Combat Crew - my personal guide.

[Mango]

Hi everyone,


Coming from the great „Mellee Captain Walkthrough“ and keep reading, that it´s outdated, i think it´s a good idea to give new players a slightly different approach, but honestly, 95% oft he guide is still true.

Aims:
Full Crew Combat Officer Gang which simply owns everything what comes accross.
Fast way to Endgameship
Since you have a Superhero-Gang, we use it for Bountyhunting/Exploring/Salvaging in Mid to Endgame. Also we do some spying. If you go for a 9000 Ship in Endgame, you can basically do whatever you want (maybe beside trading).

But we want the Xeno and their Slug-Cousins broadcasting for help when they know you are near.

So to be successfull on hard to impossible there is indeed a good part of numbercrunching and – unfortunatly – rerolling neccessary.

First, our setup will be not so far off the original Guide, but have a few differences.

We want to make our Captain a Superstar, taking out enemy squad singlehandly if ever needed. I did a lot of numercrunching here, and compared various builds. If anybody finds a better solution, i´d be thankfully but i believe this is more or less optimum.

Our Captain will be close to the Ninja Captain.
Aims: use the best Stealtharmor to it´s best, maximise defense, extremly high Ini, good crits.

So if we compare endgame stats (i used lvl 30 and 35), i still come back tot he original combo of Assasin/Spy/Swordman. Main Difference is, that we only take 2 level of Spy. I tried to get away without Spy at all and using the Assassin Skill Gliding Advance instead, but after getting killed twice at lvl 25+ by Instakill-Snipers, i decided the extra damage is not worth to take the risk. „Offense wins the game, defense wins the championship“ is true on permadeath ;)

So lets roll:
Captain Mango
A: Fort/Qui/Wis 30 – Res 18
B: 3 Blades, 2 Stealth, 10 Evasion
C: Contacts Salvage Broker first, then Ex-Bountyhunter, FDF Commander if possible, Fixer. Instead of FDF Diplomat is also a good 3rd Contact.
D: Assassin Class if possible, otherwhise Spy
E: Juror

Reasons:
A . not much to discuss i think, min/max at it´s best. Could argue about Str or Res 18, not so much difference imo. Str for HP, Res for Saves. I go Res.

B: we need 2 Stealth to get to 18 Stealth in the end for the Gux-Armor which ist he very best you can get. (18 Stealthdodge/ +2 Ini). We get 3 Stealth from 2 Level Spy and 13 from Assassin 18. Max Evasion is a nobrainer, rest to blades. For thos who argue that Blades working better than evasion against Xeno.. that´s true, but honestly, Xeno is NO danger. Only Danger comes from Snipers for this build.
C) Salvage Broker as first Contact is a pretty good idea. After the High Princess Spawns, you have 10% Discount on Shipbuy and Upgrade at the same place. Also Scavengers are nice ;)
Bountyhunter for Weapons and Missions and maybe most important, to recruit your 3rd. Combatslot early on. FDF for Mos, Fixer for building up easy Reputation for another Factin and Specialist Gear.

We use SteelSoong as a starter Faction: Best Combat Traits (Fleetfooded), nice Faction Ship and we are bountyhunters!

Now comes a lot of Rerolling. It´s up to you how often you reroll and for how high you aim. I tell you „perfect world“ Numbers, if you hit 80/90% - that´s fine and will be enough. But.. the sky ist he limit…

You reroll only for the Doctor, here you want a a real good one. Rest is not that important, while it´s nice to have a good Quartermaster (we will fire the Engineer soon – so not important at all).

Roll for 52 Wis/Qui and Fleetfooded, 130 HP , Device Freak or Armor/Defense Buff as 2nd

Like mentioned, this is perfect world. A 125 HP Doc with Ini 12-24 + 2 Ini will be fine as well.

For your Quartermaster you want non-combat Traits, high Charisma would be nice. HP/Morale never wrong.

If you rolled lucky (i usually need 30 mins, RNG is against me), save the game.

