Dogs of MechWar

Mechwarrior 2 Jade Falcon Clan Missions

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Jade Falcon Clan Missions (16)

Silent Thunder: "Destroy HPG Uplink at Nav Alpha, Destroy Communications Array at Nav Beta"

Me: Firemoth with 1 MPlas, 1MLaser, 1JJ, remove MASC, 4 heat sinks
Even better: Firemoth with 1 LLaser, 1 SPlas, 1 SRM4 w/1 ammo, MASC, 15 heat sinks, 120XL engine, remove lower arm actuators

• Kill the helicopter after it lands behind the HPG Uplink at Nav Alpha.
• The 1st target of opportunity (nuclear power plant) is behind the hill heading about 60º from Nav Alpha (use F3 to see the hill clearly). After you round the mountain heading from Alpha to Beta, head about 200º to find the second target of opportunity (mining complex).

Arkham Ridge: "Destroy all Enemy Units, Defend Industrial Plant at Nav Kappa"

Me: Firemoth (same as previous mission)

• Head 70-80º a short while until you come to the pass in the mountains, then turn left to Nav Theta. Proceed up the pass then turn left. Do not use Autopilot to get to Nav Theta, it will mindlessly bang you into the hill - you must walk up the pass yourself.
• Dispatch the 2 enemies terrorizing the town. When you see 3 Kitfoxes to your left (30º), try to pick them off one at a time. You get their attention by firing on them, so do not fire on a second enemy until the first enemy is dead.
• After you have killed all the enemies, destroy most of the Industrial Plant at Nav Kappa (the one you were initially supposed to defend) for your target of opportunity, but watch your heat! With a small mech, it takes a long time to destroy all those buildings & tubes!

Mirror Cage: "Destroy Dropship at Zeta"

Me: Firemoth again

• Not much advise to give, kill everything that moves, then kill the round dropship. No need to kill the trucks sitting next to it (but it's fun!)
• Actually, you don't need to kill any mechs at all - if you start shooting at Dropship Benachburn with LLasers from <1000m while jumpjetting (using a large mech on Easy), you can kill the dropship and keep flying straight past it to the drop zone without ever shooting an enemy mech.

Bone Machine: "Defend the Firebase"

This is the shareware level!
You may have 1 starmate up to 60 T. Click on "star config" then "add starmate". I also like to switch to V-Form.

Me: Laser Mad Dog with 1 LLaser, 2 MPlas, 3 JJ, 29 HS, remove lower arm actuators.
Starmate: be creative, try a small buddy (for underweight bonus points) like a Jenner.

If you're going to include a starmate at all, pick the largest mech you can have for yourself (60 T=Mad Dog). Better to reduce your starmate's weight that your own, since presumably you can use the extra capabilities more skillfully.

• Again, not much advise to give, your job is to protect the firebase, so kill anything that moves (except your starmate). No need to fire upon the enemy dropship hovering above you (hit F3), I've never been able to damage it even on Easy.

Trial 1

Preconfigured Stormcrow with 2 LLaser, 2MLaser, 2SLaser

• Immediately group your 2 LLasers into group 2, then switch to group fire on group 1 (hit Shift+2 Enter Shift+2 Enter Enter \ ) then use group 1 for most of your fighting.
• After killing the first enemy, shoot the yellow star in the middle of the arena (you have 15 seconds). You might need to back up; it's hard to hit from up close. If you can't seem to hit the yellow star within 15 seconds, you'll just have to replay the mission. You might want to briefly switch to LLasers to shoot the second enemy at a distance, then switch back to medium and closer-range lasers only.

Bouk Obelisk: "Destroy any/all Opposition Encountered"

You may have 1 starmate up to 60 T max.
Me: Laser Mad Dog (see above)
Starmate: you almost don't need one, pick a small one (maybe Nova config A)

• Several friendly mechs (over which you have no control) will join the battle. They appear green on the radar, and in green brackets when you target them. Don't shoot them, they're here to help.
• As you head from Nav Tau to Epsilon (heading 0º), zoom in (hit Z) and look at about 15-20º to see some enemies waiting to ambush you. You may attack them before they power up (they will not yet appear on radar). Back up (hit Backspace) and fire upon them with LLaser, or sick your buddy on them (hit Q to target one, then B31B).
• Go back to Nav Phi (that's where you started) when everyone else is dead.

