AFS/Autopilot
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Using the Autopilot (AP)
The autopilot can only control your thrusters and ripcord sequence, not your boosters. Pressing p will engage your autopilot. If you have no target then pressing p will stop your ship. Pressing p while having a target will direct your ship toward the target. Since the AP isn't that smart, this is mostly used in pod pickups. The pilot flys toward the pod, the pod activates his autopilot to fly in the right direction to get a pickup.
Tip: If both the pod and the ship pilots have their AP engaged then both ships will begin waving about as they try and compensate for the other's movement. If this happens turn off your AP and fly straight at your teammate - rely on him leaving his AP on.
The autopilot is mostly used in long distance flying. For example, when viewing your command view (the radar) right-clicking on the map (such as clicking in empty space) will engage your autopilot to go that way. This is widely used when scouting. Give yourself a waypoint toward where you think an aleph is, then click on the aleph when you discover it to go inside that aleph. Also useful in picking up floating items, simply right-click on them.
Left-clicking on the minimap will automatically engage your autopilot. If a teleport receiver is in the sector on which you clicked (or in a sector closer to the target than your current location) a ripcord sequence will start. If you need to get there the long way press r to disengage the ripcord and remain on AP.
Note The AP will always calculate and select the shortest route from your location to your destination, however it doesn't account for the distances between teleport receivers and alephs. A little bit of planning before you launch can save you a lot of time.
The AP does not consider enemy threats nor the fact that you may want to use alternate routes to remain undetected. Be sure to remain in control, using the AP only as a tool, not as a replacement pilot. The AP is also useful for quickly finding your target when you're disorientated. Simply engage it AP, note which way your ship begins to turn, then take over movement yourself.
Example If you're flying between sectors, you can left-click on the minimap 2 sectors away. As you enter the first sector, your ship will immediately orient itself toward the aleph leading to the next sector, saving you the few seconds during which you search your HUD for the aleph.
Example You're flying back to base and can't see the green door. Turn on AP and note which side of the base your ship is now facing. Head that way and start exploring. (Especially useful for Belters bases ;))
Disengaging the AP is a simple task. As the HUD icon states, "Press P to disengage". Or you can simply do anything (move the ship, fire a bullet, change the speed), and the AP will immediately disengage.
Recapping the mouse functions
Minimap:
- Left-clicking will engage AP to that sector. Upon flying through the last aleph your ship will stop.
- Right-clicking will open a chatbox with that sector as the recipient.
Cockpit:
- Left-clicking (or dragging a box) will select objects. You can then send them an order, a voice chat to them personally, or open a chatbox with them as the sole recipient.
- Right-clicking on anything will target it and engage your AP to it.
Command view:
- Left-clicking (or dragging a box) will select the object. You can then send them an order, a voice chat to them personally, or open a chatbox with them as the sole recipient.
- Right-clicking on anything will target it and (unless in base) engage your AP to it.
- Holding on right-click and dragging will allow you to set a waypoint above or below the plane.