Then go to crew screen, teach 1 pilot sure landfall. Then land on Steel Song Prima.

Fire: 4 Gunners (all), Pistolman, Soldiers, Swordman (if he is really good – see below- keep him)

Hire: 2 Pilots, 1 Navigator, 1 Crewdog.

Skills:
Crewdogs: 1 with highest Charisma- Relaxing Leave, 3 x OPS-Skillsave
E-Techs: 1 Signature Jammer, 3 x Electro-Skillsave
Mechanic: Repair-Skillsave
Navigator: 3 Navi-Skillsave, 1 x Tact-Skillsave
Pilot: 3 x Pilot Skillsave, 3 x Fast Landing

Next: Officers:
Captain Hitmans Rush (or Dissapearing Retreat when starting as Spy)
Doc: Doctor-Save, 1 lvl Combat Doc (as soon as possible the 2nd Doc-Save)
Engineer: 1 lvl of Commander, learn Discerning Glance
QM: 1 lvl of Commander, learn Discerning Glance

Go to you Contact, take a mission ideally to the planet where your 2nd Contact lives (usually Red Levitation).
Fly over, if you want you can buy goods and sell them there, i usally dont bother.

Now we roll our Combat Crew Position 2+3 with both Recruiting Talents up, so shouldn´t be toooo harsh.

Position 2 is the crucial one, you will recruit from the spice hall a Wingcommando (or Swordman).

We want 150+ HP, Min Ini 14, Fleetfooded
High Str is a bonus (but will be anyway at 150 HP), as 1 2nd defenisve combat talent. (Min should be 130 HP, at least no –Armor)

If you got it, SAVE.
Take a mission, deliver them, come back after 3 Weeks and roll for our last Member: the good old Bountyhunter. We roll from the contact, if done a 2 Mission for him, we roll for lvl 3. Tob e honest, you can use the slot like you want, but lategame the BH/Exo/Xeno Combo is most usefull. You can use a Pistolwearer as well but i like s Snubber here.

Since she will wear a heavy plate in Position 3, we are ok with 120 HP+ and 14 Min Ini. Bonus Ini (Fleetfooded) and Combat Traits are a plus.

If you found her: SAVE the game! We are probably at turn 40-80 now.

Now we put our Team together:

Positon 1: Buffy, our Bufftank.
Levels : 5 Wingcommando then 5 Swordman, then 11 Bodyguard, Rest Swordman.

The Buff Knifework is extremely strong, also she acts as a pilot later for a Boardingshuttle.
The Boardingtalents are absolutely great for Shipcombat. But for now whe focus on Crewcombat:

Her Mainpurpose is to buff the Captain with Knifework, Protecting Pos 2-4 with Honorguard, Dishing out Damage. Knifework removes debuffs as well.

Skills (at lvl 14 you have 6 Skills and are completely combat ready):
WingCommando: Whirling Blade(1), KnifeWork(2) – Later : LaunchpadSpike, Trapped Compartments, Breacher´s Assault
Swordman: Devasting Charge(3), Slashing Retreat(6), Flash Fury (4, Mainattack), Strength of Steel(5). Later Balanced Blade (never activly used, it fires for Whirling Blade only).
Bodyguard: Honorguard (the only reason for Bodyguard), Inspiring Rally (just in case), Everwatch

Gear: Sword in Mainhand (ini 8), Heavy Armor, +2 Ini Gear, you can savely use Thraul Injector due to the high HP, but Melios Scale is probably saver. However, i never lost this Lady in Combat. She´s really though.

Stats at lvl 30:
Evasion 17, Sword 27 (Pistol 10, Pilot 2)


Position 2: Our Superhero-Captain Mango
Spy 1, Assassin to 5, Swordman to 5, Spy 2, Assassin to 15, then Swordman until you have Gux-Armor, here you level Assasin so you have 18 Stealth, Rest Swordman.

