Castor Krieg
Banned
What a fucking fail, my Assault had 101 Will UNBUFED and failed PSI training.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown |OT| Neo GAF is Under Alien Control
- Thread starter Jintor
- Start date
milkham
Member
i started just waiting terror missions out, find a good spot and setup, if there are chrysalids all the better, the mission becomes chitin plating farm as they eat up the civilians.
Ok the final mission
Final Game Rating: 8/10
A bugless version with
would had warranted a 9.5
was seriously lame. What a cop-out. What a terrible way to end the game.. and then the Boss Alien who goes on and on about his pseudo-halo babble.. Too bad, this game is almost a classic, but the bugs and the ending just stop it from being one
Final Game Rating: 8/10
A bugless version with
a non superlame final mission and conclusion
DenogginizerOS
BenjaminBirdie's Thomas Jefferson
I just picked up the PC version. So pumped!
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
So do we know what the sales figures for this game are yet?
afternoon delight
Member
Making the jump from Normal to Classic, and am looking at this mod called Warspace Extension as a replacement for the default game mechanics. Any thoughts from XGAF?
I think I figured out the number one thing I miss from the original game: the ability to free-aim target the environment to take out walls with something other than the rocket or grenades. I'm playing Classic now and a couple of times I've really wanted an extra door just there. Or hell, take out that petrol bowser with the alien hiding behind it...
Wouldn't work in this one. Besides looking ridiculous, taking out cover with an assault rifles means you would never need to flank or split up in any way. Move your 6 guys as a unit, steamroll through whatever ET gets in the way with sheer firepower.
Anyway, doesn't it set up some interesting choices in the load out screen before a mission? How much room to make for heavies and grenades...
I never said anything about taking out cover with an assault rifle, but there's plenty of times a missed shot with a plasma weapon will take out a section of wall (or blow up the bowser) creating a new opportunity. I just want to be able to *aim* at the wall, or bowser.
Interesting counter-arguments though, thanks.
So I've been pressing on in my Classic iron man run. Not doing too bad, even after aborting two missions (one of which was a terror mission). Most countries are at least lvl 4 panic and 3 are maxed out right now, I got like 2 weeks to the next council mission, two satellites in the pipe, and I'm ready to capture an alien.
So I figure if I can beat a terror mission, and get my satellites up I'll be good.. OR if I can manage to unlock and beat the alien base I'll also be good.
But I just got a VIP mission from the council, and they've ended a couple classic ironman runs for me already... so we'll see what happens tomorrow.
So I figure if I can beat a terror mission, and get my satellites up I'll be good.. OR if I can manage to unlock and beat the alien base I'll also be good.
But I just got a VIP mission from the council, and they've ended a couple classic ironman runs for me already... so we'll see what happens tomorrow.
The randomness of the changing battlefield is a far more interesting challenge. XCOM is really about adapting to your circumstances (especially on ironman) and making do with what you have.
Castor Krieg
Banned
Thinking about doing a Final Mission. If I have 2
will it matter much? Or one of them is automatically chosen as a
and the game will end if he gets killed?
PSI soldiers
Chosen One
milkham
Member
Also, if you fail, even on ironman, you get to retry from the beginning of the mission.
Castor Krieg
Banned
It actually makes sense, since I am pretty sure like in Original XCOM failing last mission failed the game. Now with Ironman officially being a difficulty setting they have to somehow mitigate that danger.
I know, and that was AMAZING. The idea of losing 30 hours of progress when I had ONE soldier left on the mission was pretty much the most exciting moment this gen, or up there.
Stressful as fuck. Kinda lame now that I know it would have been fine if I lost.
I guess I understand how it is too much since some people might flip their shit if you lose the game automatically
I know right, total BS.
Why do they have to mitigate it? That should be up to the player.
Ironman all the way.
I also agree, the retry thing totally cheapens the experience as well as the accomplishment.
crackhead_bob
Member
how does the position placement of facilities work? And what is the recommended configuration of the 4 x 7 grid?
Castor Krieg
Banned
Build everything in clusters 2x2. That is the only optimal solution, however it is very hard to do in practice.
I remain somewhat disappointed that in XCOM it is easier to tell that there is an 'optimal' solution to everything, it's a lot less systems just jamming up against one another like in X-com. I remain hopeful for mod tools though to see people basically recreate X-com in XCOM.
God, I love typing sentences like that
God, I love typing sentences like that
Castor Krieg
Banned
That is very true, there is not much element of surprise. Before I started playing this game I watched Superhuman Ironman of UFO:EU. I never thought you can chain-throw granades...
