5 replies to this topic

[Vorpal Puppy]

Have done about 6 contracts now and looking for advice from folks that are much further along. I am wondering if you think you are better off selectively taking contracts so that you are on very good terms with one or two of the main houses, or if taking any and all contracts without regard to who you make mad at you is the better play. Also, it seems like salvage only pays off if you go all-in on that versus C-bills. Negotiating for repair costs coverage seems like a bad deal, but then again I'm not getting all that damaged during the missions. Your thoughts?

[MischiefSC]

Drive reputation with a house way up. You get more points to spend on negotiating which is how you get enough salvage points to salvage actual mechs.

Always max salvage, then payout, then repairs IMO.

[RickySpanish]

Repairs give you more c-bills, so long as you spend it on repairs. In situations where you don't have a high rep for good salvage rights, repair is your best bang for your buck. Don't forget that you may be able to avoid damage, but your lancemates? Noot so much

[Daggett]

I'm not much further in but usually in such systems focusing pays off. Pick some minor factions you don't mind losing reputation with like pirates or insurgents and focus on missions against those to pump rep with major factions like the houses. In house vs. house missions pick your side and stick to it.

Basically payout gets much better with high rep and especially if you want to salvage mechs you need a good standing with some bigger factions to get enough salvage rights. Also each negotiation point in salvage (= 2 salvage rights) is usually worth at least as much as the payout would be.

I don't like repair cost coverage because it's hit or miss. You may get slightly more out of it compared to payout if you are unlucky in a mission, but more often than not you will only have a moderate or even low repair bill.

So i go for maximum salvage first and then more payout. Repairs only if i can't invest my negotiation points elsewhere.

Edited by Daggett, 11 December 2019 - 08:46 AM.

[Vorpal Puppy]

Ok. Sounds like keep a good reputation with as many big houses as you can, and go all-in on salvage to get the mechs. Thanks.

[Humpday]

I dunno I have so much rep with Davion now I get enough points to max out all options.

I'd suggest maxing out a houses rep so you acquire enough points to salvage higher ton mechs....if they drop for you. Early on, I've only gotta a friggin Cicada to get into salvage, and even then...I didnt' have enough overall salvage points available(even after maxing out negotiations) to pick it up.

Money seems very trivial. I repair my full deck every mission, and just ride right into the next after they are finished repairing...and my operating costs are only ~$130k ....meanwhile, my take home from every contract is $600k-$1m per contract. So yeah... Not quite sure whats up there. I recoup cbills very quickly. The only time I ever exit the conflict zone is if I get bored and go shopping for parts, mechs or pilots.

Can't say for sure since, rep #6 is still early game. I imagine maint/pilot costs will get much higher as bigger mechs become available. But right now I feel like the economy is kinda...too easy.

Edited by Humpday, 11 December 2019 - 09:07 AM.