Welcome to my third thread giving perspective players insight into specific aspects in Mercs 2. Shameless plug ahead.

http://www.pandemicstudios.com/communit … hp?id=7575
The one that started it all. Every vehicle in Mercs 2.

http://www.pandemicstudios.com/communit … hp?id=7703
Here is the thread for the air strikes and supply drops.

But don't think I'm flying solo here. Other users have posted great threads on other subjects.

http://www.pandemicstudios.com/communit … hp?id=7614
Grimm's guide to collectibles.

http://www.pandemicstudios.com/communit … hp?id=7619
Mattias=Mayhem's weapons thread.

Great posts guys.

So by now you're wondering "Mulder, what the heck is a HVT?" Simply put, HVT stands for High Value Target. If you played Mercs 1, this is basically the card system. These targets are seen as an impediment to the ordering faction's goals. There are a total of 50 HVT's in the game.

Each faction has ten targets that they want you to deal with. Unlike the first game, where all the bounties were RKA officers, the factions may want you to take out high-ranking members of another rival faction. For example, UP and the PLAV have conflicting interests. The UP may want you to take out a PLAV officer.

As you might guess, factions don't exactly like it when you take down their officers. When you start your attack, radiomen will start to radio in for backup. You have ten seconds to kill him before you take both a reputation hit and get backup headed your way. Additionally, you may lose your outposts, shop privileges, and contracts if a faction goes hostile. Knock him out, then you have no issues.

Just like the first Mercs, you can choose to either capture or kill the target. A kill is worth only half the bounty, while a capture nets you the full amount. Just remember, a kill is better then you dying. You can also be rewarded with air strikes (delivered to your stockpile) or vehicles in addition to your cash.

Two achievements are based around the capture dynamic.
...And Justice For All (50 points)- Complete all bounties
(Secret Achievement) Aces High (50 points)- Capture (not kill) all HVT's

Now for the good stuff.

General Tips:

-Scout out your targets before storming in. Know exactly how you are going in, who you are taking out first, that kind of thing.
- If you are going for a capture, know exactly how you plan to get out. The last thing you need is for a mission to go perfectly, only to slip and fall off a mountain. HVT in hand.
- If you want to capture, keep the high powered weapons checked. In the middle of a firefight, it's easy to lose track of the HVT. If you fire a gun at a guy next to him, no problem. Fire an RPG, err.... Bad times.
- Don't go alone. Take along some friendly soldiers with you. This will help your initial push, and divert attention from you. Under the right circumstances, you may be able to sit back while the friendlies take the enemies out. No worries about rep loss.
- Follow Mulder's cardinal rule of firefights. When in doubt, get the %*!& out! There is no shame in pulling back, resupplying, regrouping, and reinserting.

Now for the specific factions.

Faction: UP
Rivals: PLAV, VZ
Targets: 10 (5 PLAV, 5 VZ)
Making money, one oil dependent superpower at a time.

Rewards
1 target- $75,000-$150,000 (kill/capture) Combat Air Patrol x3
2 targets- $100,000-$200,000 (kill/capture)
3 targets- $125,000-$250,000 (kill/capture) Mantis Light Tank
4 targets- $150,000-$300,000 (kill/capture)
5 targets- $200,000-$400,000 (kill/capture) Anti-Tank Rouge
6 targets- $250,000-$500,000 (kill/capture)
7 targets- $350,000-$700,000 (kill/capture)
8 targets- $500,000-$1,000,000 (kill/capture) Combat Air Patrol
9 targets- $600,000-$1,200,000 (kill/capture)
10 targets- $750,000-$1,500,000 (kill/capture) Combat Rouge

I recommend that you take down the PLAV HVT's before you start working for the PLAV. This way, you can avoid any kind of penalty.

Faction: PLAV
Rivals: UP, VZ
Targets: 10 (5 UP, 5 VZ)
Love is a battlefield, get some.

