Is MIA permenant?

[Jerid]

Expedition Hazard MIA. Is a worker who goes MIA permanently gone? Or do they eventually return, and if so how long aprox are they gone for?

Is there an unlockable mission (and where) for a "Search and rescue" type mission? (Like the one in the Netherworld to remove curses)

[Jaggid Edje]

I always make sure to setup the away team so that the MIA event is countered.

The one time I got an MIA due to a 'choice' event (rather than something that could be countered) the message it gave implied it was permanent. At that point I hit Alt-F4 and reloaded the game so I could make a different choice.

I haven't progressed to the point where I have all of the map POI's revealed, but I have close to a dozen where MIA is a possibility (across all the maps) and there is, as of yet, no way to 'retrieve' an MIA staff member. Counter them so they can't happen is my advice.

[GhostDragon716]

I asked the devs this and they said that the team member is gone completely so you will need to replace them.

[Lamon]

I bumped into a mission that has no counter. - I like this mechanic but having no counter for something this bad sucks.

[m4rcus]

Originally posted by Lamon:

I bumped into a mission that has no counter. - I like this mechanic but having no counter for something this bad sucks.

could it be that you just havent unlocked the counter yet?

[VastGirth]

Oh no! I didn't realise it was permenant. I thought they came back!

[LadyK]

Yea they don't come back. There are a few deterrents- make the green moss stuff in the workshop (sorry, I don't remember the name) that will get rid of some of them. Sometimes it will also ask to have a combined amount of skill level to combat it, and I think on the netherworld map you can make 'hellhole repellent' in the workshop as well. I've only come across one that did not have any way around it out of all the maps so you should be able to get around them, if not XP up your staff and try again. (hover over the MIA and see what it asks for to counteract it!)

[Xachariah]

Also keep an eye on seasonal events. At least some of MIA events that can't be countered will disappear in different seasons.

I am not that far yet into the game (2 stars on all museums), but so far I haven't encountered any MIA events that can't be countered - with the exception of one scripted event in an obstacle location.

[alkalinecube]

If you are unable to counter an MIA event for whatever reason (Bungle museum has one event that cannot be countered, but you can choose which employee to lose), go ahead and hire a team of Redshirts. Train them (or hire them) with any required skills for the mission, but their traits don't matter, because once the mission is over, they're all getting fired. This gives you time to build or train any counters you need to defeat future MIA events.

[Enzord Rockafeller]

I was clearing a POI and ran into a dilemma that kept one of my janitors. Send in the janitor or the scientist to unclog a drain. I sent the janitor. The janitor liked their work so much they decided to stay there.

[therealjohnconnor]

Yes, Enzord - this is scripted. For many of us, the only MIA we'll encounter in the entire game.

[scragg]

This worker is no more! He has ceased to be! He's expired and gone to meet his maker! He's a stiff! Bereft of life, he rests in peace! Pushing up the daisies! His metabolic processes are now history! He's off the twig! He's kicked the bucket, He's shuffled off his mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!

[Daret]

Pretty sure that MIA is just the game's PG way of saying they died

[Jaggid Edje]

Originally posted by Daret:

Pretty sure that MIA is just the game's PG way of saying they died

No; most of the MIA situations tell you exactly what happened and many are far from being "death". One event I had which led to MIA was because the dude decided to stay with the aliens on their planet.

They use the term "MIA" because it covers far more things than just death so it can be one descriptor for a larger variety of outcomes, but all which lead to what is, essentially, the same in gameplay terms.

[ToxicCalamari]

Originally posted by Lamon:

I bumped into a mission that has no counter. - I like this mechanic but having no counter for something this bad sucks.

Very likely the "no counter" was due to a seasonal issue at the POI.

ALL MIAs have a counter, either skill level, a specific skill, or just waiting until the hazard season ends (For example nightmare season in the later Netherworld POIs)

[Jaggid Edje]

Originally posted by ToxicCalamari:

ALL MIAs have a counter, either skill level, a specific skill, or just waiting until the hazard season ends (For example nightmare season in the later Netherworld POIs)

Not quite all of them. There is no counter when MIA occurs as a result of an event choice during an expedition. Unless, of course, you consider saving the game before picking your choice and reloading if you get an MIA a counter...