From: CONCEPCION@BABSON.BITNET
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.games-l
Subject: Wing Commander
Date: 12 Nov 92 16:59:00 GMT
Reply-To: CONCEPCION@BABSON.BITNET
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        Kevin Patrick (Boy ain't that a great combination of Irish names)
writes and pleads:
>After reading so many good things about Wing Commander on this list, I went
>out and bought it.  It's an excellent game, but I'm getting frustrated with
>some of the dogfight sequences.  In short, I have yet to win a battle in
>which I am attacked by more than one enemy at a time.  I know how to read the
>radar screen to see the positions of my attackers, but I'm never sure where
>shots are coming from when I'm getting hit and I don't know how to avoid them.
>Could some WC ace please send me some tips on flying my ship during battle
>(i.e., correct speed to fly, good evasive maneuvers, fighting multiple bogies,
>etc.)?  I appreciate any help you can give.  By the way, is this game easier
>to play with a joystick?  I've tried the mouse and the keyboard and I like the
>keyboard the best.
        Goody, another keyboard fanatic.  A lot of people say that joysticks are
the way to go, but if you can't tap-dance a board with the rest of them, then
you are hopeless.  How to handle multiple bogies in Wing Commander.  We are
talking Wing Commander I, neh?  If so, holy geez, Kev is a textbook rookie.

--------------------------------Cut Here---------------------------------------

        Spectre's Seven Simple Steps to winning a four on one.
        For the sake of argument, let's use one Hornet vs. four Dralthi.
        Practice this on trainsim when you get the chance.
        1) Take the target in formation that is furthest from you and lock.
        2) Set course for a point beside, below or above the incoming bogies.
        Do NOT head STRAIGHT for them.  Approach at an angle.
        3) Slam your afterburners until you are nearly within range and spin
        to face your target, crosshairs aimed at a point forward of their
        travel.  You want your shots to hit where they are going to be, not
        where they are at the point.
        4) Let fly with your lasers and attempt to destroy this mother.  Stay
        on his tail and pound accurately and mercilessly.  Do NOT break your
        lock unless your target track is blown.
        5) If you are taking incoming hits, check the radar.  It will flash in
        the appropriate sector from where you are hit.  Turn towards that area
        and hit your afterburners briefly.  This will throw off the Kilrathi
        and give you some time to blast your bogie.  If you are being hit from
        the rear, I.e. the outer circle flashes red, then turn to either side
        and hit your after burners.  Repeat when necessary.
        6) Once you have destroyed your target, lock on to the nearest available
        or most damaged bogie.  Do not quibble between targets.  This can get
        you, your wingmen and any thing you are escorting killed VERY quickly.
        Indecision should only be used on examinations and marriage, never in
        a dogfight.
        7) Use your missiles when appropriate and don't feel like holding back.
        You don't get bonus points for returning to base with your full load of
        warheads.  Those Darts are there for a reason.
-----------------------------------Cut Here-------------------------------------

        Try this out and get back to me if you need any help.  If you have
access to Prodigy, there is a club of Wing Commander fanatics called the TCS.
Log on, Jump Game Club, select subject sci-fi game clubs or flight sims, can't
remember exactly which one, and scan around.  They can provide a lot of tips.
If you do get in touch with TCS, tell them Spectre sez Hi.

        You think Wing Commander I is hard?  Check out Secret Missions I,II or
even Wing Commander II.  Believe you me, it only gets worse and the kill stats
only get higher.  C-YA!
                                       Colonel Cris "Spectre" Concepcion
                                                        Chris Concepcion
                                                Concepcion@Babson.Bitnet
                                                         Prodigy:NKCR72D
                                             A rider on the digital wind

The Face: "What do you fear most for the future?"
Colin Angus: "The thing I most welcome - the apocalypse."
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU