2y ago

Space combat for a complete newbie

So, I'm not even out of the tutorial yet (I think... ::: spoiler spoiler we just blew up a Borg Cube and I need to speak with Janeway on Starbase 1 ::: ), and flight during combat feels "wrong" somehow. I'm finding it very hard to maintain any sort of focus on the target.

All of the tutorials/faqs seem to focus on stats and optimization, but nothing about basic flight controls. Something just doesn't seem to be clicking for me. Maybe it's just the slow intro ship, or should I not be constantly trying to maintain an orbit around the target?

If it makes any difference, I'm playing as a Starfleet (post tng) officer.

5 comments

My biggest question to start with would be "PC or console," if you're looking for control-specific tips.
Generally speaking, ship combat in the early game revolves around a basic sequence of events:
Get their shields down. If you have the Tachyon Beam science ability equipped (I believe your default science officer has it by default, so it's just a question of whether it's been unlocked yet), use it ASAP when you enter combat - the only catch is that your opponent has to be in front of you to use it. Otherwise, stick with your phasers, and circle/broadside them, so you can use the fore and aft arrays at the same time.
Once their shields are down, or at least low, come around and hit them with your photon torpedoes.
- Ah, good point. I'm on PC.
  I just did a mission w/ a Vulcan ambassador and the combat went a little smoother. Ignoring the up/down aspect, and mostly trying to keep broadside attacks available helped. Keeping the enemy to one side, then fly away from them to turn back and expose the other side while shields recharge was working well. I think a couple of the tutorial upgrades helped as well. Even a slightly better engine made a noticeable difference. I may have been overthinking it, and trying to play more like a classic flight sim.
  
  You might also find this list of key binds useful, as well.
  The vertical aspect of STO is a funny thing, as they made the decision early on to not bother with "proper" space flight and keep it pseudo-2D, on the grounds that the TV shows have almost always presented Trek ships as being aligned on a single plane.