BangKOK 12 / 30 / 2010
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Great Advise in Collecting the most valuable loot to strengthen your player. Seems Moscow's high level loot beats out most Bangkok loot from jobs out, EXCEPT for a few hot items and finishing your 'faction bar meter' gets you a ticket to begin purchasing the really BIG Loot items that put Moscow to shame, through the faction shop!
BANGKOK UPDATES:
Episode 1 : Brawler
Chapter 2(Yakuza): Silk Scarf (A 20/22)
Chapter 2(Triad): Attack Cobra (W 24/20)
Chapter 3(Yakuza): Muai Thay Bodyguard (A 18/25)
Chapter 3(Triad): Jade Inlaid Pistols ( W 23/15)
Mastery item: Tiger Sak Yaht (A 65/42)
Episode 2: Criminal
Chapter 2(Yakuza): Dirt Bike (V 24/14)
Chapter 2(Triad): Riding Elephant ( V 18/30)
Chapter 3 (Yakuza): Royal Thai Army Beret (A 28/21)
Chapter 3 (Triad): Bosozoku Convertible( V 29/15)
Mastery Item: Royal Thai Police Tank (v 58/74)
Episode 3: Pirate
Chapter 2 (Triad): Komodo Dragon (w 34/22)
Chapter 2 (Yakuza): MalayMobil Helang (V 19/34)
Chapter3 (Triad): Fugama Kame SUV( V 33/21)
Chapter4 (Yakuza): Seua Daao Sub (V 35/22)
Mastery Item: Harpoon Cannon (W 88/51)
Episode 4: (Commandant)
Chapter 2 (Triad): Hung Fa RPG (W 39/20)
Chapter 2 (Yakuza): Forest Scorpion (W 25/37)
Chapter 3 (Triad): BRM-38 (W 23/38)
Chapter 3 (Yakuza): Royal Thai Army Jeep (V 38/25)
Mastery Item: Armored War Elephant (W 96/69)
Episode 5a (Oyabun): (must have Triad at Trusted Status)
Chapter 2 (Triad): Kage Jet (V 27/42)
Chapter 2 (Yakuza): Scalding Hot Tea (W 26/35)
Chapter 3 (Triad): Optical Camo Suit (A 43/26)
Chapter 3 (Yakuza): Tanto (W 43/28)
Mastery Item: Ronin Armor (A 72/111)
Episode 5b (Dragon Head): (Must have Yakuza at Trusted Status)
Chapter 2 (Triad): Type-103 Machine Gun (W 42/29)
Chapter 2 (Yakuza): Lloyd's Spectre (V 18/45)
Chapter 3 (Triad): Monk's Robe (A 21/49)
Chapter 3 (Yakuza): Cleaver(W 25/44)
Mastery Item: Typhoon Cleavers W 70/112)
Note: Triad loots may be backwards on 5a- no one's posted them for sure yet.
Current "dream gears" are:
Attack:
1 Harpoon Cannon [88,51] (Master Pirate in Bangkok)
1 Typhoon Cleavers [70, 112] (Master Ep 5B in Bangkok)
1 Cazador Assault Rifle [60,25] (Master El Cacique in Cuba)
1 Avispa Machine Gun [54,24] (Master El Jefe in Cuba)
1 Boss Karpov's Pistol [50,38] (Master Boets in Moscow)
496 Ubijca Assault Rifle [43,18] (Vor, Chapter 2- choose Vory in Moscow)
or 496 Tanto [43,28] (Choose Yakuza in Episode 5A, Chapter 3)
1 Ronin Armor [72, 111] (Master ep 5A in Bangkok)
1 Tiger Sak Yant [65,42] (Master Brawler in Bangkok)
499 Yakuza Assassins [50,26] (From Yakuza faction store: Allied Standing)
1 Armored War Elephant [96, 69] (Master Commandant in bangkok)
1 Royal Thai Police Tank [58,74] (Master Criminal in Bangkok)
1 The Drakon [54,22] (Master Pakhan in Moscow)
499 Fugama Hasu (Lotus) [46,23] (Yakuza faction store: Honored Standing)
Mafia Attack Strength: 69,899:
Defense:
1 Typhoon Cleavers [70,112] (Master Episode 5B in Bangkok)
1 ZPR Pulemut [28,65] (Master Vor in Moscow)
499 Cheng-Wei X94 Machine Guns [25,45] (Triad faction store: Neutral standing)
1 Ronin Armor [72,111] (Master Episode 5A in Bangkok)
500 Shaolin Bodyguards [27,51] (Triad faction store: Allied standing)
1 Royal Thai Police Tank [58,74] (Master Criminal in Bangkok)
1 Armored War Elephant [96,69] (Master Commandant in Bangkok)
1 Cocodrilo APC [42,56] (Master El Padrino in Cuba)
1 Barsuk SUV [36,52] (Master Baklan in Moscow)
497 Lloyd's Spectres [18,45] (Choose Yakuza in Episode 5b, Chapter 2]
Defense power: 70, 859
So the important loot drops are:
1) Yakuza in Episode 5A, Chapter3. The Tanto is equal to Moscow's Ubjica Assault Rifle.
