What am I doing wrong?

[licker]

So first things first, cool game, missed it back when it came out, but finally got around to checking it out due to the freeness...

I've done the tutorial a couple of times, and gone through the guide and manual, I get the movement/attack system, no problem.

However, when I try the savanah campaign I just keep on getting my ass kicked...

I make 3 jocks, spend a few points in stats, but nothing extreme, then up their primary weapon to the max (usually between 55-60) up recon/light to the max (usually around 55), and max leadership/business/DC (as appropriate). Left overs get stuck in scouting/CC/scanners, which usually means I have those in the 30s or 40s...

Ok, so off to by some recon titans, match them to the skill set (usually one CC, one E, and one C) and I'm ready to go, right?

Well seems that way, the three opponents pretty much move at me, while I set up in some forest on a lake (so they have to cross the lake to come at me). I target, scan, and use opportunity fire until they get closeish, then I try to get my HtH mech to charge them, but they always seem to be able to avoid/charge me first.

Its probably just that I've yet to really get the tactics down, but I'm wondering if I'm missing anything obvious...

Biggest pain for me seems to be having to switch targets, and the time it takes. Scanning takes 30s (more or less) which by the time they are close isn't going to happen, and I can't seem to get good scans on them while they are approaching.

So if anyone has some basic tips, or even a mini-walkthrough I'd appreciate hearing them.

Really tips on getting in the first charge, and on how to manage tracking/scanning, since that seems to be where I waste too much time.

Thanks

[sabre1]

Licker,
 
I have the same problems you have.  Scanning takes forever, or at least it seems that way...
 
I have found that if you lock onto a square that you anticipate the enemy mechs to be in your hit percentage goes way up, but hey what do I know, I'm new to this game...
 
Hopefully some experts will chime in here shortly.

[licker]

Another quick question...

When you are making new jocks what does it mean when a number is blue/green/violet?

Thanks

[SireChaos]

One piece of advice I remember (I have not played for a while) is to make the cannon-bearing titan that model with the Gauss Rifle and Machine Gun - I think that´s the Unicorn. The Gauss Rifle has a +10% (IIRC) to-hit bonus, and the Unicorn has a very good targeting computer as well, so even newbies have a pretty good chance of hitting something at a useful distance. However, if you ever make that titan run while the Gauss Rifle is recharging, its sensors will switch off due to lack of energy.
 
I also usually create a starting squad of four jocks and titans. Four jocks mean you have $400,000 left for titans, and with one jock with a good finance skill, there should be quite a few recon titans below $100,000. I usually buy the Gauss-and-MG one I mentioned above, the model with the six SRM racks (is that the Porcupine?), the model with the two medium lasers, and the model with... I think it is chain saws and no ranged weapons. With the starting jocks´ mediocre ranged accuracy, it is usually not good to go for long-range weapons with effective minimum ranges (except for the Gauss Rifle).

[licker]

Thanks for the input.

I finally won that mission, using a Unicorn, Prowler, and Dragonfly.

I kinda messed up though and let the Unicorn get in too close, and it got whaloped (cost over 80k in repairs...), but I was able to get myself in a better position so that my Prowler could get in some charges and use the power axes.  The Dragonfly also wound up in HtH, but faired well anyway.

Of course I think I lost cash overall after repairs, but if I hadn't screwed up letting the Unicorn get knocked around so much it probably would have gone quicker since I lost the Gauss cannon early on :p

[Thorgrim]

ORIGINAL: licker

Biggest pain for me seems to be having to switch targets, and the time it takes. Scanning takes 30s (more or less) which by the time they are close isn't going to happen, and I can't seem to get good scans on them while they are approaching.

So far you seem to be doing fine.
Scanning and switching targets is really slow initially. They'll decrease once you get get better skills (EW, Scanner) and electronics (Battle Computer, Scanner). Choose your targets carefully, make sure LoS will not get broken while they advance. Don't worry too much about scanning, if you get lucky, you get lucky; if not, concentrate on get them down on the ground

Really tips on getting in the first charge, and on how to manage tracking/scanning, since that seems to be where I waste too much time.

You can try to avoid charges by jumping up. Or you can counter-charge, by charging a charging titan - damage is split in that case. Just make sure you have decent skills, especially CC. You'll want to be able to stand up as fast as possible too, so a good piloting skill for the class being piloted is a good thing.

When you are making new jocks what does it mean when a number is blue/green/violet?

From memory, the blue (I think) are skills that have had a bonus due to Leader's skill. Green are normal? Can't recall violet, maxed stats?
Notice that when you create a jock, you can change your mind at will, and decrease stats and skills all you want. BUT only until you hire him/her/it. Once you do, you can't change them anymore.

[licker]

Thanks Thorgrim, your answers either confirm the tactics which I have tried to adopt or make perfect sense for what I'm seeing.

I'm not sure what kind of progression is expected though.  I was going through the Savannah campaign, but on mission 5 (where you get the help) I got completely chewed up anyway.  Live and learn...

I'm making a new squad and I think I'll just tackle the novice campaigns until I actually have skills (and more jocks) to perform a bit better.

