Space combat advice

[zantan]

I finally got to the point where I feel a little safe in my latest game. I managed to get a battleship with L3-4 systems, 4 weapons(20,20,40, and 50 GJ) and an advanced targeting system before ever seeing space combat (in any game). I thought that I had done this quickly (currently day 100, but I've had the ship for a while now), and there were only a few ways that I know of to improve the ship further, so I thought I would be overprepared for combat. Either that isn't the case, or I don't know how to go about it.

My first fight was with a monster in a gas giant. Once it was within range I fired a full volley from my weapons and missed with all of them (had a L3 gunner). Then the monster attacked my ship and took it from 40 HP to <10 HP in one turn. I fled.

Since then I routinely try to attack pirates, but whenever I attack them I immediately get the message that everyone has fled already. There have been two times that I have been attacked by pirates in a cloud, and both times have been fairly similar - I get off maybe 1 hit, and they immediately bring the best combat ship in the game to near death in one round.

What could I be doing wrong here?

[Spacehamster]

[zantan]

Thanks for the info. I'll avoid space combat from now on. Soon after getting my battleship, I had more credits than I knew what to do with and didn't find planet exploration very rewarding anymore, and right at that time I noticed space stations getting attacked, so I figured that was probably the next phase of the game. I suppose I'm thinking too much like EV, where there is a clear transition from civilian to military operations.

On the topic of space station attacks, if they all get destroyed will there be anywhere for me to reliably get replacement ship modules and crew? Is the pirate station safe, wherever it is? Do I need to be marking the on-planet junkyards and repair ships?

I've been through a few more combats now, and they have mostly gone in my favor. However I am wondering how enemy ships of the same type as mine can move four times for every one move I take. I think I remember the manual mentioning a command for adding extra engine power, but I can't figure out how to do it.

As far as weapons go, I've been mixing them up since I'm not sure which is really best. ATM I have a laser bank, a gammaray, and two particle cannons.

Another question - I think I switched to double bunking at one point, and I'm not sure how to switch it back, or what the effects are. I got 3 points in charisma, so everyone is pretty happy.

Finally, I took an escort quest at the beginning of the game to station 2, but I can't figure out how to fulfill it. I've docked at the station and talked to the corporation, but nothing happens. They just tag along and radio me every so often.

[Spacehamster]

[zantan]

Thanks!

I actually have just begun exploring special planets, so I have seen nothing you just talked about. I find that I can get 40-60K from exploring several systems now that I have a large crew and an improved stasis field, and that's how I got my battleship.

I actually won't miss the stations much. I'm frustrated with the ordering system, and NONE of the stations have medical centers for me to get implants.

Also, EV = Escape Velocity.


Edit: also, if you have multiple doctors on your team, do you heal that much faster?

[Spacehamster]