Query about Hardcore mode

[Challenge.Hunter]

Not that I am planning to give it a try. But I am curious about one thing.
I was rewatching some Hitman Freelancer-related videos, mainly this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzLgc-HYGuk , this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObP_CQqiqlo and also this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B695Ez1fCy0

And I got curious.

We all know that Hardcore mode is basically all about handicapping the player and being 'difficult for the sake of being difficult'. But I wonder if there are some ways to make it less miserable? Like for example, some Syndicates are easier than others, and how to increase chances of getting Prestige objectives that are not going to give You a headache.

This is a question for those who conquered this mode - Is it possible to make it even slightly easier.

Note: 'Git gut' does not count.

[n00bdragon]

Syndicates do not affect prestige objectives and prestige objectives are the only objectives that matter in Hardcore Mode. If you plan to play Hardcore Mode, the only thing you can do to influence how hard it will be is select a syndicate with maps that you prefer. For example, I would not select any syndicate with Colorado, Bangkok, or Marrakesh in it and I'd need several very good maps to get me to accept Santa Fortuna or Hokkaido.

Hardcore requires a fundamentally different thought process to it. Regular Freelancer is about accumulating money. Hardcore is only about completing the prestige objective and getting out alive. Syndicates don't matter.

[Material Defender]

In addition to what noobdragon said, I can give some tips for hardcore.

when switching between normal and hardcore, you will lose all your merces and freelancer tools, unless you have a mod to protect those. Wall items are always protected when switching.

When trespassing or in a hostile area and moving fast (even when crouched), your very footsteps are a distraction for nearby NPCs, so you can be spotted that way.

Each gun does make a sound even when silenced, and that range is vastly increased. the subsonic guns would have the same sound range as a regular silenced fun, so the krugermeier ones are the best pistols, despite the decrease in accuracy.

EDIT: one more thing you may not have noticed in normal alerted territories, but will be of immense help in Hardcore (since in hardcore, all territories are alerted), is that all targets in territory takedown and suspects in showdowns are automatic enforcers of all suits and guard disguises. civilian non-suit disguises (for the most part) are perfectly fine to use.

[Devang]

Originally posted by Material Defender:

when switching between normal and hardcore, you will lose all your merces and freelancer tools, unless you have a mod to protect those. Wall items are always protected when switching.

You do not lose Merces while switching modes, only the tools

This was a misconception I had as well, but it was because I had failed my first attempt. Panicked and got electrocuted by my own trap in Marrakesh

Failing in Hardcore, however, wipes out all your Merces, instead of the usual half. That is why I was under the impression that switching modes is what set me to 0 Merces, as it had been some time since I passed my one and only Hardcore campaign

[Material Defender]

Originally posted by Devang:

Originally posted by Material Defender:

when switching between normal and hardcore, you will lose all your merces and freelancer tools, unless you have a mod to protect those. Wall items are always protected when switching.

You do not lose Merces while switching modes, only the tools

This was a misconception I had as well, but it was because I had failed my first attempt. Panicked and got electrocuted by my own trap in Marrakesh

Failing in Hardcore, however, wipes out all your Merces, instead of the usual half. That is why I was under the impression that switching modes is what set me to 0 Merces, as it had been some time since I passed my one and only Hardcore campaign

You're right, i forgot that bit and confused it for switching.

[HoneyDrake]

Assuming you want to get one run and get it down for the achievement:

Always tripple check the locations before accepting a syndicate.
Colorado? It's often times failure.
Hokaido? There are spawns which are impossible, like actually impossible.

If possible: select syndicates which can potentially have the side missions of "poisoning" your target or interacting with them, without killing them. This means that if you have a prime target you can just use your dart gun on them, check if you get the objective and you know it's them.

Sincerly: start abusing explosives which you can place in places your targets visit.

Avoid prestige objectives like "silent assassin", some targets can be close to impossible to kill because of that, or you need to take out half the map without a single mistake.

Katana objective includes "Tanto", that small knife. Just use it as an throwable.

I love to pick up "use explosives to open up a safe". It's free, assuming the map has a safe. You can always unselect a map and select another one once you checked the prestige objectives are difficult.

[n00bdragon]

Originally posted by HoneyDrake:

Hokaido? There are spawns which are impossible, like actually impossible.

Which spawn in Hokkaido is impossible? The morgue spawn? 100% possible, though it can be very rough if you have Silent Assassin as your PO or especially on a showdown. It's not ideal. It's a reason to avoid the map, but it's not impossible by any means. Honestly, the river barge in Paris is worse.

[Devang]

Originally posted by n00bdragon:

Originally posted by HoneyDrake:

Hokaido? There are spawns which are impossible, like actually impossible.

Which spawn in Hokkaido is impossible? The morgue spawn? 100% possible, though it can be very rough if you have Silent Assassin as your PO or especially on a showdown. It's not ideal. It's a reason to avoid the map, but it's not impossible by any means. Honestly, the river barge in Paris is worse.

The river barge spawn is a free Elite Guard disguise right at the start

[n00bdragon]

Originally posted by Devang:

The river barge spawn is a free Elite Guard disguise right at the start

So is Hokkaido morgue spawn.

[globi (mind goblin)]

Syndicates dont really matter in Hardcore because you will focus on the prestige objective not the minor objectives. Prestige objectives are not determined by what syndicate you chose. You choose syndicates purely based on the destinations.

If you wanna make it chill definitely avoid hokkaido and colorado

[Gregor Clegane]

I find Berlin to be one of the most annoying.

Whittleton Creek
Columbia
Argentina

Are all easy....I even don't mind Colorado. You can run on the outskirts and just use the sniper.