Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Mission 2: Factory on the Sea


After the cakewalk of Mission 1, we finally get into a semi-difficult mission to tackle.  Our Helios squadron, while searching for the Dominus, has been diverted to check out a well protected factory of some sort on a set of islands.  The Scenario is best described by the graphics and dialog below:



As you can see, this mission has some interesting twists in dialog.  Admiral Durant is emerging as a bit of an A-hole, but heh, that’s why he’s the admiral, right?   Copperhead is getting a little more lippy questioning orders, and Vargas, with her flowing red locks, expresses her concerns about killing civilians but then knows how to take an order and quickly gets on with her duty. 

There are numerous targets in this mission:  ground cannons, missiles, fighters (again of the fragile variety), destroyers, and a triple redundant set of shield generators.  All of this takes place on a set of 4 islands that is actually a pretty impressive work of engineering.   Kudos to the Markovian rebel engineers and designers.
Overview of Factory Complex - Well done Markovians!

First objective is to take out one of the shield generators on one of the 3 small islands which will drop the electric shield temporarily on the main island.  I usually hit the one on the far left first.  It is a pretty easy task.  You have to take out a few ground cannons if you choose, and then take out the generator.  It doesn’t take too many shots. 

Now comes the important part for this mission.  If you want to earn the bonus of 400 credits, you need to knock out 3 of the structures before the shields are reactivated.  Basically just make a beeline for the main island and fire away as shown below.  With standard issue missiles and cannon fire, you can pretty easily take out 3 of the structures and sometimes 4 – I’ve never tried using the more expensive missiles but imagine you might be able to get more – Maybe Bisnovats can take them all out on the first pass?  Curious if anyone has tried that. 
Typical Angle for taking out 3 structures in first pass

3 structures down = 400 tasty credits!
After the shields reactivate, you need to repeat the process with the next 2 islands.  Island #2 has a couple destroyers protecting it and island #3 has some ground cannons and ground missiles but nothing too overwhelming.  Fighters also occasionally show up but all are just as lame as in mission 1 – one shot and their toast.   One strategy that I’ve found works on approaching the main island is to go to a very high altitude (3000 ft.).   The ground support doesn’t seem to react as well when you approach from a steep diving angle. 
A steep angle of attack from high altitude seems to be an effective strategy

You get an extra bonus of cannon ammo if you destroy every single target on all 4 islands.  I’ve done this a few times but have gotten tired of it – it’s just too time consuming and not worth it for the cannon ammo, in my opinion.

I haven’t talked about the badges, but there are badges to be earned on these  missions –one is a “cone head” badge if you fly thru all of the shield generator radio cones. 

So…. as soon as you knock out the last structure on the main island, the mission is over.  You’ve taken out the factory and can resume your search for the Dominus.  Vargas sounds a bit melancholy when she says “I guess we’ve done our job here”.  Could it be that she has a premonition of something bad coming on the horizon of Mission 3!!!! 

18 comments:

  1. the building right in front of you when you enter the map is actually destroyable with the shields are on. You can try that out. That's a bug in it. Another this is that in tutorial, Vargas stated that we are armed with air-to-air missiles, so this map is actually violating the "functions" of our missiles :)
    Great job, by the way :)
    -Haruhi-

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    1. Haruhi,

      I tried to find this bug but I couldn't seem to blow up any buildings while the shields are on - is there a trick to it?

      Lugg

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  2. Another bug is that the "shields are back on" message would pop up regardless of whether you've destroyed all the energy plants or not.

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  3. Agree - it seems that if you blow all buildings up but one, it won't let you finish the last one off after the second shields down - it skips and sticks you back over the main island to go after the third shield generator.

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  4. Do the buildings on the main island actually blow up, or do they simply disappear? I can't seem to destroy them, no matter waht I throw at them. Next time I think I will try knocking out the 3rd island (left to righ at opening), before going for the main island. Maybe try knock out all three support islands and see what that does.

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  5. Fly this mission with a defense class plane. The combined force of the missile towers, gun emplacements and bogeys will destroy Agility and Weapons class planes fairly quickly. Wipe out the air support first, then, the defense turrets on the main island and knockout the shield generators.

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    1. Ya. Do this mission with a defense class plane. I use the F-106 Arbiter. I think the Arbiter will help you stay longer. Take down the weapons first then take down the shield then kill the buildings.

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  6. Hey, could you do one for mission 3 with the annihilator

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  7. My best strategy is to take out all of the ground emplacements on the islands around the shield generators, even the battleships. Then, sprint and take down the first 3 buildings to get credits. Let your wingmen take out each shield generator. 2nd time around, take out all of the gun emplacements on the main island. Focus on the incoming fighter planes as they will cause the most damage with their missiles. After, take down as many buildings as possible but not the last one. Hit the third shield generator. This time, a whole bunch of ground emplacements will appear. Don't hit the building. Hit all of the guns. Once you've succeeded, take out the last building. You win and get 400 credits, some RAAMs,Banshee ammo and satisfaction.

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  8. i just found out that after u destroy the shield generators, and they turn into ruins, u can destroy the ruin versions of the shield generators for an extra 10 xp each :)

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  9. F-22 (f-106thresher) is better on ace combat 6

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  10. If you destroy a generator and then shoot its left overs, you'll get an extra 10ex adding up to 30ex.

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  11. Does anyone know a successful technique of dodging missiles ? Any specific timing of maneuvering or something ?

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  12. Found a bug... When you attack the Islands from right to left eliminating generators before the magnetic field of the central island should be, does not give you bonus and buildings are most vulnerable of delete. The artillery is easier to remove if candles at low altitudes already shot upwards and diagonally but not horizontal, a January rate is the option to delete a multiple Sin suffer major damage.
    Applying this modality would suggest is autodestrullan since they would lose ammo and would not win anything except if they destroy the generators that are not operating to give 10 xp each.

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  13. if you completely destroy the shield generator(s) ( this takes a few more missiles) you get a bonus of 10 xp for each one you destroy

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  14. My strategy is to go for the middle one first and sink the destroyers and take out the destroyers. Then I go try to wipe out the aircraft and ground defenes. Then I do the easy one and destroy the buildings. O,ya I forgot to tell you about a bug; once you destroy them the just come back

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  15. What is the best plane to use? I've only got a falcon , f-7 wraith, wartusk

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