Topic: RE: SFC needs a FIRE WHEN I DO button.

[Panzergranate]

Way back in my SFB gamer days it was possible to group fire a squadron's drones, torpedoes, hellbores, etc.  simultaneously cued from the laed ship. It was a common tactic to groupd fir drones from, say, a squadron of 3 x D6Ds at a BB, DN or CVA.

In SFC you can move in formation with a squadron using the FOLLOW ME command but the other AI ships will fire at will.

The game needs a button option for ESCORT ME, STAY TIGHT, FIRE PHASERS IN DEFENCE, FIRE HEAVY WEAPONS AT MY TARGET ON MY MARK.

This would be sooooooooo useful tactically as it was a taken for granted item in SFB games.

Firing dozens of drones at the same range from multiple ships in formation at the same moment was always a game winner in SFB. The only thing was being in the position to do so, as the enemy would be aware of this tactic and target ships performing this maneuver.

Can't really do this in SFC execpt with other players. In LAN and human vs computer games, own ships fire when they want at anything when escorting you.

Anyone else remember this battle winner from SFB??

 

[Lieutenant_Q]

It does somewhat have it.  The problem is you need the Fleet Panel open at all times, or you can press Scroll Lock to pull up half of the fleet control panel.  There is Fire at will, Match My Target, and Fire on My Command.  The only problem with Fire on My Command, is that is covers ALL weapons, not just Heavies.

[Panzergranate]

That's the problem. In one game of SFB, years ago, we managed to cripple a L-DN+ using the massed fire tactic involving frigates, cruisers, etc.

It was facing around 40 high speed drones all arriving at the same time. It was a pre-arranged team arrangement and I was flying a pair of F5Ds in the battle at the time.

Up until then the battle was not going our way as we were all enegaged with the Lyran escorts. As SFB turns are long in real time, tactical plans have a long time to be discussed.

Having 11 Klingon ships firing onto one target at the same time on the same impulse and at the same range (ish) from all directions whilst fighting escorts too took some arranging. Those that couldn't fire had to provide cover as best they could.

We lost a quarter of the drones to the DN+ ESG but the rest were terminal. It was despatched next turn by a cruiser. I lost an F5D to a Wildcat just after I'd let the drones off,  B******d. My other one copped a packed as well.

An example of team strategy if ever there was one.