Topic: SFC3: Can't seem to win Fed Campaign 9: Elusive Quarry

[kschang]

Maybe I was a bad player, but I didn't seem to have problem with any of the previous missions as well as the Klingon and Romulan campaigns...

Basically, this was the mission where you need to assault the Tal'Shair forward base with a bunch of other ships (Excelsior, 2 Norways, Defiant, etc.) There are 2 Romulan Hawks and at least one Talon I think (2 CAs and 1 DD?) plus the base with 4 defense platforms.

What usually happens is some of the ships went straight for the defense platforms, and got slaughtered (those defense platforms pack heavy disruptors!), while I got after the ships. With a bit of maneuver I can take out the lighter ships, then Arai's Warbird appears, and I can't seem to kill her or the cruisers. By this time all the rest of friendlies got slaughtered by the defense platforms and the base, while I play tag with the ships.

Once I managed to last long enough to take out ALL the ships (and forced Arai to withdraw), but I had to use a trick setup: a Sovreign with mostly rear-facing weapons, and get them to chase me. Then I'm left with 4 intact defense platforms and a base, and there's no way I can crack that by myself. WIth marines, I took out 2 of the defense platforms, but got crippled in the process.

I thought I used everything. I used mines, I used shuttles, I use anchor on the ships, I ordered wingmen to go after same target... So what's the trick? Should I follow right after the friendlies in attacking the base? Are there any tricks in attacking defense platforms?  

[Warden]

The best way to attack this mission is like any other base assault, long range qtorps and warp jumping. with one difference. wait for arai to arrive and take her out first with your escorts, took me 4 goes on admiral difficulty to complete.
   

[kschang]

But I tried that... I stay at range 40 and tried to pound one of the defense platforms with q-torps in prox mode. I got 3 launchers, but I can barely get 1 to hit, and by the time next hit comes the shields are fully charged. I tried overloading the torps (no power to primary weps) but that didn't help. If I get close those heavy disruptors take out my shields (and seems they can hit me DURING warp!)

[kschang]

Okay, got it after THREE more attempts... here's what worked...

 While the platforms are busy firing at other ships, I quickly captured one and destroyed another platform with full phasers and torpedoes (and some help from the 2 Norways). Then I warped away, then warp back in and repeated the work, so no platforms remained. Then the platform(s) will trade shots with Arai and/or the base. They won't last long, but they don't need to. Launch shuttles on the way to soak up more disruptor fire. The longer the platforms last (i.e. less shots hit them) the easier your job.  IGNORE THE SHIPS FOR NOW. This goes counter to doctrine, but it seems to work in this particular scenario. The ships don't do much damage since they just shoot and cloak. The platform will go after Arai when her Warbird comes close. The base will end up with weak shields after tussle with its own platforms.

Then go after the base, and wipe it out in a series of quick strikes. By this time Arai would probably have been damaged enough to leave on her own accord, but she may take out that defense platform (if it's still alive) if its in her way, as she heads for the border in a very leisurely manner. She becomes invulnerable when her hull drops to like 5%, so don't waste firepower on her once she said she's leaving. If the platforms haven't done her in, then go after her.

Any way, after the base is gone, you can concentrate on the ships. The Romulan AI tend to cloak, and they are vulnerable when they cloak and decloak. Use anti-cloak scan and hit them then. Use erratic maneuvers inbetween to throw them off. When they decloak, stop EM, shoot, resume EM. You can wear them down since they're shooting your shields while you're shoting at their HULL. Take care of those 2 CAs and 1 DD and you're done.  

[kschang]

Maybe I was a bad player, but I didn't seem to have problem with any of the previous missions as well as the Klingon and Romulan campaigns...

Basically, this was the mission where you need to assault the Tal'Shair forward base with a bunch of other ships (Excelsior, 2 Norways, Defiant, etc.) There are 2 Romulan Hawks and at least one Talon I think (2 CAs and 1 DD?) plus the base with 4 defense platforms.

What usually happens is some of the ships went straight for the defense platforms, and got slaughtered (those defense platforms pack heavy disruptors!), while I got after the ships. With a bit of maneuver I can take out the lighter ships, then Arai's Warbird appears, and I can't seem to kill her or the cruisers. By this time all the rest of friendlies got slaughtered by the defense platforms and the base, while I play tag with the ships.

Once I managed to last long enough to take out ALL the ships (and forced Arai to withdraw), but I had to use a trick setup: a Sovreign with mostly rear-facing weapons, and get them to chase me. Then I'm left with 4 intact defense platforms and a base, and there's no way I can crack that by myself. WIth marines, I took out 2 of the defense platforms, but got crippled in the process.

I thought I used everything. I used mines, I used shuttles, I use anchor on the ships, I ordered wingmen to go after same target... So what's the trick? Should I follow right after the friendlies in attacking the base? Are there any tricks in attacking defense platforms?  

[Warden]

The best way to attack this mission is like any other base assault, long range qtorps and warp jumping. with one difference. wait for arai to arrive and take her out first with your escorts, took me 4 goes on admiral difficulty to complete.
   

[kschang]

But I tried that... I stay at range 40 and tried to pound one of the defense platforms with q-torps in prox mode. I got 3 launchers, but I can barely get 1 to hit, and by the time next hit comes the shields are fully charged. I tried overloading the torps (no power to primary weps) but that didn't help. If I get close those heavy disruptors take out my shields (and seems they can hit me DURING warp!)

[kschang]

Okay, got it after THREE more attempts... here's what worked...

 While the platforms are busy firing at other ships, I quickly captured one and destroyed another platform with full phasers and torpedoes (and some help from the 2 Norways). Then I warped away, then warp back in and repeated the work, so no platforms remained. Then the platform(s) will trade shots with Arai and/or the base. They won't last long, but they don't need to. Launch shuttles on the way to soak up more disruptor fire. The longer the platforms last (i.e. less shots hit them) the easier your job.  IGNORE THE SHIPS FOR NOW. This goes counter to doctrine, but it seems to work in this particular scenario. The ships don't do much damage since they just shoot and cloak. The platform will go after Arai when her Warbird comes close. The base will end up with weak shields after tussle with its own platforms.

Then go after the base, and wipe it out in a series of quick strikes. By this time Arai would probably have been damaged enough to leave on her own accord, but she may take out that defense platform (if it's still alive) if its in her way, as she heads for the border in a very leisurely manner. She becomes invulnerable when her hull drops to like 5%, so don't waste firepower on her once she said she's leaving. If the platforms haven't done her in, then go after her.

Any way, after the base is gone, you can concentrate on the ships. The Romulan AI tend to cloak, and they are vulnerable when they cloak and decloak. Use anti-cloak scan and hit them then. Use erratic maneuvers inbetween to throw them off. When they decloak, stop EM, shoot, resume EM. You can wear them down since they're shooting your shields while you're shoting at their HULL. Take care of those 2 CAs and 1 DD and you're done.