Getting back to the drop pod in time?

[Amata]

Just had my first run of the Fungus Bogs. Had to travel really far to get all the Boolo mushrooms needed for an objective. Someone hit the extraction button and we were hoofing it after the MULE to get back in time... but of course we had to fight our way back. The MULE got there with 10 seconds on the clock and my team wiped.

Have you ever been too far from the drop pod to possibly make it back in time? Other than running back partways before calling for extraction, got any suggestions?

[Dwarfurious]

The drop pod will try to land away from you, so running back may not always help. One tip would be to remember the way back, and run ahead of molly rather than follow. Dont need to fight enemies on the way back, you're faster than them.
If the pod spawns too far away for molly the door will open at 15 seconds without her

[Zeke & Sil]

I highly advise calling down a supply drop before turning around and letting the driller(s) burrow as close to it as they can get. Saves a lot of time and it's much easier to have the heavies hang at the back of the tunnel to ward off pursuers. Less chance of getting separated at the last minute too.

[Impatient]

Running AFTER molly is really the hardest way getting back to the DP. Molly is slow and regularily will walk up vertical sections and for short length even along overhanging ones. Then you cann't follow it quickly but have to make some effort to traverse the terrain.

The easiest way is to run in the cave as long as it leads somewhat into the direction of the DP and when it does not anymore use the driller. you scurely can drill 50m with 15 l of fuel.

If you don't have a driller then use the scanner. You can zoom out and in with the mouse wheel. You can determine where the DP is by the chamber it creates when dropping (dont confuse it with the chamber of the initial DP).

[Syncourt]

The pod will typically appear on the other end of the map. If you don't have a driller and the map seems like it might be too long of a climb to reach the pod in time, you can always climb a bit of the way up before you call the drop pod.

[Amata]

Thanks for the tips ^^

[TheBlasterMaster✞✞✞™]

Also while returning, it may make sense to let the driller take over and let him drill in the line of sight. This can really speed up the return rather following the mule all the way back as he is slow. You can also try getting to the middle of the map before pushing the return button on the mule. We do this sometimes but stay a bit of the higher side of the map as following the mule downhill can be easier than uphill.

[Nosteru]

I play solo. I did like 20+ mission so far and it happened me twice I almost missed the Pod. Because the game rolled me so deep caverns that when Molly walked back she like walk up on wall for 100 meters. Not even on my Scout can reach the pathway from deep. I had to fast look on map to figure out where to dig up. Man I was on real panic, I tend to dig deep and search and explore for 1-2 hours on every mission, then Fail on runback.

[MrPurple33]

In my First Week Playing, I missed the Pod 1/2 the time- now, I seldom do- You'll get the hang of it soon

some tips--
--1/2 the Mission is getting BACK - Widen Loose Dirt Passages, set up Ziplines, Engie Platforms, and Drill Small Tunnels, Ramps up sides, and Access Points ON THE WAY DOWN - makes the Run Back Faster and Smoother
--when you hit the button, and you already know the Immediate Leg, say in a Mining Mission, DONT Wait for Molly- Run ahead, she'll catch up and even pass you- you'll usually gat caught fighting a clutch of Bugs, or slip of a small rise, having to run it again- Then you'll see Molly and run along- If you reach the Pod ahead of Molly, just hold and fight any Bugs until she shows up and Unlocks the Doors- with some Good Teams, we've beaten Molly back by 2 Minutes or more
--If you know there's a Complicated Tunnel Branch, or a Big, Tall, Hard to traverse Cliff that's not that far back, wander back a bit, clear that obstacle, THEN hit "C" get Molly In position, and Hit the Button- big time saver
--this is one I see Greenbeards do a lot- they drop a Supply Pod, then hit the Button with Molly Right Next to It- Molly goes straight Vertical up the Hole- If you needed a guide, she's gone- If you see someone do this, quickly move a good way from the Supply Pod and hit "C" to move Molly away from being tempted to do this
--If you know you've been going down a Really Long, Crazy, Hard, Complicated Cave System, either yourself as Driller, or a Driller Teammate (If you have one) should get 35-50 Fuel and Just Dig a Path to the Drop Pod-- when this happens, even If the Driller had 4 Kills and died a bunch, he's still the Team MVP- remember to buy him Beer afterwards

[Varenvel The Festive Dinosaur]

There are some anomalies i seen here and there of drop pod landing really far and in maze

But it only once caused isue of us not making to extraction (who was frustrating as it was not really our foult , even in 6mins we would not make it due map generation)

but most of the time(95%) of time you have more time then you need , you usualy arive on 2-3mins mark , rarely on 4

If drop pod is isue make sure there is 1 driller , he can easily bypass lots coridor mazes and dig tunnel streight to drop pod

on many maps it saved us long walk and potential fail

[NeloDante]

Originally posted by Dwarfurious:

The drop pod will try to land away from you

Well, in this very patch I saw a drop pod land on top of a player even before it spawned, all of us pressed the button, the player noticed we left a chunk of gold in the wall next to us, walked there and got splattered but somehow he was still alive. It was an egg hunt just in case.

[Captiva]

Make sure you leave a path to get back. If you come to a ledge, dig a path down, or platform one or zip line (as opposed to just jumping). Just be mindful that you have to go back in a hurry and make it easy on yourself if you prepare. If you have a driller, just follow him.

[Amata]

Originally posted by MrPurple33:

In my First Week Playing, I missed the Pod 1/2 the time- now, I seldom do- You'll get the hang of it soon

some tips--
--1/2 the Mission is getting BACK - Widen Loose Dirt Passages, set up Ziplines, Engie Platforms, and Drill Small Tunnels, Ramps up sides, and Access Points ON THE WAY DOWN - makes the Run Back Faster and Smoother
--when you hit the button, and you already know the Immediate Leg, say in a Mining Mission, DONT Wait for Molly- Run ahead, she'll catch up and even pass you- you'll usually gat caught fighting a clutch of Bugs, or slip of a small rise, having to run it again- Then you'll see Molly and run along- If you reach the Pod ahead of Molly, just hold and fight any Bugs until she shows up and Unlocks the Doors- with some Good Teams, we've beaten Molly back by 2 Minutes or more
--If you know there's a Complicated Tunnel Branch, or a Big, Tall, Hard to traverse Cliff that's not that far back, wander back a bit, clear that obstacle, THEN hit "C" get Molly In position, and Hit the Button- big time saver
--this is one I see Greenbeards do a lot- they drop a Supply Pod, then hit the Button with Molly Right Next to It- Molly goes straight Vertical up the Hole- If you needed a guide, she's gone- If you see someone do this, quickly move a good way from the Supply Pod and hit "C" to move Molly away from being tempted to do this
--If you know you've been going down a Really Long, Crazy, Hard, Complicated Cave System, either yourself as Driller, or a Driller Teammate (If you have one) should get 35-50 Fuel and Just Dig a Path to the Drop Pod-- when this happens, even If the Driller had 4 Kills and died a bunch, he's still the Team MVP- remember to buy him Beer afterwards

All good tips. Thanks team! :) I'm really enjoying this change of pace from Vermintide 2 haha