Soldier of Fortune: Difference between revisions

'''{{co|#9ef37c|Granted when accepted:}}''' A faction-specific signature weapon system ({{icon|isis amarr|22}}Civilian Gatling Pulse Laser /{{icon|isis caldari|22}}Civilian Light Missile Launcher /{{icon|isis gallente|22}}2 x Civilian Hobgoblin /{{icon|isis minmatar|22}}Civilian Gatling Autocannon)

In addition to the [[turrets|turret weapons]] you've been using up to now, each faction also uses another weapon system:

* [[Drones]] for {{icon|isis gallente|22}}Gallente, and to a lesser extent, {{icon|isis amarr|22}}Amarr.

* [[Missile Launchers|Missiles]] for {{icon|isis caldari|22}}Caldari, and to a lesser extent, {{icon|isis minmatar|22}}Minmatar.

If you are working for a {{icon|isis amarr|22}}Amarr Empire or {{icon|isis minmatar|22}}Minmatar Republic agent, then the weapon granted to you would indeed be the same weapon class you already have been using up to this point, possibly worse in quality since it is a civilian module. If you are getting this mission from a {{icon|isis caldari|22}}Caldari State or {{icon|isis gallente|22}}Gallente Federation agent, you have a chance to try out a new weapon system. Note that you can complete this missions without having to use the weapon granted to you - you can dispose of the rat in whichever way you please.

Drones are small semi-autonomous spacecraft which you can order to attack hostile ships. Note that your {{sk|Drones}} skill dictates how many drones you can keep active at any given time; you will need this skill at level 2 to fly both of the light drones your agent gives you. In order to use them, you must use a ship with a drone bay. All corvettes carry enough drone bay for one light drone except for [[Velator]] which can carry two. Among the ships given out by {{icon|isis gallente|22}}Gallente Federation career agents in the station so far, [[Imicus]] and [[Tristan]] are good candidates to try out the two light drones in. Activate a ship with at least some drone capability and move your drones into the ship's drone bay <!-- screenshot -->

 

Undock from the station. Once in space, note that a new window has appeared on your UI: the drone control window, <!-- screenshot --> which shows you which drones you have in your drone bay and which you have in space. Warp to the mission's location.  

There is a single weak rat there that you need to destroy, so you can take your time to learn how drones work. Select the drone(s) in your drone bay, right-click and select "Launch". Your drones will now start orbiting your ship (and you can see them in the "In Space" section of the drone control window), awaiting your command. Target the rat, and order your drone(s) to attack it by selecting them, right-clicking on them, and selecting "Attack" (alternatively, the much easier shortcut key is {{button|R}}).  

 

Note how your drone(s) fly towards the rat, and once they get close, start orbiting it and firing on it. While rats (and players) can and do attack drones, this rat will likely explode before it gets the chance. Once the rat has been destroyed, recall your drones to your drone bay (they won't follow you if you warp away), and return to your agent's station to complete the mission. If you accidentally warped away before scooping the drones in, you can warp back to the mission location, right-click on your capacitor, and select Reconnect to lost drones to establish your link with the drones again.

 

If you find drone combats to your liking, then [[Tristan]] serves as a good starting-level drone ship, although your damage potential would likely be quite limited compared to other options such as [[Incursus]] until you reach level 5 of your {{sk|Drones}} skill.

Missile ships use guided missiles which automatically home in on their target. In order to fit the light missile launcher module, you need a ship that has a launcher-compatible hardpoint. Note that there are many ships with multiple weapon hardpoints but none of which are launcher-compatible, thus making it impossible for you to fit a missile launcher. Regardless of factions, your corvette will allow mounting a missile launcher on them, and thus you are free to use it for this mission. Among the ships given out by {{icon|isis caldari|22}}Caldari State career agents in the station so far, [[Heron]] will serve nicely, and if you decided not to sacrifice one for [[Advanced_Military_Career_Agent#Angel of Mercy (2 of 10)|mission 2]] [[Griffin]].  

 

The general combat mechanics of missiles are similar to how turrets work, with some notable differences. Like guns, missiles have a limited range (roughly equivalent to their maximum velocity multiplied by their maximum flight time), but they do not have the optimal/falloff distinction - any missile that reaches its destination before its timer runs out hits the target, while they will be completely ineffective beyond their maximum range. Missiles damages are also uniform, meaning that it will not deal either higher-than-usual (e.g., wrecks, smashes) or lower-than-usual (e.g., grazes, glances off) damage. Unlike guns they can't miss their target as long as it is in range, but they do take time to cover the distance from your ship to the target, and will deal less damage to small and fast targets. Missile launchers do not consume capacitor when fired, and they generally take longer to cycle and reload compared to turrets.

 

If you would like to try out missiles more, [[Kestrel]] is usually a good choice for beginning pilots, especially for PvE contents.