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Mr Dog posted:I hope EW at least doesn't make the early-game even more difficult because right now the only valid strategy is sat rush. Every single deviation I've tried from the golden build order screws things up really badly. This is a pretty strong exaggeration. Satellite rushing (Uplink and 3+ satellites in the first month) is in no way required to beat the game, or even to beat the game without major issues. Most classic games go just fine only getting one satellite up in the first month. Even impossible is doable this way. Most likely a few countries will leave, but that's not a problem. Most games I play its not even possible since the first few missions come too late. That said, its not a bad idea to set up the satellite rush. If it turns out not to be possible, just cancel the uplink / extra satellites, build the OTS earlier and go with it and things should be fine. Its a good idea to aim for one uplink and max satellites each month after the first, although that's not strictly necessary either. Probably more important for general success is just making sure you can build the OTS as soon as possible (usually late month 1) for the squad size upgrade, sat rush or not.
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Nov 8, 2013 00:26
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| # ? Jun 3, 2024 17:44 |
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Yeah on classic it's pretty easy to sat rush the first month and end the game with no countries lost if you just plan things out ahead of time. On impossible, rushing more than 1 satellite the first month I feel is kind of a waste because the OTS is such a huge help and chances are you're gonna have to sell off everything you have to get more than 1 satellite and it just doesn't feel worth it. On classic it's pretty easy to keep every country, on impossible I'm sure it's doable but I've never done it.
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Nov 8, 2013 01:12
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I don't know if they'll fix it but I still wish they would: if the only alien left is one you're controlling, it ought to count as dead for the purposes of the mission. Or stunned. I dunno, is that so much to ask? Failing that, the ability to manually destroy it.
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Nov 8, 2013 01:29
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Yeah that was really annoying me last time I played, enough that I just stopped using it no matter how useful it was.
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Nov 8, 2013 01:36
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Oooh, a thought: what if they updated the Anna Sing mission for Enemy Within? Sure, she's a scared survivor, the first and only abductee that has escaped and lived, but we could have a reason for that now: the aliens gene-modded her and she was able to use her super-jumping ability to escape! Probably they won't do that, but it's fun to think about.
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Nov 8, 2013 01:42
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Mr Dog posted:Just managed a late-August victory with no countries lost, but a lot of dead rookies along the road. No, they didn't. Rookies are told what they are signing up to, but only when they have seen the enemy and truly understand what this fight is about will they be promoted to Squaddie. Or at least that's what the soldiers in the barracks say to help them get through the day when they see how long the memorial wall is. I'll admit I reload games like a motherfucker when I lose engagements, but it takes a lot for me to consider something "lost" (like a panic spiral with 2 Sectopods and a Cyberdisk revealed). I have done stuff like finish a Battleship with my last soldier at 1 HP (drat thing was a tomb for 4 soldiers, 2 of them psychic, and a SHIV) so I'll still rack up a very hefty death list. My last game was 28 on classic, and that's because I had some lucky missions. My barracks bar serves the strong stuff and doesn't charge.
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Nov 8, 2013 03:17
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What's your SHIV preference: alloy or flying?
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Nov 8, 2013 03:56
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Speedball posted:What's your SHIV preference: alloy or flying? I prefer flying. They have a ton of fuel, about double what Archangel gives, and having a flying and super tough (and expendable) scout usually feels more worthwhile than a movable piece of low cover. I usually bring SHIVs everywhere I can. But they are almost always a huge time and resource sink that get tge job done worse than a high level soldier. 
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Nov 8, 2013 04:02
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Zore posted:I prefer flying. They have a ton of fuel, about double what Archangel gives, and having a flying and super tough (and expendable) scout usually feels more worthwhile than a movable piece of low cover. Plus you always have to move the alloy SHIVs first because for some reason the only way they count as half-cover is if the soldier meets them. So no moving a soldier out into the open for a flanking shot and then dashing the SHIV in front of them to provide cover. It's a very minor and situational gripe but I'd still like to see it fixed in EW. Also if there was a foundry project that allowed you to upgrade alloy SHIVs in to full cover that would make them so much more useful. As it stands right now, flying SHIVs are the way to go.
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Nov 8, 2013 04:08
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Speedball posted:What's your SHIV preference: alloy or flying? I've only ever used the SHIV once and that was the flying one. I think I tried to use it in the final mission with the theory, "can't mind control this guy so he should be a worthy asset!" He got stuck on some weird architecture half way through the map however and I couldn't use him after that. Never seemed to be worth the cost to me. Yeah they're cheaper than losing a good soldier but they're nowhere near as effective and I've never felt them necessary to complete the game. I'll be interested to see if they're any different in EW.
