couple comments, questions, and inquiries

[AmishRobot]

I'd been trying for months to earn a medal on Rapier Stanza Inter with Goteki, and had only been able to reach 7th, sometimes 5th on a good day. I was even doing a pretty good job of staying off the walls. It's been driving me nuts. Today after reading Task's post, I decided to work on my hyperthrust technique. After a few races, I managed to pull off 2nd place! I then went on to finish the remaining Rapier tracks with Goteki (thus finally finishing out the class), and gave Stanza Inter on Phantom a try with Goteki... got first place on my first try!

Thanks, Task!!

For anyone interested, what I did was instead of waiting for the straights to use up the thrust (an especially bad idea on Stanza, as that means you miss the pit), I just tapped on the thrust coming out of each turn to get back up to speed.

lunar: I always go right, through the tunnels. If you do it right you can carry a nearly straight line all the way through, and it sets you up nicely for the sharp bend in the following tunnel.

For the record, I like Stanza Inter, but I HATE Goteki...

[Wiseman]

Also, in LS104, the CPU ships use Hyperthrust. Of course, they have a knack for always using it in the tunnel/hill, which is why they always catch up with you there.

The key is to use this to your advatage, and try to get in front of them where they bump you in the rear and give you a huge boost (while slowing them down). This allows you to get through that section without wasting your own hyperthrust. The hardest part of this is trying to make sure you can control your ship and not smack into the top of the tunnel at it's apex.

[Task]

8 ) You're quite welcome, I'm here to help.
The reason you hate Goteki is because you haven't found its true power.
Eliminator. 2-player. 8-points +. Rapier or faster. Mega Mall to get the point driven through.
You quickly realize that you've only got 3 ship choices: FEISAR, Goteki, and Qirex.
Goteki is your middle ground.
One of my favourite parts of WO3 (that raises it above the others IMNSHO) is that each craft has its place, its own purpose. None of them are there just to fill the ranks up to 8 ships.

[Brother Laz]

I also love Stanza, though I have neglected her since I got SE. I`ve always gone left at the split into the urban canyon, but it sounds like some of you go right, into the bends. Can this really be quicker?

Gee, why would it be faster to go straight as opposed to going through two narrow S turns, hitting the ground 5 times and possibly hitting the invisible trap that juts out halfway through?

Agreed! I won LS104 without any trouble at Phantom. LS103 was a completely different story, completely different

Tell me how... I'd love to know how you did that last section where the AI FEISARs are twice as fast as your own ICARAS, while still staying in first place. I need help with that one, and seeing as I can rape LS103 in one lap (using the fire & brimstone shortcut over the void into the first pentagon tunnel), I should be more than qualified to beat LS104.

The key is to use this to your advatage, and try to get in front of them where they bump you in the rear and give you a huge boost (while slowing them down).

Which is how I made my fast time, entirely by accident: I was chugging up the hill and suddenly PEOW! I was in the air above the tunnel before I knew what happened.

[lunar]

B. Laz: I can`t remember much about winning LS104. I know I used AGS because I didn`t think there would be much opportunity to get Icaras up to full speed, so might as well have better handling. I don`t know any tricks or shortcuts for that track. I think the main thing is not to lose speed on the hill, which may mean more boost and pit stops than usual. Maybe I got lucky in not being shot at much. LS103 just seems harder, but I didn`t know about the shortcut b4.

On Stanza, I`ve always suspected the left split might be the "way of the wuss" and the right one slightly quicker if you take the time to learn it. As Amish says, there are some things to recommend it.

[AmishRobot]

I also love Stanza, though I have neglected her since I got SE. I`ve always gone left at the split into the urban canyon, but it sounds like some of you go right, into the bends. Can this really be quicker?

Gee, why would it be faster to go straight as opposed to going through two narrow S turns, hitting the ground 5 times and possibly hitting the invisible trap that juts out halfway through?

With a little practice, it's not too difficult to take that entire tunnel in an almost straight line, drifting a few feet from side to side as you approach each bend. If you're turning your ship in that tunnel, you're doing it wrong.

On top of that, the entry is easier to approach, there is no incline, it has numerous speed boosts as well as weapon pads, there is more room at the sides to compensate for mistakes, and it puts you at the perfect angle for entering the following tunnel. In my opinion, there is no choice.