3.0 Game Play

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Movement

The flight model of Ace of Angels® is different from most previously released games. In most games, your vector of movement and your facing are locked together, in what AoA refers to as "Vector-Lock Mode". In this mode, as your fighter moves much like an airplane.

In AoA, the standard type of movement is "Vector-Free Mode", where your current vector of movement is independent of your current facing. Once you are moving along a given vector, you may rotate your ship to any facing with no changes to your vector. This more closely resembles actual space flight. Of course, because we assume your fighter has sophisticated computer controls, your fighter automatically adjusts its maneuvering thrust, meaning you do not have to stop a roll manually, but simply release your joystick (or keyboard button).

In order to change your vector while in Vector-Free Mode, you simply point your fighter in the direction you wish to travel, and thrust. As you thrust, your current vector will swing onto your new facing, which may cause a coinciding decrease in speed depending on your new direction of travel. As you continue to thrust your speed will increase.

Because of the characteristics of the N-Field generated by the gravity drive around your fighter, it is also capable of reverse thrust. By hitting the reverse throttle, your fighter will accelerate along the vector opposite your current facing. (In Vector-Lock Mode, this simply slows you down temporarily). In all other respects, the reverse thrust key acts like the thrust key. In addition to reverse thrust, your fighter can also "Brake". When using the Braking system, your fighter slows to zero speed at its maximum thrust, no matter your current vector or facing.

Your fighter has a default Maximum Combat Speed (MCS) setting, that gives your fighter a top speed no matter how long you thrust. This setting is dynamic, and it can be turned off. However, as your speed increases, your ability to maneuver by thrusting will decrease. (For example: If your top speed is 5 times your Max Thrust, it will take you 5 seconds to alter your facing 60 degrees and return to your current speed). You will probably want to stay with the default maximum combat speed until you are familiar with the flight model (3 times your fighter's thrust). By using the TAB key, you can toggle your MCS to the flight model's maximum of 3000 m/s. Using the toggle again, will return you to your previous setting. Any changes made while in the "uncapped" mode will not be saved.

You are also able to match the current vector of your primary target. When using this function, your fighter will do its best to mach both direction and speed with your primary target. If, however, you are pointed in a direction that is different than your primary target, your fighter’s ability to change its speed will be limited, as you can only thrust with full force in the forward or backward direction.

MCS and Current Speed are grouped together in the Spd display that defaults at the top of your screen. The first number is the MCS and the second is the Current Speed.

Fighters also have the ability to skew their vector. This is a slow shift along the X or Y axis. This is primarily used in fine maneuvering, at slow speeds.

i

(Not yet Implemented)

3.3 Targeting

HUD

Flags

On your HUD, each spotlighted target will be surrounded by specialized brackets associated with that spotlight which will appear in the same color as the disposition of your target.

Around your Center Target Sight, (CTS) you have three numbers, one for each of your spotlights. When a target is not in your forward viewing arc, an arrow will appear with the spotlight number for that target, pointing in the direction of the target. Coupled with your RADAR, this allows for easy homing of your prey.

There are also 8 warning lights, 4 around the center sight, and 4 on each of the rims of the CTS.

The inner lights flash when you are being fired at. The two on top represent fire coming from your forward 90º (that you can see), while the bottom two show fire from the rear 270º. If two lights are flashing, this means two or more objects are attempting to hit your ship with gunfire.

The outer lights flash when a missile has been targeted on your fighter. The upper left is the first to flash, followed by the others in a clockwise direction. Up to four missiles can be tracked in this way.

Each spotlighted target will also have a line drawn to a predictor reticule in the color of the target's disposition. This reticule predicts where you will need to aim to hit the target with your guns or cannons. Each spotlight has distinctive targeting brackets, one of which is displayed in the lower left hand side of the targeting window. Line up your center target sight on the predictor reticule and fire. Note that the reticule changes in intensity, which tells you the likelihood of your shots hitting. If there is a minimal chance of success, the reticule will disappear altogether.

Capital ships have many systems that are spread out across the ship. This means that targeting a capital ship is not as simple as targeting a fighters. When targeting a capital ship, you may place your center site over a capital ship system, such as a turret and use the Y key to target the system.

You may also use the ~ key to summon a "ghost" image of the capital ship. This image shows the various systems marked (turrets are highlighted in the picture to the right). By placing your center site over the system and hitting the Y key, you can then target that system. This let's you pick your target before getting within capital ship gun range.

