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XCOM: Enemy Unknown |OT| Neo GAF is Under Alien Control
- Thread starter Jintor
- Start date
I hate that goddamn cemetery map.
As I was skirting along the outside of the map all 10 sectoids aggro'd. I took 1 down with overwatch, but it was no use, 1 man was killed, 2 others critical injuried. I tried to escape with my last surviving sniper...
That looks like a job for a Heavy with Danger Zone.
Did you try and stand your ground once they aggro'd or did you run away and try and pick them off?
I'm too attached to my current squad.
weekend_warrior
Banned
3 of them were killed on the same turn as the enemies aggro'd, I tried to retreat the sniper, he missed the first overwatch, got killed by the second.
Ahh I see. I don't know if anyone uses it on harder modes but Beagles tip of making your first move your furthest move has been working well for me on my n00by Normal game.
If you get aggro then you have some options with the rest of the squad duck out and either run your first guy back or hunker down and get some smoke on him.
I'm finding the UI at the bottom of the screen really annoying when selecting moves. The options should be Attack, Overwatch, Hunker and THEN specials. And it moving dynamically left and right depending on how many options each squad member has is also frustrating.
I think someone mentioned they were a few pages back... but I don't have a source and don't remember who said it... I really hope they come through with decent DLC, I've only played for around 10 hours (and on easy mode), but I can see myself playing this for a long time (I'm already really tempted to start a classic game, but I want to finish this playthrough first) and I'd love new content, specially if it meant more missions/classes/etc.
weekend_warrior
Banned
I'm not sure why they attacked immediately upon aggro'ing, I thought aliens would only retreat the first time you encounter them. The whole situation was bizarre. The turn before 2 aliens aggro'ed near the center and disappeared out of site. I overwatched my troops without moving them and then the next turn all those aliens popped up. One group fell though the ground and I just saw a black screen with ALIEN ACTIVITY for about 15 seconds, then the camera popped back on top, the sectoids shuffled around, then shot on all my guys.
boredJonathan
Member
So is the 1st Alien Base really just that much of a jump in challenge? I finally beat it the other night, but it really turned me off to a game I was otherwise enjoying. Maybe I should have waited longer to start it. I thought going in with everyone in the Carapice armor, a couple of lazer rifles, and every squad member being ranked up several times would have been enough. I had been rolling through earlier missions - even the one Terror mission, while super intimidating, I got out of with only one squad member KIA.
I ended up having to resort to save spamming to get through it. There were a couple of places where 6 Chryssalids would trigger and just absolutely decimate my squad. I felt like I had been playing conservatively - never rushing, always hanging back and making sure everyone was in cover - and because of the trigger points on these groups the only way to make it through was KNOWING where they would trigger. Otherwise, it wasn't even a case of loosing a few/most of the squad - it was just a wipe.
This just seems cheap. I was really enjoying the game before this, and felt that while it was hard - it was also fair. The Alien Base just seemed like a mean joke that you needed to cheese to get past. Being slow and patient seemed to be rewarded in the past, with the Alien Base it required a level of forsight that you would not get from regular play. You needed to KNOW where the trigger points were.
So, I guess my questions is - was this a one off thing? Will the regular missions go back to that hard but fair balance? What about the other big story missions? Do they follow this same tact of throwing strategy out the window in favor of straight up punishment?
Because if this is how the rest of the game plays out, then I'm not sure I want to invest the time into it, knowing I'll just have to cheese my way through in the end.
I ended up having to resort to save spamming to get through it. There were a couple of places where 6 Chryssalids would trigger and just absolutely decimate my squad. I felt like I had been playing conservatively - never rushing, always hanging back and making sure everyone was in cover - and because of the trigger points on these groups the only way to make it through was KNOWING where they would trigger. Otherwise, it wasn't even a case of loosing a few/most of the squad - it was just a wipe.
This just seems cheap. I was really enjoying the game before this, and felt that while it was hard - it was also fair. The Alien Base just seemed like a mean joke that you needed to cheese to get past. Being slow and patient seemed to be rewarded in the past, with the Alien Base it required a level of forsight that you would not get from regular play. You needed to KNOW where the trigger points were.
So, I guess my questions is - was this a one off thing? Will the regular missions go back to that hard but fair balance? What about the other big story missions? Do they follow this same tact of throwing strategy out the window in favor of straight up punishment?
Because if this is how the rest of the game plays out, then I'm not sure I want to invest the time into it, knowing I'll just have to cheese my way through in the end.
weekend_warrior
Banned
The base assault can be tricky the first time you do it, but it sounds like you went it soft. I normally have titan armor and a few plasmas before doing it, and I'm fighting mutons, heavy floaters, and cyberdisks, not wimpy chryssalids.
boredJonathan
Member
Ahh, that would make sense as well. I've not even seen any of the enemies you've listed yet, and while I can research Titan Armor I've not done that yet. Guess I should have put off the mission longer then. As it was, though, I'd waited almost a month for the other research to pop and for another abduction mission to grind out as well.