One of the things I miss about OG X-Com is the chance of, say, four UFOs turning up at once around Central Asia and you having to manage scrambling and interceptions to deal with all of them or risk panic level rising. Battles over the seaboard, discovering an alien base by accident, using interceptors on patrols just in the vain hopes of getting a random blast outside of your radar range. I definitely think there was a better way to handle base attacks than in X-Com, but taking them out completely I feel very strongly was not the correct answer. I am frankly amazed they did not capitalise on the "This is our BASE" feeling that is a lot stronger in XCOM just due to the enhanced graphics.
also there's no female support staff, what's up with that
also there's no female support staff, what's up with that
crackhead_bob
Member
In relation to power plants and steam generators do you place everything in donut formation? Also, do satellite dispatchers need to be positioned at the very top?
Castor Krieg
Banned
I never knew about any of this...
Satellite stations can be build wherever you want. What do you mean by "donut formation" regarding power?
Your interceptors and the Skyranger could also run out of fuel, so you searches for alien bases where limited. You also had various graphs for alien activity and stuff, where you could get hints to where a base might be.
If you want to take advantage of the proximity bonuses (for anything), I think a 2x2 arrangement is best.
Satellite uplinks can be placed anywhere.
Thermal Reactors have to be placed on TOP of the steam tile, not anywhere around it. Put it where the steam tile was.
If you want to take advantage of the proximity bonuses (for anything), I think a 2x2 arrangement is best.
Satellite uplinks can be placed anywhere.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
Yeah, there is an "optimal" (arguably) solution in the NG XCOM, but there is also an optimal solution for OG XCOM as well.
Every time I play OG XCOM, I rush lasers, hyperwave decoder, alien containment, and psionics, and I'm pretty much on my way to victory by April-ish.
Are UFO power sources only needed for firestorms and ellerium generators? Because I'm about to sell a couple of these bad boys.
EDIT: never mind, sold one. I'm tired of bringing laser rifles along against a parade of mutons and berserkers. Now, at least I'll have a double tap enabled sniper with a plasma. I gotta say, while it's true that there is a right and wrong way to play the geospace, it's balanced well. This is my third run through the game and a third different resource that I'm having a shortage in. If I ever go for a fourth run, I'm sure impossible difficulty will require a different strategy to classic ironman.
EDIT: never mind, sold one. I'm tired of bringing laser rifles along against a parade of mutons and berserkers. Now, at least I'll have a double tap enabled sniper with a plasma. I gotta say, while it's true that there is a right and wrong way to play the geospace, it's balanced well. This is my third run through the game and a third different resource that I'm having a shortage in. If I ever go for a fourth run, I'm sure impossible difficulty will require a different strategy to classic ironman.
They stream-lined the entire manufacturing and personnel management aspect. If they had wanted to retain it they could have just rebalanced the economy.
It's not unwelcome, considering most people seemed to set the entire team of scientists or engineers to the same task anyway. I've said it before, but in a lot of ways they just formalized the way people played X-com. One main base, one Skyranger, secondary bases staffed and equipped minimally just to shoot down UFOs, 'naming' soldiers according to their capabilities (impromptu class system turns into actual classes) and whatever else I'm not thinking of.
Classic Ironman done.
Lost one country, due to being too slow on upgrading my interceptors and getting my ass handed to me in the air for a bit. Otherwise it was a smooth ride and towards the end it felt even easier than on Normal. Nothing on the final mission survived more than one turn. Still was a good challenge for most of the game. At one point I had 9 out of 11 soldiers in the infirmary, showing how I just barely scraped together victories.
I''ve got Dishonored lying around and I really should play it, but dammit I'm still not tired of this. Debating whether I should try Impossible or do another Classic run and go for a few achievements, namely Lone Wolf, Ain't No Cavalry, the BS poison one, and winning from all continents.
Lost one country, due to being too slow on upgrading my interceptors and getting my ass handed to me in the air for a bit. Otherwise it was a smooth ride and towards the end it felt even easier than on Normal. Nothing on the final mission survived more than one turn. Still was a good challenge for most of the game. At one point I had 9 out of 11 soldiers in the infirmary, showing how I just barely scraped together victories.
I''ve got Dishonored lying around and I really should play it, but dammit I'm still not tired of this. Debating whether I should try Impossible or do another Classic run and go for a few achievements, namely Lone Wolf, Ain't No Cavalry, the BS poison one, and winning from all continents.
Yeah, but they also removed that small area of variation where there was room to experiment and test systems against one another. Some of it I love - the tactical system, aside from the deployment limitations (which get increasingly more ridiculous the more crazy missions become - why wouldn't you want more than six soldiers attacking an entire battleship? Why would you only be able to afford a single skyranger?). But the strategic limitations shit me to no end.