Once a system is targeted, any missiles or topedoes that you fire will do the majority of their damage to that system.

Targets can be saved and recalled (up to 20) using the default keys 0-9 and F5-F6. Use F5, and F6 select which group of 10 targets you are addressing.

(For Example: pressing F6 then 4 would recall group F6 target 4)

Whichever group was last selected remains in effect until another group is selected. To save a target, type Ctrl-and the number that you wish to save simultaneously.

The RADAR is separated into two unequal hemispheres. The inner left (two concentric circles) represents your front 90° view.

The Outer circle on the left shows objects in the 180° to your sides.

The right circle represents the 90° area behind you. Objects are represented as dots of varying color and intensity (same as targeting) based on their disposition and distance. The brighter the dot is, the closer it is. Your Primary Target will be bracketed within the RADAR.

The display to the left of your radar is a range indicator that uses a quadratic scale to maximize coverage over closer distances. The absolute range for the display is 200 km. It's intended to give you and idea as to how far targets are from you (also useful for spotting incoming missiles etc.).

The display is also used to configure the min and maximum visible ranges on your primary radar. Move the tan bar up to extend the maximum range shown in your RADAR (defaults to 60km), or down to decrease the range. Move the green bar up or down in the same fashion, to extend or decrease the minimum range displayed in your RADAR (useful for a squadron commander directing his distant forces). Objects that are spotlighted/targeted always appear on the HUD.

Defaulting to the bottom right of the RADAR is the Disposition Display. This feature allows you to toggle on/off the different dispositions (outlined below) in the RADAR and HUD displays. As with all other HUD items in your virtual cockpit, both the primary radar and the distance displays are moveable to suit your preferences.

Each disposition has its own color display on your RADAR and Scanners.

3.4 Ship Systems

3.5 Power Distribution

It is assumed that your fighter's reactor automatically supplies the power needed to run your life support, drives at full, and maintain basic shields. Your Power Allocation Window is designed to allow you to manage the remaining power among your systems.

The interface for ship systems lets you allocate power to each system in a priority fashion. Power Allocation is performed on a want-need basis for each active system. You can configure how you want power to be distributed to the various systems based on priority and order. The following is a list of terminology, and where it appears within the Power Allocation Window, with which you should familiarize yourself.

3.6 Weapons

Guns and Cannons can fire once their maximum energy is reached. If the gun is not fired, the energy is held, and no more energy will be placed into the gun.

In addition to needing energy, guns and cannons also need to remain cool. Each time one of these weapons fire, its heat rises due to the discharge of energy. Once a gun or cannon reaches a high enough temperature, it will cease firing until it can cool. The larger the caliber of a gun or cannon, the more it will heat with each shot. (For Example: 360's heat less per shot than 460's).

Rack Mounted weapons are all weapons not built into the fighter, but instead attached to the fighter via an external or internal bay connection. There are three types of Rack Mounted Weapons, Missiles, Torpedoes, and Guns. Mounts can also carry special pods that are discussed below.

While the racks listed above are "A" racks, many fighters carry "B" or even "C" racks. A Type IIIB Rack would be able to carry four Class 1 frames, or two Class 3 frames.

While uncommon, Tandem Racks can occur when two Types of a smaller racks are mounted next to each other and used to support one Frame Class as a larger rack type. These are becoming more common within the Known Sphere™ as the use of missile increases in popularity.

There are two basic categories of missiles, the anti-fighter missile and the anti-ship missile. While no missiles require energy to fire, they are limited both in number and in size to the Missile Racks carried by your fighter. These racks are associated with the different frame classes. Class 1 and Class 2 missiles are usually anti-fighter missiles and tend to be short or medium range missiles. Class 3 missiles are usually anti-ship missiles, however, they can contain anti-fighter submunitions, and act as extended range, or do extra damage. Class 4 missiles are never anti-fighter, but like their Class 3 counterparts, they can carry anti-fighter submunitions.

Friend or Foe missiles use the unique characteristic of a fighter or ship to pursue their target, and no one else; they will detonate only on their intended target. FoF missiles automatically start to build a lock on a target once that target has been spotlighted. The strength of this lock is displayed as a number from 0-100 in the target window. Once a missile is fired, the lock is reset to 15, and starts to rebuild.  Each spotlight can build its own lock that is unaffected by the locks of other spotlights. Lock upon fire is the missiles maximum lock, except with specific warheads (see below).

