Stormrunner - Power of the down button!

Puzzles

By: Jon Irwin and George Argyropoulos

a/k/a Specs and a/k/a/ Dragon_Bane

Barney Quote of the Day: "We should totally buy a bar. Our bar would be awesome. And dude, dude, dude, dude... the name of our bar... Puzzles."

And the puzzle is....

Jon:

Have not hit the T5 targets, been concentrating on cracking the puzzle that is 105. I think I am close to that and you can see in my latest video that I got it down to just over one fleet. I am not the best sub driver I am too impatient for this style of raid. However, I can fully see that the powers that be listened to the players and created an event that is more balanced towards skill. If you can drive correctly, you can do the 105 for 0 damage. I tried to catch the one gentlemen in my sector using Tigers to do the 105; he had to reenter the target a few times, and he only lost the fleet twice. So, it is possible to do the 105 using the right path and to crack that puzzle. I will try to get him to video it or let me video him today if I see him.

George:

Ah, Puzzles, it was a fun bar. So.... why are we harping on the puzzle theme? Because the devs have built a puzzle into each target. I have hit one of each of the A set targets, however, it was with my HW's as I only have one TS fully built. I did try the Tiger, and it did ok, but was phenomenally slow in killing targets (I have Charon torps equipped).

The theory is the same in the A sets as it is in the S set targets. Patience and control are KEY. I have to admit, it has been a long time since I drove subs with any regularity. As some may remember, last raid I just split my subs up and straight blitzed the targets. It was a popular method. This time, the method is a complete 180 degree turn.

In the first hour of the raid I made a video of a 105 hit using a GM crew for a 2 coin repair. Lots of people watched it, lots had questions, lots wanted the build. I have a new video that is posted in here, on TFC and the BP Crib. It is a perfect run (barring the loss of the corvette) in one shot. Doubt I can do it again. I am averaging 18-28 minutes of damage now IF I don't lag out or screw up. Grease Monkey crews are still your friend in this raid.

What you need to succeed in the raid.

Jon:

88 range Torps, honest that is about it. My stealth is 89%, combat speed is not so much of a boon this time as you need to stop on a dime to not trigger the thermal. You can get by without the heavy armor as you can avoid much of the damage with perfect driving. So, the main thing that new and mid-level players should take from this raid is the Charon torp. As I said in the first paragraph, a gentleman in my sector is using Tiger and Charon and doing the 105. He has to spend a bit more time on it, but he is doing them with about the same number of fleets as the bad drivers are with Hellwraith and Firetwister.

My build for this raid:

Yes, I made a refit after the preview server with what I felt would be better this raid, and glad I did because it lowered my repair time by a lot. From 11 coins from full dead to 7 coins total dead, so that is an excellent saving compared to how I did in the preview. With a GM crew, my cost per 105 as of this morning is 8 to 9 coin. Seven coins for the first attack and then 1 to 2 coin on the second.

Videos First one is my second attempt, the second one is when I was still learning the targets

If you watch my video, you notice that I try to get to the north side as soon as I can. This maneuver is because I want to have time to attack them without the drones being a concern.  I also try to take the Hulk out as I move north,  getting this part down much better after the video to the point where it is 25 minutes of damage on my second fleet after I lose the first. Once I get to the top of the map, I can then approach the last Hulk from the front and take it out no issue. On the way, I get the priority ships so that I get the full point value for the target.

Scouts:

The scouts are the main damage dealers, mostly not because of the torps they have, but because there thermal is around 90 range (just outside my 88 torps). If there are drones around they will fire their toprs and with the scouts torps can make short work of any sub. If you watch the video pay attention to how I attempt to approach the scouts. If you can strafe them (run 90 degrees with them) you can hit them without triggering the yellow rings or the thermal that can cause you much damage.

George:

I can't add much to Jon's assessment. When he says the key is the 88 range torpedoes, it really is. The balance between your torpedo range and the thermal range is hairline.

My build is below. I had a few people complain that my build was made with foresight from the test server. In actuality, I added more twisters in and took armor off immediately after last raid as I wanted a dead fleet to be an even repair with a GM crew. This build was meant for the split blitz, it happens to work extremely well in these targets as well, though a bit difficult to drive. As Jon mentioned above, speed is not necessarily a boon in these targets.

Yes, you see that correctly, that is 3 D1-X's. It comes out to a 3 coin repair with a GM crew when dead. Perfect for the last raid the way I was doing the targets.

I also have two videos made. One has circulated pretty heavily and can be found on my YouTube channel, the other is the perfect run found here. I doubt I'll be able to reproduce this again...:

This is my original run in a 105. Annotated. ;)

Edit: I was talking with a few people and suggested that 2 HWs may have been easier due to the stacking issue seen in this vid. Truth be told, the stacking issue is REALLY an issue, but WhiteBeard let me share his vid of doing a 105 for zero damage with only 2 HW's. You do run the risk of getting sniped but the driving seems a lot easier that trying to wrangle 4 subs that won't stay together. Thanks WhiteBeard!!!

New and Mid level players that are behind:

Jon:

If I was new to the game, or struggling non-coiner I would see this weekend if someone could help me with Tier 4 co-op. That one feature is quite nice this raid as we got co-op back to help low levels at least get the tiger shark and Charon torps. I would definitely try to get the first three prizes in thesub side of the list. You need 9 tier 4 sets, just make sure you enter first and try not to die while in the target. Two players with Cuda or Spectres could do T4 targets I think with some good driving. Worse case the players might be able to get someone that finishes their raid to help them with a few preps. Charons is the most important item to get out of this raid for new players and those mid levels that do not have it yet.

George:

Most people hate this advice, and hate that I Merc, but the quickest and cheapest way to catch up is generally to hire a Merc IF you can't do it on your own.
If you are a non-coiner, plan on taking your time in any target you attempt. Don't worry if you time out. Get the Charon or Twister torpedoes. I have NOT tried any other targets so I am unsure of your grinding options.

Summary:

Jon:

Get the Charon if you do not have it. Then go for the Tigers if you are pressed for time, or the ability to get the points for the Hellwraith. Doing those first two points will put in you in a better position to grab the hellwraith in November to prepare for the hull store. Learn to drive your subs as that perfect driving will help you in the raid format and let you use Tigers to do the 105. Watch the videos on youtube from those that have it figured it out. Best case we do not get many changes next raid format and this education will help you lower the learning curve in November. While building your fleets keep your build time to a max of 14 days per hull. This allows you to get two built between raids coin free.


Lastly, this is not a Mario Bros raid where you rush to the end as fast as you can kill the boss and move on. It is more like you are Snake from Metal Gear, hiding in the shadows waiting to strike at the correct time.

Thank you for reading and comment below if you wish

Good luck with the rest of the raid Captains! (always wanted to say that, welcome back Swag!)

George:

What he said. I will add, I REALLY wish they had added last raid's S targets, in some form. There is something to be said to being able to do an S target in 3-4 minutes. And it would break the monotony and not need a second fleet to do. The other thing I'd like to note is that this raid has made subs binary again. Not a good step and not a good trade off when you have to be fully repaired to launch. Anyway... Good luck all!!


Post publication notice: We forgot to mention - When doing the 105's, always kill off the drones after killing the hulks and leave a scout for last, OR leave a Scout or Hades alive when you time out. IF YOU TIME OUT WITH ONLY DRONES LEFT YOU DO NOT GET THE COMPLETION BONUS!!!!