Nice, I still haven't hit a real comfort zone. I'm doing well, no mission losses, still less than 10 people killed and I'm past the alien base... but at the moment I'm way outmatched on the battlefield. I got one light plasma rifle, one plasma sniper and a bunch of carapace armor. ET is already on full plasma. I'm thinking I'll have to zap some aliens for their plasma too, I've got no cash.
Also, I'm hitting a wall with it, this being my third run through. I'm not gonna stop outright, but maybe limit it to 1 mission per play session. I don't know how you guys plow on, the risk with ironman just adds to the fatigue.
Yup.
I hope they don't just plan to add content in the vein of the Kiryu-Kai DLC.
crackhead_bob
Member
Is it possible to build an entire base without having to scuttle any of the segments?
Another day of classic ironman done, 22 missions completed(yes, I still have the one guy that's been along for every one of them, as far as I can tell... it would suck if he missed one early). Most of my team is finally using plasma thanks to zapping 2 mutons on the last outing. And 5 satellites just went online, for a total of 10. That means enough cash to buy a full set of titan armor starting next month. Still haven't started building a psi lab or the hyperwave beam, or a foundry for that matter. I haven't built a new facility in like 2 months.
My previous run through classic was a very efficient 30 missions. I bet that number will be close to double on this go around and I have no idea why! I was stuck researching beam and carapace for 20 days each, maybe that was it. You would think I'd try to cut the number of missions down on ironman, but it's been the opposite.
My previous run through classic was a very efficient 30 missions. I bet that number will be close to double on this go around and I have no idea why! I was stuck researching beam and carapace for 20 days each, maybe that was it. You would think I'd try to cut the number of missions down on ironman, but it's been the opposite.
weekend_warrior
Banned
Updated my hit% stats-
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aprtin5-SdoVdGxuaEJOamxFeGZ2RndRT05aQzl6aGc
My predicted hit rate- 84%
My actual hit rate- 73%
So there is still a 10% difference that some people claim the higher difficulties have. This is after 52 total shots taken.
Enemy hit rate% = 48% from an average of +36 defense.
The XCOM wiki says the early enemies have around 65 base aim, I don't see how that could possibly be true considering their hit rate.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aprtin5-SdoVdGxuaEJOamxFeGZ2RndRT05aQzl6aGc
My predicted hit rate- 84%
My actual hit rate- 73%
So there is still a 10% difference that some people claim the higher difficulties have. This is after 52 total shots taken.
Enemy hit rate% = 48% from an average of +36 defense.
The XCOM wiki says the early enemies have around 65 base aim, I don't see how that could possibly be true considering their hit rate.
bigdaddygamebot
Member
Base invasions.
Where the aliens show up and say "Fuck you!", and then you drive them off and say "FUCK YOU!!!"
A properly designed base could turn base attacks into a slaughter. Alien walks around corner, gets shot six times with a heavy plasma. Good fun.
I'm doing a VIP mission. Nearly done. One my soldiers gets fired upon and he enters panic. He shoots and kills the VIP. T_T
The randomness in the game is starting to make me extremely tempted to turn off ironman mode (although I find that to be a large part of the fun). Even though I really like the game, the more I play it, the more I get annoyed by it. I've had enemies literally spawn on the exact spot I'm standing on. I'm scared to try flanking enemies at all, because it means I'm extremely likely to trigger more enemies, so I end up using extremely safe, slow and dull tactics. They've simplified the geoscape way way too much, so much I feel most of the choices I do are too obvious. And there's just too much random shit going on in the tactical missions. Soldiers entering panic for the littlest of reasons. You moving right up to an enemy, and you still having only 60% hit chance. The binary additions to percentages simplified movement too much (go for elevation, go for full cover positions) instead of considering the entire environment. Critical hits existing at all. The class system (I much prefer having the old stat system where I can freely decide how to use my soldiers, instead of having them forced into specific roles).
I am still having fun, but I don't see myself lasting much longer with the game. It's hard to say how it would turn out, but I'd like something like X-Com-style geoscape with the tactical gameplay from Jagged Alliance 2. I think that would be my dream turn based tactical strategy game.
The randomness in the game is starting to make me extremely tempted to turn off ironman mode (although I find that to be a large part of the fun). Even though I really like the game, the more I play it, the more I get annoyed by it. I've had enemies literally spawn on the exact spot I'm standing on. I'm scared to try flanking enemies at all, because it means I'm extremely likely to trigger more enemies, so I end up using extremely safe, slow and dull tactics. They've simplified the geoscape way way too much, so much I feel most of the choices I do are too obvious. And there's just too much random shit going on in the tactical missions. Soldiers entering panic for the littlest of reasons. You moving right up to an enemy, and you still having only 60% hit chance. The binary additions to percentages simplified movement too much (go for elevation, go for full cover positions) instead of considering the entire environment. Critical hits existing at all. The class system (I much prefer having the old stat system where I can freely decide how to use my soldiers, instead of having them forced into specific roles).
