Jump to Lightspeed: Getting Started as an Imperial Pilot

Many claim that the Empire's greatest strength is its ready supply of talented and ruthless pilots. The Imperial Pilot serves the Emperor, battling Rebels, pirates, and others who threaten Imperial rule. An Imperial Pilot is expected to become proficient with the Empire's signature craft: the TIE fighter. Advanced pilots gain the right to fly TIE variants, including the deadly TIE Interceptor and experimental TIE Aggressor. The Imperial training program requires Imperial Pilots to master proven Imperial Navy tactics and become well-versed in the use of special navi-computer programs that enhance starfighter performance.

Imperial Pilots are devoted to winning the Galactic Civil War. They undertake some of the most dangerous missions in the galaxy and continually exterminate Rebel forces wherever they are found.

Join the Imperial Navy!

Once a player begins Jump to Lightspeed, we want players to be able to get into the fun quick and easy and also to feel like they are being drawn into the Star Wars experience. The first thing that will happen to you is you will receive three email messages. As the various factions try to gain your favor, they will contact you within the first few moments of the game by sending you a message. Each recruitment message is tailored to their presence in the galaxy and will give you a chance to scope out who's who.

Once you have made a decision, you should save the waypoint to your datapad, take a moment and find out what planet and city the recruiter is and travel to meet your contact.

Finding your Space Quest Trainer

• Travel to Tatooine, Naboo, or Corellia as it is listed on your datapad. Highlight the attachment included in your recruitment email and it will list the planet you need to be on.
  

NOTE: There are no beginning Space Quest Trainers on any planets other than Tatooine, Naboo and Corellia. If you are not on one of these worlds, you will need to travel to the correct planet before you can begin searching for them using the planetary map as described below.

• Open the planetary map (CTRL+V by default).

 

Tip: If you save your email attachment from the recruiter, when you open your planetary map (CTRL+V by default), you will see the waypoint on the planetary map. Further, if you activate your waypoint attachment, the planetary map pointer will also be lighted. This will make finding your Space Quest trainer more accommodating.

Acquiring a New Profession

Once you see the recruiter, he will help you choose your assignment and send you to the pilot trainer. The pilot trainer will give you your novice pilot box. Your recruiter will give you the next waypoint on your journey. You can find out the location of the pilot trainer and travel to his or her location in the same fashion that you found the recruiter.

Finding your Space Quest Trainer

If you accidentally delete your waypoint to the Space Quest Trainer, you can use this method to re-locate your chosen trainer.

Follow the waypoint indicator - the blue arrow on your radar - to your trainer. As you near the waypoint, it will become visible as a beacon of bluish light on the horizon.  
Gaining your first Pilot Skill box

To gain your first piloting skills, you'll need to talk to your Trainer. You can automatically start a conversation by double-clicking on the Trainer or using the radial menu and choosing the "Converse" option.

Once you've started a dialogue, follow the conversation options to sign up for your Novice Piloting skill box. Upon receiving your Novice Piloting skill box, you'll earn at least one starship certification (which gives you "license" to pilot a specific type of ship) and your "starter ship".

      

Imperial Pilot Commands

As you advance in your chosen profession, you will gain access to special commands that you can execute during combat. All commands are skill based; meaning that the more levels of ability (Pilot Special Tactics skill modifier) the pilot has, the more easily the command can be executed successfully.

With most abilities, there is a period of time that must elapse before the pilot can use another one. This is shorter for simpler commands, and longer for more complicated ones. The tactical training that Imperial pilots receive is second-to-none. As Imperial Pilots advance, they will learn new performance-enhancing commands and gain the ability to call in support craft for aid.

Pump Reactor

/pumpreactor

The pilot attempts to overcharge his reactor's reactant injectors and squeeze some extra juice out of the generator. This will increase overall available power to some degree. At the same time, the pilot overloads the output coils leading to the ion drive units, producing additional available thrust over normal operating parameters. When the pilot does this, there is a risk of the automated flight control systems detecting the overload as a threat and shutting the system down, or "scramming" the reactor. If the reactor scrams, the ship will basically shut down until the systems automatically reset.

