Tips for drone parts mission?

[dgresevfan]

I think it's Europan drones? The really early game mission to get three parts from them.

I hardly ever see one of the damn things. Usually it's drones from one of the other factions. When I did see them they blew up and I tried going to that area and looking for them but the wreckage didn't seem to be there. Obviously exploring was complicated by squads of soldiers everywhere.

Any tips?

[Judaspriester]

That mission is real cancer, especially since it gates the faction quests for the first 2 factions, while the followup mission for the 3rd one is simply evac from Ashen Mesa.

First of all, an rifle with a silenced muzzle makes this quest (as well as many parts of the whole game) alot easier, since you don't aggro that much if you fire at someone.

Then, there are 2 spots, where I often noticed a drone battle early on:
Scorched Enclave: Cemetry start, directly turn to the right and go through the rubble. Once you come out at the other side there often spawns either some drones or a squad of zombies.
Ashen Mesa: city ruins start, run towards the pipelines. Often there is either a drone fight coming your way then or there will be a gun battle below the pipes, where you can grab some loot afterwards.

In general, best try to look around where a drone battle is ongoing, try to get near and if you get the chance, fire at the europan drones yourself. they take a few bullets, but with anything better than a surplus rifle you shouldn't have that much trouble killing a single one. Then if you notice one destroyed near you, try to keep a line of sight to the drone. I noticed it several times that I was going for a drone to loot, shortly lost the LoS and in those seconds, the game decided to despawn it.

[Panther]

Mech trench for europan can run down that ally on the left soon as spawn in, shoot the one's there, some more to the right after if you need, extract right next to you.
Nexus farm is good one for eurasian.

[dgresevfan]

How much damage do these things take to kill? I got several hits from the VSS on one of them without it blowing up.

I had no idea these were even in the trenches. I'll give that a try. The giant battlefield level is not good for hunting these. I mean the scorched enclave. Mind you, I was going left from the cemetary. I didn't know I COULD go another way since there's a mine field warning.

[Judaspriester]

Nexus is fine once you've got familiar with the game and got some equipment. But I wouldn't recommend going there just with surplus weapons and without knowing what to expect.

[Panther]

Originally posted by Judaspriester:

Nexus is fine once you've got familiar with the game and got some equipment. But I wouldn't recommend going there just with surplus weapons and without knowing what to expect.

Yea fair they pack a punch and tank a bit.

Originally posted by dgresevfan:

How much damage do these things take to kill? I got several hits from the VSS on one of them without it blowing up.

I had no idea these were even in the trenches. I'll give that a try. The giant battlefield level is not good for hunting these.

They do take a few, don't have a number, maybe 6 rsass 308 shots, 25-30 of the smg rounds. Something like that.
Think Trench is best look, Favourite solo map for when feeling a little jumpy. Very manageable run.

[dgresevfan]

The trenches definitely feel easier than other maps, although the weird behaviour of the enemy squads makes things a bit scary at times. You think they're going one way but then they randomly mill around/one of the guys turns around and wanders the other way/one of them stays behind.

[Panther]

Originally posted by dgresevfan:

The trenches definitely feel easier than other maps, although the weird behaviour of the enemy squads makes things a bit scary at times. You think they're going one way but then they randomly mill around/one of the guys turns around and wanders the other way/one of them stays behind.

So much this the patrol pathing is begging for some love.

[Bras]

Most easy to take them down by yourself. take a good gun with silencer and hunt for lonely drone.

[dgresevfan]

Got all 3 in one run on the trenches.

I found that for some odd reason even though I'm using the antitank rifle, the nearby soldiers would always lose interest and wander away again so I could go and pick up the parts and shoot another drone. I just wish the stupid things would stop despawning off screen.

[itsPanzerPanda]

tbh ashen mesa in my opinion is the fastest to do that quest. its 70% open space and drones usually spawn in the beginning. its very easy to just run in, kill 3, and get out