How does item xp work

The Sabre launcher will automatically lock-on and acquire targets while equipped. The weapon can be used on opponents while they are either in vehicles or freely traversing the playing field.

Targets can be acquired rapidly, however only one target can be assessed at a time. The following conditions are required to begin locking onto your target.

1. The opponent must be within range of the targeting system. (There is a minimum firing distance)
2. Must be in-air. Or in simpler terms, not touching the ground. (This does not apply to ground vehicles)
3. At or near the area of your crosshairs. (Zooming helps)

Once these conditions have been met a box will appear around your target. This will also be indicated by a distinct beeping sound. Let's call this the "pre-firing" state. During this state the three conditions listed above must be maintained at all times. After a period of ~5 seconds in this state, the targeting box will become red. At this point you have reached the "firing-state". Left-clicking will now fire the sabre rocket.

During the pre-firing state your opponent will be aware that you are targeting him. This is accomplished by both a continuous beeping sound and a HUD message. If your opponent is not in a vehicle this will often prompt the player to land on the ground as soon as possible to disable your ability to track him. As a result, the best strategy is often to click rapidly in anticipation of the firing-state. Once the missile is fired, your opponent will again be notified of this action in their HUD by both a message and a visual indicator showing the missile's trajectory. At this point they can take two actions..

1. Move into a position where there is an obstacle between them and the current path of the missile.
2. Wait until the missile becomes within range and attempt to fire at it in an effort to disable it.

In consideration of the weapon's strengths and weaknesses, the Sabre launcher is best suited to be most effective against enemy vehicles and fast moving (and often high flying) enemy flag cappers.

Coming from Tribes 2 myself I have to agree with you that the physics in Tribes:Ascend do differ greatly with respect to disc jumping. In respect to old school vs. new school, T2 had much more of a 'lofty' (more air control) element to its physics in comparison to T:A (almost no air control). The key in this new iteration however is timing and of course practice.

One thing to note before explaining is that the variances between the projectile speeds of the variety of disc launchers in this game, does require that you're familiar with each specific weapon. For example, the Infiltrator's disc launcher has a slower projectile speed than the Soldier's disc launcher. All disc launchers now have the same projectile speed. In addition to this other non-disc weapons (with unique timing) can create a similar effect such as the Pathfinder's bolt launcher. This timing will be the key to achieving the maximum boosting effect from your weapon's Area of Effect (AOE).

The best way to practice this is to try honing your skills in the free roaming portions of training mode. The key to getting an effective boost is to time your shot so that you are at the minimum distance from the top of the hill (or any surface) to get the full effect of your weapon's AOE. By this premise you should be able to jump/jet a reasonable distance away from any surface and receive an appreciable boost.

For example: When skiing up and/or approaching a hill at adequate speed, upon reaching an angle in which gravity begins to diminish your speed, using your jetpack to maintain constant or increasing momentum is of course the common practice. However, when doing this, your distance from the ground may not change greatly or at all due to the angle of the hill (and gravity). Firing your weapon at the ground from a close distance will not be effective. The best strategy is to continue jetting up the hill, maintaining speed until you have risen from the ground a reasonable distance. At this point firing at the ground (within the effective AOE range) will cause the player to inherit a significant boost. Judging the firing distance is more an art than a science and getting it right can make a big difference. With discs I have found that it is most effective to aim straight below the player when firing. Angular or rear-facing shots seem extremely ineffective. Practice makes perfect! Watch your speedometer when holding down the ski button to judge the effectiveness of your attempts.