Barracuda vs. Dreadnaught

[atterdag]

This is my second play-through of the game. In the first I ended up with a Blackgate, man that’s a Big Bad Mother!!! Just move in and blast everything that takes your fancy!
This time I took Donald Sutherlands character in the film Kelly’s Heroes to heart; when talking about his supped-up Sherman tank, that ”…he liked to be able to get out’a trouble faster then he got into it…”!
That sounds like the Barracuda to me.
Lot’s of lucrative blockade busting and drop missions together with Face farming; with a lot of running away, brought it up to Mk.VI. Able to fight it out with the best of them! Yahh right…!
Came to the final system looking for the Final Segment to the Reliquary, stopped off at a station to take on ordnance, and when leaving a Viriax task force dropped by for a call. Well me and my faithful wingman went to work, and soon had them all reduced to floating gears and junk…except for a Big Big Viriax Dreadnaught; probably called the Hubris.
Having by now eaten frigates’, Raiders and Destroyers for breakfast I started to take it on. After 15-20 minutes of both circling close and firing and sniping from a distance; with my wingman complaining that his …”Kharkova wants meat…!” I gave up.
Now there is station near, and I have the cash!
Any suggestion on a load out to take it on? Up to now I have been running with a Broadside of Photon Cannon, EMP as secondary and turrents Mining Lasers, all MkIV.

[Zidders 'Rockin' Bard' Roofurry]

MKV or MKVI stuff for that beast. The Virlax dreadnaught's are probably the toughest ships you'll face. Btw-love the Kelly's Heroe's reference.

[Geek]

Indeed. If you want to complete the story in a small ship, make sure it has high end weapons.

[atterdag]

Originally posted by Geek - Gemini Warlord:

Indeed. If you want to complete the story in a small ship, make sure it has high end weapons.

The entire ship; weapons included, is Mk.6. Broadside: Proton Cannon, Secondary: EMP Flak, Turrets: 3 Mining Lasers, 1 Particle Laser, 1 Shieldbuster.
I tried circling and firing close in for a while; taking minimal damage; no go, not even a flicker in the BMF’s (Big Mother *!) damage indicator. Tried long distance sniping with the Protons, again nothing.
Went into station to restock and repair. Came out and a Pirate Lord dropped by. Chewed him up and spit him out, and the BMF is still sitting there!!!
To finish the game I seem to remember I will have to take out a similar ship at some point. Now there have been comments on other threads, about finishing with a small ship, so is it my weapon load out that wrong?

[Geek]

That ship has the highest shield regen in the game. Still I am surprised you did not damaged it with a MK6 shieldbuster (+ 3 mining MK6), unless you forget to fire it ?

[atterdag]

Originally posted by Geek - Gemini Warlord:

That shipip has the highest shield regen in the game. Still I am surprised you did not damaged it with a MK6 shieldbuster (+ 3 mining MK6), unless you forget to fire it ?

Kept my finger on the EMP, and recharging the Proton, with the turrets on auto while circling.
Anyway its moot, as when I came back out after second refit, it was gone on to other pastures.
As to the later meeting with a BMF, I seem to recall the Militia showing up with Capitol ships to help out.
A glitch maybe? According to other guides, a full up small ship, with time should have made some dent in that BMF!

[Geek]

the later version is slighty weaker though.

[WillieSea]

You will not damage it until you can get past the shields. More shield busters, or weapons that bypass shields will help. I had the same trouble with smaller ships that just don't have the broadsides that can bash through shields.

[atterdag]

Originally posted by WillieSea:

You will not damage it until you can get past the shields. More shield busters, or weapons that bypass shields will help. I had the same trouble with smaller ships that just don't have the broadsides that can bash through shields.

Curiously enough, when I was finishing the game and heading to say adieu to Auntie, I ran across the BMF again. I didn’t have a design flaw or The Force to help, so I decided to … cheat!
I snuggled up to its side, and let it carry me along, while firing constantly with EMP flak, and all guns, after a couple of minutes it blew.
Reward: A can of contraband!
Moral: A Corvette vs. a Dreadnaught is pushing the line of credibility a bit.
But hey, its fun.

[Geek]

That was probably an ordinary Dread, as the super one can not spawn outside the plot.

[Cookie]

EMP flak doesn't deal damage to capital ships.

[atterdag]

Originally posted by Cookie:

EMP flak doesn't deal damage to capital ships.

Appreciate the tip.
Thanks!

[Ashleymatrix]

I killed it by getting "stuck" in its front forks and laying waste from there with mk 6 tachyon cannons and mining lazers. took about 30 minutes though. i believe i was ina sturville though i might be wrong

[atterdag]

Originally posted by Ashleymatrix:

I killed it by getting "stuck" in its front forks and laying waste from there with mk 6 tachyon cannons and mining lazers. took about 30 minutes though. i believe i was ina sturville though i might be wrong

Another aspect of this game is that it sure does reward persistance!

[Tommy]

The firsttime i played, I ended with the Barracuda and the 'nuzzle' tactic: Ramming deflectors and lasers
just get up in it's face (or with that 'naught, between the spines), waste the deflector on the damage, then unloadwith everything you have. The barracuda can disengage if you need to, and the high shieldsof the Mk6 allowed me to take minin=mal hull damage

[atterdag]

Originally posted by SPLASH-BRO:

The firsttime i played, I ended with the Barracuda and the 'nuzzle' tactic: Ramming deflectors and lasers
just get up in it's face (or with that 'naught, between the spines), waste the deflector on the damage, then unloadwith everything you have. The barracuda can disengage if you need to, and the high shieldsof the Mk6 allowed me to take minin=mal hull damage

So you were able to jam yourself in there? I tried that without success, kept getting pushed aside. Able to shoot right down the BTM’s throat; without being in the range of its broadside must have been optimal.
Add the Deflector Absorber to keep your shields charged from the swarm of missiles coming at you, and you should as snug as a bug in a rug!