Campaign Comprehensive Guide

The first act of Nebulous Fleet Command’s campaign delivers players a series of tactical missions while telling the story of the Shelter Alliance’s (ANS) Task Force Alder’s attempt to help break the Bethel Blockade. You, the admiral of Task Force Alder, are charged in this campaign with keeping enough of your ships safe to reach the Bulwark system, the location of a major Outer Space Protectorate (OSP) shipyard. You are not the attacking force, but are behind enemy lines, trying to draw OSP ships away. However, while doing so, you will run into a mystery that changes the nature of the war.

This guide section has several sections, the front page offers generalist advice. There are however, in-depth mission-by-mission campaign guides for every area based on Moderate Difficulty, written in the style of the old Warcraft III guides. The area pages, however, do contain a breakdown of forces on all difficulties.

Naturally, there will be spoilers ahead. It is a requirement that you complete the basic tutorials first before embarking on this campaign for the smoothest experience.

If you truly wish to be spoiled as to your enemy’s composition without getting to the area outlines, there are pages at the end of the guide indicating the force disposition at each area.

General Campaign Truisms

If you lose your flagship Harsh Winds Blow you will lose the campaign
Knowing how armored a ship you are confronting is and what weapons do well against it is a requirement. It is recommended for beginners to review the Armor page.
Cooperative play is fully integrated into the campaign, and so long as ships are available, each player can control a ship up to 10 players. This does mean if you are starting to play with friends, the maximum number of players that can join for the first mission is three.
Prioritize protecting ships over munitions. Expend the necessary missiles or bombers if you’re going to take significant damage. You cannot replace warships in this campaign. There will be opportunities to loot munitions
The campaign will autosave the start of the mission and the end once the objectives are complete.
When practical, preserve high-capability missiles for large engagements
Use the pause button liberally to plan, assess, and reconnoiter the area. The campaign is balanced around this fact
You can restore ships at stations using the Damage Control Board, which will draw restore components from the station
Stations will partially restore your ship components without using restores, but they will not restore your armor.
Stations will generally have fuel, and you can revisit them, but note that revisiting a station will use up fuel for your entire fleet for a reverse trip.
A knocked-out ship can be salvaged by docking a ship that has at least 4 Restores. The knocked-out ship will only have an engine and a CIC, but can still be moved until a shipyard is reached to repair it
You can launch Halberd Skiffs to check the ammunition loadout of a disabled enemy ship to see if there is any useful loot
You can board ships to loot them, and this can be rewarding, but warships can go nuclear during looting

Cadet Hardly's Campaign Primer

Starting Fleet

CV-3 ANS Harsh Winds Blow "Windy"

Worden-class converted Fleet Carrier

8x small craft pads - launch fighters to defend - Use the Katana's 15mm coilgun
4x large craft pads - launch bombers to strike
288 size 2 VLS tubes - flexible, quick response missiles - Simple ACT only Thunderheads are handy for assessing target defenses
5x Defender, 2x Sarissa PDTs - near and long-range CIWS-type defenses - best to ensure these never need to fire!

FFG-897 ANS Stout Coral + FFG-897 ANS Loom of Karina "General-purpose Frigates"

2x 120mm turrets - lightweight cannons, can use RPF ammo - proximity fuzed, great against fast unarmored targets
Bullseye FCR - provides high quality radar locks - How to make friends with cruiser captains!
Parallax search radar - can do a powerful "BRN" ping - good for scouting, can help see through jamming
24x size 2 VLS tubes - limited by useful missile load