Umber Wall: "Escort Hover Train to Processing Plant at Nav Omicron"

You may have 1 starmate up to 75 T max.
Me: Laser Timberwolf with 2 LLaser, 2 MPlas, 3 JJ & fill up on heat sinks.
Starmate: Nova config A (2 PPC, 1 MPlas)

Your buddy can help a lot on this mission by mopping up weak enemies while you defend the hover train.

• Immediately head for the 2 incoming enemy gunships at 150º. Jumpjet straight up (hit J) and shoot them both with LLasers.
• Head for Nav XI; when the hovertrain departs, continue past it to kill the 5 gunships that appear from about 345º. Be careful not to bump the hovertrain itself, and do not sick your buddy on the distant gunships until he has a clear line of fire (he'll shoot the friendly base if it's in the way). Try sicking him on the 3rd or 4th gunship (with his PPCs) while you get the closest ones. You don't have much time to kill them; after dispatching the first wave, sick your buddy on the very last 2 gunships while you hurry to protect the hovertrain. To move fly quickly forward hit HOME (6-key pad), possibly alternating with J.
• A Jenner appears to the left, so kill him (duh). You must trust your buddy to finish off the gunships back near the base. The hovertrain goes into a tunnel in a mountain; walk/fly around the right side of the mountain (head about 135º). You must get to the other side of the mountain before the train emerges from the tunnel. Protect the train from the last two enemies; shoot the Dire Wolf at least once to get his attention (he will then attack you), then focus on killing the smaller Stormcrow (otherwise they will ignore you and go for the train).

Rogue Chariot: "Destroy the Core Sink Array"

No starmates, 65 T max
Me: Stormcrow with 1 LLaser, 1 MPlas, 1 SLaser, 3 JJ & heat sinks
I could probably win with something smaller, but I can't stand Novas (their turrets hardly turn) and Jenner is too small (35T).

• Shoot the bridge supports from long distance to watch the stormcrows sitting on the bridge fall to their deaths. Kill the two tanks too, then destroy the rest of the bridge as the Target of Opportunity. As you proceed to the next Nav point, kill 2 more tanks from long distance.
• As you approach Nav Sigma, try to fight the 3 enemy mechs from long distance, or at least do whatever you can to battle them one at a time. After you destroy the Core Heat Sink Array, didi on out of there as fast as you can, but save some jump jets to dodge missiles from the final 3 tanks back near where the bridge was.

Trial 2

Preconfigured with Nova: 7 MLaser, 2 MPlas, 1 SLaser

Group the last 4 weapons together (MLaser, 2MPlas & SLaser) and just use them in Group fire. As I've said before, 10 lasers is just silly, you overheat immediately.

Plum Wine: "Destroy All Vehicles containing High Command personnel"

You may have 1 starmate, up to 85T
Me: "Long Range Warhawk" with 1 LLaser, 2 MPlas, 2LRM20 with 2 ammos each
Starmate: Mad Dog Alt Config. B

You must locate and destroy 2 convoys of enemy leaders, and inspect 4 buildings for munitions & mech parts.

This is only hard because it can be unclear about exactly what you are supposed to do. The most common scenario: you run around aimlessly, possibly finding one convoy, then the "dropship escapes" and you lose.

• After dispatching the 2 mechs that immediately attack, follow your NAV points quickly. You can see the convoy pathways from the satellite view (F3); the two convoys travel down the light-colored trails through the large dark-colored tarmac to the west. It is necessary to neither locate nor destroy the enemy jumpships (I never have).
• The first convoy is heading southeast down a path that passes near Nav Beta. The second is convoy heading due south, passes near Nav Gamma. There is no need to inspect the convoy, just kill every vehicle. As you proceed to the last NAV points, inspect the barn-like buildings. Some of them also have enemy mechs waiting behind them.
• If you arrive at Nav Gamma and no convoy is in site, you've already lost, they've passed you to the south; you probably spent too much time fighting the first two enemies.
• Until you hear "Area secured", there are still enemies waiting for you.
• The "likely structures" to inspect are low and wide, named warehouses.
• The two enemies dropships are the Targets of Opportunity; they are difficult to kill (since they fly up about 800m into the air). If you really must kill the dropships, try using Gauss rifles and PPCs.

