Forums » Suggestions

Espionage Missions, Worth It?

Sep 26, 2004 Arolte link
Okay, I'm not talking about the CEO one (this one is fun =d), I'm talking about the stupid malfunctioning waste disposal bots. It is way too much trouble than it's worth, IMO. You've got like fifty Assault bots and guardians defending each target. You'll be lucky to get two kills before you need to repair again. And don't even think about leaving the sector to repair...

...Because for some reason your scanner disappears if you attempt to warp out of the sector during this mission. The mission computer has a nervous breakdown and yells something about waste contamination (what, in OPEN SPACE?!) despite the fact that it also says you have 30 MINUTES to complete the mission. Anyway, I think the story behind it seems silly. But maybe that's just me.
Sep 26, 2004 Magus link
The story would make sense if it was above a planet.

But it rarely ever is.
Sep 27, 2004 sarahanne link
While there is background radiation in space flying your ship through a comtaminated area would transfer the chemicals to your ship. So when you dock you'd run the risk of contaminating the entire station. If the little run away bot isn't caught then the haz-mat team has to be sent to set warning bouys and reroute space traffic. :)

I've started trying the espionage missions. The CEO is a nice little mission. The waste disposal bot is more of a surgical strike, you need to lure off the bots one by one. Avoid battle frenzy and is a test of pilot cunning as well as skill.

Ray is looking at options for replacing scanners.
Sep 27, 2004 Icarus link
So is this mission possible using missile based weapons, as thats what I normally carry... Would be a pain if you went there only to get disqualified for leaving the sector for a reload of ammunition. Also, what about splash damage? Do the bots fly close together? I have avoided these missions bcos of these concerns. Then again, maybe I shouldn't take these up as they don't really suit my flying style (i'm more likely to take out a whole shed-load of bots in an attack) ;-)

Having the scanner take up a small port is a bit of a pain, so having it go someplace else would be good. I'm wondering what Centurion pilots are supposed to do...

Sep 27, 2004 sarahanne link
The interface equires you to equip the scanner so you can trigger it. So the only other option at this point would be the lg port.

The missions are starting to specialize so one type of ship does have an advantage over another. Players will have more choices: you can specialize in one style of fighting and ship which may limit the missions you complete, or own an assortment of ships and try to match the ship to the task at hand. A player may decide to avoid certain missions becuase they don't match the pilot's flying style. Personally I'm not big on taking the mining missions and I don't feel obliged to take them, except to see what will happen.

I've gotten close to finishing the waste bot mission but never succeeded. There is splash damage, and the bots fly close together. If the runaway gets ANY damage the chemicals explode. That's why I'm advocating the draw the bot away from the pack technique.
Sep 27, 2004 Arolte link
Any word on why the scanner disappears from your ship if you attempt to leave the sector, despite the fact that thirty minutes hasn't expired?
Sep 27, 2004 Magus link
"That's why I'm advocating the draw the bot away from the pack technique."

I enjoyed my, "fly the adv. gat. hog right into the thick of it and shoot everyone it tells me to" trick. Sure I got out of it with only 25% of my health, but it was fun :D.
As a side note: Is it just me, or do bot explosions hurt a lot more.

My only problem with the scanner is that there are so few fighters that are functional. The cent becomes useless, the hornet is too big for these hit and run attacks, the vult works, but not very well. The only real option is the L-port on the hog.
Maybe have a special "widget port" on the centurion at least so it can be taken on these missions.
It'll come in handy for cargo scanners and other stuff the devs want to implement.
Sep 27, 2004 sarahanne link
Ray told me that the mission guidelines are supposed to mention "once you enter the sector if you leave the sector the mission will end" but I can't find it so I'll give him the bug report.