The additional power and speed provided by this tweak are very handy in a space dogfight, but sitting motionless in space while you wait for your reactor to re-ignite can be deadly. Thus only the more daring pilots are known to attempt this feat with any regularity.

Running this command increases the power available to all ship subsystems, and ship speed. A failure to run the command will shut the ship down; and the greater the failure, the longer the downtime.

Emergency Weapons

/eweapons

This ability allows the pilot to temporarily circumvent the ship's normal power distribution parameters and instead dump all power normally meant for recharging the ship's shields into weapons instead. Note that this doesn't increase how much damage the weapons do, but instead how much power for recharge is available to them. Shunting shield power directly to the weapons allows firing bursts of extended lengths, at the cost of recharging the damage deflection screens.

Running this command temporarily shuts down recharge for the shields and increases the weapon capacitor recharge rate dramatically. A failure to run the command will shut the ship down; and the greater the failure, the longer the downtime.

Bomber Strike 1

/bstrike1

Although not in command of a strike force themselves, pilots can, from time to time, call for assistance on standard Imperial command frequencies. If local non-assigned strike assets are available, they will be routed to the pilot's locale where they will engage the requested target. Once the target is destroyed, or extreme casualties have been suffered by the strike package or its escort, the vessels will leave the area. A skilled pilot will be able to convince the local kill-zone Controller into giving him higher quality assets in the package, increasing their chance for success and survival.

To run the Bomber Strike, select a target, and type /bstrike1. If it's something you could attack and a skill check is passed, a strike package will arrive and engage the target squad. Once the target, the strike package, or the strike package's escort is destroyed, the remnants of the strike package will leave the area. The success level of the pilot's skill check will affect the types of ships in the strike package.

Bomber Strike 2

/bstrike2

Identical to the Bomber Strike 1 command, except the pilot's career growth has granted him access to a larger strike force.

Bomber Strike 3

/bstrike3

Identical to the Bomber Strike 2 command, except the pilot's career growth has granted him access to an even larger strike force.

Victory for the Empire!

As with An Empire Divided, your character can learn new professions in-game. All four of the new professions can be gained after character creation by interacting with an appropriate Non-Player Character (or NPC), usually called a "Trainer." Trainers can teach you the basic piloting skills (or Novice Shipwright). In addition to a novice skill, pilot trainers (also called "Space Quest Trainers") can provide you with the certification necessary to fly your first starfighter and dole out missions that will earn you credits, experience, and the opportunity to advance in your chosen Pilot profession.

Each pilot type has specific trainers. If you want to be an Imperial Pilot, you should talk to an Imperial Space Quest Trainer. These trainers are located in major cities on Tatooine, Naboo, and Corellia. Your recruitment email will give you the first waypoint and then when you sign up with the recruiter, he or she will give you your next waypoint which will direct you to the pilot trainer. Space Quest Trainers will only train like-faction or neutral players. For instance, if your character is a declared "Imperial", she will not be able to learn Imperial Piloting skills from a Rebel Space Quest Trainer, and vice-versa. 

Shield Adjust Front/Back - Increases max energy of F/B Shields sacrificing B/F Energy.

Shield Reinforcement F/B - Moves Shield Energy from B/F shields to F/B shields.

Neutral Commands: 

Capacitor To Shield Shunt (CTSS) - Moves Energy from your capacitor Reinforcing your shields.

Weapon Capacitor Overcharge (CO) - Increases the recharge rate and Max Capacitor Energy. Reactor Overload - Increases the reactor generation rate of your reactor.

Imperial Commands:

Weapon Overload (WO) - Increases the damage output of your weapons but also increases the Reactor Energy Drain and Energy Per Shot.

