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[Camp Freddie]

Anyone playing the with the 3 mods by the Long War folks? Are they worth it? Impressions?

Yes (90% chance).

SMG and leader mods should always be installed. If you don't like them, you can just not equip/train them.
The new weapons and classes do not seem overpowered. The SMG is a tough choice with 'situational' beneits and penalties. What I've seen of the leader abilities are a bit on the weak side (compared to standard class abilities). I've not met a muton captain, but it sounds like they'll add some variety.

 

[Falk]

Feels like quite a few of the second wave options got baked into the game. Everything from Aiming Angles, to "satellites" being progressively more expensive, to soldier randomization via Advanced Warfare Center perks

 

[Dick Justice]

Feels like quite a few of the second wave options got baked into the game. Everything from Aiming Angles, to "satellites" being progressively more expensive, to soldier randomization via Advanced Warfare Center perks

Would've liked a training roulette option. Makes things more interesting with regards to soldier progression.

 

[Falk]

Would've liked a training roulette option. Makes things more interesting with regards to soldier progression.

I think bad rolls with stats have a much higher chance of messing you up considering how hard Rookies are to get. Maybe if they laxed up on that a little.

edit: Actually, a limited roster plus random stats might open up a lot of fun options with the retraining mechanic, especially if/when you lose some key people.

 

[eJawa]

Loving the game even more than EU/EW, which was one of my most played games ever. Playing veteran ironman. It took a couple restarts after bungling the first Blacksite, but my 3rd run it going pretty well. Most mission go pretty smoothly, but remain tense. Had a couple missions take a bad turn, but managed to pull out (costly) victories.

Lost my only 2 medics in back to back missions, which is making things more tense. I thought I was going to lose my best sniper, when I had her hang back at the extraction point, giving cover fire and then the game moved the extraction point to the other end of the map. Thankfully the reinforcements were pushovers, so I was able to hold them off, while she booked it over.

 

[Dick Justice]

I think bad rolls with stats have a much higher chance of messing you up considering how hard Rookies are to get. Maybe if they laxed up on that a little.

Could compensate by making rookies cheaper to hire. As I said before, I loved how Long War emphasized having a large roster of soldiers to rotate around.

 

[Shake Appeal]

I think bad rolls with stats have a much higher chance of messing you up considering how hard Rookies are to get. Maybe if they laxed up on that a little.

edit: Actually, a limited roster plus random stats might open up a lot of fun options with the retraining mechanic, especially if/when you lose some key people.

One of the small tweaks I'd make if I were in charge is making Rookies slightly cheaper (maybe 15/20), but extending the Rookie->Squaddie training time (to a week).

I think it's more interesting to be forced into missions with inexperienced troops than it is to worry about being able to field anyone at all.

 

[Gaz_RB]

Could compensate by making rookies cheaper to hire. As I said before, I loved how Long War emphasized having a large roster of soldiers to rotate around.

I miss this too. Hope we get something like that through mods by the time I want to do another run.

 

[Purkake4]

Went to skulljack a dude and

Spoiler

a tron man jumped out who then turned into two tron men

. What?

 

[Mupod]

I haven't gotten a single random ability from the AWC. Granted I built it late and I already had a few Majors. But every single mission is rated 'very difficult' with nasty enemies at this point, I've been scared to bring anyone but the A team. Leveling a rookie right now sounds suicidal. Hell you know what, maybe I should get shot down again...that was a great mission for training my reserves.

Also, no matter how much the black market is paying for them, DON'T SELL ELERIUM CORES. You'll need them someday if you want some very important items. Acid grenades alone have turned the tide in my game.

 

[Palmer_v1]

Feels like quite a few of the second wave options got baked into the game. Everything from Aiming Angles, to "satellites" being progressively more expensive, to soldier randomization via Advanced Warfare Center perks

Wait, aiming angles is a thing? I wasn't aware of that. Did they explicitly mention it and I missed it?

Also, I agree that getting new rookies seems much more difficult now. I can rarely afford to buy any in the early months when weapons and armor are so expensive.

Edit:

In campaign attempt 2 on Ironman Veteran, the only things I would currently change is that I would not have paid supplies to recruit a scientist, and I would give all of my grenadiers the shredder perk.

The scientist was a waste cause I'm at a point where I seem to be researching things I consistently lack resources to purchase.

 

[Purkake4]

Oh yeah, I read something about being able to see who you'll be able to hit when selecting where to move. Is that a thing and if so how does it show you?