I'm a little bothered by the save game feture, but I suppose its one of those things you get used to.  I'm not opposed to 'iron man' type save schemes, though during the learning phase of a game like this it can be a bit frustrating.  I read somewhere that you can just move your titans to the edge of the map to escape the mission, but what is the penalty for doing so?

[LarkinVB]

I'm a little bothered by the save game feture, but I suppose its one of those things you get used to.  I'm not opposed to 'iron man' type save schemes, though during the learning phase of a game like this it can be a bit frustrating.  I read somewhere that you can just move your titans to the edge of the map to escape the mission, but what is the penalty for doing so?

For learning the 'combat' strategies it is best to fight against inferior AI with balance handicap or try the easiest campaign first.

Leaving the battlefield will cost you your profit but will rescue your life and your titan.

[Thorgrim]

ORIGINAL: sabre1

I have found that if you lock onto a square that you anticipate the enemy mechs to be in your hit percentage goes way up, but hey what do I know, I'm new to this game...

Missed this earlier.
Locking the hex *does not* lock the titan as well. It is only used to set up smoke and steam screens and set woods on fire. That's why the % goes up, it's easier to shoot at a hex.

[Thorgrim]

ORIGINAL: licker
When you are making new jocks what does it mean when a number is blue/green/violet?

Checked the color coding, blue is for stats that were increased due to the leader's leadership skill (it's in the manual), green are unmodified stats, and violet are those stats that you have increased with available DPs.

[Thorgrim]

ORIGINAL: SireChaos
However, if you ever make that titan run while the Gauss Rifle is recharging, its sensors will switch off due to lack of energy.

The Gauss Cannon does not require power to recharge! It requires one PU be available when *fired* - if it's not available, it will not fire. The scanner has precedence over firing weapons, so it'll not shut down. What happens is that you cannot fire the GC while running (but you can while still or walking); or, you can shut down the scanner manually and then fire while running (and then switch back on).

[SireChaos]

ORIGINAL: Thorgrim

ORIGINAL: SireChaos
However, if you ever make that titan run while the Gauss Rifle is recharging, its sensors will switch off due to lack of energy.

The Gauss Cannon does not require power to recharge! It requires one PU be available when *fired* - if it's not available, it will not fire. The scanner has precedence over firing weapons, so it'll not shut down. What happens is that you cannot fire the GC while running (but you can while still or walking); or, you can shut down the scanner manually and then fire while running (and then switch back on).

The scanner has precedence over all other weapons, but the GC has precedence over the scanner. Maybe there has been some update that changed this since I bought the game (December 06), but in my copy that´s how it is.

[LarkinVB]

The scanner has precedence over all other weapons, but the GC has precedence over the scanner.

True. It has precedence as it will use one power while shooting, not recycling. If you shoot stationary (power is available) and immediatly start to use all power for moving the scanner will switch off. Take one second delay after shooting and you can run without problems.

[jureidinim]

Early squad fights will result in a lot of missed shots, missed charges, falling down... [:D]

Locking targets/switching targets will seem very long...

You will even have Jocks dying/injured

This is normal.

Don't worry... press on... when they get better skills and equipment (scanner equip and skill is a great improvement), the change will be almost like night and day. Lock times will drop dramatically; you will have jocks who can get a good
scan-lock on all enemies before he is committed to attack; some jocks will make charges look routine;
The jock who kept tripping over his own feet will be making some amazing pilot skill checks that will have you wondering if it's really the same jock who tripped in a puddle of water......

It's all part of the fun of the game - you really see your jocks "grow" in skill.

It's just a harsh baptism for your young rookies [:D]

Do some random map fights (not campaign) to get comfortable with the different orders and how they execute, and espescially how the timings work. That helps you make better decisions in fights in those campaigns.

For example. when you see a enemy titan in an adjacent hex in a RUNNING stance in your direction, you can now better judge if you should:
a) Stand and meet the charge, relying on your pilot skill to keep him standing - but maybe get to fire your weapons first hoping to trip him up
b) Jump to avoid, then jump down on him when he runs beneath you
c) Counter charge

All of the above choices will vary depending on your jock skills, weapon state, etc.

[licker]

Yeah, I'm doing better now...

But I'm doing the 1st campaign, and on the 4th mission (or 5th) where you have to clear out the sectors of the city I can never figure out where I'm supposed to go next.  I did the first part, the center, the two/three areas at the bottom, get the map coordinates, but can't find any damn paths anywhere.

Part of it is the map is impossible to see clearly with the mountains just looking like black nothing...

so any tips on where I need to go, I'm ready to just pull the plug on this mission since it just #$#@es me off.

[LarkinVB]

Please give more details. Campaign name and map number at least.

[licker]

I'll look it up sometime this weekend, can't recall off the top of my head.

1st rookie campaign, where you start by attacking the mining robots.

4th (?) mission where you have to clean out some 'neighborhoods'.  go around finding uplinks to open new paths, but I can't find any more new paths :p

The mission right before it also had you finding uplinks, but it was a 'patrol' this one is a 'sweep' or something like that.

[Thorgrim]

That's the Deep Core campaign, kind of a "tutorial" campaign. IIRC, entering some specific hexes would give you the coordinates to the passages? Can't recall if the 'T'arget Area display is of any use.