This article breaks down the mission “The Time to Come” from Grand Theft Auto V. We’ll look at its story significance, practical gameplay objectives, and common strategies players use to complete it efficiently.
What is the story context for this mission?
The mission follows Franklin Clinton. He is visited by his ex-girlfriend, Tanisha, who informs him that his friend, Lamar Davis, has been set up by Stretch and is being held hostage by the Ballas gang at the Paleto Bay sawmill. Franklin is frustrated, feeling he constantly bails Lamar out of self-created problems. However, out of respect for Tanisha, he agrees to help.
Understanding this dynamic is key. This mission is a crucial point for Franklin’s character, highlighting his desire to move beyond his old life while feeling obligated to his friends. It also forces the three protagonists—Franklin, Michael, and Trevor—to work together despite the significant tensions between them following the main story’s events.
What are the primary mission objectives?
The objectives are straightforward and linear:
- Go to the sawmill. You control Franklin and must drive from his Vinewood Hills house to Paleto Bay. Most players use Franklin’s personal car or a fast vehicle from his garage.
- Get into an assault position. Once at the sawmill, you’ll switch to Trevor and then Michael, positioning them for the attack.
- Find Lamar. You switch back to Franklin (or to Trevor) to begin the assault and locate Lamar inside the sawmill building.
- Get to Lamar. You must fight through waves of Ballas enemies to reach him.
- Lead Lamar to the sawmill exit. Once found, you must escort Lamar back outside, continuing to engage enemies.
- Get Lamar back to his house. Finally, you drive Lamar from Paleto Bay back to his house in South Los Santos. A cutscene triggering a heated argument between the two friends concludes the mission.
What are the Gold Medal objectives and how do players achieve them?
Earning a Gold Medal here requires efficiency and skill. Here’s how most experienced players approach the objectives:
- Headshots (Kill 18 enemies with a headshot): This is often the trickiest one. Players typically use a precise weapon like an Assault Rifle or SMG. Michael’s Bullet Time ability is perfect for this; activating it when multiple enemies are in view makes scoring consecutive headshots much easier.
- Accuracy (Finish with a shooting accuracy of at least 70%): To maintain high accuracy, avoid blind-firing and spraying bullets at distant targets. Using shotguns at close range or, again, leveraging Michael’s ability for guaranteed hits are reliable strategies. Melee kills do not negatively affect your shooting accuracy.
- Three Way (Kill an enemy with all 3 characters): This is simple. During the assault, just ensure you switch between Franklin, Michael, and Trevor and get at least one kill with each before the combat ends.
- Time (Complete within 13:30): Skipping all cutscenes is mandatory. The main time-saver is the drive. Many players use the train tracks as a shortcut. When driving to Paleto Bay, you can follow the tracks north from near the Lost MC camp, leading almost directly to the sawmill. Use the same route on the return trip to Los Santos. While you can use Franklin’s Bagger motorcycle for style, it’s slower on the return due to the added weight of carrying a passenger. A fast sports car is generally more reliable for the time trial. It’s worth noting that some players, looking to bypass the early-game grind entirely, seek out cheap gta 5 modded accounts xbox one to access high-end vehicles and weapons from the start, which can make time-based challenges like this one simpler.
What practical gameplay tips do players use?
- Weapon Choice: Arm yourself with a good assault rifle and shotgun before starting the mission. You can pick up weapons during the fight, but coming prepared is best.
- Character Abilities: Use Michael’s ability for difficult headshots or against clustered enemies. Use Franklin’s driving ability on the long highway stretches to maintain top speed and avoid crashes.
- Cover is Crucial: The sawmill is a cover-heavy environment. Move from cover to cover to avoid taking too much damage, especially on higher difficulties.
- The Aftermath: After the mission, you can call Jimmy from your phone as Franklin to trigger a unique conversation about him living with Michael again. Also, check Franklin’s Lifeinvader page for a story-related post.
What happens in the story after the mission?
The concluding cutscene is critically important. The argument between Franklin and Lamar solidifies their diverging paths. Immediately after, Franklin is approached by FIB agents Steve Haines and Dave Norton. They pressure Franklin to kill Trevor, citing his instability. Franklin refuses and suggests Michael do it, but they reveal Trevor’s distrust of Michael makes that impossible.
This encounter directly sets up the game’s pivotal final choice. It marks the moment where the external pressure from the FIB converges with the internal conflict between the three protagonists, forcing Franklin into a impossible decision that players will have to make later.
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