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Nov 8, 2013 04:17
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Speedball posted:What's your SHIV preference: alloy or flying? Alloy. Mobile Cover With Guns.
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Nov 8, 2013 04:26
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I swear by SHIVs. I don't use them all the time but often, especially any mission with a chance of mind-controlling enemies or chrysalids. A SHIV can't be turned into a zombie!
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Nov 8, 2013 04:28
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Can you make a squad of 6 SHIVs? Probably not, but I'm loving the idea of your elite soldiers hanging back at HQ and knocking back drinks while playing remote-controlled bot-squad. man, if there was an Arc-Thrower upgrade for the SHIV, that alone would give it a spot on my team almost every mission.
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Nov 8, 2013 04:44
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Yes you can do an all shiv team.
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Nov 8, 2013 04:51
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There's an EW achievement for using all SHIVs and MECs in one team. That ought to be fun. …hurm, that Lone Wolf achievement is looking tempting, what would you guys do?
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Nov 8, 2013 04:53
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I just used a SHIV for the first time. Took the hover variety into the Alien base. The guy was absolutely the star of the team, scouting for Squadsight head shots and tanking the Sectoid Commander so my support could get into position for a stun. Absolute champ. He was already augmented for plasma guns so he was doing as much as 11 damage, and he could suppress. There basically wasn't any situation I could throw him into that he couldn't fly out of.
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Nov 8, 2013 05:00
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Speedball posted:There's an EW achievement for using all SHIVs and MECs in one team. That ought to be fun. Psi Assault with mind shield and ghost armor.
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Nov 8, 2013 05:05
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Brainamp posted:Psi Assault with mind shield and ghost armor. Pretty late-game, but I guess that's the only way to get all the goodies. I suppose this might involve copious amounts of mind control too right?
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Nov 8, 2013 05:36
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Speedball posted:What's your SHIV preference: alloy or flying? Flying, but only slightly. Mostly due to the issues of getting an Alloy shiv over rough or vertical terrain. Though the fact that it's a flying brick that can pop up into the air and say "gently caress you" to aliens behind cover is also great. ErKeL posted:I've only ever used the SHIV once and that was the flying one. I think I tried to use it in the final mission with the theory, "can't mind control this guy so he should be a worthy asset!" He got stuck on some weird architecture half way through the map however and I couldn't use him after that. Yeah, that was less of a SHIV issue and more of the problem that "indoor" levels (alien base, mothership, etc.) have with flying stuff. Still understandable why it turned you off. And while a SHIV isn't necessarily flexible compared to a high level soldier, they hit like trucks, can take hits like champs (at least the Alloy and Flying versions can) and you aren't going to cry if you lose one.
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Nov 8, 2013 05:37
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Speedball posted:There's an EW achievement for using all SHIVs and MECs in one team. That ought to be fun. Start a game on classic where all the rookies but one group up and have unfortunate grenade accidents. Then use that one survivor to clear the first small scout for the achievement and then take it further and man mode the entire campaign. You might want to select a lower difficulty after the achievement to accommodate the fact that a single alien mob heavily out actions you per turn. If you're going to do it, might as well go hog wild and have fun with it! e: oh, and fire all those non heroes in the barracks after the first mission too. Can't have them getting in the way of our heroes glory now can we?
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Nov 8, 2013 05:39
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I really hope that Enemy Within will add some much needed buffs to SHIVs. I can barely justify the crew slot on the Skyranger compared to a high level soldier. My ideal game balance would probably be 6 grunts and one special slot for a SHIV (researched over the officer training school or maybe engineering).
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Nov 8, 2013 05:42
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^^^ only buff I know of is there's an improved mobility option to develop in the Foundry. Is there any reason to take Mayhem over Rocketeer with a Heavy? marshmallow creep fucked around with this message at 05:50 on Nov 8, 2013 |
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Nov 8, 2013 05:48
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Lotish posted:^^^ only buff I know of is there's an improved mobility option to develop in the Foundry. EDIT: According to the wiki, Danger zone stacks with Mayhem to allow freebie Suppression damage to tag adjacent targets. As often as things were juuust our of rocket blast range, I kept grabbing Grenadier for MORE GRENADES. It also makes me sad that Danger Zone doesn't buff grenade radius. Section Z fucked around with this message at 05:59 on Nov 8, 2013 |
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Nov 8, 2013 05:52
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Lotish posted:^^^ only buff I know of is there's an improved mobility option to develop in the Foundry. Depending on the difficulty it can make a rocket go from emergency cripple weapon to emergency killing weapon. I seem to recall it being required to 1 Shot mutons on impossible. Also, it works really well with danger zone, giving several abilities a guaranteed flat amount of aoe damage. This is really useful for setting up captures because it can't crit. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Nope, that's your memory playing tricks, it's just a flat damage buff. VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV The Mayhem doesn't provide AoE boosts, those are entirely contained within danger zone, although the two skills combo very nicely FoolyCharged fucked around with this message at 06:04 on Nov 8, 2013 |
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Nov 8, 2013 05:57
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Lotish posted:^^^ only buff I know of is there's an improved mobility option to develop in the Foundry. Massive AOE and more damage on your rockets? It's a really good skill, try it out. It also gives suppression damage and a decent AOE, so you can suppress whole groups of enemies.
