Topic: Who fires first?

[bca11]

One aspect of this game that gives me a lot of trouble is that moment before a close pass, when a lot of internals will certainly be scored. The trick is being first to score internals, in hopes of stunning an enemy weapon. Some of these scenarios are very confusing, for example a C7 vs. a C7.

Closing for an alpha strike with overloads, range 4 seems like the first reasonable range to fire. The firing ship will do about 56 damage, which would result in 20 internals. If the other ship holds until range 1, and assuming no stunned weapons, he will do about 75 points of damage, with 39 internals. That is a difference of 19 points when compared to the other ship. So firing at range 4 only makes sense if you hope to take out 2 disruptors or 4 phasers with the 20 internals.

My conclusion is that, in this case, there is no advantage gained by firing first. (There are still drones to take into account, by turning at range 4 you can bring your side phasers to fire on them. I also just thought of a strategy where you wild weasel right after firing. Would the ECM be enough to offset the 19 points of internals?)

So when is it better to fire first?

[Dizzy]

Generally it's not a good idea to go head to head straight off unless you're packing OL Phots. Take your time and manuever for a good series of shots and try to work no more than 2 shield facings while using all of yours. You also do not ever want to fire 1st if you can help it.

Going head to head even veteran captains can easily make mistakes Close range knife fighting is an art and takes the right kind of knife paper scissors approach ships wise, but there is an element of luck that goes hand in hand with timing and due to the close range and fast paced battle, you can easily lose both and find yourself going too slow to be able to disengage. Head to head battles often end up with one player always biting the bullet.

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

Unless you are a Hydran being followed by your flock of fighters, Dizzy is right.....

[Skaren]

Da Ju Vue 

))))

[Dizzy]

You also do not ever want to fire 1st if you can help it.

In fact, it's best to just fly around having no one shoot at all. 

[Dfly]

You also do not ever want to fire 1st if you can help it.

In fact, it's best to just fly around having no one shoot at all. 

Soreyes and a few others have mastered that one, then they hit a roid