Ambush Convoy missions still unfair?

[Cyrix]

I haven't played for 4 or 5 years and am just getting back into the game to check out the DLC.

One of my main complaints with the base game was the totally unfair Ambush Convoy missions. I remember a general trend being that the convoy starts out pretty far away from you but pretty close to its escape zone, so you'd have to blitz straight for the target vehicles, ignore all of the escorts, and eat whatever damage they sent your way. Even then, it often seemed impossible to beat an Ambush Convoy mission on the first try before you knew the exact path that the convoy would take.

I just did an Ambush Convoy mission and it seemed about the same as before. This one was literally impossible, I had my light mechs sprinting or jumping every round and still couldn't even get LOS on the targets before they escaped. Is this mode still broken and best avoided?

[revenantsknight]

Ambush Convoy contracts are known to be substantially harder in the early game because the convoy is made up of lighter (and therefore relatively fast) vehicles, while your light and starting medium 'Mechs aren't yet powerful enough to get one-hit kills. I generally suggest avoiding these until you're taking 2 skull contracts - the vehicles will be tougher and have more weapons, but you should outscale them on both offense and defense, and they'll no longer be able to zip across the map. They are doable at the start if you're careful and know what you're doing, but in my current career the only time I had to withdraw was a 1.5 Lunar Ambush Convoy on my third system. I knew that was very risky going in, though.

In general, Ambush Convoy can still be a relatively difficult contract type for a while because the OpFor starts with two lances worth in close proximity. By the mid to late game, though, they lose their edge.

[Fenris]

I never really cared for those either lol

You can usually see the "denial zone" on the map (maybe always? I don't do a lot of them). On the few I did I just looped around until I could hit them at an angle where they'd have to drive past me. They don't seem to start moving until you get the "enemy on sensors" alert.

Keeping a high evasion helps to attack the convoy while making the opposition miss. Depending on how the battle unfolded, I'd sometimes get a few of the convoy before I even had to start worrying about the escorts. Other times I'd have one or two of my lance dedicated to destroying the convoy while the others took on the escort.

[Alwyn]

I agree with revenantsknight, I wouldn't do an ambush in the early game usually - my starting medium mechs aren't fast enough and my starting lights don't have enough firepower and armour (starting lights may also be too slow, if they're a Panther or an Urbie). I find them easier if I have a lance of 55-tonners.

As I see it, It's not 'unfair' or 'broken' to have mission types like ambush which require speed (or clever tactics). I bring fast mechs - 5/8 minimum, sprint towards the convoy until I'm in melee range and stomp the vehicles (other tactics are available - and may work better!).

[Cyrix]

Originally posted by Alwyn:

(starting lights may also be too slow, if they're a Panther or an Urbie).

LOL. My random starting mechs were 2 Vindicators, a Panther, an Urbie, and a Firestarter. I've got some Javelins now but their armor is so crap that I only use them for LRMs.

Thanks everyone!

[Alwyn]

You're welcome and yes, Javelins aren't great. The only mech on that list that I'd use for an ambush would the the Firestarter (with SLs and MGs); the only other light mech I'd take to an ambush would be a Jenner (4 MLs and extra armour.)

[jynx]

All your lights need to do is get there and STOMP vehicles. Keeping their evasion pips up, or correct facing is already a given for any light.

[revenantsknight]

Originally posted by Cyrix:

LOL. My random starting mechs were 2 Vindicators, a Panther, an Urbie, and a Firestarter. I've got some Javelins now but their armor is so crap that I only use them for LRMs.

Thanks everyone!

Oh, yeah, then definitely no Ambush Convoys for now - other than the Firestarter, those are all really slow 'Mechs.

Originally posted by Alwyn:

As I see it, It's not 'unfair' or 'broken' to have mission types like ambush which require speed (or clever tactics).

Yes, I do also appreciate the attempt to vary up objectives, even if the implementation is a little funny in the early game.

Originally posted by jynx:

All your lights need to do is get there and STOMP vehicles. Keeping their evasion pips up, or correct facing is already a given for any light.

While I generally agree, the OP said that they couldn't catch up to the convoy in the first place, and given their posted lance comp that sounds pretty plausible. There's also the issue that melee often requires getting a less than optimal number of evasion, since the target has to be in single move range anyway.