2) Yakuza in Episode 5B, Chapter 2. The Lloyd's Spectre is better than Moscow's Konstantin Cargo Carrier by 1 point.
And all other Moscow loots are replaced by the stuff in Bangkok's Faction Shop, so go for that "Bangkok Dangerous" achievement to maximize your equipment.
this is just an FYI for you all go what ever way you want
In NY, remember all those Blackmail Photos and Computer Setups that you needed? Well, in Bangkok you need consumables too. But what if I told you that if you had picked Triads over Yakuza, or Yakuza over Triads you wouldn’t need the consumables. I’m about to tell you which side to pick for each chapter so you can avoid spending some of your precious consumables (You will need lots of pirates and satellite phones for the last episode so hopefully this will help!) This message is a bit long, but worth it!
I recommend you save this and refer to it as you enter a new episode/chapter. These are only my recommendations. You play your game! Money is an issue so after I finished the first level of Episode 3, I went back to Episode 1 and 2 and sold all the required inventory for those jobs. I don’t know why I waited to do that because each episode has different required inventory—meaning , what you use in episode 1, you will not use in episode 3.
I’ll start with recommendations first and then below all these are the reasons. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!
SUMMARY:
In Episode 1 and 2, it doesn’t matter which side you choose. None of the loot pieces are that great.
Episode 3
Ch 2-doesn’t matter
Ch 3-Always pick Yakuza
Episode 4
Ch 2-doesn’t matter
Ch 3-Pick Triads
Episode 5a
Ch 2- Pick Yakuza
Ch 3-Pick Yakuza
Episode 5b
Ch 2- Pick Yakuza
Ch 3-Pick Yakuza
REASONS:
Episode 3:
Chapter 2- There is no real advantage to choosing one side over the other here. Note that the "Hijack a Boat Load of Electronics" job will need to be repeated for consumables down the line, so consider finalizing the choice with your lowest faction. This job drops the Satellite Phone.
Chapter 3-The "Offload The Cars Onto A Waiting Barge" job is Triad-only and costs 1 Satellite Phone, while the Yakuza-only version does not require a consumable. As a result, you always want to pick Yakuza in Episode 3, Chapter 3. There is no reason to pick Triad for this section.
Episode 4:
Chapter 2- It makes no difference whether you pick Triad or Yakuza here; either way you are going to be using drug shipments.
Chapter 3- By siding with the Triads you can get out of spending satellite phones. None of the loot is worthwhile here so that is a non-factor.
Episode 5a:
Chapter 2- Don't be fooled by the stats on the Kage Jet; it is the same as an Armored State Car which has little value on the market. Siding with the Triads here costs extra drug shipments for the "Frame An Enemy For The Murder" job, so pick Yakuza.
Chapter 3- The "Gather More Evidence Of A Betrayal" job drops the Yakuza-only Tanto (weapon; 43 attack, 28 defense). This item is tied with the Ubijca Assault Rifle (from Moscow Episode 5) as the best in slot weapon. Pick Yakuza.
The "Spread Distrust Among the Yakuza Families" job drops the Triad-only Optical Camo Suit (armor; 43 attack, 26 defense).
Conclusion: The Optical Camo Suit is garbage; the Shturmovik from Episode 4 of Moscow has 2 more attack points. Pick Yakuza here.
Episode 5b:
Chapter 2-Note that the Yakuza job drops a good item you will want but the Triad job does not cost a pirate. If you are short on pirates, consider picking Triad until the final time through the tier, and then switch over to Yakuza to give yourself permanent access to the Yakuza-only Lloyds Spectre. If you have plenty of Pirates, just pick Yakuza every time.
Chapter 3-The Monk's Robe (Triad) is garbage and the Cleaver (Yakuza) is not. Furthermore, there is no difference in consumables between Yakuza and Triad. Opt for Yakuza every time here.
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12/2/2010
District 7 - Area 51
X-22 Peregrine (53/24) - vehicle
Pitbull Sentry Gun (28, 52) - weapon
Pronghorn Antelope (21, 53) - animal
Ares Power Armor (33, 58) - armor
Foo Fighter (37, 60) - vehicle (hard to find)
Diamondback (56, 48) - animal (also a District 6 drop item)
Boss Item - Experimental Exosuit - armor (149, 90) for bronze through (185, 106) for Ruby
District 8 - Hoover Dam
Hopped Up Thug (56, 18) - armor
Cooling Vest (31, 61) - armor
Arcturiuon Assault Rifle (59, 27) - weapon
Ripper Assault Rifle (57, 30) - weapon
Balista Missle Launcher (62, 15) - vehicle
Bighorn (26, 64) - animal
Amphiquad (58, 24) - vehicle
Boss Item - Halloran's Helicopter - vehicle (90, 145) for bronze...
