Step 8 – Landmarks Window
Once again, how much of this info do you really need? Landmarks is an important window which will span the height of your UI, however, you as a tackler only require target name, distance and robot type in my opinion.
You need to make this window as thin as possible, freeing up your view of the all important terrain. Corp name is meaningless, just their colour signifies their intent towards me and mine towards them. You can slide this column (click in the edge of the column at the top and slide your cursor to widen or shorten it) to mostly closed. Names are mostly meaningless to me also and some FCs will repeat only the initials (first 2 or 3) of their intended targets for clarity, slide this column across to show perhaps 4-5 letters. Close the effects column as much as you can. We're all about making as much of your terrain and battlefield as visible as possible.
Filters required on landmarks window should become familiar to you as you gain experience. Essentially, you would filter out the icons you do not deem important.
Click on distance to ensure your closest enemy is at the top. As you become more experienced, you will be able to give accurate info on your time to target by paying attention to distance. This will help your fleet as they approach behind you. Your FC may require you to set target by name, distance or type depending on your role. Pay attention to this also.
Recap, steps 5,6 & 8.
Ok, in the following image*, you can see that my landmarks window is thin but high. My radar not too obtrusive, my targeting computer can handle all the robots that I can target in an Intakt. Not a single pixel more is dedicated to the aforementioned windows, as a tackler I need to observe terrain - Step 7.
http://i.imgur.com/V45iO56.jpg
*Modules, chat and status windows hidden for security purposes.
Step 9 – Versus 'X'
Always back off and lose locks if you are primaried by a whole fleet. You’ll swiftly receive an alpha strike and the battle (and all the prep time that came before it) may be over if the enemy fleet moves faster than yours (who now has no tackle). You are fast enough to get right back into the fray in no time at all. Inform your FC if you are about to engage this defensive maneuver
RED NPCs.
Do not, under any circumstances, underestimate the power of Nia’s hostile inhabitants. These guys will chew you up and spit you out in a heartbeat. Stay well away from Observers in particular. I’ve found them to be the most deadly opponents in a pvp zone for many years now…
Light bots.
Unless you face these guys en masse, you’re usually golden. They don’t have the speed to escape your grasp, however, they can travel over the same types of terrain. As you have a SA fitted, you’ll be able to lock them much further away than they can lock you due to you being an EWAR bot. Use this to your advantage and pull away to break their lock after your initial demob. Now use your speed to rush back in and get another tackle on them. Repeat this without losing your own lock whilst breaking theirs and always stay within that distance. A simple tactic but a guaranteed kill for your fleet. If you are worried that they have a demob then just keep tackling and then pulling back but more swiftly, do not allow them time to lock you fully and employ one.
Light EWARs.
Let’s just hope their guy isn’t as sharp as you and hasn’t read this guide.
Assaults.
Once again you can rely somewhat on locking distance, however the assault class will definitely lock further than a light bot. This reduces your effective window of operations dramatically and makes for an exhilarating experience. You know that they can two-shot you so it’s high risk vs satisfying reward. Their speed is lacking. Your speed, terrain, LOS and your level of aggression are your allies in this battle. Assaults work just fine with demobs and many enemy pvpers will be carrying one. Be very careful against assaults but not too much on the defensive.
Mechs & Heavies.
By the time you’re chasing these guys down, your fleet will be pretty much right behind you. Wait for your FC to call targets, tackle them and stay out of their locks. If it looks as though you’re getting primaried or gathering lots of yellow secondary boxes from their bots in your landmarks window, just move behind your fleet, break locks and quickly return to the front line, always informing your FC of this. Your hit size can also be a factor, you are small – their guns are big and often miss puny little robots. You gotta love watching those tanked Seths hitting the floor with a volley of 6 short range lazorz! A lot of the time, mech pilots will completely underestimate your ability to make or break a battle and won't even target you. Exploit their foolishness and watch them burn...