Mutant pogrom with mercenaries

[Rich]

As the title says, i'm in deep trouble.
I have to do a mutant pogrom with mercenaries as enemies, needless to say i don't care about civvies, don't think there's a way to save someone sadly.
I'm habing trouble with that pesky gauss hovertank with blue shields.
How do i kill it? Shield basically absorbs all damage the tank doesn't have high resistance.
Chem keeps doing 0, hi-ex does 0-0-0-0, and my cannons/rockets does exactly the same!

Do i have to just keep shooting until i've shredded all armor?

[thevideogameraptorboggle]

You have to knock the shield out before it will start taking HP damage.
Just blast it with shotguns until it stops flashing blue, then stuff it full of Auto Cannon PS and Heavy Gauss rounds, or whatever high powered weapons you have.

[Rince Wind]

Blue shields only take 25% damage from piercing weapons, so if you have lasers use those instead. They are way better against the mercs themselves as well.

[Rich]

Ok thanks.

So basically everytime i see someone with shield i have to use first weapons efficient against the shield, and then weapons against the unit itself, right?

[Rince Wind]

Yes, when the shield is depleted it won't shimmer anymore.

Or you use something that ignores the shield altogether.

[Ashghan]

Also, as a side note - if you manage to knock out the civvies (stun grenades work wonders) they will be somewhat safe (unless explosives are used). You could even risk punching them out if you're close enough. It's not much, but a few points here and there adds up.

[Rince Wind]

It is also a good way to save eager suicidal young ubers.

[Dakkdakk]

I find that a decent way to remove tank shields is using explosions, since they're large entities, they should take more damage from area of effect type stuff.

But yea, mercs are this mod's way of telling you "yea its time to give you a challenge again".

[Rich]

Had to retreat in the end.
Way over my tech level, also forgot at base my laser weapons, need to research something bigger or buy M-lasers, which is the most powerful laser weapon i have atm.

Definitely don't want to lose now since i'm almost in year 2603

[Iazo]

High-tech problems require low-tech solutions.

Merc Shields are blue, which means they take full damage from cutting.

In order of suicidalness, if you want to strip blue shields fast, you have a few options:

-Arena Slaughter cannon. - Cutting damage shotgun.
-Crate of violence. -Cutting explosive, x4 damage due to hitting multiple tiles.
-A strong gal with a bow. - Ranged single target cutting.
-Daggers/Sudoku blades/Sabers/Vibroswords - Melee cutting.

Easiest is trowung a crate of violence at them then letting the rockets fly.

[JustTheDude/CABSHEP]

It's best to invest early in Armored Cars and then Tanks. High piercing resistance (which is important as basically all Mercs use some variation of gauss weaponry) and high armor.

Remember that only Gnomes, Lokknars and Slaves (SS and Peasant) can fit inside Tanks.

On the side note: Nothing is more fun than simply leveling whole buidlings with 25mm Cannon on Armored Car.

[Dakkdakk]

On the higher difficulties, unless you get lucky or are just really focused with your research options, you likely won't have proper weaponry to deal with mercs by the time you first encounter them. Your best option will prob be to run away, taking some small bits of their equipment with you if you can.

Arena assault cannons work well, due to the massive cutting damage. Another options is having a group of highly trained bugeyes spam terror and then try to MC one of them, then running said merc into your ship and killing/knocking them down so you can kidnap him and take his stuff. Cars won't last long against their gauss weaponry, and tanks won't last forever either.

[Rince Wind]

Seductresses are very good against them as well.