FoF missile locks are effected by the ECM shift. The worse the shift, the lower the maximum lock can be. (For Example: If your shift to a unit is –5, the maximum lock you can achieve is 85). In order for your FoF missile to maintain a good chance impacting on the target, you need to keep energy in your ECCM. As your shift increases and decreases, the effectiveness of any missiles in flight will also change appropriately, with the lock jumping to its maximum possible value.

In addition, while FoF missiles have built-in ECCM, their scanners are less powerful than those on a fighter. Fortunately, you are able to assist your missiles; as long as you continue to paint a target with your spotlight, the missile is able to use your fighter’s spotlight for guidance, much like a laser pointer. If you drop your spotlight from a target, however, the missile’s lock will drop to the level of its less powerful sensors. FoF missiles will usually detonate within 150 meters of a target, casting their focused charge in the direction of the target. Because of the time needed for a newly launched FoF missile to acquire its target, the minimum range of any FoF missile is 500 meters. Long range FoF missiles sacrifice warhead for sophisticated suites of scanners that allow for increasing the lock, once within range of a target.

Anti-Capital ship missiles mostly use Friend or Foe (FoF), targeting systems. By using the controls for Targeting Capital Ships, you can select to fire not only at the ship in general, but at specific systems on the capital ship. While, it is impossible for a capital ship to confuse a missile about its general location, a negative ECM shift might cause the missile to detonate prematurely, or late (and be destroyed hitting the drive field of the capital ship, doing no damage).

To use an anti-capital ship missile, simply target the desired system on the capital ship and fire your missile. If the missile hits, any damage that gets through the shields will primarily damage the targeted system.

Due to the demanding and delicate nature of torpedoes, they can only be targeted and released by your fighter when you have achieved a direct line of sight with your target. The disruption field used by the torpedo complicates this simple procedure with three factors. One, the torpedo cannot impact its target at a relative closing speed that is greater than its maximum closing speed (this will vary between the different torpedoes used by nations within the Known Sphere™ ). Two, the torpedo cannot be launched without first forming its field while still on its rack. Finally, the disruption field cannot be formed within 10 seconds of a N-Field being used to maneuver or thrust. If these conditions are met, the torpedo will not fire at the target.

To Fire a Torpedo, select the Rack with the Torpedo and select your target. Depress the M key or the number two (2) button on your joystick and hold it. This will start the Torpedo Fire Sequence. Your fighter will automatically slow to the maximum closing speed with the target and start the countdown to energize your torpedo (the 10 seconds mentioned above). During this time, your fighter is at 10% of its normal thrust and maneuver, which is just enough for final course corrections but not much more.

Once you are in range of the target, release the button to fire your torpedo. Your controls will return to normal once the torpedo is fired. You may release your fire button anytime before your torpedo is fired to abort the run, and regain full control of your fighter.

To save your Weapons Configuration Groups, save ANY of your Ship's Systems settings (Default Ctrl-F9 through Ctrl-F10).

3.7 Shields

By redirecting power into your shields, you can also slowly reharmonize them. This occurs simultaneously when power is applied for reinforcement. Note, however, that this process is time and power consuming, and often it would be faster to use a powerup, or disengage from combat and land on a capital ship and have your shields reharmonized by an external source.

Reharmonization takes place when you apply over 50% of your shield's maximum reinforcement. At 50%, you receive 1/20th of a point in shields per second. This rate of deharmonization increases as you approach the maximum, to end at 1/10th of a point per second. (For example: Your have 150 points of energy added to your shields, this will give you 1/20th a shield point per second, or 1 shield point per 20 seconds). Note that this means larger shields are harder to reharmonize than smaller shields, reflecting the increasing difficulty with reharmonization. Some fighters have a higher or lower than average shield efficiency rating. For these fighters, the shield recharge rates will be faster or slower than average.

3.8 Taking Damage

Known Sphere™ technology is quite advanced by the standards of 21st Century Earth. Repair systems are composed of micro-machines and raw materials, that together look more like piles of dust than an actual mechanism. These machines use the dust and their own bodies to create patches, new circuits, and whatever else is needed to repair damage as best they can. This is a limited resource on something like a fighter, and while these damage repair systems are amazing, they have limits.