General Tips and Hints

Fuel - take advantage of opportunities to top up, else a ship may get left behind - pay attention to fuel warnings
Map - use the info here to plan your path, especially watch for friendly ship beacons
Tutorials - if something feels stuck, save your campaign and check the tutorials. They cover a lot of complex systems in detail
Formation Orders - you can give orders to multiple ships at once, using the Shift-Right Click menu - to setup a formation, use Shift-F to then link to another ship to follow.
Scouting - early detection gives you time to react (and targets to shoot) - find out what's what before stuff starts hitting the wall
Time Controls - Half-speed is great to help comprehend (and admire!) complex battles. - Accelerated speeds are handy for post-battle logistics
Boarding - grab ammo and supplies where you can - skiffs can quickly check what's available - beware of damaged reactors - if you see X DANGER. Undock and RUN!
Repairs - docking at a station uses that station's component repair limit, commonly 50% of maximum health. A station offering a 100% limit permits complete repairs; these percentages are limits, not additive bonuses

Anti-Ship Missiles

Anti-Ship Missiles	Guidance	Range	Seeker	Note	Note 2
SGM-333 "Forgetfulness"	Direct	4km	ACT/[CMD]	Standard Torpedo	Claymore's best friend
SGM-222 "Hurricane"	Direct	15km	CMD	Extra punch for frigates	Needs to maintain track until impact
SGM-204 "Thunderhead"	Cruise	15km	ACT	Cheap and plentiful, easy to decoy or jam	Great for probing attacks
SGM-204 "Thunderhead Block IV"	Cruise	15km	ACT/[EO]	Much harder to deceive	Say "NO" to chaff
SGM-210 "Squall"	Cruise	15km	ARAD	Seeks jammers and radars
SGM-H-288 "Cyclone" Block III	Cruise	20km	EO	ignores most jamming, sprint stage evades most defenses	For when you need it dead, RIGHT NOW, no excuses.

Anti-Craft and Defensive Missiles

Anti-Craft and Defensive Missiles	Range	Seeker	Note	Note 2
SGM-H-243 "Tornado"	15km	ACT/[CMD]	Ship-launched anti-craft interceptor missile	Great, but can be overenthusiastic. Switch from AREA > POINT, and use Z-key to queue manual launches if you need to.
SGM-112 "Riposte"	3.4km	CMD	Short-ranged anti-missile interceptor (AMM)	Move some from VLS to magazine to equip your fighters
SGM-185 "Remise"	3.5km	ACT/[CMD]	Mid-range delux craft launched ACM	These are very good
SGM-122 "Bolt	2km	ACT	Short-range dogfighting missile	These can be salvaged from most enemy ships

Carrier's Craft Wing

12x B-86T Claymore bomber - Anti-ship heavy hitter - Claymores are your premium tool for SMASH!

    * Size 3 weapon bay - carries 2x torpedoes or bombs
    * MCC guidance module - MCC allows use of CMD-guided torps, difficult to decoy without rare comms jammers

46x PF-440V Tanto Interceptor - Workhorse void supremacy craft - Escort all the things. Limited fuel endurance, so plan ahead for rotating flights.

    * 20mm nose gun Use for anti-craft, leave the missile defense to Katanas
    * Size 1 weapon bay - 4 internal mounts for missiles and bombs, 4 external hardpoints can handle EW or gunpods
    * MCC guidance module - MCC allows use of CMD Riposte and Remise missiles

3x E-44 Sundial SEWAC - Precious and Powerful Radar platform

    * Powerful long-range search radar Use these to find and monitor hostile activity - What's behind that rock? Why is it so quite? Where are all those @#$% missiles coming from?.
    * vulnerable to attack, escort with tantos

4x RS-35 Halberd Skiff - Jack of all trades

    * 35mm nose turret defensive turret, but punchy enough to hurt shuttles in a pinch
    * 4x Size 1 missile hardpoints
    * passive ELINT sensor package - ELINT makes skiffs very useful as sensor pickets, but can't provide range without another offset skiff to crossfix.
    * can scout wrecks to assess potential salvage - Super handy post-battle

10x PF-440C Katana Interceptor - Elite Tanto variant - Use to guard your ships from missiles

    * 15mm 6-shot coilgun - high-tech, high impact. King of the dogfight (while ammo lasts) - In air combat, support these with Tanto-Vs, and retreat when out of ammo
    * Size 1 weapon bay - same carrying capacity as a regular Tanto

Ammo Selection Addendum

    * If you see sparks from ricochets, switch to AP 
    * If you see shells punch through, switch to HE 
    * If its small, use RPF

This is a rough rule-of-thumb, but will let you fire something useful in most situations.