Weapon Tuning - Opposite of WO Engine Overload (EO) - Increases the Pitch Yaw Roll and Top Speed Of the engine but also increases the Reactor Energy Drain Engine Tuning - Opposite of EO

How can I program other factions commands:

If you are programming a droid you can trade the droid to someone of the faction with the command and they can program it for you. If you have a FC then you need to get an unprogrammed droid command chip and get a person fo the right faction to program that for you. Then you will temporarily be able to program that whilst it is in your inventory.

How long does it take to run a program?

This is determined by your droid interface and its droid command speed. The lower the speed the faster the droid is. Overload Droid commands will take (5 X [Droid interface speed]) to complete. Shield adjust front I believe has a (3 x [DI Speed]). I am not sure on time on overcharge tbh I think it has (4 x [DI Speed]) but dont remember. Capacitor To shield Shunt is (1 x [DI Speed])

How much room does each lvl droid/fc have and how much per program?

Droids: Level 1: 20 Level 2: 40 Level 3: 70 Level 4: 110 Level 5: 125 Level 6: 150 Commands: Level 1: 5 Level 2: 10 Level 3: 20 Level 4: 25

How much of an effect will the programs have?

RO1: 15% Increase RO2: 30% Increase RO3: 60% Increase RO4: 90% Increase CO4: X2 Bonus EO3: 30% TS Increase and PYR increase. 333% RED EO4: 40% TS Increase and PYR increase. 1000% RED WO1 150% damage, 143% EPS / RED WO2 200% damage, 200% EPS / RED WO3 250% damage, 284% EPS / RED WO4 300% damage, 500% EPS / RED

Jump to Lightspeed: Getting Started 10/01/2004

For this week's Friday Feature, we have a snapshot look at the quick start guide for getting into the Jump to Lightspeed:

Somewhere in the Outer Rim...

1) Go visit a novice Space Quest Trainer on Tatooine, Corellia, or Naboo. You can find 'em all on the planetary maps. Once you talk to this trainer, you'll get:

* A Novice piloting skill
* Certification for your first starship
* Your first starship (in your datapad)

2) Talk to your Space Quest Trainer to get your first Mission.

3)  Head to the nearest starport and use the Starship Terminal inside to launch directly into space.

4) To control your ship:

* Mouse: Control heading
* Mouse 1: Fire primary weapons
* Mouse 2: Fire secondary weapon
* Mouse Wheel: Zoom in/out
* 'W' / Up arrow: Increase speed setting
* 'S' / Down arrow: Decrease speed setting
* 'Q' / Left arrow: Roll your ship counter-clockwise
* 'E' / Right arrow: Roll your ship clockwise
* 'A'/Numpad 1: Yaw left
* 'D'/Numpad 3: Yaw right
TAB: Cycle through targets

Note: You can also use a flight stick or a gamepad to control your ship.  Once your computer is set up to see the game controller, you can either use the default buttons or re-map them all to suit your tastes using the Options window (CTRL-O).

5) Follow the flashing white triangles on your radar and white arrows on your HUD to your first waypoint.

6) Blast anything that gets in your way! Line up your target in your reticle and pull the trigger (Mouse 1 by default). You may need to "lead" your target by firing just in front of the enemy craft.  Take advantage of the "leading target reticle" to help hit fast moving targets.

7) You can always land by visiting any nearby Space Station (available through your Star System Map). Target the station ("C" by default) and choose from a list of available destinations.

8) If you get destroyed in space, you retain your starship in your datapad, but it might need repairs. Once you have had it repaired, examine the ship before heading out into space again to make sure your ship is purring like a Gurrcat.

9) You can always repair your starship at a space station for a fee.

Taking your existing Star Wars Galaxies character into space...

Once Jump to Lightspeed has been successfully installed, your existing Galaxies characters will be able to learn special piloting skills, own starships, and continue their Star Wars adventure in space!