Rewards
1 target- $75,000-$150,000 (kill/capture) Cardenas Inflatable
2 targets- $100,000-$200,000 (kill/capture)
3 targets- $125,000-$250,000 (kill/capture) Bombing Run x2
4 targets- $150,000-$300,000 (kill/capture)
5 targets- $200,000-$400,000 (kill/capture) Daisy Cutter x3
6 targets- $250,000-$500,000 (kill/capture)
7 targets- $350,000-$700,000 (kill/capture)
8 targets- $500,000-$1,000,000 (kill/capture) Bombing Run
9 targets- $600,000-$1,200,000 (kill/capture) Bombing Run
10 targets- $750,000-$1,500,000 (kill/capture) Daisy Cutter

Take out the UP A.S.A.P. This will keep financial loss to a minimum.

Faction: Pirates
Rivals: Anybody who gets in their way
Targets: 10 (2 VZ, 2 UP, 2 PLAV, 2 Chinese, 2 AN)
Hey, you stole my general!

Rewards
1 target- $50,000-$100,000 (kill/capture) Gunney Transpo'
2 targets- $62,500-$125,000 (kill/capture)
3 targets- $75,000-$150,000 (kill/capture) Iguana MG
4 targets- $87,500-$175,000 (kill/capture)
5 targets- $100,000-$200,000 (kill/capture) Motorcycle
6 targets- $125,000-$250,000 (kill/capture)
7 targets- $150,000-$300,000 (kill/capture)
8 targets- $250,000-$500,000 (kill/capture) Kestrel
9 targets- $375,000-$750,000 (kill/capture)
10 targets- $500,000-$1,000,000 (kill/capture) Jaguar Heavy Tank

If you want to finish all the Pirate bounties, you will eventually have to act against a friendly faction. I would do them one at a time, doing favors for the faction in between. This guarantees you both the targets, and a stable relationship.

Faction: China
Rivals: AN, VZ
Targets: 10 (5 AN, 5 VZ)
Of this, I approve.

Rewards
1 target- $500,000-$1,000,000 (kill/capture) Strategic Missile Strike x2
2 targets- $600,000-$1,200,000 (kill/capture)
3 targets- $750,000-$1,500,000 (kill/capture) Warsong Attack Helicopter
4 targets- $1,000,000-$2,000,000 (kill/capture)
5 targets- $1,250,000-$2,500,000 (kill/capture) Laser Guided Bomb
6 targets- $1,500,000-$3,000,000 (kill/capture)
7 targets- $2,000,000-$4,000,000 (kill/capture)
8 targets- $2,500,000-$5,000,000 (kill/capture) Fuel-Air Bomb
9 targets- $3,500,000-$7,000,000 (kill/capture)
10 targets- $5,000,000-$10,000,000 (kill/capture) Strategic Missile Strike

You are going to be in direct opposition with the AN. It will be a challenge to get all the bounties and keep a working relationship with them. It is critical to take out AN soldiers that are reporting in. A successful report may bring in an AN Ambassador Gunship. This is bad.

Faction: AN
Rivals: China, VZ
Targets: 10 (5 Chinese, 5 VZ)
It's the mercenary! RUN!

Rewards
1 target- $500,000-$1,000,000 (kill/capture) Messenger .50cal, Bombing Run
2 targets- $600,000-$1,200,000 (kill/capture)
3 targets- $750,000-$1,500,000 (kill/capture) Smart Bomb
4 targets- $1,000,000-$2,000,000 (kill/capture)
5 targets- $1,250,000-$2,500,000 (kill/capture) Liberator
6 targets- $1,500,000-$3,000,000 (kill/capture)
7 targets- $2,000,000-$4,000,000 (kill/capture)
8 targets- $2,500,000-$5,000,000 (kill/capture) Guardian APC
9 targets- $3,500,000-$7,000,000 (kill/capture)
10 targets- $5,000,000-$10,000,000 (kill/capture) MOAB

This will put you in direct opposition with the PLA. The good part? They don't have the Ambassador.

REQUESTING PICS (no, not like that): I need some good scans/pics of the bounty maps. I would like to be able to go target by target, but I have no means to scan the pictures in. I will give you a dozen e-cookies. Promise!