Page 17
MarkShot's STK/EAW Guide
by Mark "MarkShot" Kratzer
Table Of Contents Download/Print PDF Version
You Start Low
You usually start the fight low when you have just won a fight at a lower altitude and your opponent is reborn above you. This is the most difficult way to begin a fight. Theoretically, against an equal or better opponent it should be virtually impossible to win such a fight. Of course, if you are reading STK/EAW and mastering the lessons here, then you probably have a 50-90% chance of winning such fights.
Gain Altitude
The first thing you should do immediately at the point your opponent is killed or surrenders in his current plane is climb. Begin a steady climb at 180-220mph while flying straight. You are increasing your energy state and you can only do this before the next fight begins. Even if when the fight begins, you are still at a major energy disadvantage, every foot gained now gives you options to minimally hold off your opponent or out maneuver your opponent. In the case where you are only holding your opponent off, every second you live increases his chance of making a mistake. Remember when you are at 50' and 200mph, there is little you can do to defeat a decent player with an energy advantage who is in your rear quarter. So, climb now!
Remember to fly straight. You are trying to put as much distance as possible between where you are and where your opponent is to be reborn. The idea is that by running away and climbing, you are going to make him trade some of his energy advantage in order to close the distance with you. When the fight finally starts, you will have degraded his advantage somewhat.
When he is reborn, then you should keep him over one shoulder while climbing so that you can keep track of his range. You can use the snap backward view if his approach is very shallow to watch him.
Your opponent is likely to do one of two things which I just described previously.
Your Opponent Applies Straight Down Braked Descent
I would continue my climb and flying straight until he is down to 5,000' in range. He is going to be settling almost straight down on you and moving slowly. It is very hard to prevent him from saddling you up when he makes this kind of approach. The best you can do is not make it so easy. There are two things you can do.
- You can turn flat while maintaining 200mph or so.
- You can zig zag back and forth while maintaining 200mph or so.
Either way he will be falling in on your six with a likely 50-70mph energy advantage. Once he has settled in behind you, it is time to switch tactics to a horizontal scissors or spiral down. You are basically in a fight which we have described earlier.
Your Opponent Applies Boom and Zoom with a Big Energy Advantage
This is the most common form of attack which you are going to see. It is also quite easy to defend against. Your opponent is going to be very fast (300-500mph) and unable to maneuver. You will be at optimum maneuvering speed (180-220mph). Basically, you are going to dodge out his way when the range gets down to 3,000'. Do not dodge too soon or you will give him a chance to line you up again and settle in on your six.
The dodge which I recommend is a Split-S. Here are my reasons.
- It is the best maneuver for maintaining your optimum turning speed.
- Your opponent could try to depress his nose to shoot which is virtually impossible when trying to line you up in a Split-S.
- Otherwise, your opponent needs to invert and pull after you while he is still accelerating. There is no way that he will be able to stay with you.
- If your opponent does attempt to follow you, he may well black out and auger in.
- If your opponent does attempt to follow you without auguring in, you may see an opportunity to get on his six.
Here are ways that your opponent can respond to your Split-S and, in turn, your counter response.
- If your opponent remains level and extends up and away, then you roll out of the bottom of your Split-S heading in the other direction and climb so that you regain altitude and bring your speed back to 200mph. Pretty much, you have just re-established the situation before his diving run at you began. Of course, it seems like nothing has been accomplished, but you have to remember that with such an advantage, your opponent is going to dictate ultimately when the dogfighting begins. One thing that you may accomplish by repeatedly executing this move is slowly wearing down his energy advantage until it is safe to engage in a turning fight.
- Your opponent may invert and pull towards you to follow. If he does not attempt to decelerate, then roll into another Split-S at the bottom of your current one. Somewhere in this second Split-S, you will find him below you and see that you are inside his turning circle. You now have a very good chance to saddle him up. He may be blacking out and you should have built up a decent amount of speed. If he does not quickly recover situational awareness, then you may have just put yourself in a rear quarter position which you can maintain.
- You opponent may invert and pull towards you to follow. He may also cut the throttle. You will know this by watching his speed in the HUD or being unable to see him in padlock, since he is directly behind you. This is the most dangerous situation. He still probably holds an energy advantage at this point. You have two options. If you are high enough, then you should chop your throttle and begin a defensive spiral down. Otherwise, it is time to engage in a horizontal scissors. Whatever you do, do not let yourself be suckered into a looping fight.
You should also keep your eye out for the opponent who misjudges how much energy to dump and effectively leaves you holding the energy advantage. It happens more than you would think while executing radical descending maneuvers.
© This STK/EAW Guide is Copyright 2000 Mark Kratzer. All Rights Reserved.
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