SUBJECT: MISSION 6
FROM: SHODI
[SHODI@EXCHANGE.ORG]
AN AIR DROP WENT BAD. OUR GOODS ARE SCATTERED OVER THE COUNTRYSIDE. POLICE AND FREE TRADE THIEVES ARE EVERYWHERE, SO BE QUICK!
Audio: Nothing out of the ordinary on this one. My only concern is keeping our base location hidden. They know we're here now - but they don't know where.
| Objective | Time | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Deliveries | 8:00 | $5,000 per delivery |
This is another team mission, but this time there will be multiple items in every pickup location. This means that no matter how fast or good you are, you won't be able to pick up and deliver every single item. This mission relies heavily on your teammates and good deal of luck. You'll soon find out just how unhelpful your allies are. On a new game, you still just have the Super Buggy and D-5 Hondo available, so pick whichever you're most comfortable with, then pick whoever you want for teammates, as it really doesn't matter. When four items are in play, they switch possession so much that roles become somewhat irrelevant between forwards and guards. Any AI controlled vehicle is much better at hitting another car than delivering cargo, so they all end up with contraband at some point.
Even with all vehicles at your disposal, it's somewhat of a crapshoot. Like always, the majority of your success will be based on how many items you personally deliver. The rest is up to chance for the most part, as even with the same teammates and doing the same routes, you have no guarantee that events will play out with any sort of regularity. One strategy would be to select two corners and cherrypick the whole time with them, in hopes of limiting the rival gang's deliveries. Another tact would be to select two backs to make it difficult for their forwards to do anything. The only strategy that isn't very effective is selecting all forwards, because they're not very good at their jobs.
Unless you have a fast vehicle, you're bound to slam into your opponents at the first pickup location. It's also more difficult than it should be just to get down there without your own guys knocking you off course. If you're quick, make a hard left at the first pickup to try and avoid the oncoming rivals. Ideally, you'll want to go around the hill there to the left or right, but if you happen to go directly over it, be careful not to launch into the stationary truck sitting on the other side of the stream.
At the second drop off location, make a hard right over the edge of a small dropaway to get down to the enemy drop off point. If you do this every time, you may catch one of them on their way to make a delivery and snag their loot. At the third pickup spot, get the item closest to the river first, because later when the boulders roll in from the opposite side, it will be hard to get without crashing. On your way to the drop off from that pickup spot, take the high ground to avoid colliding with all the other vehicles coming to make pickups.
The fourth drop off location is back by where you start the mission, but don't take a direct route there from picking up contraband. Hug the right side of the stream until you can cross at a narrow point, then launch off the hill over the river to the drop off. This will neutralize the enemy cherrypicker there, who you'll fly over. The village on top of the hill is between the fifth set's drop off and pickup spots, so be careful when going through town. Although it may be safer to go around, it's also much slower.
There's really no single route for best time - it depends mainly on how the AI interactions play out. Sometimes your guys will make deliveries and snag loot a lot, and sometimes they won't. All you can do is pick the fastest vehicle you have, make your deliveries cleanly, don't get into wrecks, and don't get your cargo stolen. In some cases, especially the fourth set of pickup/drop offs, it is quicker to steal cargo from incoming rivals, rather than going all the way back to the pickup location.