I am still having fun, but I don't see myself lasting much longer with the game. It's hard to say how it would turn out, but I'd like something like X-Com-style geoscape with the tactical gameplay from Jagged Alliance 2. I think that would be my dream turn based tactical strategy game.
Or your Skyrangers are out and you have a group of rookie idiots scrapping by 'Home Alone' style.
When the mod tools finally come out someone do an X-Com: Home Alone scenario.
I might be a bad commander. M-my memorial wall is really long this time around. ._.
One person panics during the alien base assault and everything goes to shit. Yeah, shoot a squad mate, see if I care. Of course he panics, you just shot him. At least you hit something. Oh look, he shoots another squad mate, the cycle continues! So, I wiped that time. Had two people left and only the sectoid commander to contend with. Didn't go so well.
Went in a second time with fresh meat. Don't bother unpacking, we got a job to do. Here's your laser rifles. Yeah, we got those now. Cool, huh? That there is the trigger. No, no, Don't bother introducing yourselves, you're leaving immediately. Base assault. Six of you this time. Good luck.
So that one went relatively well. First time I actually managed to finish the base assault! Yay me.
Now, I haven't won a single missions since, but hey, I've got the coverage. I can afford to order my people in bulk. Some of them might even make corporal, you never know.
One person panics during the alien base assault and everything goes to shit. Yeah, shoot a squad mate, see if I care. Of course he panics, you just shot him. At least you hit something. Oh look, he shoots another squad mate, the cycle continues! So, I wiped that time. Had two people left and only the sectoid commander to contend with. Didn't go so well.
Went in a second time with fresh meat. Don't bother unpacking, we got a job to do. Here's your laser rifles. Yeah, we got those now. Cool, huh? That there is the trigger. No, no, Don't bother introducing yourselves, you're leaving immediately. Base assault. Six of you this time. Good luck.
So that one went relatively well. First time I actually managed to finish the base assault! Yay me.
Now, I haven't won a single missions since, but hey, I've got the coverage. I can afford to order my people in bulk. Some of them might even make corporal, you never know.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Low will snipers are the fucking worst. It's even more excruciating when motherfuckers err all their close range shots yet they crit your best soldiers during panic attacks.
AT POINT BLANK.
AT POINT BLANK.
This guy knows what I'm talking about, just happened to me. So I "dismissed" him.
Just wanted to mention an underrated strategy for classic ironman, running the fuck away! Not all the way back to the Skyranger, but far enough to where you have the upper hand. Sometimes you'll run into 6 mutons at a time and your sniper won't be in place, or between you and them is a gulf of dashing to shitty cover while they sit back and take shots from behind solid defensive positions.
Note that not moving/staying in overwatch means they won't come after you, but if you turn on your heels and run, more often than not, they will. And when they do, it won't be an organized thing, everyone moving as a unit. They don't really have a concept of that stuff. I've only had them not follow me once, they just stayed in the same spot, in overwatch, until I circled around them and through a landed UFO to get a better position.
I only wish I could remember to use this strategy before someone dies.
Note that not moving/staying in overwatch means they won't come after you, but if you turn on your heels and run, more often than not, they will. And when they do, it won't be an organized thing, everyone moving as a unit. They don't really have a concept of that stuff. I've only had them not follow me once, they just stayed in the same spot, in overwatch, until I circled around them and through a landed UFO to get a better position.
I only wish I could remember to use this strategy before someone dies.
electricpirate
Member
I think the enemies have 65 Base aim + 10 for classic difficulty then many have +10 for using light plasma rifles. Thinmen have an accuracy of goddamn 85% on classic, so high cover is still flippen coin flip. I mean, on classic a thinman shooting at you in half cover has the same chance to hit as a rookie with an open/flanked shot.
Edit: also just to point out, 57 shots out of say an average game having 600 (assuming 20 shots per round, roughly 30 rounds in a game) shots ( still has a MOE of over 12%.
So I kind of had the perfect ending to my first play through of XCOM:
Fantastic game.
My squad made it into the last room with the Ethereal Boss. After his little monologue my turn started. I selected my sniper Col. Barack "Insane" Obama targeted the Boss, crit on both shots on a double tap, game over Earth wins!
Fantastic game.