Rust Heart: "Escort the Convoy to the Firebase"

Same mechs as the previous mission.

• After you reach the convoy, two enemies appear to the right. You do not have time to kill them right away; kill one and disable the other, & let you buddy clean up. Quickly help the convoy, since 2 more enemies appear on the left; you must get their attention (using LRMs) so they will attack you instead of the convoy.

Trial 3

Pre-Configured Kit Fox with 1 LLaser, 1 SPlas, 1 SRM4, 1 xAC5

• Switch your xAC to group2 & save it for the second enemy. Group the other 3 together & kill the first using them only.

Armor Veil: "Defend the Airbase"

You must prevent 5 binaries (10 mechs) from destroying the airbase tower. You may have 2 starmates, up to 100 tons each.

This is one of the hardest levels, and has frustrated many players. The difficulty comes from nearly simultaneous long-range attacks against the defenseless, large, delicate airbase tower. The most common scenario: you're doing great, you're killing everything easily, your buddies are mopping up, then suddenly the airbase "critical item" is destroyed and you lose.

You may have 2 starmates; I usually choose a Dire Wolf for myself and two Marauders as friends, since their speed helps make up for the Dire Wolf's slowness, and since you need to use your own heavily armored body as a shield (to protect the airbase tower).

My typical configuration:
- Me in Long Range Dire Wolf with 2 LLaser, 1 LPlas, 1 PPC, 1 MPlas, LRM20 w/ 3 ammo, LRM10 w/ 1 ammo.
- 1st starmate: Marauder, default config (all energy weapons).
- 2nd starmate: Marauder, custom config with all guided missiles (LRMs and SSRMs).
Timberwolves don't quite cut it on Hard, I have to use 2 Marauders

This, with variations in my ordnance, is probably my favorite configuration. I don't normally care for PPCs, but the extra range (1.15 Km) helps in this mission. You might trade the PPC for a second LLaser or some LRMs.

• The first pair (a Nova and a Stormcrow) comes from the north-northeast. Start out in that direction, but don't go too far past the hill that initially blocks your view. Shoot at the bad guys from long distance and send your buddies in, but don't stray far from the only NAV point.
• Hurry back to the airbase as soon as it looks like your buddies can finish the job. Another binary will appear from the south, but watch out; the third binary approaches from the north, zeroing in on the airbase tower. Somehow you and your buddies must simultaneously engage these 4 mechs.
• As you attack the second pair of enemies (Nova & Stormcrow), do not wander far from the Airbase Tower; When the third enemy pair appears on radar, you must get their attention almost immediately or the tower will be destroyed. At this point, you must focus on distracting all enemies, not on killing them.
• Hit each enemy mech at least once as soon as possible, either with your own long range weapons or with your buddy's. This should distract the enemy mech from the airbase target to attack you instead.
• Exact timing seems to be the key to winning. You can not simply concentrate on one enemy at a time as with nearly all other levels. All enemies zero in on the airbase tower; it only takes your enemies a few seconds to destroy the tower once they approach within 1 Km. You must constantly reassign your buddies to guarantee that all enemies are distracted.
• Consider before dodging incoming fire with jumpjets. If an incoming LRM or PPC might hit the airbase tower, e.g. from the 3rd binary that comes from the north, just stand your ground and take it in the chest.
• The 4th and 5th binaries approach from the west. Again, you must distract from 4 simultaneous assaults on the airbase tower.

I usually have to replay this level several times to win, no matter what the difficulty setting. The hard setting isn't that much harder; the difficulty is in distracting multiple enemies, not so much in destroying them. I can usually (eventually) beat this level on hard, and once I actually beat it on easy with no starmates (I was young, and didn't know enough to hit EB41B).