New Professions

Jump to Lightspeed allows players to explore four new professions, all involving starships. Through these new professions, you can become an Alliance starfighter pilot or a master starship-builder, a mercenary privateer or an Imperial TIE ace.

Alliance Pilot

The Alliance Pilot serves the Rebel Alliance, the ragtag coalition of heroes who oppose the tyranny of the Galactic Empire. As an Alliance pilot, you will have access to a wide range of powerful starships, including the versatile X-wing and the incredibly fast A-wing. Alliance pilots also learn special Rebel piloting techniques and custom astromech programs that improve a starfighter's defensive capabilities and other features.

Because the Rebel Alliance is embroiled in a violent war with the Empire, the life of an Alliance Pilot is fraught with danger. If you start down this path, you can expect to clash with Imperial forces on a regular basis.

Imperial Pilot

Many claim that the Empire's greatest strength is its ready supply of talented and ruthless pilots. The Imperial Pilot serves the Emperor, battling Rebels, pirates, and others who threaten Imperial rule. An Imperial Pilot is expected to become proficient with the Empire's signature craft: the TIE fighter. Advanced pilots gain the right to fly TIE variants, including the deadly TIE Interceptor and experimental TIE Aggressor. The Imperial training program requires Imperial Pilots to master proven Imperial Navy tactics and become well-versed in the use of special navi-computer programs that enhance starfighter performance.

Imperial Pilots are devoted to winning the Galactic Civil War. They will undertake some of the most dangerous missions in the galaxy and continually engage Rebel forces wherever they are found.

Privateer

A Privateer is effectively a mercenary pilot. Loyal to neither the Rebel Alliance nor the Galactic Empire, most Privateers are willing to fly missions for any group with enough credits. Privateers might find themselves working for the Smuggler's Alliance on Tatooine, the Corellian Security Forces (CorSec), or even the Royal Security Forces (RSF) of Naboo. Privateers utilize a variety of craft, including those originally designed for criminal groups such as the Hutts and (*classified*). Through rigorous training and various underworld contacts, Privateers learn exotic piloting techniques and master black-market droid programs.

The life of a Privateer involves a great deal of conflict. Privateers who work for reputable groups might find themselves policing systems and battling pirates. When running missions for the Hutts or the Smuggler's Alliance, a Privateer is likely to run afoul of local authorities or even the Empire.

Shipwright

 Shipwrights are talented engineers who build starships and starship components, including weapons and engines. Perhaps more importantly, Shipwrights can learn to reverse-engineer equipment discovered in space. A Shipwright with a steady supply of parts to disassemble and a desire to experiment can produce an array of powerful components.
 
Acquiring a New Profession

As with An Empire Divided, your character can learn new professions in-game. All four of the new professions can be gained training your existing character or after character creation by interacting with an appropriate Non-Player Character, usually called a "Trainer." Trainers can teach you the basic piloting skills (or Novice Shipwright). In addition to a novice skill, pilot trainers (also called "Space Quest Trainers") can provide you with the certification necessary to fly your first starfighter and dole out missions that will earn you credits, experience, and the opportunity to advance in your chosen Pilot profession.

Remember, if you have a seasoned Star Wars Galaxies character, you do not need to create a new character to acquire any of the new Jump to Lightspeed professions.

Each pilot type has specific trainers. If you want to be an Alliance Pilot, you should talk to a Rebel Space Quest Trainer. These trainers are located in major cities on Tatooine, Naboo, and Corellia. 

Space Quest Trainers will only train like-faction or neutral players. For instance, if your character is a declared 'Rebel', she will not be able to learn Imperial Piloting skills from an Imperial Space Quest Trainer, and vice-versa. Separately, if you acquire the Imperial Pilot novice skill box without being an overt Imperial (via Star Wars Galaxies' faction point system), you will not be able to learn Rebel or Privateer pilot skills until you 'Surrender' the Imperial Pilot novice skill box.

