This problem is not addressed in the FAQs or the Documentation. The latter, I read only after DAYS of "trial and error". (Maybe I should read the instructions more often? ... Nah!!!)

1. When other ships hail me for help, or with "ad hoc" missions, how do I learn who they are and complete whatever the transaction is? "Y", "Return" and Option-Tab don't do it for me.

2. The documentation says I can "cycle" through my escorts and fighters with Option-Tab. Only it doesn't work. I get the closest of my escort ships, period. (If I wish to recall a fighter I must "hold" all my escorts, buzz around each of them 'til I locate the guy I want, get closer to him than any other, THEN hail him.) Whew! That's a real pain ... ESPECIALLY during a dogfight.

NOTE: I DID reset my preferences in the beginning of playing EV. I use "T" instead of "Tab" for targeting. Do you think my changes could have caused this? (Kaptian Karl has no "pinky" finger on L hand. That's why he changed it....)

------------------
Let's see what this button does....

Quote

Originally posted by Kaptain Karl:
**
NOTE: I DID reset my preferences in the beginning of playing EV. I use "T" instead of "Tab" for targeting. Do you think my changes could have caused this? (Kaptian Karl has no "pinky" finger on L hand. That's why he changed it....)
**

Probably

------------------
Cuz I'm a 21st Century Digital Boy
I don't know the Monty Python but I've got a lotta toys
My daddy is a Renegade, his name is Hellcat Helian
Wait a second...

Quote

Originally posted by Kaptain Karl:
**1. When other ships hail me for help, or with "ad hoc" missions, how do I learn who they are and complete whatever the transaction is? "Y", "Return" and Option-Tab don't do it for me.

**

If by "Ad hoc" you mean those ships that ask for help when attacked, don't worry about it. Those aren't missions.

Quote

Originally posted by Kaptain Karl:
**2. The documentation says I can "cycle" through my escorts and fighters with Option-Tab. Only it doesn't work. I get the closest of my escort ships, period. (If I wish to recall a fighter I must "hold" all my escorts, buzz around each of them 'til I locate the guy I want, get closer to him than any other, THEN hail him.) Whew! That's a real pain ... ESPECIALLY during a dogfight.

**

No, no, that's not how you control your fighters/escorts! C returns your escorts to formation, V tells them to hold position, and Option-C orders your fighters to return to your ship. F tells your fighters (But not hired escorts) to attack your target. This is in the manual.

Quote

Originally posted by Kaptain Karl:
**NOTE: I DID reset my preferences in the beginning of playing EV. I use "T" instead of "Tab" for targeting. Do you think my changes could have caused this? (Kaptian Karl has no "pinky" finger on L hand. That's why he changed it....)

**

No. You don't need to target your fighters to give them orders.

------------------
Those who are blinded by the light shall stumble in the darkness...
Visit the (url="http://"http://pub40.ezboard.com/bthecatacomb")Unofficial EV Webboard(/url)!
(url="http://"http://www.AmbrosiaSW.com/cgi-bin/ubb/search.cgi?action=intro &default;=")USE ME, DAMNIT!!!(/url)

(This message has been edited by goomeister (edited 01-08-2001).)

Quote

Originally posted by Kaptain Karl:
**1. When other ships hail me for help, or with "ad hoc" missions, how do I learn who they are and complete whatever the transaction is? "Y", "Return" and Option-Tab don't do it for me.

2. The documentation says I can "cycle" through my escorts and fighters with Option-Tab. Only it doesn't work. I get the closest of my escort ships, period. (If I wish to recall a fighter I must "hold" all my escorts, buzz around each of them 'til I locate the guy I want, get closer to him than any other, THEN hail him.) Whew! That's a real pain ... ESPECIALLY during a dogfight.
**

Ein: When a ship hails you—a freighter, say, with a cargo mission—note the ship's name in the hail quote at the bottom of the screen. Then press Tab until you've located that ship in your green Target screen. Then press Y to initiate communications, then use your mouse to select 'Greetings.'

Zwei: Pressing Option-Tab does indeed allow you to cycle through all of your escorts in order to communicate with them. Of course, communicating with a single fighter isn't very exciting; the only worthwhile thing you can tell it is "You're fired." Your description sounds as though you are actually trying to recall a single fighter, which cannot be done. If you want to recall one fighter, you've gotta call them all back (Option-C). Am I reading your question correctly?

------------------
PlanetPhil
not drowning, waving

Actually, I don't think you need to click on 'Greetings'. You only need to cycle till you find the good ship, then press 'Y' and you'll have the mission. If you don't already know, you can then click on 'm' to see where is the mission.

------------------
Senso/Rezo

Goomeister: By "ad hoc mission" I mean when another ship hails me asking if I can help transport cargo they cannot handle, etc.

21st Century Digital Boy: Tried to eMail you. Clicking on your eMail icon sent the message to "willjw-for-president" (dot something - or - other). Whoever that was replied with "Huh?" to my eMail. Is your info "bassakwards"?

PlanetPhil and Senso: My problem is the "cycling" you refer to is not happening. I only get the closest fighter or escort, no matter how many times I attempt to cycle....

I DO thank you all for your assistance. (How did EV decide I was ready for the Alien Cruiser mission if I cannot even properly manipulate my fleet???)

------------------
Let's see what this button does....

well,on my mac there is maybe a bug that changes the z and the y key.so if i want to communicate a ship,i have to select the ship and press z instead of y

------------------

Quote

Originally posted by Kaptain Karl:
**Goomeister: By "ad hoc mission" I mean when another ship hails me asking if I can help transport cargo they cannot handle, etc.

21st Century Digital Boy: Tried to eMail you. Clicking on your eMail icon sent the message to "willjw-for-president" (dot something - or - other). Whoever that was replied with "Huh?" to my eMail. Is your info "bassakwards"?

PlanetPhil and Senso: My problem is the "cycling" you refer to is not happening. I only get the closest fighter or escort, no matter how many times I attempt to cycle....

I DO thank you all for your assistance. (How did EV decide I was ready for the Alien Cruiser mission if I cannot even properly manipulate my fleet???)
**

If you changed the target to "T" then you have to do option "T"

------------------
Purpal!

Oops! :redface: :redface: :redface:

On rechecking my Preferences I discovered the problem. It was "Operator Error"....

I had set both my "closest target" and "target" for the SAME KEY. This prevented me from being able to cycle through the ships in the system. :redface: It is amazing how much better
-- and easier -- EV works now. Thanks for all your suggestions.

------------------
Let's see what this button does....

It's always the little things, isn't it? Congratulations and happy flying.

------------------
PlanetPhil
not drowning, waving