How do most people play this?

[86TMH]

Do most people focus on priority missions first or do all the side missions in one area (im assuming there's only so many side missions per area). Also does the payout for missions change if you're a higher security level?

[Saedriss]

You are assuming wrong. Side-missions are randomly cycled through indefinitely, so while you can "do them all at least once", you can't run out.

The pay-out doesn't change based on your security level, the available secondary mission do. And later ones pay more.

[86TMH]

Originally posted by Saedriss:

You are assuming wrong. Side-missions are randomly cycled through indefinitely, so while you can "do them all at least once", you can't run out.

The pay-out doesn't change based on your security level, the available secondary mission do. And later ones pay more.

oh ok thanks for the info

[pancakemix]

I try focus on completing priority missions whenever available, so that as much of the game is open to me as possible, as soon as possible. I'll take side-missions too, when their objectives align with the priority missions and wouldn't add too much burden.

Otherwise, when there are no priority missions, I'll take side-missions that I can complete in efficient, quick succession, usually clustered in the same area as close as possible, so as to make the most out of the time between Tides and resources spent.

Also, don't waste one of your five mission slots with a mission who's objective item can be acquired even without accepting the mission. E.g. Broken Shard artifacts from Rifts, for the Metastasis missions. You can just remember what/where you need from the Radius, get it at your leisure/when the opportunity presents itself, and then accept and instantly complete the mission once you already have all three objective items back at base.

[rubjonny]

I was a little more relaxed on my playthrough, I didn't rush to complete the priority missions right away if wait 1 or 2 tides between and just enjoy the zone a bit. The added advantage is you can build more money to stock up on gear before going up a level (though I also did a minimal shop run at the same time so only bought armour, gas mask and ap ammo)

Good advise above though don't take the shard/artifact missions straight away do the rest and you'll often find some or all of what you need then in the final 12 or so hours before the tide grab the artifact/shard mission if need be so the ones you're missing are shown on the map. On that note, if you click a mission all the locations are shown on the main map so you can see how close they all are together so you can be sure to do groups of missions together for an efficient run as said above.

Also rather than sleeping overnight what I would do is when it starts to get dark walk back to base backtracking through the safe route I've cleared to dump all the stuff I've collected then run right back out, you often find by the time you get back to where you were it's getting light again. And if I do sleep overnight I'll sleep till like 5am rather than the default 7 am, it's still light enough and you end up with a bit more time in the zone

[Szoreny Klepko]

Originally posted by pancakemix:

Also, don't waste one of your five mission slots with a mission who's objective item can be acquired even without accepting the mission. E.g. Broken Shard artifacts from Rifts, for the Metastasis missions.

I didn't realize broken shards spawned outside of metastasis missions, seems like when I'm not on mission rifts spawn whole shards instead!

[pancakemix]

Originally posted by Szoreny Klepko:

I didn't realize broken shards spawned outside of metastasis missions, seems like when I'm not on mission rifts spawn whole shards instead!

Shards are what Rifts will normally drop when destroyed, but every Tide three Rifts will be selected to instead drop Broken Shards, and a Metastasis mission is generated to collect them. Which Rifts are chosen is preset at the beginning of the new Tide. Like rubjonny said, you can look at a mission without accepting it, see where the the objective artifact is, and collect it even without the mission. This is also true for the Radius Treasures missions and their Heavy Helix artifacts.

[Szoreny Klepko]

Originally posted by pancakemix:

Originally posted by Szoreny Klepko:

I didn't realize broken shards spawned outside of metastasis missions, seems like when I'm not on mission rifts spawn whole shards instead!

Shards are what Rifts will normally drop when destroyed, but every Tide three Rifts will be selected to instead drop Broken Shards, and a Metastasis mission is generated to collect them. Which Rifts are chosen is preset at the beginning of the new Tide. Like rubjonny said, you can look at a mission without accepting it, see where the the objective artifact is, and collect it even without the mission. This is also true for the Radius Treasures missions and their Heavy Helix artifacts.

Neato, never made that connection, thanks fellow explorers,

[86TMH]

Also do the forcefield things on the map (i dont know what to call them, the white ones the push you around and cause damage if you walk into them) spawn in different places depending on the tide? I dont know if im doing something wrong but, i'm trying to get up on an old concrete platform to get some anomaly stuff and these things are blocking every path for me.

[pancakemix]

Originally posted by 86themadhatter:

Also do the forcefield things on the map (i dont know what to call them, the white ones the push you around and cause damage if you walk into them) spawn in different places depending on the tide? I dont know if im doing something wrong but, i'm trying to get up on an old concrete platform to get some anomaly stuff and these things are blocking every path for me.

Those are Reflector anomalies. And yes, some anomaly positions will change between Tides, or even after just loading a save. There ought to always be a safe and clear path to get what you need to, but there are a few anomaly fields where that simply isn't the case, especially with bad luck. I don't know what field you're trying to get into exactly, so I can't be more specific about helping you.

[Zyenna]

I focus on the current mission and explore the map while doing that. If I see something interesting I go there and loot the place.

[86TMH]

Originally posted by pancakemix:

Originally posted by 86themadhatter:

Also do the forcefield things on the map (i dont know what to call them, the white ones the push you around and cause damage if you walk into them) spawn in different places depending on the tide? I dont know if im doing something wrong but, i'm trying to get up on an old concrete platform to get some anomaly stuff and these things are blocking every path for me.

Those are Reflector anomalies. And yes, some anomaly positions will change between Tides, or even after just loading a save. There ought to always be a safe and clear path to get what you need to, but there are a few anomaly fields where that simply isn't the case, especially with bad luck. I don't know what field you're trying to get into exactly, so I can't be more specific about helping you.

It's the mission ''a flash in the dark'' in Bolotsky. I even watched someone else do it on youtube and their steps were clear, mine is covered in thos reflector anomalies, no way through either side. I'll check later if the tide fixed it