disadvantage of pressing 5, because your enemy can shoot you down with the 1 turn you used to break your inertia.

[macksting]

I always wanted Newtonian physics in my space-sims; it seemed a perfect match after playing Asteroids and Escape Velocity. Or Lunatic Fringe, for that matter, all excellent games.
So seldom used in 3D. The only space-fighter-sim I've ever heard of with Newtonian physics was Terminus, and I just couldn't handle the beeping.

[Varil]

It'd probably take a major re-vamp of the movement system to give awesome-sauce Zero-G movement, but it'd be worth it eventually, I think.

It'd be neat to have a "cut main thrust" key, so you keep going on inertia, but you can turn without pushing yourself in a new direction. This could even work, to a limited degree, on the ground. Skidding to a stop while turning , essentially. *Giant Mecha comes skidding around a corner, already facing the opposition*

The real trick would be delinking the individual thrusters in a mecha. How about using the jet in your arm to give you some sudden(and probably a bit unbalanced) horizontal velocity? Good for evasion and stunt acts!

[macksting]

Cutting thrust and going on existing inertia is sorta the key to combat in Freelancer. The game usually doesn't use Newtonian physics, but you can make yourself something of a Newtonian body in a fighter-sim universe by hitting a button that kills all your thrust.
Now, bear in mind the game's engines are made to accelerate you quickly from standing to top speed (yes, there's a top speed) then run out of juice. So you top out fast, cut the engines, maneuver around so you're facing your butt, then just start lobbing mines and missiles.
It doesn't make you a god of combat, but it improves your chances immensely.

[Erathoniel]

Newtonian physics get me down, but they're worth it.

[Varil]

Newtonian physics only get you down if you're in a gravity well.

...what?!