Custom Map #261: Test Drive. By: LordXaylen

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This topic is for discussion of map #261: Test Drive


Author: LordXaylen
Size: 320x180

Desc:
Tenthousand years after the events of the main story humanity is doing everything it can to fight back the rising tide of the particulate. In their attempts to fight this treat an AI designed after one of humaity's greatest heros was created with the ability to generate and redefine Galcorp schematics. A scientist was chosen to test this new AI and was sent to the training yard with nothing but a command ship and two target drones.

[Argonwolf]

I like this map, it's creative and puzzle-like. You have to be smart and manage your assets to beat it. 9/10

Btw, here's some tips in case you are having issues:


-Capture the Omnis early on. First get the "Engine" ship schematic (the left half of the "broken arrow") and start it building. Omnis are hidden under the emitters with the mire spawners around them (middle 2). Use your HQ to first break the mire spawner, then move back and use cannon fire to de-mire the land it was on. Now you can put your guns back on defense and run in to get the Lathe ship schematic. Get both lathes (one at each place) then use one lathe to suppress the enemy mines (using lathe settings) while using the other (set lathe to "structure") to get the omni schematics.

-Once you have omnis, immediately use the Engine ship part (the one you can cap at the very beginning) to physically block particles at the bottom or top so you can get your HQ out of the central trap area. Alternatively, drive your HQ into particles, causing it to warp out, then warp back in on the right side of the map next to either the top or bottom energy well. They shouldn't be captured by enemies yet, and the defense turrets should be unpowered. Use the HQ to break the turret and cap the energy source. Repeat for the other one. Build your two omnis on the land masses at the right and start miring them.

-Now back to the trap. Use your lathes (one to suppress mine, one to destroy emitters) to destory the emitters with the mire spawners around them (as well as the mire spawners themselves). It's possible to get all four mire spawners around each one WITHOUT the "backup" energy mines being in range to shoot you, though in some cases you have to get a lathe outside the trap. Remember when operating outside the trap that you have to run back to the place where the energy zone extends past the trap in order to recharge. Also use the lathes to destroy the emitters in the left side of the map (they don't require much tactical planning).

-At this stage, you've got 5 targets left: the 2 rightmost emitters in the trap, the 2 struct-growing emitters and the gun in the center. If you've accidentally gone in the middle you already know this, but in case you haven't, the gun in the middle island will destroy any ship near it with little effort. I'm sure you could probably find a way to get your fleet organized just right to assault the energy well on that island, but it's much easier than that. Take one of your omnis and park it due east of the island. Then pause, order it to move to the island, and then click it's green "order" cursor to assume manual control of the omni's flight. Now you simply approach the island and dart up and down alternately, causing the mine (and cannon) bullets to miss you completely. It's not actually terribly difficult to dodge every single one of the gun's bullets, and the omni will take 10 or so hits to die so you have some leeway. As SOON as that cannon is out of power, land that omni at the nearest place where it can still reach the enemy mine. Once the mine is destroyed, the cannon is worthless and your omni can melt it at its leisure.

-Now that the center cannon isn't a problem, drive your HQ up to the struc-growing emitters (giving it time to burn away the struc of course) and destroy them. It shouldn't be difficult, as these emitters have already hit their particle cap by pouring particles into the trap. Note that if you mount a large force to attack the trap particles, these two emitters will spam particles to replace them, and your job gets a lot harder.

-Finally you have the two remaining trap emitters, which can be destroyed any way you like and will mark the end of the mission. Congrats, you've beaten Test Drive!

[strigvir]

Or cheese everything with amped HQ. The trick is setting lathe to "structure" collects omni underneath the emitter+mine combo right off the bat and, after getting lathe schematics, HQ can be destroyed (for lathes to pick the gem up) and respawned near top or bottom eastern mines to easily destroy eastern emitters. Do not pick omni cannons upgrade and don't build ships with weapons.