I'll keep on plugging on, but man that was annoying.
weekend_warrior
Banned
Damn, came so close to beating a medium UFO mission with 4 rookies. What a fucking effort from them, 11 kills total, only the outsider was left with 2 HP. I got 10 kills from rookies the terror mission before that, but I had to abort with 1 guy left.
EDIT: And that ends Ironman Impossible run #3. 61 days survived, 8 battles fought, 2 won, 6 lost, 38 aliens killed, 20 dead soldiers.
EDIT: Game #4- first 2 missions have gone good, lost 1 man. I've got a heavy up to corporal, but I can't decide if I want to take holo-targeting or bullet swarm. Using 2 moves for shooting is nice, but that aim bonus might really help some my blind rookies out...
EDIT: Mission #4 was a disaster, nearly a totally wipeout but I did manage to escape with my sergeant heavy and a promoted rookie. Just too many sectoids aggro'ed at once. I aggro one pack, and 3 more packs aggro even though I'm nowhere near. Aborting the mission sent waves of panic across Europe and I lost 4 counties the first month. Oh well...
EDIT: And that ends Ironman Impossible run #3. 61 days survived, 8 battles fought, 2 won, 6 lost, 38 aliens killed, 20 dead soldiers.
My best attempt yet!
EDIT: Game #4- first 2 missions have gone good, lost 1 man. I've got a heavy up to corporal, but I can't decide if I want to take holo-targeting or bullet swarm. Using 2 moves for shooting is nice, but that aim bonus might really help some my blind rookies out...
EDIT: Mission #4 was a disaster, nearly a totally wipeout but I did manage to escape with my sergeant heavy and a promoted rookie. Just too many sectoids aggro'ed at once. I aggro one pack, and 3 more packs aggro even though I'm nowhere near. Aborting the mission sent waves of panic across Europe and I lost 4 counties the first month. Oh well...
My first Classic run has ended in utter defeat. Things started out fairly well but a few early mistakes snowballed rather quickly. By May squads of rookies were being sent to die at the hands of mutons and cyberdiscs. I have to say I'm proud of the full rookie squad that managed to full excellent a terror mission, even though they were subsequently massacred on their next mission.
Pretty significant leap in difficulty from normal to classic though I welcome the challenge. Enemies are more aggressive and the overall timetable feels much more compressed. My 2 big takeaways from this campaign were learning the value of grenades early on, and the value of the tactical retreat.
Pretty significant leap in difficulty from normal to classic though I welcome the challenge. Enemies are more aggressive and the overall timetable feels much more compressed. My 2 big takeaways from this campaign were learning the value of grenades early on, and the value of the tactical retreat.
Metalmurphy
Member
Just got an update for this on Steam. Any idea what it was?
*edit*
OHH SHIIIIIIIET!
Patch 3 Notes
Second Wave addition
If a player has beaten the game, they can access a variety of gameplay toggles upon starting a new game. The Second Wave option will be available on the New Game menu.
AI teleport bug fix
Minimizes the bug where aliens teleport into the middle of a player’s squad
Defeat screen when beating the game
Minimizes a bug that displays a Defeat screen after winning the game
PC Only
Chris Kluwe as XCOM Hero unlock
*edit*
OHH SHIIIIIIIET!
Patch 3 Notes
Second Wave addition
If a player has beaten the game, they can access a variety of gameplay toggles upon starting a new game. The Second Wave option will be available on the New Game menu.
AI teleport bug fix
Minimizes the bug where aliens teleport into the middle of a player’s squad
Defeat screen when beating the game
Minimizes a bug that displays a Defeat screen after winning the game
PC Only
Chris Kluwe as XCOM Hero unlock
weekend_warrior
Banned
Just got an update for this on Steam. Any idea what it was?
*edit*
OHH SHIIIIIIIET!
Patch 3 Notes
Second Wave addition
If a player has beaten the game, they can access a variety of gameplay toggles upon starting a new game. The Second Wave option will be available on the New Game menu.
AI teleport bug fix
Minimizes the bug where aliens teleport into the middle of a players squad
Defeat screen when beating the game
Minimizes a bug that displays a Defeat screen after winning the game
PC Only
Chris Kluwe as XCOM Hero unlock
:O
Nice!
Darkflight
Member
RPS Interview with Jake Solomon about Second Wave:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/01/08/solomon-vows-firaxis-on-xcoms-second-wave-add-on/
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/01/08/solomon-vows-firaxis-on-xcoms-second-wave-add-on/
I just started watching SG-1 on Netflix. It has ten seasons? That's... going to take a while. Anyway. it does have a lot of similarities to the basic XCOM idea there, but also several differences. I say we go the other way around, though. I want I want XCOM: Alpha Team the TV series. Maybe following a movie, like Stargate did.
You unlock new options for every mode you beat it on.
I think any differences would be easy enough to mod out so long as they had access to it all.
And good luck with SG-1, I never watched it when it aired originally and then had a marathon few months where I watched all 10 seasons. It was glorious. Richard Dean Anderson brings it time and time again. Real shame Universe was canned as early as it was.
I'm sure this list is in the thread somewhere anyway but since it's ow official and we are talking about it, the full list of the options and what they do
- Damage Roulette: Weapons have a wider range of damage.
- New Economy: Randomized council member funding.