[jynx]

[/quote] While I generally agree, the OP said that they couldn't catch up to the convoy in the first place, and given their posted lance comp that sounds pretty plausible. There's also the issue that melee often requires getting a less than optimal number of evasion, since the target has to be in single move range anyway. [/quote]

It sounds like OP isn't employing the "magic" restart mission option, which can change the starting positions as well as opposition roster. Especially if they're hunting the only light mech worth capturing.
As for the rest, (glass cannon or not) lights have to commit at some point to remain valid. Jump jets ensure you get the best armor facing. The OP's too early in the game for waiting out initiative order and reserving with low skills.
Best OP advice: Do something different and get out of your comfort zone, you may surprise yourself.

[Nocturn]

I've never had such problem during my playthroughs.

The problem I had was one of the Ambush missions in Desert/Badlands biome, where the convoy is basically at the same starting position as you, but they're on the road far on your left. It was a stressful rush, 'cause you either have to use sprint to keep up with them (and losing attack chance as a result), or you'll get demolished by the escort.
Which is what happened when I approached another Ambush mission, this time in Tundra biome - the enemies dropped 2 Wolverines, Vindicator, and a SRM Carrier as a part of convoy. Only Shadowhawk managed to survive, I believe (it's been a while, so my memory is kind of fuzzy). Needless to say, I avoided these missions like crazy until getting some significant upgrade in firepower.
But ever since, I never had an issue with Ambush Convoy missions, unless I forgot to change 'Mech from previous missions like a complete dumbass.

Now what's truly unfair is when you're dropped to fight against multiple lances at the same time (Liberation Smithon anyone?).

And since I started talking on the difficulty, let me tell you - somehow the prologue is easier with "Enemy Force Strength" set to Normal rather than Easy. Somehow, I've had Raju's Centurion limping early on and Dekker died in the next mission when played on Easy. This didn't happened whenever I played on Normal (even the first time, when I had no clue how to properly play this game). Go figure.

Alright, rant over.

[Cyrix]

Oh my God I have a +60 melee damage Arm Mod on my Firestarter now. Max armor, 3 SL, 3 MG, and it just runs around one-shotting any light or medium Mech thar gets into melee range XD

Can't wait to put this mod on a Grasshopper...

[jynx]

Originally posted by Cyrix:

Oh my God I have a +60 melee damage Arm Mod on my Firestarter now. Max armor, 3 SL, 3 MG, and it just runs around one-shotting any light or medium Mech thar gets into melee range XD

Can't wait to put this mod on a Grasshopper...

It's the only Light worth keeping. 6mgs, max armor and jumpjets with whatever melee mods you can get wreck even heavies if used right. OP, if you have one of these, how are you having any trouble at all? Quickdraws do pretty well as heavy scouts too.

[Cyrix]

I didn't have the Arm Mod at the time that I made the post. Found it in a shop yesterday.

Funnily enough, I used to never use MGs at all, but when I loaded out this Firestarter I only had 3 small lasers so I used 3 MGs for the other slots. Now having tested it, I realize the MG's value in triggering ammunition explosions.

[jynx]

And CRITS, game changing glorious crits!! If you're really lucky, you can find advanced MG's with 0 weight. This will let you put that 3 tons into more ammo (legs), 2 ML's+ ammo. or an extra melee mod for the other arm, in case your charge makes you an amputee. This only works this way in this game. Firestarters in tabletop won't be this OP.
Modded Vulcan 2's come close, Assassins have that long range support weapon quirk. But no light mech says GTFO like a Firestarter. Looks like your original issue is resolved, have a blast!

[desrtfox071]

Just a general FYI regarding "fair":

Not all missions in Battletech can be completed by every lance loadout. Keep that in mind when accepting missions. Like, as a metaphor, don't take an RV to circuit race if you expect to beat all the Miatas. this has nothing to do with "fair".

[Cyrix]

Yes, I'm not an idiot, thanks. I'm not trying to catch a convoy with assault mechs or sending a melee brawler to attack LRM turrets. However, I would say an ambush mission is unfair if you can't even catch the convoy unless you bring only the very fastest light mechs and know the convoy's exact route ahead of time, especially when it's a 1.5 skull mission and the target vehicles are ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Sleipners which have so much armor that they don't even notice an attack from a light mech.