Can anyone tell me why I can't complete the Fondor Escort mission??

 

I know I can hold down the firing trigger because I'm not being attacked and shields don't matter. I also complete the side goal of 25 enemy kills, yet I ALWAYS fail to keep the stupid shuttle alive in the last 20 seconds.

 

WHY is such an impossible mission my first experience with space and my new ship? Idiocy in design?

 

Can someone please explain how this is supposed to be completed?

 

Thanks!

You probably need upgraded ship components. I know I and my wife (who screamed at the monittor) lol, had a time with this mission. Plus learning the attack patterns, helps alot. Go after the fighters asap when you see them, they are targeting the escort ship quickly. All of those lasers eventually kill it. Let loose with missles on the turrets of the cap ships. They will fire too, but not as quickly as the fighters.

Thanks for the tip! Glad to know I'm not the only one losing my mind Edited June 28, 2012 by FranklinGraves

The best tip I can give you in space missions is don't get tunnel vision. Make sure you're situationally aware of your surroundings and what's going on.

 

For example, in Fondor Escort, did you realize that enemy ships are out at an extreme distance coming towards you(they look like little red dots) and blast your escort ship as well as your own? You can kill these ships out on the 'horizon' very easily at extreme distances way before they touch anything. The other good tip I have is with flagships. Always try to destroy the turrets that are closest to the direction you will be moving. The ones on the end. These are really the only ones that will effectively engage you for a decent period of time and really appear to be the only ones to do damage to the escort ship in this mission(I've gotten through this mission with both of us at 100% numerous times).

 

This mission doesn't really need any upgrades, you just need to watch everything around you.

Edited June 28, 2012 by chritie

Just upgraded everything on my ship to level 1 (except for the armor because someone told me in game that it is a reward) and I completed it in the first try.

 

UPGRADES are REQUIRED for this mission. Doesn't matter what else you do.

They aren't required but, like with everything else, you should try to keep your gear level as high as you have access to.

I mean this in the most constructive way possible. If you are having this much trouble with the very first space mission, perhaps space missions are not for you. You will not enjoy the later ones.

Just as an FYI: Grade 1 ,3 and 5 ship upgrades are vendor purchased from the upgrades vendors and Grade 2, 4, and 6 are all crafted by Cybertechs. If you have a cybertech and want to do space missions regularly I recommend crafting them as soon as you can, or get the materials and find a friendly cybertech to make 'em for ya.

I mean this in the most constructive way possible. If you are having this much trouble with the very first space mission, perhaps space missions are not for you. You will not enjoy the later ones.

 

Not necessarily. I think the FE mission is a good training mission that demonstrates the tricks and traps of a lot of the space combat stuff. I failed it a few times but kept going back and, as one other poster put it, learned the pattern to it.

 

OP:

 

The person who told you about the little red dots off in the distance probably gave you the best advise. The enemy fighters do not always come from behind you. Look for red moving things out in front of the shuttle. Those jokers are what gets the shuttle the fastest.

Just as an FYI: Grade 1 ,3 and 5 ship upgrades are vendor purchased from the upgrades vendors and Grade 2, 4, and 6 are all crafted by Cybertechs. If you have a cybertech and want to do space missions regularly I recommend crafting them as soon as you can, or get the materials and find a friendly cybertech to make 'em for ya.

 

FYI There are also purple schematics for upgrades which have no grade number but require lvl 49 and 50 to use.

Edited June 28, 2012 by Owsley

Just upgraded everything on my ship to level 1 (except for the armor because someone told me in game that it is a reward) and I completed it in the first try.

 

UPGRADES are REQUIRED for this mission. Doesn't matter what else you do.

 

That's simply untrue. I had no trouble whatsoever clearing Fondor Escort on my first try with no upgrades.

I have to agree. This mission is easily beatable without any upgrades. Seriously, I'm RUBBISH at the space missions, and even I have never failed at this one (with or without upgrades). I think if it gives you this much trouble you aren't really cut out to be a space pilot.

 

WHY is such an impossible mission my first experience with space and my new ship? Idiocy in design?

 

Can someone please explain how this is supposed to be completed?

 

Thanks!

I agree this is the reason " I DO NOT DO SPACE MISSIONS " because the first one is way to hard for having nothing on your ship for starter and I dont see the point of trying anything further if they are only going to get harder so I agree please Dev. you got to change this....

The first time I did the Fondor Escort I succeeded, but I had no idea how. The second time, no an alt character, the shuttle exploded from about 50% armor 20 seconds before the end of the mission. "Damn", I thought, "must have to kill an instagibb'ing enemy that I missed". Tried again, same issue... all fighters dead, no destroyers in sight, shuttle health at around 40%, the ship blows up and I get the "Mission failed" message. Trying several more times on two different characters, it would seemingly succeed or fail on a random basis but always in the last 20 seconds or so of the mission (I even had one failure where the ship exploded on about 90% health, so either the health bar was not updating or something od was going on).

Now, I do not bother with space missions until I have upgraded the ship to all level 1 or even level 3 gear... Fondor Escort and most of the next 5 missions are like shooting fish in a barrel, but it is certainly less frustrating.

Seems like everyone is having completely different experiences when approaching this mission. Good to know that I wasn't the only one

 

If this truly is such a turn-off to space missions for others, then I truly believe the Devs should think about providing a different first mission.

Its not hard. But there is a learing curve for the space missions.

 

You must:

 

Use the wasd keys to move around while targeting with the mouse.

When being fired upon hit the space bar to barrel roll. It helps. Doesnt seem like it, but it does.

When you reach lvl 25 and get 30 fleet commendations GET THE "POWER CONVERTER"

It allows you to double sheild strength or blaster power. Your choice and you can switch back and forth to regen sheilds.

Shoot things the second you get a red crosshair on them.

Learn to know what is comming and when.

 

You will get better.

I dont think anyone mentioned it

 

If there arent any fighters for you to shoot at, try and shoot out the turrets on any capital ships in range. When you are close to capital ships also look at where their turrets are located. Even though your ships blaster bolts have a limited 'autoaim' you can still fire at where the turrets are and hit them. Also look at your targetting reticle, when you move it over something that is in range it changes to a red circle. This is useful for when you have something far away like a capital ship and are waiting for it to get into range.