I'm not sure I get it (Gaming)

by Korny , Dalton, Ga. US. Earth, Sol System, Saturday, August 06, 2016, 16:27 (3035 days ago) @ someotherguy

I like a lot of the game in theory, but it's just not clicking, to the point where Im wondering if Im missing something?

The market appeals to me, but Im finding the interface is really inconvenient. Is there an easy way to compare market prices? Or do I just have to leave the station, head to the map and scroll between stations?

If you scroll over to any item in the Market, the top right will show you pricing trends for it in the region, and the bottom right feed will show you recent prices at stations that often buy/sell it. Those two should give you a good idea, and going to nearby stations can help. Otherwise, keeping an eye on the Average is the best way to compare; if your prices show up red, that means it's one of (if not the) the lowest available in the region (especially if there's an exclamation mark next to the price).

Broadside combat makes me smile, but seems awfully fiddly. Small, nippy ships can navigate in an extra dimension, so I have to rely largely on turrets, while larger ships tank my shots like they're nothing. (I spent a solid three minutes wailing on a missile corvette with my broadsides, and managed to deal zero damage. Is there a mechanic I'm oblivious to that I should be taking advantage of?)

Keep in mind that each ship (besides the smallest fighters) has four shields, one for each side. If you're not doing DPS, the shield returns. You have to keep hammering away at one side until the shield breaks (the targeting UI tells you the health of each shield). Then you can directly damage the ship's armor. If you're circling a ship, you're going to have a harder time. A good solution is to set your turrets to prioritize locked-on targets (Pause the game, then press R1 or L1 until you get to the Weapons menu that lets you control your weapon AI. And while it's risky, you should also consider slowing your own ship's speed to match the enemy's so you can hit him with your Broadside weapon.

Dealing with the fighters that can go above and below can get frustrating, but remember that you can always upgrade the weapons below the ship first to help swat them out of the air (I recommend the Pulse cannon), and set those turrets to target your locked-on enemy.

And don't be afraid to hire a Mercenary. Feel free to go for the most expensive guy that you can afford, as there's no time limit to hiring a merc, and they're really good at taking down fighters (and even corvettes). As long as you keep them alive (and they have a ton of health), you'll always have an extra gun at your side.

Navigation feels awfully clunky in my "maneuverable" Hammerhead, but that might just be me not adjusting to it yet.

Don't forget to go back to Broadside targeting when you want to maneuver. If you stay in Turret control, it's slower and clunkier. And use your Boost and Brakes often for added control and turning speed.

I really want to like it, but I just feel like I'm blundering from one objective to the next. Can anyone offer me some advice?

It took me a good while to get good at the combat, but I'm really enjoying it.