Our Superhero is a Combatmachine for itself, but the Buffs from outside makes him incredible.
Skills:
Assasin: Hitman Rush(1)
Spy: Dissapearing Act (2)
Swordman: Braveryline (3), Slashing Reatreat(4), FlashFury(5), RushCourage(6), Devasting Charge, Strength of Steel, SharpCounter and BalancedBlade (Again balanced blade only to boost SharpCounter).

Rest is up to you.

Gear: Stealtharmor after you hit 9 Stealth, Pistol (6 Ini), Kukri (6 Ini), Thraul Injector or Melios if you feel saver.

IF you see the second round, you come out oft he cabin with 40+ INI and highly buffed critchance- killing everything what´s still standing.

Stats at 30:
Stealth 18, Evasion 19, Sword 21

Basically these 2 slaughter everything and are a wall of (bladed) Steel.

Position 3: Penny Penalty
BH 5  Exo 5  Xeno 5  Exo 11  Xeno 11  BH 8 (or however you like)

Skills:
BH: Steadfast Aim, Unfaltering Ire, (Blood Game, Red Badge)
Exo: Steady Mobility, Aggressive Advance (in case you are pushed to pos 4), Plas-Charged Slugs
Xeno: Irid-Laced Resolve, Unfailing Stand, Puncture Points, Death Haunt

And, her Namegiver: Plasmaburner

A lot of room for other Talents here, since Fights are pretty straight forward:
(unfaltering Ire) Steadfast Aim, Steady Mobilty, either Puncture Points, Plas-Charged, Slugs or Plasmaburner.
Buffs as needed.

If you like you can take Hunter´s Challenge to heal up at the end oft he fight, but honestly, i used it ONCE in my last playthrough. Since you have selfheal on all 3 Positions + the Doctor, you can also heal while last enemy is active. So a waste of talent for me.

Gear: 12 Ini Snubber, Heavy Armor, Thraul Injector or Melios.

Basically you can use whoever you want, even a flower picking scientist. But this girl certainly speeds things up.

Stats at 30:
18 Rifle, 12 Evasion, 13 Intimidate, 12 Explore

Pos 4: Heather Heal
Doc 1, CM 8, MO 1, Doc 8, MO 2, Doc + CM 11, Rest Doctor.

Pure passive Buffer/Healer, will NEVER shoot at all. We use the first two Talents for Doctor-Saves, after that:
CM: Cleansing Purge (your Mainheal), Vaccination Watch (yeah it´s weak, but you have the time for it), Lifeline
MO: Tactical Edge (the only reason for MO over BH, but a good one)

After that you can take whatever you like, group heal, group morale , whatever. You won´t need them in combat, so i take talents which help outside combat. BioAgent from CM, Livesaver from Doctor and so on.

Gear:
Normal Armor, +Ini Gear like Thraul Injector (beware fo snipers!) or Melios Scale, a Sword (adds a bit parry for Xenos) or a Boomstick. She won´t attack anyway.

Stats at 30:
Doctor 26, Pistol 9, Command 8, Tactic 5

The Combat:
Captains moves first with Dissapearing Act, usually then rush courage, slashing retreat. Against Xeno use a Sharp Counter (to fire Balanced Blade for ½ WeaponINi), Flush Fury them to death.

Buffy uses Knifework first all the time, then whirling blade, then either buffing / protecting team or simply Flash Fury them to death… Both Frontliners can of course also use devasting charge to stun them (Xeno-Slugs mainly), but against humans it´s not helpful to stun dead people…

Penny Penalty is simply straight forward firing away:
Unfaltering Ire against Xeno or possible though frontliners, Steadfast Aim, Steady Mobilty, either Puncture Points, Plas-Charged, Slugs or Plasmaburner.
Buffs as needed.

Heather Heals well… buffs most oft he time ;)
Tactical Edge the 2 Frontliner, Vacc, Heal, if nothing to heal, remember Lifeline gives a Buff.

A dedicated Healer in this team looks sometimes a bit too much, but there WILL be the cases where you need her and you will need a strong Lifeline then when rolling really bad RNG.