Iron Piston: "Destroy All Enemy Mechs in the City"

Me: "Close In Summer" with 1 MPlas, 1 SLaser, 1 SRM6 with 2 extra ammo, a uAC10 with 4 extra ammo, 3 JJ, remove lower arm actuators

• This mission has mostly close-range fighting, no need for LLasers or Streak missiles Group the uAC by itself and only use it against the tougher enemies.

Bronze Anvil: "Identify and Destroy Dwilt Radick's Dire Wolf"

You must identify & destroy the above-mentioned enemy Dire Wolf, then identify & destroy all cars containing staff. You may have 2 starmates, up to 100 tons each.

This is the hardest (and last, and possibly most fun) non-trial Jade Falcon level. I find Trail 3 the most difficult, since you must kill a 2 tough enemies with a Kitfox (I hate Kitfoxes, their turrets don't turn and they have no jumpjets).

You must kill the Dire Wolf after inspection (from within 200 m.), then quickly catch up to & inspect (before killing) each of about 15 vehicles in a convoy. The most common scenario: you get the stuffing knocked out of you, and don't quite catch up to the convoy before the jumpship takes off.

You may have 2 starmates; I usually choose a Dire Wolf for myself and either two Dire Wolfs or two Marauders as friends.

My typical configuration:
- Me in Dire Wolf with 2 LLaser, 2 MPlas, 4 jump jets & lots of heat sinks.
- 1st starmate: Marauder, default config (all energy weapons, some PPCs).
- 2nd starmate: Marauder, custom config with all guided missiles (LRMs and SSRMs).

• The action starts immediately; move quickly to the side to avoid the multiple gauss canon shots you'll take from the front two enemy tanks. Disable these tanks quickly, and then the final two tanks behind them.
• It may be difficult to sick your buddies on the tanks, since they are not the closest enemies (hitting E will probably target a helicopter). You must either use the T and R keys to cycle through all enemies, or use the Q key or whatever joystick/mouse buttons you have for target reticle. If you just sit there or head straight forward while you play with the targeting keys, you will turn yellow and lose your arms (on hard). You can either jerk left & right with jump jets while you hit the T key, or just ignore your buddies until the tanks actually are the closest enemies and you can target them with the E key.
• Ignore the helicopters until the tanks are dead, then pick them off with energy weapons. I wouldn't bother sicking my buddies on the helicopters, they may end up shooting you if you get in their way.
• After the tanks are gone, sick your 2 buddies on the Kellhound Battlemaster off to the east. You may assist in killing him, or just trust your 2 buddies to do the job. There is no need to inspect him, the mission briefing said Dwilt Radick is in a Dire Wolf.
• The Dire Wolf enemy will be right in your path, so just follow the NAV sequence. Remember to INSPECT him (target him then hit I) before you kill him; you might want to soften him up a little before you're within inspection range (200 m), but don't sick your buddies on him until after he has been inspected, especially on EASY.
• Quickly proceed towards the last NAV point, which will bring you to the convoy. If you have jump jets, use them for extra speed, especially if you have a slow mech (like a Dire Wolf). Use long range weapons and your buddies to kill the 2 mechs and single turret guarding the dropship. Remember, you don't have much time to intercept the convoy, so depend on your buddies for mop-up.
• Without slowing down, inspect every single car in the convoy (about 15). Remember, you must not let the lead cars reach the dropship. You only need to destroy the cars with STAFF inside, but I usually kill everything. You do not need to destroy the dropship. I did kill the dropship once (on EASY) after completing all other goals, and that immediately ended the mission successfully.

If you are having difficulty (and you probably will), try playing invulnerability on. It's hard enough to simply figure out what you need to do, without the extra problems of battling hard enemies.

Trial 4

Preconfigured Firemoth with 5 MLasers, 1 SLaser, 1 SPlas

• Your strategy must be to attack enemy's legs as you run past them; first a Marauder, then a Dire wolf. Remember to hit V for masc.