Bouregard
2010-03-05, 01:39 PM
Digging through my collection of old (some may call them ancient) pc gaming magazins I rediscovered the good old Jagged Alliance 2, and suprised what the community team has done with the fanpatch I decided to give it another try.
But what is JA2?
It's a roundbased freeform strategy/roleplay game. You play as a merc who is payed to rid a small country named Arulco from the evil dictator "Queen" Deidranna. The really cool thing is that you can freely travel around Arulco and decide if you rather storm Queen D's palace (and promptly get slaughtered) or first bild up your team and conquer the whole country. Like the box suggest, you need to manage your team, your finances, weaponry and tactics.
And whats 1.13?
It's a mod. Patch is not really accurate anymore. Basically 1.13 adds everything to the game left out due to scheduling problems/removes bugs/ improves graphics and adds a metric ton of weapons (Think about a random firearm, this game has it.) Also adds: Multiplayer, Weather, Additional character creation, options, difficults, artillery, paratroopers, a new inventory system, etc...
First post:
Let's start!
People wondering about the odd way to start the game should keep in mind that trying to take on those 12 enemies in Omerta with soldiers for a total of 15k is utter suicide in 1.13 insane with beefed up AI. (Or at least it’s hard to do without being wounded. And a wounded team can’t take + hold Drassen)
(Spoilered to keep page length acceptable)
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0715-54-03-56.jpg
//1.13 Loading screen with the arulcan flag in the back. Sometimes I wonder what that latin text //means. Anyone ever found a more readable version?
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0715-54-20-13.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GrmzFk8v18 (Intro Link, keep in mind that game is 11 years old)
So it is decided now the guy I meet a few days ago turned out to be a real goldmine. While his stereotypical suitcase full of money is definitely a good start into a business relationship it’s far from enough to take over a country these days. Twenty years ago we just wasted a few politicians and presto, where crowned emperor for life in a backwater republic. Today you walk across a border with something more as a few pistols and you get international troops everywhere while jets from 7 different countries take turns carpet bombing every outhouse you liberate.
But not Arulco. Unimportant to the point of not appearing on several maps, the current queen, Deidranna did a fine job in perfectly separating the country from any neighbors, so an intervention is not likely. Our beloved world police was payed off with a regretful large amount of Enricos money, let’s hope that this so called financial election assistance will keep them off my back.
The arulcan army will be my problem to dispose of. Intelligence suggests that Deidranna has build up an impressive force, quite capable of invading smaller border countries. Everything not spend for queen D’s palace and hobbies is reserved for the army. While the redshirts are poorly trained and armed with basic weaponry reports warn me that her elite forces are extremely dangerous and equipped with high tech weaponry. The last few pre cold war tanks will be not a problem. Years of embargos ensured a massive fuel shortage and lack of repairs.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0715-55-21-60.jpg
However all that risk is definitely worth it. Arulco is riddled with gold and silver mines. That will be more than enough money to hire the best of the best mercenaries and killers for hire. And if poor Enrico didn’t acknowledge our efforts with a long term interest payment…. Well we’re the heavy armed guys. After seeing what Deidranna is capable of, I’m sure even I myself would be a more efficient ruler.
But enough of politics. The first part of my master plan is to get a foothold. Ivan, old friend and one of AIM’s best gun-for-hire. His job is to scout the area and acquire more funds to insert a second fully armed strike team.
Bringing Vehicles with us will be pointless the fuel embargo will make it a short advantage at best and Ivan will be way easier to spot.
Insertion via Helicopter is the only option left. A local smuggler pilot will bring our troops in, I managed to convince him that in the New Arulco we will need people to import goods. And he should prove his loyalty early.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0716-09-03-60.jpg
Omerta is Ivans first landing point, from there he will make contact for further instructions.
Day 1
Report from Ivan’s ready.
