The primary objective is to destroy the queen's hold on Arulco, but that isn’t a simple matter of getting the best mercs with the biggest guns.
The entire operation starts with limited, funding and you must build a team to take back the island while enlisting the aid of its inhabitants.
There is a vast array of weapons and 40 mercs at your disposal, but you have to earn money to afford them. The underlying task is actually to manage your resources to accomplish dethroning Deidranna.
Early Stages
At the start of the game, you will only be able to afford a few lower-level mercs. These are not the super elite A.I.M. has to offer, and you should take that into consideration. A quick scan of the potential hired guns shows a big difference in skill set and price per contract.
The cheapest merc starts out at around $10,000, while the best of the bunch, Gus Tarballs, tops out at nearly $79,000. Remember that the first mercs you hire might not be the ones you use later in the game.
Still, the initial choices you make will have a big impact if you don’t create a team that can work well on the battlefield. You can hire two more expensive mercs with higher stats or three cheaper ones.
In general, it is better to start with more hands on deck unless you are very proficient with a smaller squad. Pure numbers don’t compensate for skill and ability but early on they do help, especially when you're attempting to lug around all the items you find.
The most sought-after attributes and skills will be marksmanship and dexterity because they determine the mercs' ability to shoot. However, you can’t simply pick the first few mercs with the best firing capabilities if you want to have a functional team.
In fact, the first choice should be to find a medic. Nobody goes into battle planning to be significantly wounded, but when it happens you need a doc to patch them up. The lower-tier medics can’t use the big med kits, but they are capable of keeping your team in action. Also, don’t expect stellar skills at firing a weapon from a field medic.
The next choice needs to be someone with good shooting ability, after all this is war. You should also look for secondary skills like mechanical so you can fix weapons and try to pick locks. Grunty is a good example of someone who would fit that role.
Lastly, you can look for someone with explosive, stealth, or other attributes as long as they also have amply firing skills. It will become apparent when looking at your initial choices that there are trade-offs in attribute skills.
The objective is to build a team that complements each of the mercs. For example, there is little point in having 2 explosive experts.
Also, pay attention to their starting gear, because that is a significant part of the cost for their contract. They will be stuck with that gun for a little while.
New Recruits
As you earn more money, you will be able to hire more mercs. However, the first priority should be to outfit your current team with good gear. Don’t be too eager to hire someone cheap just to add another body to the squad.
Make sure your current team has the equipment they need to be as effective as they reasonably can be, and save enough cash to hire someone who will make an impact on the squad.
The goal should be to increase your group with someone who has skills and traits the team is lacking, such as a night ops or proficiency with a sniper rifle. Skills like explosives and mechanical might not seem urgent, but they help round out the team and allow a lot more options on the battlefield.
As the game gets more difficult, it is wise to look for someone with increased medical skills or simply a second medic. Remember that if your only medic gets KO'd, he won’t be able to heal himself or anyone else.
Also, the medic's inventory becomes inaccessible if he's are unconscious. If he's the only one carrying healing items, then you are out of luck.
Once you have all the core equipment skills covered, adding mercs to your group or forming a second squad centers around your preferences for playing. Some will favor a more stealthy approach, while others will tout pure firepower and high health.
Of course, the best way to go is to find some balance that leaves you lots of alternatives. A good mix of excellent shots, stealthy warriors, and support skills like medical and mechanical will allow you to adapt to the battlefield and make the best of any situation.