As your shields are deharmonized or "de-tuned" increasing amounts of damage "bleed" through your shields each time they are impacted by shield-cracking weapons. This damage is then applied to your fighter's various systems.

For the sake of convenience, all damage is broken down into points. These "points" are then applied to your shield's remaining harmonization. Any "points" of damage not stopped by your shields are applied to a Damage Allocation Chart (DAC). By using the DAC, those systems most vulnerable to damage tend to be struck first, and more protected, more vital systems tend to take damage last. Because of differing construction, some fighters will have different DACs from others. In general, Missiles and Hull are the first items to be destroyed when damage is taken, followed by Guns, Drives, Power Plants, and Internal Hull. The final "point" of damage your fighter takes will be to rupture its fusion reactor's plasma bottle, venting plasma across your fighter.

Your average damage is displayed in a green line with your current total system points at the right, and your maximum points on the left. While this does not tell you specifically your damage, it does give you a general idea of where you stand.

The effects of damage on each system is based on that system's function:

Column Toggles

Like with other windows, these allow you to hide/display the various columns on the Damage Display Window.

System

The System to be/being repaired

Auto-Repair Toggle

Click to highlight/gray-out. When this is highlighted, the system will be automatically start being repaired when it is damaged, using any available points up to the Auto-Repair Break. (see below)

System Status Bar

Series of bars that represent the percentage of functioning remaining in a specific system. As the system is damaged, the larger bars on the right disappear.

Manual Repair Toggle

Click to highlight/gray-out. When this is highlighted, the system is repaired using any available points, regardless of the position of the Auto-Repair Brake.

System Status

A text representation of the systems status: Online, Off-line, Destroyed

Repair Points Remaining

Shows the total repair points your fighter has remaining. If nothing has been repaired, this shows your fighter's maximum repair capacity. Note: Within the "Battlezone" Arena, this number is not used, and the repair capacity of a fighter is infinite.

Point Reserve

Shows the amount of repair points "behind-the-brake", that will not be used by the Auto-Repair Function. Note: Within the "Battlezone" Arena, this number is not used, and the repair capacity of a fighter is infinite.

Auto-Repair Brake

Sets the level of the Point Reserve. Note: Within the "Battlezone" Arena, this number is not used, and the repair capacity of a fighter is infinite.

3.9 Electronic Warfare

Within a given tactical situation, exact information about your opponents is not always known. The movement of troops may pass unnoticed, or ships might be misidentified. This "fog of war" has been a problem for generals and admirals throughout the centuries.

In the Battlezone Arena for Ace of Angels® , players are not hindered by this traditional problem. We have decided to allow you the freedom to familiarize yourself with the fighters of the Known Sphere™ without having to guess your way through various counter measures. Many scenarios built by players will also have no Tactical Intelligence to maintain simplicity. In fact, we feel that the absence of Tactical Intelligence does not hinder the play of Ace of Angels® in the least.

However, in The Campaign, Tactical Intelligence will be an integral part of most missions. ECM and Scanners will play an important part of Tactical Intelligence, protecting your information on the one hand, and piercing the mystery on the other.

Tactical Intelligence is broken down into varying levels. You accumulate points based upon the amount of time you spend scanning or spotlighting a target at a given TACINT Level. By using spotlights with extra power, you can increase the rate at which you accumulate points. When your point level achieves a given number, you move to the next Level of Tactical Intelligence. Each level has specific information associated with that level, such as ship type, shield strength, and amount of damage.

Note: A table that describes the levels of Tactical Intelligence will be forthcoming with the release of the AoA Campaign.

3.10 Unit to Unit Communications

Communications cover both the "in game" communications of between fighters and ships (Unit to Unit), and the communications between you and others online in Ace of Angels® (Player to Player).

It is assumed that all units attempt to stay part of their respective "side's" local communication network, which usually includes all allied and friendly ships. This network can not only relay orders and precise positions, but also update other unit's targeting information. This means that a capital ship, which is able to burn through massive amounts of ECM, will be able to increase the likely hood of your weapon connecting. Because of the technology involved, communications seamlessly include FTL transmissions, radio, tight lasers, and even drive field modulation. All of these are automatically handled by a fighter or ship’s computer systems.