Looks like the poor chap landed inside one of Deidrannas patrols looking for the pitiful rest of the resistance group Enrico mentioned. He described them as rather weakly armed. If that’s everything Deidranna throws at us we should stockpile that hollow point shells. Not like they wearing armor. The initial ambush was disposed of and the rest died quickly due to Ivan’s superior experience and the heavy firepower of his AK.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0716-27-15-95.jpg
While mowing down regulars left and right Ivan nearly didn’t spotted the squad leader. A female greyshirt. Properly armed and armored, but in the end surprised with a bullet to the back of the head. Poor girl didn’t see it coming.
http://s466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/?action=view¤t=ja22010-03-0716-29-37-77.jpg
// New game Spot-the-Elite: This enemy was pretty well hidden and in the first try Ivan walked //around the front of the house. He lost 165 Hitpoints due to 5 bullets to the head. Yes she managed //to intercept Ivan and waste him in a single round.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0716-32-43-39.jpg
The remaining adversaries attempted to hide/ bunker themselves behind sand sacks. Ivans superior aiming skills and reflexes ended this quickly.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0716-42-47-76.jpg
Ivan contacted me rather quickly. Enemy contact wasn’t planed for the first week and combing that ghost town for some rebels is definitely out of question. No doubt that the queen will send reinforcements to look after the lost patrol.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0716-43-18-27.jpg
While Ivan was busy scrounging for useful stuff I looked into some security footage from Meduna. Looks like our hired Intelligence hacked the palace security cams to make sure we know of anything the queen will throw at us.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0719-14-52-29.jpg
Elliot (No last name known, Queen Deidrannas advisor) reported the Omerta incident and after receiving a rather harsh punishment…
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0719-14-57-36.jpg
Was ordered to send reinforcements at once. So I was right. Ivan has to leave immediately. He will travel to San Mona, a small and not official by Deidranna controlled town in the west to hide and rest for a few hours.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0719-16-48-13.jpg
Evading his pursuers, our Russian mayhem machine reaches San Mona. Tomorrow will be spend raising more Information and money.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0719-16-59-65.jpg
Welcome to San Mone East Ivan. Drink a beer, you’ve earned it.
Is there someone here who’s fluent in written Russian? Would be cool to translate some of Ivans comments. Oh and the IMP merc is not created jet. I’m drawn between a knife wielding maniac à la Brock Samson or a sneaky nightops/flanker. However practically everything is possible. My Endgame will always be an onslaught of a BIG MERC+AIM team storming Meduna with heavy mortal support.
But what is JA2?
It's a roundbased freeform strategy/roleplay game. You play as a merc who is payed to rid a small country named Arulco from the evil dictator "Queen" Deidranna. The really cool thing is that you can freely travel around Arulco and decide if you rather storm Queen D's palace (and promptly get slaughtered) or first bild up your team and conquer the whole country. Like the box suggest, you need to manage your team, your finances, weaponry and tactics.
And whats 1.13?
It's a mod. Patch is not really accurate anymore. Basically 1.13 adds everything to the game left out due to scheduling problems/removes bugs/ improves graphics and adds a metric ton of weapons (Think about a random firearm, this game has it.) Also adds: Multiplayer, Weather, Additional character creation, options, difficults, artillery, paratroopers, a new inventory system, etc...
First post:
Let's start!
People wondering about the odd way to start the game should keep in mind that trying to take on those 12 enemies in Omerta with soldiers for a total of 15k is utter suicide in 1.13 insane with beefed up AI. (Or at least it’s hard to do without being wounded. And a wounded team can’t take + hold Drassen)
(Spoilered to keep page length acceptable)
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0715-54-03-56.jpg
//1.13 Loading screen with the arulcan flag in the back. Sometimes I wonder what that latin text //means. Anyone ever found a more readable version?
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0715-54-20-13.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GrmzFk8v18 (Intro Link, keep in mind that game is 11 years old)
So it is decided now the guy I meet a few days ago turned out to be a real goldmine. While his stereotypical suitcase full of money is definitely a good start into a business relationship it’s far from enough to take over a country these days. Twenty years ago we just wasted a few politicians and presto, where crowned emperor for life in a backwater republic. Today you walk across a border with something more as a few pistols and you get international troops everywhere while jets from 7 different countries take turns carpet bombing every outhouse you liberate.
But not Arulco. Unimportant to the point of not appearing on several maps, the current queen, Deidranna did a fine job in perfectly separating the country from any neighbors, so an intervention is not likely. Our beloved world police was payed off with a regretful large amount of Enricos money, let’s hope that this so called financial election assistance will keep them off my back.