 

[Shake Appeal]

Wait, aiming angles is a thing? I wasn't aware of that. Did they explicitly mention it and I missed it?

If you get close to a flank, you get a "Good Angle" bonus to hit (20%, I think). It's not explicitly mentioned anywhere except the shot percentage breakdown, which you can see on the menu at the bottom (it's a little slide-out tab).

Oh yeah, I read something about being able to see who you'll be able to hit when selecting where to move. Is that a thing and if so how does it show you?

If you'll be able to see an enemy from the spot your cursor is on, a little crosshair will appear on the left side of their health bar.

I'm hoping someone mods this to turn yellow if that location will be a flanking shot.

 

[Falk]

Wait, aiming angles is a thing? I wasn't aware of that. Did they explicitly mention it and I missed it?

Yeah, if you open the hit % panel (left side of the bottom center panel) it should show something like -%40 High Cover +17% Good Angle or whatever.

edit: I think there really needs to be a way to convert Scientist count into resources, the way Engineers can. Right now, as a few people have already mentioned, Engineers get you supplies and stuff by excavating, while Scientists just make you tech faster into stuff you can't even afford.

I dunno, if Alien datapads were more common and crack-able by Scientists on a completely separate timeline to Research/Shadow Chamber that might give an incentive to get scientists early. Engineer -> Supplies/Alloys/etc, Scientists -> Intel (-> Black Market)

 

[Mupod]

Oh yeah, I read something about being able to see who you'll be able to hit when selecting where to move. Is that a thing and if so how does it show you?

Look at the enemy's health bar. There will be a little crosshair on it if that move will put you into line of sight.

Also good for keeping your guys out of sight when you've scouted an enemy position with a concealed Ranger and want another free ambush. It's not 100% reliable for that though.

 

[BlindJesus]

Went to skulljack a dude and

Spoiler

a tron man jumped out who then turned into two tron men

. What?

And you'll be seeing them as normal enemies from now on, congrats! If they are with a group of other enemies, it may be wise to save the tron-man for last because he splits into two after taking damage.

 

[Purkake4]

If you'll be able to see an enemy from the spot your cursor is on, a little crosshair will appear on the left side of their health bar.

I'm hoping someone mods this to turn yellow if that location will be a flanking shot.

Look at the enemy's health bar. There will be a little crosshair on it if that move will put you into line of sight.

Also good for keeping your guys out of sight when you've scouted an enemy position with a concealed Ranger and want another free ambush. It's not 100% reliable for that though.

Sick, thanks, glad to learn it half way through my campaign and not in the end.

 

[vpance]

I think I read a tip flash by on the screen that said the Good Angle bonus depends on how you approach the target. Is that true? If so I guess I'll have to use waypoints more.

 

[Palmer_v1]

Yeah, if you open the hit % panel (left side of the bottom center panel) it should show something like -%40 High Cover +17% Good Angle or whatever.

edit: I think there really needs to be a way to convert Scientist count into resources, the way Engineers can. Right now, as a few people have already mentioned, Engineers get you supplies and stuff by excavating, while Scientists just make you tech faster into stuff you can't even afford.

I dunno, if Alien datapads were more common and crack-able by Scientists on a completely separate timeline to Research/Shadow Chamber that might give an incentive to get scientists early. Engineer -> Supplies/Alloys/etc, Scientists -> Intel (-> Black Market)

Well, damnit, I would have been playing differently. Good to know!

 

[McNum]

I'm getting worried. Things seem to be going... well. That's never a good sign in XCOM. Sure, the aliens are about to get some Dark Events that will make tactical mode interesting, but if I can pull off what I'm planning, I'll drop Avatar progress to lowers than half, get the new weapon tier, and advance the story within the next couple of ingame weeks.

So, I'm thinking Archon time now. Or something else that annoying to horrible to fight.

 

[Shake Appeal]

Yeah, in my three C/I campaigns (two failed, one ongoing), I have never been Scientist/Research-constrained. I have frequently been Engineer/Build Time-constrained, even when going out of my way to find and bring in Engineers. Getting a Workshop built in the central spot has been huge this run, though. Bless you, Gremlins.

 

[Sullichin]

Feels like quite a few of the second wave options got baked into the game. Everything from Aiming Angles, to "satellites" being progressively more expensive, to soldier randomization via Advanced Warfare Center perks

Is "save scum" (random number seed resets when you load a save) implemented by default now? Haven't really been scumming too hard to tell.