To surrender skills, open the skills window (CTRL+S by default), click on the skill you wish to surrender and then click the 'Surrender' button. You will be asked to confirm the removal of the skill.

Finding your Space Quest Trainer

* Travel to Tatooine, Naboo, or Corellia. (NOTE: There are no beginning Space Quest Trainers on any planets other than Tatooine, Naboo and Corellia. If you are not on one of these worlds, you will not be able to search for them using the planetary map as described below).

* Open the planetary map (CTRL+V by default).

* Locate the "Trainers" tab on the right-side pane of the planetary map interface.

* Double-click "Trainers" to open a list of trainer categories.

* Double-click "Pilot" to expand the list of specific NPC Space Quest Trainers (you can also double-click "Shipwright" to expand the list of specific NPC Shipwright Trainers). Each Space Quest Trainer's name and factional affiliation will appear here.

* Right click on the Space Quest Trainer that interests you.

* Select "Waypoint" from the menu that appears when you right-click. This will create a waypoint in your datapad.

* Close the planetary map window (CTRL+V by default).

* Activate the waypoint to your quest trainer by opening your datapad (CTRL+D by default), selecting the 'Waypoints' tab, and right-clicking on the waypoint object that you just created. The waypoint object will bear the name of the Space Quest Trainer by default. Choose 'Activate' from the right-click menu.

* Close the datapad (CTRL+D).

* Follow the waypoint indicator - the blue arrow on your radar - to your trainer. As you near the waypoint, it will become visible as a beacon of bluish light on the horizon.

Gaining your first Pilot Skill box

To gain your first piloting skills, you'll need to talk to your Trainer. You can automatically start a conversation by double-clicking on the Trainer or using the radial menu and choosing the "Converse" option.  Note that you will not need to surrender any skill points to become a pilot.

Once you've started a dialogue, follow the conversation options to sign up for your Novice Piloting skill box.

Upon receiving your Novice Piloting skill box, you'll earn at least one starship certification (which gives you "license" to pilot a specific type of ship) and your "starter ship. 

You can also receive your first mission from your Space Quest Trainer.

Your Starter Ship

All novice Space Quest Trainers have the ability to provide you with a starter ship. You can see this ship in your datapad (CTRL+D by default). The "starter ship" is a low-powered vessel suitable for rookie pilots.

If you don't have a ship in your datapad, converse with your original Space Quest Trainer to acquire a new starter ship. 

Starter ships are intended to get you into space (and combat) right away. However, you will not be able to upgrade your starter starship. Only those ships built by Shipwrights (other players) can be upgraded. Eventually, you'll want to buy such a ship from another player. 

4: Missions & Combat Basics

The life of a starfighter pilot revolves heavily around completing missions for his or her factions. Rebel Alliance pilots are called upon to make the galaxy safe from Imperial tyranny by patrolling the galaxy, running escort duty, and, of course, battling Imperial forces wherever they might threaten peace and freedom. Under order from the Emperor, Imperial pilots are constantly on the hunt for pirates, smugglers, illegal mercenary groups, and Rebels. Privateers, meanwhile, might run missions to protect Jabba the Hutt's smuggling lanes or chase pirates from the Naboo system.

Regardless of the type of pilot you decide to become, you'll earn credits, experience, faction standing, and the ability to advance in your chosen profession by completing missions of various types.

While a simple patrol mission sounds easy enough, traveling into space can be exceedingly dangerous. When undertaking virtually any mission, you should expect to encounter some enemy forces. You must be ready for combat at all times.

This chapter covers both the mechanics for taking and completing missions, getting into space, and destroying your enemies.

Receiving Your First Mission

As soon as you have your Novice Piloting skill box, you'll be eligible to begin flying missions for your Trainer. To receive your first mission, talk to your Space Quest Trainer by double-clicking on him or her and then follow the conversation options.

To complete the mission, you'll need your starter ship. If you do not already have a ship review the "Your Starter Ship" section in Chapter 3.

