Paper Tiger

Paper Tiger
Megafloat (nighttime)
Campaign Mission 04 Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere
Other Names	Paper Tiger (張り子の虎)
Mission Order
Previous	Enter Dision
Next	Broken Truce (UPEO) Soldier of Fortune (GR)
Mission Details
Focus	Air-to-ground
Objectives	Destroy Neucom ships gathering at Megafloat.
Character	Nemo
Focus	Air-to-air
Objectives	Eliminate remaining hostiles.
Character	Nemo

"It's high time for change."

― Abyssal Dision

Paper Tiger is the fourth mission of the original Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere. This mission is the first to feature the game's signature "Decision Point" mechanic, in which the Player can influence the story by changing which story arc they take part in, separating into the UPEO (II) and General Resource (I) arcs.

Mission Story

"All of a sudden, intel came in that Neucom's mobile fleet was gathering at the floating city of Megafloat. In order to avoid a military confrontation between Neucom and General Resource, the situation had to be defused quickly. The members of SARF sortied to the floating city of Megafloat, hoping to get there before Neucom was ready."

― Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere - Namco Official Guide Book

Briefing

Neucom's mobile fleet
is gathering at the floating city of Megafloat.
We must strike before Neucom is ready!
Note there are civilian facilities on Megafloat,
and civilian ships in the harbor sectors.
Avoid damaging them
during the mission!

Aircraft Selection

EF2000E Typhoon II
MiG-33 Fulcrum SS
F/A-18U Hornet ADV
F-16XFU Gyrfalcon

Objectives

Mission Start

The mission's primary targets are the Neucom vessels near Megafloat: one Convoy ship, one Warship and a Carrier. There are also several AA Guns and SAMs on Megafloat itself, as well as R-101s and R-201s in the skies.

If the Player destroys the ships after 2 minutes and 59 seconds have passed, the mission will end and the player will get a Mission Over.

Mission Update

If the Player destroys all of the ships within 2 minutes and 59 seconds, a squadron of two R-101s and two R-201s will spawn as targets, and must be shot down to complete the mission, earning a Mission Accomplished.

Decision Point

After the mission, Dision offers the Player a place at General Resource. The Player can choose to follow him, beginning the General Resource (I) Arc, or turn away and follow Fiona, beginning the UPEO (II) Arc.

Enemy Lists

Standard Units

	Unit	Count	Notes
Mission Start		Carrier GUN MSSL	1 2 1
		Convoy GUN	1 1
		Warship GUN	1 2
		MSSL	4
		GUN	4
		R-101 Delphinus 1	2
		R-201 Asterozoa	2
		Facilities	4
		Transport	2
Mission Update		R-101 Delphinus 1	2
		R-201 Asterozoa	2

Ranks

• A: Defeat first wave within 2:59, and destroy 23+ enemies.
• B: Defeat first wave within 2:59, and destroy 19~22 enemies.
• C: Defeat first wave within 2:59, and destroy 18 or fewer.
• D: Defeat first wave after 3:00 (Mission Update not triggered).

Debriefing

Stay at UPEO:
Thanks to the ceasefire, Neucom's fleet has withdrawn.
There will be no fighting for the time being.

Join General Resource:
N/A

Trivia

• ”Paper tiger” is an expression that refers to a thing that appears powerful at the first glance but upon close examination is actually ineffectual or weak. The phrase was famously used by the Chinese leader Mao Zedong.