 

[Falk]

I wouldn't know, haven't really reloaded outside of technical issues preventing me from completing or otherwise ending a mission.

Gut feeling is 'no'.

 

[GrandHarrier]

Psi Ops is such a sexy class. Domination is an amazing ability. Why yes, I'll be delighted to permanently mind control that Andromedan.

 

[Technosteve]

The new xcom is harder then the old one. I think i lost the game at mission three when i didnt have enough supplies to get recruits and my people kept getting killed.

I probably get used to it right?

 

[Noray]

I finished the game, but the last mission was so broken I almost didn't. One of the three critical objectives at the end disappeared off the map. Had LOS everywhere, it was just gone. Had to reload a whole ways back to near the beginning of that encounter. That's on top of the performance just seemingly getting worse and worse. It got so bad that whenever I was aiming a flashbang the framerate would literally be in the teens, if that. I just can't believe how much of a mess this game is. Shame, because underneath all the jank is a really good game, but holy hell it's busted.

 

[Rhaknar]

mimic beacon into a kill zone cone

 

[Randdalf]

I'm having trouble getting into this game :/

I've started on Normal with all the default settings, and it kind of feels like the game's difficulty is sprinting away from the capabilities of my soldiers. I did two missions in a row where I just got absolutely slaughtered and had to call in the Skyranger within 3 turns to evacuate. I'm now doing the first black site mission, with all my best units, and I just can't seem to take on these enemies. A single Muton will run up and just one-shot somebody, two will get hit by stun lancers, the others will panic, and from there it's effectively over. Am I approaching these missions wrong?

 

[Palmer_v1]

I'm having trouble getting into this game :/

I've started on Normal with all the default settings, and it kind of feels like the game's difficulty is sprinting away from the capabilities of my soldiers. I did two missions in a row where I just got absolutely slaughtered and had to call in the Skyranger within 3 turns to evacuate. I'm now doing the first black site mission, with all my best units, and I just can't seem to take on these enemies. A single Muton will run up and just one-shot somebody, two will get hit by stun lancers, the others will panic, and from there it's effectively over. Am I approaching these missions wrong?

Ideally, you have Mag weapons and predator armor by the time you're running into Mutons.

 

[Randdalf]

Ideally, you have Mag weapons and predator armor by the time you're running into Mutons.

Eek.

 

[Skunkers]

Is "save scum" (random number seed resets when you load a save) implemented by default now? Haven't really been scumming too hard to tell.

Someone said no earlier in the thread after a poster complained he save scummed a 90% shot that missed and it missed like 10 times in a row lol.

 

[Tworak]

try getting the squad size I at least for the black site mission in case you don't have it already. it helps a lot. since there is no time limit on the black site mission you can overwatch creep slowly instead of rushing in and discovering enemies on the last soldier turn.

 

[pantsmith]

I'm having trouble getting into this game :/

I've started on Normal with all the default settings, and it kind of feels like the game's difficulty is sprinting away from the capabilities of my soldiers. I did two missions in a row where I just got absolutely slaughtered and had to call in the Skyranger within 3 turns to evacuate. I'm now doing the first black site mission, with all my best units, and I just can't seem to take on these enemies. A single Muton will run up and just one-shot somebody, two will get hit by stun lancers, the others will panic, and from there it's effectively over. Am I approaching these missions wrong?

A couple good tips I picked up from my ironman days in the first game:

- dont be afraid to restart; a fresh start isnt a total loss of your investment because you are now much more experienced than you were. It can build more momentum and take less time than the endless death spiral of sending underequipped rookies to die.

- try to get through the first couple missions without losing anyone at all; this was my rule for ironman, and I must have restarted twenty or so times before I got the momentum I needed to see an entire campaign to the end

- identify what you did wrong, and try to set goals to adapt the next time around; in my case I will definitely prioritize weapon research next campaign

I'm not saying you have to start over, but if you are feeling down on the game starting over again can help a lot.

 

[Dick Justice]

Finally came across chryssalids. So they can run straight out of the fog of war before you see them, and attack you right away, maybe even poison one of your troops. And enemies can still dodge attacks even after being flashbanged. Yeah, this isn't challenging. This is "lol let's just design these enemies to be a giant pain the ass where luck matters more than actual skill and preparation. So hardcore".