The arulcan army will be my problem to dispose of. Intelligence suggests that Deidranna has build up an impressive force, quite capable of invading smaller border countries. Everything not spend for queen D’s palace and hobbies is reserved for the army. While the redshirts are poorly trained and armed with basic weaponry reports warn me that her elite forces are extremely dangerous and equipped with high tech weaponry. The last few pre cold war tanks will be not a problem. Years of embargos ensured a massive fuel shortage and lack of repairs.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0715-55-21-60.jpg
However all that risk is definitely worth it. Arulco is riddled with gold and silver mines. That will be more than enough money to hire the best of the best mercenaries and killers for hire. And if poor Enrico didn’t acknowledge our efforts with a long term interest payment…. Well we’re the heavy armed guys. After seeing what Deidranna is capable of, I’m sure even I myself would be a more efficient ruler.
But enough of politics. The first part of my master plan is to get a foothold. Ivan, old friend and one of AIM’s best gun-for-hire. His job is to scout the area and acquire more funds to insert a second fully armed strike team.
Bringing Vehicles with us will be pointless the fuel embargo will make it a short advantage at best and Ivan will be way easier to spot.
Insertion via Helicopter is the only option left. A local smuggler pilot will bring our troops in, I managed to convince him that in the New Arulco we will need people to import goods. And he should prove his loyalty early.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0716-09-03-60.jpg
Omerta is Ivans first landing point, from there he will make contact for further instructions.
Day 1
Report from Ivan’s ready.
Looks like the poor chap landed inside one of Deidrannas patrols looking for the pitiful rest of the resistance group Enrico mentioned. He described them as rather weakly armed. If that’s everything Deidranna throws at us we should stockpile that hollow point shells. Not like they wearing armor. The initial ambush was disposed of and the rest died quickly due to Ivan’s superior experience and the heavy firepower of his AK.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0716-27-15-95.jpg
While mowing down regulars left and right Ivan nearly didn’t spotted the squad leader. A female greyshirt. Properly armed and armored, but in the end surprised with a bullet to the back of the head. Poor girl didn’t see it coming.
http://s466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/?action=view¤t=ja22010-03-0716-29-37-77.jpg
// New game Spot-the-Elite: This enemy was pretty well hidden and in the first try Ivan walked //around the front of the house. He lost 165 Hitpoints due to 5 bullets to the head. Yes she managed //to intercept Ivan and waste him in a single round.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0716-32-43-39.jpg
The remaining adversaries attempted to hide/ bunker themselves behind sand sacks. Ivans superior aiming skills and reflexes ended this quickly.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0716-42-47-76.jpg
Ivan contacted me rather quickly. Enemy contact wasn’t planed for the first week and combing that ghost town for some rebels is definitely out of question. No doubt that the queen will send reinforcements to look after the lost patrol.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0716-43-18-27.jpg
While Ivan was busy scrounging for useful stuff I looked into some security footage from Meduna. Looks like our hired Intelligence hacked the palace security cams to make sure we know of anything the queen will throw at us.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0719-14-52-29.jpg
Elliot (No last name known, Queen Deidrannas advisor) reported the Omerta incident and after receiving a rather harsh punishment…
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0719-14-57-36.jpg
Was ordered to send reinforcements at once. So I was right. Ivan has to leave immediately. He will travel to San Mona, a small and not official by Deidranna controlled town in the west to hide and rest for a few hours.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0719-16-48-13.jpg
Evading his pursuers, our Russian mayhem machine reaches San Mona. Tomorrow will be spend raising more Information and money.
http://i466.photobucket.com/albums/rr22/w0dka/ja/ja22010-03-0719-16-59-65.jpg
Welcome to San Mone East Ivan. Drink a beer, you’ve earned it.
Is there someone here who’s fluent in written Russian? Would be cool to translate some of Ivans comments. Oh and the IMP merc is not created jet. I’m drawn between a knife wielding maniac à la Brock Samson or a sneaky nightops/flanker. However practically everything is possible. My Endgame will always be an onslaught of a BIG MERC+AIM team storming Meduna with heavy mortal support.