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A few thoughts here:
1. Halloran's Helicopter - even at bronze - will immediately be your top defensive vehicle. The boss - Governor Halloran - gets stronger and harder to injure as you go.
2. Experimental Exosuit - even at bronze - will immediately be your top offensive armor. The boss - Dr. Hank Williams - has two henchmen. LOAD UP ON STUN GUNS. You will find yourself using 6 to kill the henchmen alone on the Ruby level.
3. These are some serious stats for drop loot! Would you ever play in Cuba or Moscow again for loot? With attack and defense stats in the 50s and into the 60s, even Bangkok high end loot (BHEL, to use the trading group lingo) will drop on your rankings...
4. ...except that Vegas high end loot (VHEL) is not - readily - tradeable. You can't gift it, as you can with a Royal Thai Marine, or add it to your Wishlist through other MW websites. Though some people apparently are doing it...
5. For the energy jobs on Distrcits 7 and 8, you will need TONS of three items from earlier Districts in Vegas: Hot Tips (D2), Alarm Codes (D3), and Hotel Security Key Cards (D4). I mean TONS. This is like Bangkok on steroids when you needed Untraceable Cells for a few levels and then Satellite Phones forever. If you've already finished Ruby level on the lower Vegas Districts, you'll see that acquiring ONE such item requires up to 108 energy points. And District 7's final energy job requires ONE OF EACH (of alarm code, hotel key) - and get 2% mastery per job - so your "cover charge" for each job is 165 energy points just for the "tools" you'll need to do the final job in District 7, which itself is 144 energy. Total retail price for that ONE job? 15,450 energy points. So be patient.
One reader below commented on a strategy I've used in Vegas that I *wish* I'd used in Bangkok, and even earlier in Vegas. STOP FINISHING THE LEVELS OF THE TOP DISTRICTS SO QUICKLY. There is GREAT loot here - there are some things in District 7 that are as good as the District 8 loot (Foo Fighter, Diamondback). Or - at least - if you finish District 7's Ruby level, stay on Bronze level in District 8 for a LONG time - why not? You will get tons of the top loot in the game. Your stats will skyrocket. And until a new city or District comes along, why wouldn't you want to max out on all this great loot, which drops fairly generously?
Compare the slow climb of Distrct 7's Ruby level - 309 points PER JOB on the final job, doing it 50x, not to mention the other jobs on Energy and Fight Path. The final job on District 8 Bronze level, by contrast, requires no codes/tips/key cards... and costs 19 energy. NINETEEN. If you have an energy account with 4,000 to 5,000 points, you can do roughly 250 jobs and watch all the loot, boss fight items, casino upgrade items, vault upgrade items, Weapons Depot and Chop Shop parts and specialties, and the 4 new Vegas collection items (matchbooks, cactus, animals, card hands... more on these later) drop day after day. Just a suggestion - hold tight on District 8 bronze.
Folks, your Railguns and Mugatis and Hunters - and your Lamangs, Vipers, Marines, and Katars - should start to drop into the middle/lower tier of your weaponry with these great District 7 and District 8 items. Don't fly through it and find that you still have Zolotos and Shturmoviks as part of your top 501 items. Even the Bangkok Faction Store is close to obsolete - why spend your stamina points robbing properties to save up Baht to buy a Xiamen Tiger (52 defense) when at least two drop loot animals in Vegas beat it? Even the Banded Krait (51 attack) - a very expensive B$540,000 - is only 5 attack points higher than all your vipers, but 5 points LOWER than the Diamondback - which drops in Vegas Districts 6 and 7. If anything (since you can't amass 501 Diamondbacks unless you hold back in District 7 at Bronze for more drops), you should simply load up on Vipers, and use the Baht that you accumulate to buy Kraits or Tigers in the Faction Store. The rest of the merchandise is blown away by what you'll accumulate in Districts 6 and 7 in Vegas... so if you're robbing (and we're going to discuss HOW you should be robbing) it should be in... NEW YORK. More to come on that topic.
For more information on the Vegas MADE event on October 15 and 16, please see http://mafiawarsmade.eventbrite.com/ No - I don't work for Zynga and this blog will not be a shill for it - you will see plenty of critique and cheats as we uncover together the threadbare parts of the game (how's that Crime Spree feature working out for everyone??). But this event sounds like fun.
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