Old returned player here.. I forgot so many things, that I even had to create a new account.
Easy early question. I'm on July-August of 2601
- Earliest aerial weapon? Which is the best chain of research?, I find weird that I could got already several vessel but no weapons for them.. I feeling that I´m missing all the training targets of early months.
- After Barbarian-Warrior-Chain mail.. Next armour to aim? this month in many missions. I even couldn't leave the vessel with several foes aiming the door. with out being killed
Snipped the list a bit. I agree, it's weird to have craft with no weapons - if you get your Codex craft early, you literally have 1 craft weapon for them (which is either light or heavy, depending on which codex), and you might have access to 25 mm. I'm several more months in, just finishing March 2602, although this is my first campaign, so I had no idea what to focus on. Spent last month or so actively trying to improve the craft weapon situation, so where I am now, I can make up to 50 mm cannon for Light, I can make Spike Rockets or Harpoons for the Missile slot (or buy Seagulls, which are expensive), and I can buy the Ramjet or use my Codex Lil' Ilya for the Heavy slot (Ramjet also very expensive). Researching 250 mm RL for Heavy slot as well, that should be done soon. Just finished researching Gauss Cannon, and assembling my first one (but don't have enough parts for a 2nd). Haven't even seen a Reticulan ship yet to try and get plasma charger. So my airfleet (documented in a reply on the previous page) is mostly equipped with 25 or 30 mm cannon, 1 50mm, 1 Seagull, 2 harpoon launchers, 1 Ramjet, and 1 Lil' Ilya. This month I will try to buy some Piranha or a Shark, I'm being harassed by Ninja Jetbikes that are too agile for me to shoot down unless I use expensive Seagulls (although I want to try a harpoon the next time I see one).
And as far as armor, I just researched full plate mail and I'm making my first 2 suits of that. I picked Red, so the several suits of Aggressor armor from that have been quite nice to use over Warrior. I also went up Tactical Armor (although I have very little aqua plastic), so I have a few suits of that, and 2 suits of Hover. Also have some suits of Boss armor. I also just built my first armored car, so I was going to see about using that, although neither the Scorpion nor the Snake can deploy it, so it may only get used on defense for now (thinking I probably need to go ahead and built my Metallo). I've been using two gals with chain & shield as my "tanks" to absorb the opening salvo, and been lucky so far about not losing one. Been close a few times, and the gals probably aren't too happy about that duty.
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At least the Surgery Center cuts down the time lost to the disabled list! Like you, not sure where to go from here, I'm working towards the Industrial Printer, so that should open more options. Looking at Nilex's reply, I have Metal armor (needed for Plate), and I need research to move on, although I think I have the path open to me as far as Junkmaster. I haven't defeated any Mercs yet, though, only seen them once, and I ran from that fight (although now I have better gear and could probably make the effort), they are a block to get to Synth.
I've recruited 1 damsel and used her as a dedicated medic, although she's leveled up pretty well. The others I came across, I've either enslaved or pimped, they aren't any better than peasants, of which I have several for base defense and occasional rotation when needed.