For Shipcombat i won´t write too much, for me, the „old“ Mellee Captain Guide is still fine.
Get in your Zartar Fang, pimp it while you play delivering boy for the Prince. Then go for your endgameship fast.

Ships:

Sword BC is so boring overpowered and, even worse: ugly! To built it invincible, you need around 5/6 Millions and can then do whatever you want.

But, that is for everyone. Since you are a Steel Song Bountyhunter, try the Neutiquam Cruiser, which comes out oft he box in a good shape. With Hard Bargain and the 10% Princess Bonus you need 2,7 Mio, which seems expensive but this beauty has the Hyperion Launch Bay already built in, which is 3-4M (not sure atm) upgrade cost alone if you built it later.

And since you have a WingCommando in the team, you definatly want a Launchbay, no matter if you activly use it or not. A lot of nice Boardskills only fire, when Buffy is a Pilot of a Boarding Craft.

A possible Layout could be:

https://tswift.gitlab.io/stfx/#XQAAgAA3AAAAAAAAAAAEAETrbNHecVyPJaQwChsqY2AkeQgTmlQgCJTcLM3LsqG69xr0T+5G+mixXJJRSr4/rFMAA=


Story: You definatly want the Gux Armor, so when it comes to this StoryVignette about the Union, go for it.
There is one oft he mot dangerous fights inside, though.

Regardings Fights:
There is only ONE Danger for your Team, and this is an unlucky Sniper-Crit. So whenever you see these damn bastarrds, make ia priority to geht them out oft he game. Fast Fury is you friend here. You can usually kill one enemy before the sniper can fire, then push them to slot 2 so you are save.



But back to early game:

Hire a new mechanic, with nice bonus skills. Repair is not really needed, personally i find myself always short in shipops and well, you can never have enough command, right?

After you found your new Mechanic, fire your mechanic/commander. Promote Mechanic to Officer, he will be Mechanic, Engineer , WingTech. After he got a few level to cover the repair-saves, fire the other mechanic. Focus on Enginneer 8 first for hard bargain.

Now we have 4 Officers and 2 Non-Officers Fighting Crew Members.
As soon as you get your Zarter Feng promote Buffy to Officer.

From now on you do Missions or whatever to make fast money. If you do Missions, focus on Anti-Cadar-Missions and avoid all the other so you keep good relationship with the other factions. Make it easier to built you perfect ship later. Also you need to get Reputation in someone who sells Combat Armor and Specialist/Military Gear. Weapons you get from your Bountyhunter.

When you get a 7 Officer-Slot-Ship, you promote Penny Penalty.

For the last one: this will be our Diplomat/Merchant/Smuggler.

Personally i just hire 23 Crewmembers when doing Missions for the Prince/Zette/Val, so i have a good chance to get my beloved Smuggler Princess Edge. She is really worth to wait for, comeing with a perfect skillset. I give her Diplo 11, Merch 5, Smuggler 5 first. (LINK)

Besider her perfekt Skills she sometimes have special Infos about Story-Vignettes.

Since we were giving the Engineer Job a WingTech as 3rd we lack Scavenger-Job, but that doesnt matter. We need a lot of Explorer/Scavenger-Card-Talents anyway.

For Specialists i like to have (in a 36/42 Crew Ship)
2 Spies (Intel)
2 Scavenger (Slavage/Explore)
2 Scientist (i love these guys, much underrated) – Doctor-Save, Deathsave, Scavenger, Explorer, Xeno
2 Pirates
2 Commander (not really needed, but i don´t like to have single talents in shipcombat, so all shipcombat talents are at least x3)
Rest i fill up with Mos

If you like you will have room for another Specialist, another QM or ENG is not that bad, but not really needed.

thank you for reading, feedback most welcome.

[Sidewalker_42]

Special builds there. Sorry, what do you mean by "re-roll"? How do you re-do the stats for your starting officers or crew?

[davea]

He means save the game, try to hire, if you don't get a good hire, reload the game.