- Not Created Equally: Rookies will have random starting stats.
- Hidden Potential: As a soldier is promoted, stats increase randomly.
- Red Fog: Combat wounds will degrade the soldiers mission stats.
- Absolutely Critical: A flanking shot guarantees a critical hit.
- The Greater Good: Psionics can only be learned from interrogating a psionic alien.
- Marathon: The game takes considerably longer to complete.
- Results Driven: A country offers less funding as its panic level increases.
- High Stakes: Random rewards for stopping alien abductions.
- Diminishing Returns: Increased cost of satellite construction.
- More Than Human: The psionic gift is extremely rare.
- War Weariness: Funding goes down over time.
- E-115: Elerium degrades over time.
- Total Loss: Lose all soldier gear upon death.
- Alternate Sources: The power source cost to build facilities increases dramatically.
Metalmurphy
Member
Maybe the amount of times you finish has to do with it. I've finished the game 4 times, Classic, Impossible and Ironman included.
Well, there you go. Seems I'm still missing some too. Probably Impossible Ironman.
Checked this morning, and got all the 2nd wave options.
I think I'm going to use all the left-side options except marathon in my next game of C/I. Added randomization will be great. Marathon and the right-side options would really change to pace of the game, and I'm going to keep that for another time.
I think I'm going to use all the left-side options except marathon in my next game of C/I. Added randomization will be great. Marathon and the right-side options would really change to pace of the game, and I'm going to keep that for another time.
You can get paintball mode, but the aliens still use their plasma weapons. You might be able to hit a Sectoid in the eye.
Interview about upcoming DLC from PC Gamer
Summary: Yes to more DLC, probably won't see something like Slingshot again since people didn't like it so much.
Summary: Yes to more DLC, probably won't see something like Slingshot again since people didn't like it so much.
The Stig
Member
DLC wishes?
A map editor.
A second wave option where as soon as you see the enemies, they get to rush off to some cushy cover.
I'd settle for a good map pack, some new enemies an more tech.
Cruise ship terror missions complete with Bio-drones have to be in though.
Edit: The game not only needs new aliens, but tougher ones too. Chrysalids become mundane late game, we need a version that is stronger, and that has the melee equivalent of Run & Gun. We also need aliens with squad-sight.
Cruise ship terror missions complete with Bio-drones have to be in though.
Edit: The game not only needs new aliens, but tougher ones too. Chrysalids become mundane late game, we need a version that is stronger, and that has the melee equivalent of Run & Gun. We also need aliens with squad-sight.
weekend_warrior
Banned
I took a look at it- Xeno tech takes 24 days to complete, and most things cost twice as much, sats were $200, uplink was $300, etc.
Hmm, Sectoids become Sectoid Commanders. Mutons have an Elite variant. Floaters get a Heavy Armor upgrade. Chryssalids could get a similar upgrade, if they wanted to. By the endgame, 'lids aren't that much of a threat. Oh no, it does 7-ish damage and I have a mere 25 health. In the old game, 'lids did binary damage. "Tag, you're a zombie!" This made the a threat all the way through the game. You know, a sneakier Chryssalid that can use cover and has more health would be a real menace. Especially if it could cloak. Okay, the cloaking would be cruel, but still. Chryssalids need an upgrade! At least some form that gives it more damage. Or wings.
Remember, attacking from stealth is a guaranteed critical, too.
Honestly, just giving the normal Chryssalid a cloaking device might be all it needs to keep up with the endgame. The "Oh, CRAP!" moment when you spot a group of Chryssalids, and then they all just cloak would be so funny, too. There's 16*3 melee damage per turn out there, somewhere.
The Sniper's Battle Scanner should probably get a Foundry upgrade to be able to spot cloaked units. You know, in the interest of "Cruel, but fair" that the game is going for.
Now give one in three Heavy Floaters a Plasma Sniper and Squad Sight... Okay that'd just be mean, but still.
Oppo
Member
So, Second Wave free DLC update is out today, no?
http://www.polygon.com/2013/1/8/3846628/xcom-enemy-unknown-second-wave-dlc-interview
http://www.polygon.com/2013/1/8/3846628/xcom-enemy-unknown-second-wave-dlc-interview
Oh this sounds awesome! I'd love to make a classic ironman run with some of those enabled.
I started a new game after reading some helpful advice here. Off to a much better start, captured the two aliens and I've unlocked the alien base assault mission which I'm scared to start. I lost Russia already though, and I picked the other upgrade for my first sniper instead of squad sight :|
weekend_warrior
Banned
Oh dear...
weekend_warrior
Banned
I had 2 super-rookies with 80 aim and 51/53 will. Gonna have to be careful with them...
weekend_warrior
Banned
Mission #5, Abduction in Russia- total wipe. My first encounter with floaters this game, and boy did they make themselves known. It's insane how worthless full cover is on Impossible. Out of 4 shots taken when I was in full cover but not hunkered 3 were kill shots. Meanwhile I missed half my shots, despite averaging 75% odds. This attempt is now a complete bust, I'll truck it out a little further, I just got carapace armor, so maybe if I can salvage 1 more mission I'll make it to month 3.