In- and Pre-Flight Etiquette

Etiquette is a general code of conduct, an unwritten manual if you will, for avoiding friction between people. It is more commonly (and modernly) known as common courtesy. It is not about raising your pinkie finger when you drink tea.




Wipe your feet.
And your hands.

Always check orders and intelligence reports before selecting craft.
Orders list the current objectives of the firefight. Intelligence reports offer valuable insight into the craft already deployed, enemy craft in the immediate vicinity, and the layout of the combat area.
No-one will do this for you. Accessible with F2 and Tab keys at any point in-game, including ship-selection-screen.




Make sure no-one's in your engines before you start them up.
Asteroid Dust, Shrapnel, and Muffin Crumbs will work their way into your engine, and while most will be incinerated, some will find their unholy way into the workings. Don't start them up with a guy inside. He may just have a friend. Who may just have a gun.
Moon Breakers take care of this for you, by not lowering ships onto the launch deck until they have been cleared.

Point your thrusters away from any other ships, parts of the carrier or small children.
Check behind you before you hit the starter to make sure you are not going to ruin someone's day or sandblast their paint job. Holler "Clear!" Then wait a moment to give someone who might be in the way a chance to move or shout. It has been said that the scientific definition of a microsecond is the period of time between when a pilot yells "Clear" and then hits the starter. That one time you shout "Clear" and someone outside yells "No!" will change your outlook forever.
Ships are positioned to avoid the carrier and other ships. Small children are generally allowed on the launch deck.




Do not bank hard-left or right.
Launches usually take place in "waves". Be considerate of those flying around you, especially when flying a larger ship around F-3s and F-3Xs. Don't bank hard at all if it can be avoided, even if you've pitched first.
Ramming does cause friendly damage. Try to avoid it. Keep an eye on your distance makers around you.




Keep transmissions short.
No-one needs to know what you've been up to on leave.

Never argue on the Radio.
Especially with the enemy. But especially with a comrade.

Do not "chat".
As said previously, keep it relevant.

Keep a pattern.
First broadcast: Callsign, Position, Information, Activity, Request (as relevant) Second: Position, Information, Activity, Request (as relevant).
Eg.

• Proton, Pirate Carrier, at least 12 Rhinos Inbound, Moving to Intercept, Requesting Support.
  
• Pirate Carrier, Bombers Destroyed, Patrolling, Thanks Loki.
  
• Government Carrier, Underbelly, FH-250 on Tail, Request Intercept.
  
• Thanks Again Loki.
  
• Government Carrier, Near-Side Clear, Request Nuclear Strike.
  

While you don't have to be quite as militarised as me, more information in less time is the way to go. For instance, that last one could just be: "Near-Side Clear, Nuke it guys."

Add detail.
Even when you don't need anything, asking should be done the same. If you say "Anyone need help?", anyone who answers will be a few km away, and dead and gone long before you arrive. This adapts to your ship, so don't think you're exempt just because you fly FH-250, you suave bastard you.




Avoiding Head-On Collisions.
Both pilots should bank lightly right, rolling if necessary to avoid wing-tip-touches.

Avoiding Side-On Collisions.
The later pilot should bank rear of the pilot in his or her way. Slow down if necessary.

Overtaking.
The (faster) pilot (to the rear) should proceed (with boost, if necessary) over the top-right of the slower pilot. Counter-act your roll when overtaking a bomber to avoid wing-tip-touches.




Don't Kill Steal.
Most commonly against bombers or turrets (occasionally the carriers themselves), don't cut in unless you think there'll be some serious damage (ie, nukes) if you don't. Cease fire with an appropriate time before death to allow the other pilot the kill, and claim the assist you deserve.

Don't Rug-Cut.
Another form of Kill Stealing, specifically with head-on attacks, don't feel the need to cut in unless your comrade is significantly out-gunned and/or low on shield. Claiming a kill that isn't yours is never cool.

Do Rug-Cut.
On the other hand, especially on Search & Destroy, never let a team-mate die. It's just points to the enemy, and lowers morale.

PS,

The first person to use the phrase "whipper-snapper" dies instantly.

The second one i take my time over.

All good, apart from the head on collision bit....that's how I get half my kills....typical A80 pilot....

[BoK] Subedei wrote:All good, apart from the head on collision bit....that's how I get half my kills....typical A80 pilot....

Well obviously if you want to collide..

You know which way i'll be turning

I'm not saying I want to collide but if the primary and secondary weapons systems have not quite done their job then one must utilise other methods. I am hoping that one day that a battering ram upgrade will become available for the A80....one for the ideas section methinks..

Proton wrote:
Asteroid Dust, Shrapnel, and Muffin Crumbs

If that was directed at me, bravo. If it wasn't, bravo still. Always carry a MUFFIN patented DusterBuster to keep your cockpits clear of debris. Also doubles as a nifty bottle opener to those of you who violate Galactic Article 47B, subsection 3 about abstaining from consuming alcoholic beverages while deployed inside of a moving ship.

[BoK] Subedei wrote:I'm not saying I want to collide but if the primary and secondary weapons systems have not quite done their job then one must utilise other methods. I am hoping that one day that a battering ram upgrade will become available for the A80....one for the ideas section methinks..

I think it works quite well as a battering ram now.

~{MFN}~ LCDR McMuffin wrote:

Proton wrote:
Asteroid Dust, Shrapnel, and Muffin Crumbs

If that was directed at me, bravo. If it wasn't, bravo still. Always carry a MUFFIN patented DusterBuster to keep your cockpits clear of debris. Also doubles as a nifty bottle opener to those of you who violate Galactic Article 47B, subsection 3 about abstaining from consuming alcoholic beverages while deployed inside of a moving ship.

More the M.U.F.F.I.N Squadron in general.

i agree with everything exept the thrusters part blasting away small childrens its like the official sport in a pirate carrier

Proton wrote:

~{MFN}~ LCDR McMuffin wrote:

Proton wrote:
Asteroid Dust, Shrapnel, and Muffin Crumbs

If that was directed at me, bravo. If it wasn't, bravo still. Always carry a MUFFIN patented DusterBuster to keep your cockpits clear of debris. Also doubles as a nifty bottle opener to those of you who violate Galactic Article 47B, subsection 3 about abstaining from consuming alcoholic beverages while deployed inside of a moving ship.

More the M.U.F.F.I.N Squadron in general.

As far as things go on the forums, and in recent gameplay, I AM the only MUFFIN

~{MFN}~ LCDR McMuffin wrote:As far as things go on the forums, and in recent gameplay, I AM the only MUFFIN

I'm sure i've seen a couple of ~{MFN}~ and [MFN] -ers online..

Oh well.

I am up to 7 Blue Tips, but i don't exactly have contact information.

It's more we'll watch each others backs (so long as we're on the same side).

Which should happen anyway, except it doesn't.

No team games do.

Proton wrote:
I am up to 7 Blue Tips, but i don't exactly have contact information.

Please encourage them to come here; we've got messaging systems as well as a place to host your efforts at squad coordination.
You can Friend them on Steam and send them messages there, too.

Proton wrote:

[BoK] Subedei wrote:I'm not saying I want to collide but if the primary and secondary weapons systems have not quite done their job then one must utilise other methods. I am hoping that one day that a battering ram upgrade will become available for the A80....one for the ideas section methinks..

I think it works quite well as a battering ram now..

You're probably right. I would just like something like a proper ram sticking out the front of my craft to harpoon Mambas on... Freud would probably say that what I really want is a bigger penis.

Sometimes a battering ram is just a battering ram.