This is embarrassing!

[Windwalker]

OK, I'm getting my ♥♥♥ kicked literally on the first mission after the three years pass from the intro. I'm trying to hold back to wait for the enemy mechs, but the LRM launchers are chewing me up and I can't target them. I guess I need to swing around to the left of the map and charge up and destroy the launchers right away? Man, I suck at this! LOL

[Wantoomany]

Swing around and target the generator, that will destroy ALL the launchers.

[popsicle]

I too question whether this game is too hard from the start. I was hoping it can pace better from easy to normal to hard like those Front Mission games.

[Wantoomany]

The problem is the game changes the rules on you with the 3 year mission without telling you. The tutorial missions set you up for close range brawling. The Blackjack takes a clear backseat to the Enforcer and Kintaro as brawlers.

The 3 year mission sets you up with a sniper lance. You cant brawl like the previous mission. You have 3 mechs all decked out for long range fire and a speedy mech to act as spotter. You need to play that mission completely differently then the tutorial, because you only have one decent tank mech, the shadowhawk, and if you get too close you lose more then half your firepower.

[desrtfox071]

Originally posted by Wantoomany:

The problem is the game changes the rules on you with the 3 year mission without telling you. The tutorial missions set you up for close range brawling. The Blackjack takes a clear backseat to the Enforcer and Kintaro as brawlers.

The 3 year mission sets you up with a sniper lance. You cant brawl like the previous mission. You have 3 mechs all decked out for long range fire and a speedy mech to act as spotter. You need to play that mission completely differently then the tutorial, because you only have one decent tank mech, the shadowhawk, and if you get too close you lose more then half your firepower.

In addition to this, though I don't remember the specifics of your starting lance, you may have access to the sensor lock ability on one of your pilots, and this will allow you to engage turrets with LRMS without line of sight.

[Wantoomany]

Originally posted by desrtfox071:

In addition to this, though I don't remember the specifics of your starting lance, you may have access to the sensor lock ability on one of your pilots, and this will allow you to engage turrets with LRMS without line of sight.

Naw, your starting lance only has 2 LRM5s. One on the vindi one on the shadowhawk. Just enough damage to tickle the enemy. Your lances main damage is direct fire. PPC on the vindi, 2 AC2s on the blackjack, and AC5 on the shadowhawk.

The only close in damage you have is 5 medium lasers, 4 on the blackjack 1 on the shad, a SRM2 on the shad, and a small laser on the vindi.

[Windwalker]

So do I charge straight to the generator and take it out, and then focus on the two mechs?

[Gorok Delvedeep]

also, even in that early mission, before the campaign proper, you are being introduced to HBS's idea of 'difficulty'. putting you up against thousands upon thousands more bv than you ever have.

[Wantoomany]

For me, I take my 3 bigger mechs right up the road. I use the spider to flank around the hills to get eyes on the generator. Keep in mind your entire lance is jump capable. So as soon as the enemy mechs block my path. I jump forward with the Vindi or Blackjack to get a direct line on the generator to blast it. If my attack whiffs or misses, I just try again with another mech. If all goes well i've taken it out without using my Shadowhawk or Spider.

At that point I use the Shad to blast the Commando, it's the bigger threat. While I try to deal with their spider from the rear with my spider. Either way by next turn it should be 4v2 so mopping up should not be an issue with a little focus fire. The enemy has very little room to move so they should not be able to build up a lot of evasion so it should be like shooting fish in a barrel.

Ideally you want to finish off both light mechs before the enemy Shadowhawk lumbers up the hill. Ignore the tanks, focus fire on the Shad for an easy 3v1 beating. Feel free to use your Spider to back shoot the Shad or go tank stomping. Once the Shad is down the rest is easy clean up.

The main challenge is to get the generator out before the enemy can rain missiles on you. If you can take it out before the enemy gets a single shot off, the rest of the opposition isnt all that dangerous.

[Luke]

Originally posted by Goatleaker:

I guess I need to swing around to the left of the map and charge up and destroy the launchers right away?

if I'm remembering the layout, you swing around to the right to get the generator.

should be able to take it out in one turn before anything fires, but doing so requires a really good understanding of how the game starts combat after enemy detection, and what your weapon ranges and LOS and max damage are.

Originally posted by Wantoomany:

The 3 year mission sets you up with a sniper lance. You cant brawl like the previous mission. You have 3 mechs all decked out for long range fire and a speedy mech to act as spotter. You need to play that mission completely differently then the tutorial, because you only have one decent tank mech, the shadowhawk, and if you get too close you lose more then half your firepower.

this is completely correct.

Using the spotter correctly and using the snipers as snipers is the right way to do it, and it will carry you through most of the early game missions once you get the feef for it.

you actually *can* get in there and smash it up in melee, but you need to have pre-weakened enemies and you need to be sure that you'll cripple them in a single turn of brawling. That means picking your target facings and having them softened up already. Its sort of advanced class for the third time you start the campaign and play through that mission.

[Boltergeist]

The Mission is basically there to teach you about turret generators (still salty theyre not a proper map object for more missions outside fixed story)

One of the better methods is to go past the flank towards the generators with the spider, and lrm the generators, then concentrate fire on the mechs

[JC]

What i do is go to the middle base.. It is sorta like going to the side, verse each end of the map. take down those 2 mechs, and use cover to stop LRM's from getting you. Use the shadow hawk to soak some damage and target turets in a single turn, take out everything at the top area then come across to the lower base. You can use higher ground to your advantage. the last base just charge,

[MortVent]

I usually move the heavier ones up first, keep the spider behind them till I trigger the alerts. Then run/jump the spider in to light up the turret generator and then hop the BJ or Vindi up to finish it off (100 pts of damage to eliminate them). Then focus on the light op4 mechs, pulling back to let the support turrets take shots at the reinforcements.

Especially with recent revisions the foes are not so bad with the weakened armor and lower skills (actually makes it easier when you actually tally the BV properly to account for battle damage and pilot skills .. and remember it's based on human vs human interaction not AI that can't really match humans and is designed to let you win)

[Alpharius]

Wait 'till you get further, 3rd Restoration mission I think. Don't want to spoil anything, it gets harder lol

[kensw]

Personally I keep the spider well back at first (it is too fragile) and swing the other 3 as far right as I can get ( stays out of lrm tower range) move toward the generator have 1 mech close until it can take out the gen while the other 2 engage the mechs. Then I fall everyone back to the employers base - send the spider jumping close enough to the main enemy base just close enough to trigger the enemy then fall back - the enemy will come to you (take a little patience) and the employers towers will engage them to assist you

[wesnef]

Originally posted by Warsmith:

Wait 'till you get further, 3rd Restoration mission I think. Don't want to spoil anything, it gets harder lol

But by then, you can have modified mechs & trained pilots. In Three Years Later, you're still stuck with stock mech designs.
edit: along with having more experience with the game in general.

That said, even with those stock designs, once you know how the mission goes it's possible to get through it with no meaningful damage. Obviously, there's a luck factor in there (random head hits, or having several tank shots hit the same location), but it's very possible.