Weird issues in the refit screen; I keep getting items seemingly “stuck” on screen while dragging them over (this is display only) and occasionally when stuck, the item from the list becomes unselectable. I need to dump my changes and start again.
Anyway; it’s a great game, and sort of reminds me of chess with mechs. Okay, maybe checkers, but still great fun!
I had an assassination mission in the highlands, and I got a map where my target was up toward the top of a hill. “Oh, I’ve done this one before - I think it was a Shadowhawk and then a couple of Hunchbacks came lumbering up as reinforcements. It’s only 2 1/2 skulls, so probably a replay of that with maybe a little variety.”
I swung left and started going up a road on the side. There were some trees and some big boulders I knew I could use for cover by the time I got within contact range. First surprise; it wasn’t a 55 ton Shadowhawk, but rather a 75 ton Orion-V. “Oh, no worries; alpha strike a leg a couple times and then take out the other leg while it’s down.” But a second mech showed up as well; a Locust. I almost laugh and ignore it in favor of focus-firing on my main target. I mean, c’mon - that’s all you’ve got? Puh-lease. The Orion goes down as planned, and the Locust had already fired off it’s wimpy medium laser and MG’s with predictable results and scampered off to a more defensible position.
Then comes the rain of LRMs. Not one, not two, but THREE freaking LRM carriers from out of view using the Locust as a spotter. I’d brought my mechs out of their defensive positions to finish off my main target, leaving them exposed. One of my own Orions falls under the staggering flurry of missiles and another is destabalized. In a fit of rage on my next turn, I chase down and alpha strike the Locust. It goes up in a pretty burst of flame and metal bits. I apparently knocked off its arms and legs, earning me the “Let’s call it a draw” Steam achievement. I chuckled a bit at that, reminding me of how the developers seem to “get” my sense of humor and the kind of game which can keep me engaged. It’s worth the bill for repairing my Orion and waiting on the pilot to heal up (Medusa). Without a spotter, the LRM carriers are dangerous but not nearly as deadly. They have really low initiative, so I just have to approach carefully and pop them as they appear before they can get off another volley or spot for their teammates.
Then the second wave of mechs comes in, and I realize this mission was NOT a true 2 1/2 skull rating. I’m going to have some words with a certain someone when I get back to the ship. With a smirk, I notice the mechs appearing are a Shadowhawk and Hunchback - my originally anticipated opponents. Another mech stumbles and falls thanks primarily to their autocannons. Behemoth will be in the sickbay again, although her mech is at least operable. Then the rain of LRMs comes again.
I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. I light up the Hunchback, knocking it down and then finishing its second leg. The remaining Shadowhawk means more LRM’s, and they don’t disappoint. Or miss. Behemoth’s mech goes down for the count, and the rest go after a thankfully bulwarked mech and it manages to stay standing with somewhat shredded armor. My remaining forces knock out the Shadowhawk the next round and I then slowly, deliberately hunt down those #$%^ing LRM carriers with Sensor Lock paired with my own missiles and eventually finish off the mission.
But that surprise? Love it.