Key: X -> Y = “shoot X to damage, then finish with Y”
X or Y = “use X, but Y has situational uses”. Lack of bolding indicates either works
X :-( = “your best option, but alas, it won’t do much”

Ammo Selection Chart
ANS firing at...	120mm	250mm	450mm
Shuttle/Ferryman	RPF-> HE	RPF -> HE	HE
Tug/Draugr	RPF -> HE	RPF -> HE	HE
MN Flathead (angle)	AP	HE	AP
MN Flathead (flat)	AP	AP	HE -> AP
CVL Journeyman	HE	HE	HE
CC Ocello (bow)	AP	AP	AP
CC Ocello (flat)	AP	HE	HE
LN Marauder (bow)	AP or HE	HE or AP	HE or AP
LN Marauder (flat)	HE or AP	HE	HE
CLN Moorline	HE or AP	HE	HE

Campaign Act 1 Map and Movement

You can access the campaign map using the top right-hand corner button. This will automatically pause the battle
Every jump to another system will take 1 bar of fuel from every ship travelling.
The entire fleet must have fuel before jumping, and any ship without fuel will be left behind.
When there are multiple exit points, the fleet will follow where the first ship has decided to go. For example, if you jump your flagship Lamplight and then move your frigate to the exit line for Crucible, the frigate will depart for Lamplight.

Labyrinth Gate

The first mission of the campaign

Crucible

Your fleet is put through its crucible of fire.

Lamplight

Your fleet arrives at a mining station.

Iron Spindle

Task Force Alder goes for a Protectorate Factory Station.

Anacrusis

Upon arriving at a mining site, Alder finds some new allies, and some new enemies.

Katabasis

Allied Ships

None

Enemy Ships

None

Beggar's Hallow

Allied Ships

ANS Disperse These Mists (missile frig)

Enemy Ships

OSPN Hammer And Anvil (100 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN Legally Ambiguous (EWR Tug) - E/M/H
OSPN Borrowed Time (EWR Tug) - E/M/H
OSPN Opportunity Cost (Bomber Jman) (Conditional Spawn - Arrival from Caltrop) - E/M/H

Caltrop

Allied Ships

ANS Great Salt Sea (AOR)

Enemy Ships

OSPN Long Iron Blues (100 LN) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN Pursuing Excellence (MMT) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN Uncommon Cause (600 MN) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN Thick As Thieves (MMT) - M/H
OSPN Times Are Changing (MMT) - M/H
OSPN On The House (MMT) - M/H
OSPN No Reply Needed (MMT) - H
OSPN Up To The Task (100 LN) - H

Beggar's Hallow Ambush

Allied Ships

None

Enemy Ships

Sturgeon Bombers

Glimmer Reach

Allied Ships

ANS Nomad Giant (450 CH)

Enemy Ships

OSPN Abject Terror (450 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN No Other Way (450 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN Another Man's Demise (Fighter Jman) - M/H
OSPN Fist Ever Ready (ruttle) - M/H
OSPN All Up In Arms (ruttle) - M/H
OSPN Night Run (jam shuttle) - H

Blackwall

Allied Ships

None

Enemy Ships

OSPN Heave To (MMT) - E/M/H
OSPN Come Closer (MMT) - E/M/H
OSPN Heartbreak Hustler (100 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN Make My Day (MMT) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN Blaze Of Glory (MMT) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN Staff and Flush (EWR tug) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN First Into Danger (450 LN) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN Us Or Them (600 MN) (Reinforcements) - M/H
OSPN Valor Our Shield (450 LN) (Reinforcements) - M/H
OSPN Just Walk Away (MDLN) (Reinforcements) - H

