The 'Cartel' Mission

[Leon]

Normally I don't post discussions but this is well deserved. I'm woefully stuck on the Cartel mission after a 2nd retry from 'the start'. I tried restarting from a few saves, but the amount of failure points (i.e 3-4 hero squads that can't die, constantly attacked and on a timer), makes it very difficult and tedious.

I'm not quite sure who stress tested this mission in specific, but they did a very poor job. The mission's design is not that bad, but the amount of ♥♥♥♥♥♥ RNG ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ that happens is annoying and the weak forces you get are also annoying.

I'll re-try this again tomorrow, but I sincerely hope Devs take note and make some changes to this mission. It's really, really bad.

[Warnoise]

Before doing the duels, Do a couple of arena fights to get some pesos, buy your soldiers with best weapons (plasma shotgun, laser sniper and plasma machine gun) to win with less losses. But I do agree there is RNG there so I recommend you to save before each duel.

Next, after you get accepted into the cartel, move to the south eastern part of the map (right next to the shooting range). A guerilla squad is emprisoned in one of the warehouses there. Once you release the guerilla, use their C4 and plant them next to cartel units.
Once the part of the missions where cartel becomes hostile triggers, pause and set off the c4. It makes the mission way easier.

[LukanGamer]

Originally posted by Warnoise:

Before doing the duels, Do a couple of arena fights to get some pesos, buy your soldiers with best weapons (plasma shotgun, laser sniper and plasma machine gun) to win with less losses. But I do agree there is RNG there so I recommend you to save before each duel.

Next, after you get accepted into the cartel, move to the south eastern part of the map (right next to the shooting range). A guerilla squad is emprisoned in one of the warehouses there. Once you release the guerilla, use their C4 and plant them next to cartel units.
Once the part of the missions where cartel becomes hostile triggers, pause and set off the c4. It makes the mission way easier.

case someone comes here its top left to save the people

and if the gun rangers are gone that I think you need for the quest to save them (I think they leave to arrest mad mike if you go that route or I think the actiivated robots Also pull them) then when they go hunting you just have a unit there and you will be able to save them. (so long as again you have quest notification to save them).

[fireyphoenix1989]

Originally posted by Warnoise:

But I do agree there is RNG there so I recommend you to save before each duel.

Squad upgraded weapons, higher rate of fire ability. Reloaded 25 times, first damn duel. 14 times squad completely wiped out, rest of them at most 2 survive. Seriously, the RNG on this mission is absolutely broken even tried changing the squad behaviour before starting the duel. The squad just charge up barely firing then get slaughtered about 9/10 times. No wonder the founders are losing this war, they are morons.

[Homonim]

How the ♥♥♥♥ you can rescue the prisoners before aggroing the whole base? Sarge is like "just kill them, there is shooting range here, no one will know", yet every ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ time that squad aggroes everyone.

[major2267]

I've done this mission in the hardest difficulty and it took me 16h. The mission is poorly tested. I should not have been able to do it. I had to cheese everything. I hope they fix it in the futur.

[Warnoise]

Originally posted by Homonim:

How the ♥♥♥♥ you can rescue the prisoners before aggroing the whole base? Sarge is like "just kill them, there is shooting range here, no one will know", yet every ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ time that squad aggroes everyone.

Trigger that mission when the cartel in the shooting range start shooting

[Cesare]

If i recall, you can use pesos to get the mercs drunk and a message says their. Combat effectiveness is reduced ( dunno if this applies to cartel soldiers )

[Hans CakeStealer]

The biggest issue with this mission is the pathfinding going up the hill. It is atrocious. Not to mention the constant vehicle spam from the bottom, all while chasing a clock to the top. I'm beside myself if I want to keep playing at this point, because I been having fun.

[Stefan]

Hahaha, when you think it can't get any worse and harder, you've finally done it, then there's more and more and more...

You're not even halfway through the mission where you are :-) The hardest part is yet to come :-)

That was the first assignment that I felt was hard. But afterwards you're happy and you've really earned it.
Unfortunately, I lost a few cars.
But you're well compensated for that later on.

So roll up your sleeves and get on with it.

[Hans CakeStealer]

So I discovered that if I hack the spider in the arena, this will make the cartel and cyborg faction attack each other, allowing you to loot a control module for the 5,000 peso tank. You can then use it to drive safely up to the mayor at the top of the hill to get the key for the helicopter. HOWEVER, you somehow have to now get down the hill with your 2 squads and the hacker with all the BS that was standing guard. Meanwhile the uprising happens and the cartel has a humvee just chilling at the bottom volleying grenades 3 at a time decimating your newly spawned militia.

I updated my review to negative, I'm done this is the stupidest balance I've seen in a game in ages.

[LukanGamer]

Originally posted by Homonim:

How the ♥♥♥♥ you can rescue the prisoners before aggroing the whole base? Sarge is like "just kill them, there is shooting range here, no one will know", yet every ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ time that squad aggroes everyone.

Ya its basically bugged / oversite
If the people training are moved in any way, just have a squad wait near there and kill them when they discover you the traitor then you can get them.

[DarkRod]

impossible mission , limited units & munitions ... softlock

[KaidenOZ]

first duel is easy, get them drunk at the bar before starting the duel. second duel needs your guys fully kitted up. run the arena till you unlock everything, once you are part of the cartel, you can replace lost soldiers from your squads down at the prison, bottom left for like 300 pesos i think.

[Elias Auxilibus]

Yeah, that stupid cutscene RNG duel thing is ridiculous. I absolutely hate it. If I 1v1 that squad against an enemy squad while I can actually control them the outcome is always much better.

On top of all this, the mission has a bug at the end where, after finishing everything, if you evacuate one of your units before the rebel leader you fail the mission even though there's no listed win/loss condition mentioned about him leaving first.

There's also the deal where you have to get that one lady on the helicopter that's booby trapped. It mentions capturing the mayor, but you have to kill him instead. Minor gripe, this one, but still...


Don't get me wrong, though. I LOVE the idea of the whole mission, managing a unique currency and, so far, unique interactions and such. The dueling I think should take place in the arena where you can control your squad. It'd be WAY better IMO.

[GeneralGonzo]

This mission is the best example for bad game design: after so many flaws and lucia escaping with the helicopter you NEED TO (no choice) save that rebellion guy!
But.......in8 out of 10 save tries he got killed before your force gets to him (because they fought the way frre up the hill to the helicopter)!
Man, did aynone tested this piece of ♥♥♥♥ miision ???