Launching your starship

Every mission will be issued by a Space Quest Trainer will required that you head into space (and usually a specific area of space). To launch your starship:

• Go to the nearest Starport. Walk inside and locate the "Starship Terminal."
• Right-click on the terminal to bring up the radial menu.
• Choose "Launch Starship" to go directly to space.

Note that your ship must be relatively intact in order to launch. If you are missing critical components or if those same components (like your engines) are badly damaged, you will not be allowed to launch. You must outfit your ship with working equipment. Since this is your first mission, your ship should be intact.

Attempting Your First mission

Your first mission will be a simple patrol that requires you to fly to several waypoints n space. The waypoints will appear on your radar as pulsing white triangle, on your HUD as white arrows, and actually in space as glowing beacons of light. Once you pass through a patrol waypoint, your mission will update and you'll receive the next patrol point.

But, be warned: it's likely your patrol will be met with violent disruption. You'll have to think fast and shoot straight to survive. See below to learn the basics of combat.

Basic Flight Controls

Mouse: Control heading

Mouse 1: Fire primary weapons

Mouse 2: Fire secondary weapon

Mouse Wheel: Zoom in/out

'W' / Up arrow: Increase speed setting

'S' / Down arrow: Decrease speed setting

'Q' / Left arrow: Roll your ship counter-clockwise

'E' / Right arrow: Roll your ship clockwise

'A'/Numpad 1: Yaw left

'D'/Numpad 3: Yaw right

TAB: Cycle through targets

Mouse heading control

You can control your ship heading with the mouse. If you move the mouse away from you, your ship will lift; if you move the mouse to the right, the ship will turn to the right.

When using the Mouse, you will receive a "virtual joystick" indicator on your ship's Heads-Up Display (HUD).

As you move the mouse, this indicator changes position to show how fast you will turn in the desired direction. The further the indicator is from the center of your screen, the faster you will turn. Put the cursor in the center of your viewscreen to stop turning.

Basic Combat

In most cases, combat is simply a matter of being able to line up your target in your targeting sights and opening fire at the right time.

To cycle through all targets in your immediate area, use the TAB key (default). Additionally, you can use the comma (,) and period (.) keys to cycle through nearby enemy targets.

A targeted enemy will show up as a blue arrow on your HUD. Follow the arrow until you have the targeted starship in your field of view. When you're ready to attack, open fire by hitting the appropriate mouse or joystick button.

To hit your target, try to aim for the small bright circle just in front of the ship's movement. This indicator shows the enemy ship's trajectory and will help you "lead" your target as it zooms away.

        Becoming an Ace pilot takes practice, but here are a few hints that might help you survive your first few encounters...

        * Lead your target. Especially when your target is at a distance, fire your shots just in front of the enemy ship. As the ship moves, it will actually fly into your line of blaster fire.

        * Tail your enemy. One of the most effective tactics is dropping in behind your enemy and sticking to his afterburners. This keeps you safe from return fire and you can concentrate all your fire on one set of shields. It's not always easy, especially if you're trying to tail an agile A-wing, but it's a tactic you should master.

        * Manage your speed. If you're in a speedy starship, like a TIE fighter, you might want to throttle back and slow down so you don't continually fly past your enemy. A TIE fighter tailing a Y-wing might only need to fly at half-speed to keep the Y-wing in its sights.

        * Watch your back. Enemy pilots know some of the same tricks you do and will try to slip in behind you whenever possible. Keep an eye on your radar for approaching hostiles, especially when you're on a straight trajectory towards a waypoint. If you spot space vermin sneakin' up on you, turn and blast them.

        * Spinning is a good trick. Liberal use of rolls can help shake enemy fighters and keep them from peppering you.

        * Slam on the brakes. If you have a fast-moving enemy right on your tail, you might be able to trick him into buzzing past you by making a sudden stop. If this trick works, you'll find yourself looking into your enemy's engines and can start tailing him.