Dark Avatar Campaign - Return of the dread lords

I played conservatively until I could create extremely strong fleets. I ended up with fleets of Medium sized ships, each containing approximately 70-90 in Missile or Beam attack (can't remember which now) and strong defenses against whatever type the Dread Lords were using at the time.

I created two Troop transports and then circled around the Korath ships until I could get to the world I was supposed to take over. By that time in the game, both the Korath and I had Huge hulled ships (it was a VERY long game) and so I used a fleet of Large and Medium ships while my Dreadnought took out the Korath Dreadnoughts...that is plural.

It really is just a matter of luck I think, to be able to get through that mission. It is exceedingly hard just because of those Dread Lords. It took me an innumerable number of tries.

Good luck on it though,
GalenEvil

So I should work on my defense first, and then build up my ships size and offensive weapons? I tried rush tactics once but the ships defending the planet I'm suppose to take over were way too strong. Seems like I'll have to take my time to develop a strong army before attacking the planet. However, while doing this, the Korath and Dread Lords kept sending their ships taking out my planet defenses, which were way too weak in early game.   

The DLs are supposed to be nigh on invincible. However, they don't get any better over time (apart from being able to crank out ships faster as they build more factories). If you can survive, then eventually you'll make up the difference.

You've got to learn to fight clever- DL dreadnoughts are effectively invincible in the early game, but with a full sized low level fleet, you should be able to take out the troop transports. Instead of waiting for the DLs in orbit around your planets, send out fleets to intercept the troop transports, while avoiding the Dreadnoughts.

Also, while you can't actually kill the Dreadnoughts due to the stupid 1HP rule, you can wear them down with enough attack focussed ships. The DLs will then remove them to give them time to repair.

If you do loose a planet, make sure that you have troop transports on hand to retake it immediately. If you're lucky, you'll steal some powerful DL weapons tech, which can really turn the tide in your favour. I wouldn't advise deliberately loosing planets though, as the DLs will start stealing your Logistics tech...

I found this mission quite funny since the thalan conquered the planet after i took all enemies out with my small or medium ships full of psycho beams.

I just tried this mission again and I must really take my hats off for the AI.

In early game, both the korath and dread lords attacked my planets with missile weapsons (10+ missile dmg from korath & 400+ missle dmg from dread lords), with a few points of mass driver defenses. So I build my ships with beam weapons and point defenses to counter their missile weapons. In mid game to my horror, the dread lords maintained their huge (400+) missile weapons without much defenses but the korath switched to beam weapons (30-60dmg) and shield defenses (10-30pts) to counter my beam weapons and point defenses!!   

How do i counter with ships attacking me left right center with beam & missle weapons, & shield defenses???

It might be worth investing in more speed so you can dictate which of your fleets engages which enemy. That way you can start building fleets tailored to the Korath and keep them away from the Dreadlords.

Hi!
You may find this post: In Defense of Drengi useful.

BR, Iztok

Isn't 'In Defense of Drengi' a different map from the map i need help on?

The best way to beat up DL are Spies btw. they cant counter spies and wont built anymore ships if you place spies on every single factory.

What about the Korath?? How do you deal with these guys?? They keep sending powerful ships and when you do get better ships, they are always in step with you.   

Btw, I've been playing on tough difficulty.

if your production capacity allows, you could try building cargo hulled ships with no engines/defences and load them up with off type weapons. Once you get enough of thses ships, the stupid Korath will try to counter them when your not even using them in combat!

If I load up my cargo ships with offensive weapons the korath would counter them, doesn't that mean I'll need to research 2 types of offensive weapons?

Yes but they do not have to be good weapons! Just whack any old crap on the cargo hulled ships,,, as long as your main weapon is not too seriously way advanced, then you should be able to fool the Korath this way.

Yes! I got the planet. All I did was conquer as many planets as I could. In this way, the Korath could not develop their ships fast enough. I managed to overpower them militarily and once I had ships strong enough to take out the Dread Lords' defensive, I made a final push and got the planet!