SEV Tactical Combat Impressions
 

SEV tactical combat does not seem to give the player an edge over the computer like it did in SEIV. So far I am less successful with tactical combat than with strategic. Tactical combat certainly is fun to watch and doesn't really seem any slower (with low ship count) than running strategic combat.

A question: Does performing tactical combat by clicking the start button without issuing any orders first provide the same outcomes as strategic combat?

TM

Re: SEV Tactical Combat Impressions
 

While there is randomness in combat, they both should give the same range of results.

Re: SEV Tactical Combat Impressions
 

I've found in Tactical, ships quickly ignore move orders and keep turning right back into the enemy. Stupid lone frigate refuses to flee a fleet of destroyers.

Re: SEV Tactical Combat Impressions
 

You need to turn off the automove.
Later patches will turn it off automatically when you give a move order.

Re: SEV Tactical Combat Impressions
 

Have you tried messing with the strategies? I think the default is "optimal weapon range" which will keep a ship armed with guns moving toward the enemy as the to hit % improves. Try "don't get hurt" or "maximum weapon range". I have not fooled with these yet as they were not to necessary in SEIV tactical combat, but with the continuos time combat of SEV I think they could be critical. I think another setting that needs to be looked at is the % overkill for targeting. I think the default is 150% and I also read somewhere that a 50% to hit is added to that, so that would add up to a full 300% targeted on one ship. This may be why my WPs get wiped by small attacking fleets. One attacker gets anhilated while the others pound away without being engaged.

TM

Re: SEV Tactical Combat Impressions
 

Regarding automove I had one battle where I had 4 ships. Gave them all movement orders and 3 of them stopped when they got the location and one just kept flying arround. Of course that one flew into range of the enemy and was fried. What causes this behavior?

BTW I love the red range circles. We need a new strategy to select "stay out of the ring of death". Brings me back to the old Harpoon days.

TM

Re: SEV Tactical Combat Impressions
 

When you cancel automove (by manually giving a ship orders), it stays off until/unless you turn it back on. In your case those ships just sat there because you didn't give them firing orders, at least, that's how it seems to me.

Re: SEV Tactical Combat Impressions
 

Giving attack orders doesn't appear to make your ships fly into attacking position, though, so you have to give both movement and attack orders, and continue to update the movement orders as the enemy ships fly out of range.

Re: SEV Tactical Combat Impressions
 

It isn't a seek and attack order, just a targetting order.

You still have to manoeuver to bring your guns into range before they will fire.

Re: SEV Tactical Combat Impressions
 

Speaking of that though...I think a 'seek and attack' order might be a very good thing to have.