Mirror Palace

Allied Ships

None

Enemy Ships

OSPN With One Hand Forward (CLN) - E/M/H
OSPN Personal Touch (EWR Tug) - E/M/H
OSPN Nothing To See Here (EWR Tug) - E/M/H
OSPN Unfriendly Face (EWR Tug) - E/M/H

Frostline

Allied Ships

None

Enemy Ships

OSPN Another Man's Treasure (Fighter Jman) - E
OSPN Ambition And Constraint (ruttle) - E/M/H
OSPN Stone Tyrant (600 MN) - E/M/H
OSPN Tyrannical Gaze (EWR tug) - E/M/H
OSPN Last Castaway (EWR tug) - E/M/H
OSPN Final Orders (450 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN Black Sands (Railcello) - E/M/H
OSPN Maneuver Elements (ruttle) - M/H
OSPN Signal To Noise (jam shuttle) - M/H
OSPN Everything We Got (450 LN) - M/H
OSPN One Fist Of Iron (100 LN) - M/H
OSPN All Reaching All Taking (CVLN) - M/H
OSPN The Other Of Steel (100 LN) - H
OSPN Judgement Call (CLN) - H

Bitter Meridian

Allied Ships

None

Enemy Ships

OSPN Times Are Changing (MMT) (Dead) - E/M/H

Barrow

Allied Ships

ANS Flooding Dark (450 CH)

Enemy Ships

OSPN Rage Tempered By Wisdom (CVLN) - E/M/H
OSPN Scheduled Service (100 shuttle) - E/M/H
OSPN Bethel Ferry Service (100 shuttle) - E/M/H
OSPN Little Rebellion (100 shuttle) - E/M/H
OSPN Enigmatic Presence (ruttle) - E/M/H

Navmag

Allied Ships

None

Enemy Ships

OSPN Borrowed 'til War's End (450 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN Weight Of Fire (450 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN Take A Number (600 MN) - H
OSPN Will Be Of Service (600 MN) - H

Faded Call

Allied Ships

None

Enemy Ships

OSPN No Time To Stick Around (CVLN) (Dead) - E/M/H
OSPN Animosity In Bulk (CVLN) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN Feeling Lucky (EWR tug) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN Force Of Nature (MMT) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN All At Once (MMT) (Reinforcements) - E/M/H
OSPN Just Walk Away (450 LN) (Reinforcements) - M/H
OSPN Moral Hazard (MMT) (Reinforcements) - M/H
OSPN Safety Hazard (MMT) (Reinforcements) - M/H
OSPN Present Arms (450 LN) (Reinforcements) - H

Seven Sisters

Allied Ships

ANS Swift Toxin (missile frig) (cutscene ship)

Enemy Ships

OSPN Emperor Reverse (450 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN Watch Your Step (450 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN Cold Command (Railcello) - E/M/H
OSPN Do Unto Others (CVLN) - E/M/H
OSPN The Up And Up (EWR tug) - E/M/H
OSPN Get Cozy (EWR tug) - E/M/H
OSPN Got 'Em Again (MMT) - E/M/H
OSPN Make Your Day (MMT) - E/M/H
OSPN One Too Many (600 MN) - E/M/H
OSPN Salt Sower (600 MN) - E/M/H
OSPN To The Weary (100 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN Silver On The Table (100 LN) - E/M/H
OSPN With Warm Regards (CLN) - M/H
OSPN From Sea To Sea (100 LN) - M/H
OSPN Engineered Enigma (100 LN) - M/H
OSPN Forgiven Circumstances (450 LN)
OSPN Just A Hunch (450 LN) - H
OSPN Banging Pots (jam shuttle) - H
OSPN Bump In The Night (ruttle) - H
OSPN Priority Delivery (ruttle) - H