When enemy uses FTL target helm or engine?

[ftl_raptor]

I usually target the helm if they try to flee. I target the engine if I want to eliminate their chances at evasion.

[hborrgg]

If you are planning to take a ship then the helm tends to have a person in it more often (ie more crew damage).

[Antesignanus]

If they are trying to flee, I'll always target the helm. It's easier to take down. Furthermore, if the helm is non-operational, evade = 0%.

Edit: unless I can kill the ship or the crew faster. Destroy the ship with a hull/heavy weapon.

[Kenthen]

If I have the damage to hit the engines hard then I'll take those out. Powered, high level engines give a bonus to how fast the FTL charges IIRC so even as they begin to repair it, the FTL isn't going to charge as quickly as when it was at 100%. Meanwhile, while they repair, I can take out the helm just to double up or just keep hitting the engines.

[Unlucky Scarecrow]

The helm only needs to have one bar to be able to charge the FTL at full speed. Hitting the engines not only stops FTL charging (if completely destroyed), but if they are able to repair it then it will charge much slower until the rest of it gets repaired too.

Now, hitting the helm is a good option if you are only able to deal a couple points of damage on short notice. But if it's possible to completely disable the engines quickly, that is the better option.

Edit: Or pretty much what the post above me said.

[Warhawx]

I always go for engines now, as I have seen an enemy FTL away from me with a broken helm...

[Alistan]

I always go for engines now, as I have seen an enemy FTL away from me with a broken helm...

I've just had the same situation twice when I targeted engines. And second time I took a special notice that the engines were completely broken (red). Enemy fled from me anyway.

So I googled and found this thread. Am I missing something or does the game really cheats?

[Gorlom]

I always go for engines now, as I have seen an enemy FTL away from me with a broken helm...

I've just had the same situation twice when I targeted engines. And second time I took a special notice that the engines were completely broken (red). Enemy fled from me anyway.

So I googled and found this thread. Am I missing something or does the game really cheats?

It is quite possible that the engine is being repaired an the instant it goes from red to orange the ship jumps.
Note that repair progress doesn't reset when the system takes damage.

I think that the game does cheat some such as the FTL charging while the helm or engine subsystem is damaged (but I'm not sure about this one)
and being able to jump away while the pilot is engaged in combat.
I'm not sure if the helm needs to be online and/or manned, but the engines does need to be online according to Matthew.