How long can I put off the first mission?

[gord96]

I'm about 20 hours into the game and loving it. But I still haven't done the very first story mission. I've just being going back and forth between the starting 3-4 planets doing contracts. It's a blast. I'm excited to get into the story but don't feel any inclination to start it yet. Curious if at some point the game will make me? So far there is always new contracts. I am especially fond of helping the beleaguered government of Detroit stay free from the machinations of the Inner Sphere powers that plague the region.

Thanks for any info!

 

[mjbroekman]

You can put it off as long as you want, but you will find it hard to get bigger / badder / better mechs using those 4 planets. That said, you can definitely use them to build up a nice nest egg to support you in the early game as well as give your pilots a lot of XP for skills.

 

[Rifter]

I think forever, im 50 hours in and only done the first couple of story missions. However ive just learned that you do need to progress the story to a certain point to get assault mechs to start appearing. So dont do what i just did and spend 15 hours looking for assault mech before doing the required story mission.....

 

[CyberianK]

You probably can do it until you you die of old age.

I would at least do the first two missions though (Weldry). Game gets more fun afterwards.

 

[gord96]

good info guys. thanks!

i figured that i was limited on getting better mechs on those planets. biggest mech i have seen is a hunchback, but only one. just trying to replace the spider with a Jenner (just need 1 more piece) then I will start the first mission. Yeah my pilots are getting good experience and i have lots of cash so all is well.

Thanks again for the good info!

 

[Zeusbunnyears]

Definitely get past the first three missions to get access to a large variety of mechs. Once you get past the fourth or fifth mission which Karosas gives you, nearly all the mechs in the game open up to you and things start to get interesting.

 

[gord96]

thx!

 

[mork77]

Somebody spent 520 weeks ( yes, 10 years ) in the 4 systems. So it is possible, and you do get your hands on some medium mechs, apart from hundred locusts and spiders.

His post is on the forum here somewhere.

 

[Bilbo999]

Somebody spent 520 weeks ( yes, 10 years ) in the 4 systems. So it is possible, and you do get your hands on some medium mechs, apart from hundred locusts and spiders.

His post is on the forum here somewhere.

I spent forever just trying to pick up a 35 ton light before moving on. Never did get the 35 tonner before I got tired of it and didn't actually pick one up until after I had a full lance of 55 ton mediums.

 

[Wandering Sentinel]

Technically you can stay in those systems for as long as you're able to break even; as long as the costs for mech repair/part (arms, legs, etc) replacement combined with maintenance and wages doesn't go above how much you can make in that 30 day timeframe, you can keep playing there for as long as you want... However, it always takes at least two missions to break even for the month if you don't take heavy damage that puts one or more mechs out for weeks (and is expensive to fix) at the start, so you only really want to do this if you know you can keep yourself in the black. Once you start dipping into the red, your only hope is that you start getting better paying missions or get lucky and spend a month or two with no injuries or mech damage to recover the losses since you can typically only travel between systems one or two times a month in the Leopard (it takes something like 15-17 days to travel) and a single bad mission can cause a spiral.

 

[gord96]

thanks again for the good info. so far money is good and jobs are easy so cash wise I am ok. honestly i just want to get that 35 ton light mech and then will start. just need one more piece.

 

[gord96]

hell of a game though. impressed as all get out!

 

[Stonedman]

wondered why i hadnt seen an assault mech and a small variety of Heavy ones --- because i havent progressed past the mission that the dude gives you in order to gain the support of his house.

will try that now as i have a 4 skull lance of heavies - just never seen a assault - i had been waiting to try find one /sigh