How on earth do you get a high rank in this game?

[Janthis]

I mean it's fun and all, but I finish a mission in 4 turns, defeating a force twice the size of my own and taking their base, and I get a C rank. What was I supposed to do?

Besides, I think it's a little ridiculous that the only thing the game cares about is how fast you finish a mission, not the number of enemies killed or casualties taken.

edit: Never mind, I looked around and apparently you're supposed to just buff scouts and run straight for the enemy base to capture it. That's a bit silly.

[DoomyDoom]

Originally posted by ionutz1280:

I finish a mission in 4 turns, defeating a force twice the size of my own and taking their base, and I get a C rank. What was I supposed to do?

Finish the mission in 2 turns, duh.

On a more serious note, the game has a NG+ mode where you will retain all levels and equipment and easily overpower opposition for easy A-ranks.

However, if you know what you're doing and make correct plans, you can absolutely achieve full wipe A ranks in every mission on a clean NG.

Originally posted by ionutz1280:

Besides, I think it's a little ridiculous that the only thing the game cares about is how fast you finish a mission, not the number of enemies killed or casualties taken.

If you want a slightly better reward system, look into Gallian Crossfire. It's a much harder mod, but rewards were revamped to have only 25% come from rank.

If you want to try playing with less ridiculously low turn counts, I've made additional changes to Crossfire, where battles can be played semi-lazily (still on hard++ difficulty and with a lot of baggage of their own, though) and last approximately 7-8 turns (min-maxing will bring you lower) with A-ranks moved to comfortable 10.

Both mods can be found in Steam guide section (Gallian Crossfire and Imperial Onslaught respectively).

[Janthis]

Thanks, I will give that a try. Although I'm not sure about it making the game harder, as it seems borderline impossible already. By the way, do you have any hints for mission 5 (the one where you have to capture a supply base in the forest)? I just can't get past the final boss tank. he just uses all his CPs to destroy the Edelweiss in one turn and it's automatic game over.

Edit: Never mind, I beat it by practically suicide rushing the flag with a couple of shock troopers and Alicia. Felt dirty and not like a real victory but whatever, I was sick of this level anyway.

[jeffers0329]

I know you've completed the mission already, but in case you didn't use this method, there was a path in the south that was blocked by a fallen tree. If you destroy it via grenade or other explosive, you can access the path behind it to get to the AT cannon on the hill and you can circle around to the rear of the base without having to take on the Lupus.

Alternatively, you can destroy the wooden boxes or stacks immediately to the right of the main entrance to the supply base and attack the camp also without having to contend with the tank

And of course, there's the brute force method of hammering the Lupus until you destroy it or drop it to below half HP (he automatically retreats as well as any remaining Imperial unit if that happens) :P

[DoomyDoom]

Originally posted by ionutz1280:

Although I'm not sure about it making the game harder, as it seems borderline impossible already.

It's just a matter of figuring the system out. Don't let it get to you, I did all sorts of stupid things on my first couple of runs (and I was already tryharding for every A-rank already back then).

Originally posted by ionutz1280:

By the way, do you have any hints for mission 5 (the one where you have to capture a supply base in the forest)? I just can't get past the final boss tank. he just uses all his CPs to destroy the Edelweiss in one turn and it's automatic game over.

Two for the future missions, I guess:
1) One cannot attack that which he cannot see. Yes, hiding tanks is a thing just as much as hiding infantry is.
2) Tanks have 2 HP bars for a reason. You rarely need to worry about the second one, but this is one of the cases where it can be used quite effectively.

[Lanzagranadas]

Originally posted by ionutz1280:

I mean it's fun and all, but I finish a mission in 4 turns, defeating a force twice the size of my own and taking their base, and I get a C rank. What was I supposed to do?

Besides, I think it's a little ridiculous that the only thing the game cares about is how fast you finish a mission, not the number of enemies killed or casualties taken.

edit: Never mind, I looked around and apparently you're supposed to just buff scouts and run straight for the enemy base to capture it. That's a bit silly.

Levelling your units, upgrading their gear and learning orders and potentials. Don't count on many A-ranks if you're on your first playthrough with low level units, sh¡tty weapons that miss a lot, etc. It's doable but you have to know the game beforehand.

You have NG+ to improve ranks on any missions you need, and NG+ allows you to replay story missions unlike NG.

[Janthis]

Levelling your units, upgrading their gear and learning orders and potentials. Don't count on many A-ranks if you're on your first playthrough with low level units, sh¡tty weapons that miss a lot, etc. It's doable but you have to know the game beforehand.

There's also the fact that a lot of missions feel like trial-and-error puzzles, utilizing cheap gimmicks and throwing unexpected stuff at you. Right now I've decided to play the story missions in a "sensible", tactical way even if it gets me a low rating, and save the skirmishes for experimenting.

[DoomyDoom]

Originally posted by ionutz1280:

There's also the fact that a lot of missions feel like trial-and-error puzzles, utilizing cheap gimmicks and throwing unexpected stuff at you. Right now I've decided to play the story missions in a "sensible", tactical way even if it gets me a low rating, and save the skirmishes for
experimenting.

Getting high ranks is, indeed, a puzzle. Not necessarily of the one-true-solution kind, but a puzzle nonetheless.

Ironically, there's no gimmick in skirmishes. Those (barring NG+ Hard and Expert ones) are carbon copies of campaign minus most unique parts that aren't level geometry. Aka it's always straight combat for the camp.

But yeah, in VC1 you're not supposed to achieve a perfect score on your first playthrough, savescumming or straight up going to a previous save and replaying a chapter after seeing what it has to offer nonwithstanding.

[Jungfaha]

Originally posted by ionutz1280:

There's also the fact that a lot of missions feel like trial-and-error puzzles, utilizing cheap gimmicks and throwing unexpected stuff at you. Right now I've decided to play the story missions in a "sensible", tactical way even if it gets me a low rating, and save the skirmishes for experimenting.

Skirmish is also good for leveling. :)

[Thorfinn From Naruto]

You pretty much have to use the wiki to get all A ranks

[Richard Ballsenshaft]

This game is very easy, except the dlc missions. I A ranked 6 out of 7 final missions on the first try without ever grinding (didn't play any of the skirmishes more than once on normal), I did reload a lot though. Just pick a scout or a trooper, depending on the situation, put a defence order on them and clear the mission with them alone. Later you'll get "caution" order which is like better defence. You'll also need "damage" order (you get it for leveling up lancers) it lets you destroy tanks with normal units. And finally "awaken potential" for late game to make you truly unstoppable. Orders are busted, scream at your subordinates until they get better and you'll win it. I cleared most of the missions where all you need to do is take over the base camp with Alicia alone.
Just remember to prioritize Aged Gentlemen over the Drill Sergeant.

[Janthis]

Yeah, I realized that the easiest way to win is just by abusing scouts and orders, but to me that seems a silly and counterintuitive way to play, not to mention less fun. Thanks for all the tips anyway, I finished the game but I don't think I'll be going back to it. :)

[Lanzagranadas]

Originally posted by ionutz1280:

Yeah, I realized that the easiest way to win is just by abusing scouts and orders, but to me that seems a silly and counterintuitive way to play, not to mention less fun.

It might be the easiest way but definitely not the only one. You can still A-rank without using orders or power-levelling if you have a good strategy, as I'm pretty sure some player on Youtube already did. In fact Expert Skirmishes have to be done without Orders because you don't have the Edelweiss.

[Jungfaha]

Tbh i have never used (at least i dont recall) or ever used the "Orders". But save loading x999 i have.