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MarkShot's STK/EAW Guide
By Mark "MarkShot" Kratzer
Table Of Contents Download/Print PDF Version
EAW Intermediate Skills for Online Play
Now that you have mastered the basics of online play, I will move on to some intermediate topics.
Fights in Progress
In this section, I discuss fights which are already in progress. Later on, I will discuss various ways to open a fight.
Evaluating the Situation
The first thing which you will need to do is to be able to evaluate the situation between you and your opponent. I am addressing this as if it is a static process, but in reality this is a dynamic process which you must do continuously during a fight.
There are three things that you must address in your evaluation.
- Relative Energy State
- Angles Situation
- My Plan
Relative Energy State
I start with energy states, since this, in my mind, is the most critical piece of information. It is the biggest factor in determining what your options are. Your energy state is based on two components: current speed and altitude. Thus, one could be high and slow and have a greater energy state than someone who is low and fast. Of course, if you are low and slow, then your energy state is scratching bottom.
The relative energy state is how your energy state compares to your opponent. I tend to see this as comparing two normalized quantities. Imagine, for a minute, that plane X is at X.SPEED and X.ALTITUDE and that plane Y is at Y.SPEED and Y.ALTITUDE. Then, define a new altitude (normalized) called N which is (X.ALTITUDE Y.ALTITUDE)/2. Now, suppose X and Y either climb or dive to altitude N while maintaining full throttle. We have now eliminated altitude from our considerations and are left with just two speeds. The difference between X.SPEED and Y.SPEED define the relative energy state. The plane with the greater speed holds the energy advantage. This plane may hold a 10mph, 100mph, or 600mph advantage. Just to dispel any doubts that greater energy state corresponds to a clear advantage. The plane with the energy advantage in the fight always has the option to climb to a higher altitude and put itself beyond its opponents ability to point his guns at it. The reality of air combat is that a potential advantage alone does not convey victory. One still has to know what to do with it.
Arriving at the relative energy state in EAW is a simple process. It is done with the on screen HUD which on the left side displays your speed and altitude and on the right side displays your opponent's speed and altitude. Often in a tight turning fight, the two planes are roughly at the same altitude and one can just look at speeds. Otherwise, you must take altitude into consideration. After a while, you get an intuitive sense of how altitude figures into arriving at your evaluation. For the most part, you don't need to arrive at an exact number. You simply need to know who is holding the energy advantage and have a rough sense of the magnitude of that advantage.
Relative Angle State
There are no all aspect, off bore, passive, air-to-air missiles in EAW. Thus, unless you cause your opponent to auger in (actually this happens fairly frequently), you can only resolve combat by pointing your guns at your opponent and taking him out. Assessing angles is basically a matter of determining how close each combatant is to getting his guns lined up on his opponent.
If your target is directly behind you, then your angle situation is at 180 degrees (the worst, you are no where close to having a shot). If your target is directly in front of you, then your aspect angle is at 0 degrees (the best, you have a shot). Unlike relative energy states, angles is not necessarily a zero sum game. It is possible for both players to have a 0 degrees angles situation; when the two planes are heading straight towards each other. Generally speaking, the player with the lower number of degrees in regards to the angle situation is holding the advantage in terms of angles. I still regard relatively energy state to be more important, since an energy advantage can often be used to rectify an angles disadvantage.
{If anyone knows what the proper term for angle stateis, then please email me. Thanks.}
When looking at angle state it is VERY important to observe the situation and how it is changing over time. If your opponent's angles state relative to you is decreasing while yours is increasing, then he is working into position for a shot. Often this can be in a turning fight that he is gradually winning and slowly closing in behind you. If you see such a situation developing, then you want to contemplate doing something before it becomes too extreme.
The evaluation of the angles state is generally a matter of using the view system. There are four components to consider.
- Position of your opponent relative to the virtual cockpit. Your opponent could be in your windscreen, off a wing, or over a shoulder.
- Position in the fixed view off of the reticule.
- Regular/zoom view and the direction of your opponent's nose.
- Snap forward view and how long it takes the panning system to flip back and forth.
© This STK/EAW Guide is Copyright 2000 Mark Kratzer. All Rights Reserved.