How much can you sidetrack, and do you fail game/story if you do too much?

[Bladewinder]

If I saw an assault mech at this point they would be cleaning the inside of my lances cockpits and not of blood. 3x 50 or 55 tonners and 1 45t would not enjoy aa Assault mech. But am happy to know you dont have to take the story missions as they appear as was getting tough.

So use 2 as bait and 2 to get behind him.
Usually a Kintaro or Hunchback will quickly teach an assault not to turn their backs on smaller guys.

 

[BumblingEmperor]

If I saw an assault mech at this point they would be cleaning the inside of my lances cockpits and not of blood. 3x 50 or 55 tonners and 1 45t would not enjoy aa Assault mech. But am happy to know you dont have to take the story missions as they appear as was getting tough.

single assault is very easy to take down with 4 mediums. stability knockdown is just as effective, they are slow and easy to flank and their guard won't help when they get 4 alpha strikes to the back.

don't be chicken and grab the easy prey.

 

[Shepherd415]

Interesting to hear overall missions don't get harder until you do story missions. I did the first two story missions almost as soon as I got them, and took a lot of damage and lost mech warriors. Now I' trying to get a assault mech or two before I try pantzy. Currently 2/2.5 skulls is the limit.

Assaults won’t appear until you advance the story beyond that.