Achieve This

[The Captain]

There are a couple of achievements I haven't done. I was going after Clash of the Titans in the Crystal A. I named the ship Rock Crusher, in hopes of fulfilling my quest, but to no avail. Even up to Rock Crusher VII, I still haven't accomplished it, though IV, VI & VII landed in my top ten scores. So I switched to Sapphire III, and while I went through a Rock-controlled sector and the Rock Homeworlds, never accepting surrender, I still didn't destroy 15 Rock ships. Did get my highest score by almost 900 pts, though, having taken a detour through the Crystal sector.

So I went to try Living off the Land. I thought about using a ship with a Cloak, but decided starting with Drone Control was more important. I picked the Mantis B, because it has a Teleporter, too. Got another Mantis early, but then lost one of my original crew in an event. Then when one Mantis was killed while boarding, I let the other one die in combat, too.

Next I chose the Engi A and dubbed it Scavenger. I thought I'd find a Defense Drone along the way, but never did. Instead I got a Beam Drone and a couple System Repair Drones to go with the Antiship Drone. I accepted a lot more surrenders than usual, especially in the early sectors. Without the distraction of other things besides repairs to buy at stores, I could focus on upgrading to the second layer of Shields, then level 5 Engines, then the third layer of Shields. I did get a Hull Beam, but waited to upgrade Weapons. Later came a Burst Laser Mk III. Then a Halberd Beam and a couple of Ion Bombs. I didn't use the Halberd all that much, as the 2-power Hull Beam fit in better with the 3-power Ion Blast Mk II and BL3. Later I swapped out the Hull Beam for a Heavy Laser Mk I, which could pierce a shield layer.

I wondered if scrap might be a problem, not being able to get the extra from boarding, but only buying repairs, I had plenty: maxed my Reactor, Shields, Engines, Weapons, Medbay, Piloting and Doors. Got to Sector 8 and got the achievement. Even beat the boss, though I hated how often I heard that Burst Missile Launcher firing.

[zeek]

Nice job. I used the Mantis B when I did Living Off the Land. I figured having most systems installed was a good start and boarding is a good strategy when you can't be sure you'll get much in the way of weapons. One nice thing is that in the final sector you've already received the achievement. So, if you can find a shop you can buy whatever you want. I was lucky enough to get a cloaking device. Making the boss just that much easier. Love that Mantis B.

Clash of the Titans is one difficult achievement. It seems like so much of it is luck. When I got it I literally finished off the last rock ship on my third to last jump and it was the last rock ship I saw. Just barely pulled that one off.

[The Captain]

Aaarrrgh! Two Rock Controlled sectors and only 9 Rock ships destroyed. I maybe could have had one more - it was the encounter where the options are something like: 1) tell them their god told them to join you; 2) promise to tell them the truths they've been denied; 3) (blue) show them your sensor data. I chose 2, they didn't believe me and flew off, so no fight. Grrr. Still would have been well short of the goal.

If all those goddam Mantis ships had been Rocks, I coulda achieved Clash of the Titans! /shakes fist

One of my Crystal dudes got killed in a combat I let go on too long - he died back on my Teleporter. Funny thing: I was trying to destroy Rock ships, and two Rocks joined my crew. Also kinda funny - I got my fourth highest score, but I'm annoyed about not coming close to this achievement.

[The Captain]

WOO HOO! Clash of the Titans is mine! Blue Ice III purchased Long Range Scanners early, either late in Sector 1 or early in Sector 2. I used it to hunt down Rock ships in a Rock Controlled Sector. Then Sector 4 was also a Rock Controlled Sector, and I continued my quest. Got to 14, but it was the end of the sector. I jumped to a beacon at the east edge of the map where, just ahead of the rebel fleet, I could go north to fight a ship, or south to a beacon with no ship, then the exit. So of course I went to fight the ship, got my 15th kill, and the achievement.

Blue Ice III went on to kill the boss, and I got my 3rd highest score - by 3 points.

[The Captain]

Hurrah for the Pyromaniac (Rock B)!

I didn't get a Fire Beam, but found another Fire Bomb instead. I had accumulated about 30 missiles at that point and tried to get the "Some people just like to watch ships burn" achievement. I didn't yet have L2 Sensors, trying to upgrade my ship in a normal progression, so I had some attempts that didn't work, as I boarded and killed enemies, too. I wondered if I was killing them too fast.

Then I had a battle with a rebel rigger where I fire bombed all over and boarded, killed the crew, and teleported back. Taking care of post-battle maintenance, I heard the fires going on the enemy ship - and then the achievement popped up. Weird - I was thinking it had to be accomplished before you won.

I went on to win with my 7th highest score.

[5thHorseman]

Then I had a battle with a rebel rigger where I fire bombed all over and boarded, killed the crew, and teleported back. Taking care of post-battle maintenance, I heard the fires going on the enemy ship - and then the achievement popped up. Weird - I was thinking it had to be accomplished before you won.

Nice! I had a similar experience, getting this achievement after the battle was won but for me it was right after the screen telling me what I got for winning. Like, I hit "1" and got the achievement.

[hybridfive]

I remember my Living Off the Land Ship. It was called the Oregonian, in homage to Oregon Trail. Kestrel B. I like to think that the Kestrel B cuts down on the variance significantly. If you try to do it with a teleporter ship, you're weak to early Zoltans. Kestrel B is not really weak against anything, and can handle any ship as long as you upgrade a single weapon to a non-beam.