I just finshed testing out the missions for Pandora's Box Arc 3, aka everyone's favorite farming run, and came up with some interesting results.
For our test we used a team of 5 level 50s with varying loadouts. A few hackers, a couple of gunmen. Unfortunately, no MAs (thanks to Keppen, bonopi, Yiwe, and Icedragon142 for running through these with me).
The mainstay of the mission, the Hired Thugs(level 47), were quite simple, thanks to the area of effect hacks. We ran through this part of the mission twice, and it only took about 90-120 seconds to clear the entire board. This is perhaps a bit too easy, but keep in mind that those same Thugs devoured me whole when I tried to solo the mission. Their Ballistic resist seems about right, but I would consider upping their Viral resist, considering that the hackers were able to consistantly do 500-700 damage without any IS drain. Again, regretfully no feedback on Melee resist.
The really interesting part of this test was the first part of the first mission of Arc 3. As most of us know, the NPCs in this area are constructed according to the makeup of the team, conning at level 49 for a level 50 player running solo, and adding one level for each additional level 50 player up to a maximum level of 55. Since our team consisted of 5 level 50s, we had a board full of level 55 Agents to contend with. These guys are brutal. Entering the mission area proved fatal for the entire team in a matter of seconds, as every Agent on the board converged on the front door in about 15 seconds. Their damage resistance is epic, (Full Auto Redux averaged about 450 damage to them, where it averages 900-1000 against a well armored player at level 50) but appropriate for their level. The real problem was the NPCs swarm tactics and damage output. Anytime anyone entered interlock, every unengaged NPC began to shoot at them simultaeneously, resulting in an average damage of 150-250, and nearly instant death. The hackers were able to land the majority of their hacks from the safety of the outer hallway, and their Viral resist seemed just about right, if a tiny bit low in comparison to their Ballistic resist (the big hacks, Logic Cannon 3, and Dev Field averaged around 550-600 damage).
To sum up, the Hired Thugs are easily dispatched with the right team behind you, but don't tangle with the Agents unless you like hiding in the hallway and clicking the door open over and over.
For our test we used a team of 5 level 50s with varying loadouts. A few hackers, a couple of gunmen. Unfortunately, no MAs (thanks to Keppen, bonopi, Yiwe, and Icedragon142 for running through these with me).
The mainstay of the mission, the Hired Thugs(level 47), were quite simple, thanks to the area of effect hacks. We ran through this part of the mission twice, and it only took about 90-120 seconds to clear the entire board. This is perhaps a bit too easy, but keep in mind that those same Thugs devoured me whole when I tried to solo the mission. Their Ballistic resist seems about right, but I would consider upping their Viral resist, considering that the hackers were able to consistantly do 500-700 damage without any IS drain. Again, regretfully no feedback on Melee resist.
The really interesting part of this test was the first part of the first mission of Arc 3. As most of us know, the NPCs in this area are constructed according to the makeup of the team, conning at level 49 for a level 50 player running solo, and adding one level for each additional level 50 player up to a maximum level of 55. Since our team consisted of 5 level 50s, we had a board full of level 55 Agents to contend with. These guys are brutal. Entering the mission area proved fatal for the entire team in a matter of seconds, as every Agent on the board converged on the front door in about 15 seconds. Their damage resistance is epic, (Full Auto Redux averaged about 450 damage to them, where it averages 900-1000 against a well armored player at level 50) but appropriate for their level. The real problem was the NPCs swarm tactics and damage output. Anytime anyone entered interlock, every unengaged NPC began to shoot at them simultaeneously, resulting in an average damage of 150-250, and nearly instant death. The hackers were able to land the majority of their hacks from the safety of the outer hallway, and their Viral resist seemed just about right, if a tiny bit low in comparison to their Ballistic resist (the big hacks, Logic Cannon 3, and Dev Field averaged around 550-600 damage).
To sum up, the Hired Thugs are easily dispatched with the right team behind you, but don't tangle with the Agents unless you like hiding in the hallway and clicking the door open over and over.
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