 

[Corpekata]

Don't do the blacksite mission early. Just focus on expanding your network and upgrading. I'd only do it if you're uncomfortable if the Avatar Project hits max and you don't have an alien facility accessible.

 

[Randdalf]

try getting the squad size I at least for the black site mission in case you don't have it already. it helps a lot. since there is no time limit on the black site mission you can overwatch creep slowly instead of rushing in and discovering enemies on the last soldier turn.

I actually do have the squad size upgrade. I sort of penned myself into a corner with my soldiers trapped between 2 patrols of aliens. I'll resume from an earlier save, maybe do some more research, see how it goes.

 

[Palmer_v1]

Eek.

Well, I KNOW I had mag weapons, but I may have been short of predator armor at that point. Can't remember for sure.

 

[Tokubetsu]

I miss Dr. Vahlen a lot.

 

[FadedRevolution]

So I'm playing the first xcom before I get the second one and on that mission where you have to save civilians after an alien attack fuck those crawling things that kill you and bring the corpses back to life that then spawn more crawling things when you kill them. I was doing well until that mission then everything fell apart. Now I see why people have multiple saves.

 

[Archaix]

So I'm playing the first xcom before I get the second one and on that mission where you have to save civilians after an alien attack fuck those crawling things that kill you and bring the corpses back to life that then spawn more crawling things when you kill them. I was doing well until that mission then everything fell apart. Now I see why people have multiple saves.

Don't worry, they managed to make those missions more terrifying and tense in the second game.

 

[Randdalf]

Well, I KNOW I had mag weapons, but I may have been short of predator armor at that point. Can't remember for sure.

I just researched predator armor, +4 health

Mag weapons are in the pipeline...

 

[Ric Flair]

Finally came across chryssalids. So they can run straight out of the fog of war before you see them, and attack you right away, maybe even poison one of your troops. And enemies can still dodge attacks even after being flashbanged. Yeah, this isn't challenging. This is "lol let's just design these enemies to be a giant pain the ass where luck matters more than actual skill and preparation. So hardcore".

Yeah, some of the situations are just unforgiving in how difficult they can become.

 

[Corpekata]

I've only had one Chryssalid encounter so far.

It's where I earned the Now I am Become Death (kill 3 enemies in a single turn with a single soldier without explosives) achievement.

 

[Onivulk]

Is there any good way to shred armor outside of a Grenadier with shredder. I'm here at the end game and every encounter with Andros, sectopods, and watchers has become very stressful.

 

[Purkake4]

I just researched predator armor, +4 health

Mag weapons are in the pipeline...

Two item slots OP, pls nerf.

 

[Rhaknar]

Two item slots OP, pls nerf.

Exo suits puts back at 1 ;_;

 

[Corpekata]

Is there any good way to shred armor outside of a Grenadier with shredder. I'm here at the end game and every encounter with Andros, sectopods, and watchers has become very stressful.

Explosives in general. Heavy Armors. Rocket will shred, there's also an weapon you can get via proving grounds called the shredder for the armors that will shred armor in a wide cone from the soldier. It's also hilariously destructive, often doing more damage to cover and buildings that most explosives.

Acid Grenades with the PG upgrade shred I think 4 armor by default too. Might just need to load up everyone with grenades.

Lucky proc from Advanced Warfare Center can put shredder on other classes. Lucked out with a Ranger with it. Rapid Fire + shredder is hilarious.

Psi damage abilities ignores armor too making them good for armored enemies.

 

[Shake Appeal]

I think Combat Protocol might shred (or at least ignore) armor on robotic enemies, too.

 

[Woo-Fu]

My main sniper is the total MVP of the game. Racked up the most kills by far and almost never gets hit. Snipers are totally amazing.

Well, they get to sit in the back, never take damage, rack up kills, and go on every mission. They easily outlevel everybody else in early-mid game because of that combination.

I think Combat Protocol might shred (or at least ignore) armor on robotic enemies, too.

Doesn't shred, does ignore. Combat protocol one of the best skills in the game, IMHO, long-range, guaranteed damage that ignores armor. Shame it doesn't ignore shields too. Also that specialist skill that gives them a 50% chance of another overwatch shot if they hit is crazy. I had one specialist empty his mag in one round twice on the same level. Seemed closer to 100% chance.

 

[Falk]

Specialist has a hilarious atomic bomb that also deals additional damage to mechanized units.

You do have to give up party heal for it though.