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Nov 8, 2013 06:00
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Alright. Bullet Swarm + Suppression + Danger Zone + Mayhem. Gonna try it out. Only the one rocket but it'll be a big one.
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Nov 8, 2013 06:06
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Hot Dog Day #31 posted:Yeah on classic it's pretty easy to sat rush the first month and end the game with no countries lost if you just plan things out ahead of time. On impossible, rushing more than 1 satellite the first month I feel is kind of a waste because the OTS is such a huge help and chances are you're gonna have to sell off everything you have to get more than 1 satellite and it just doesn't feel worth it. On classic it's pretty easy to keep every country, on impossible I'm sure it's doable but I've never done it. I am reasonably confident that it is not possible to save every country on Impossible. Certainly not consistently, even with obsessive save scumming.
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Nov 8, 2013 06:13
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Hammerstein posted:I really hope that Enemy Within will add some much needed buffs to SHIVs. I can barely justify the crew slot on the Skyranger compared to a high level soldier. My ideal game balance would probably be 6 grunts and one special slot for a SHIV (researched over the officer training school or maybe engineering). SHIVs get a few upgrades they share with MECs through the foundry. Increased mobility, increased health and the ability to have better reaction shots (I think 2 per turn?). Not sure if there's anything else. Of course MECs have a poo poo ton more utility and can be built to do everything a SHIV can do and more except fly.
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Nov 8, 2013 06:36
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Zore posted:SHIVs get a few upgrades they share with MECs through the foundry. Increased mobility, increased health and the ability to have better reaction shots (I think 2 per turn?). Not sure if there's anything else. With MECs around SHIVs will still be like the fat kid that gets picked last at gym class.
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Nov 8, 2013 06:40
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Hammerstein posted:With MECs around SHIVs will still be like the fat kid that gets picked last at gym class. Hey, they still can't be mind controlled. As long as that happens I will always gladly bring them along. They also probably can't be strangled by the seekers.
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Nov 8, 2013 06:49
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They're all mechanical. The seekers also appear all mechanical. Might be a bit of robosassiness, you never know. They'll probably wish they were being strangled. 
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Nov 8, 2013 06:53
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In EW are you able to kinetic punch other objects like cars? If so does this send them flying or do they just explode? Coolest loving thing ever would be if you could kinetic punch a car straight at a bunch of mutons and follow it up with a rocket. Dr Vahlen can kiss my rear end, the most fun thing about X-Com is your soldiers doing their best to overkill anything that stands in their way. I usually take 2-3 heavies with me just because I love blowing up several layers of cover just to kill a single sectoid.
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Nov 8, 2013 07:52
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WarpedNaba posted:They're all mechanical. The seekers also appear all mechanical. If Seekers can make SHIVs panic...
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Nov 8, 2013 07:58
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Mortabis posted:I am reasonably confident that it is not possible to save every country on Impossible. Certainly not consistently, even with obsessive save scumming. I have an Impossible save at the Invisoship plot point with no lost countries, massive save scumming but it can be done. Though it does require some luck with both when your first UFO shows up and where you get Abductions in the first 2 months.
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Nov 8, 2013 08:10
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Speedball posted:Hey, they still can't be mind controlled. As long as that happens I will always gladly bring them along. They'll still hit like trucks and be relatively cheap and disposable compared MECs, so I'll also build a few as well.
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Nov 8, 2013 08:41
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We're all neglecting the possibility that SHIVs will be able to panic, but it will be called "short circuiting" or "going haywire"!  Although I don't honestly believe that'll happen, since that's like one of the two main selling points behind SHIVs.
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Nov 8, 2013 09:12
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Zore posted:SHIVs get a few upgrades they share with MECs through the foundry. Increased mobility, increased health and the ability to have better reaction shots (I think 2 per turn?). Not sure if there's anything else. SHIVs also get an upgrade that allows a free shot when the enemy gets close like that assault skill. Close quarters specialist, maybe? I also want to say they get something that gives them a free return shot when someone shoots them, but I might be confused with MECs there. Regarding Mind Control, does your squad suffer the "buddy died" panic check when a MCed alien is killed? Obviously it would be dumb if they did, but XCOM has a few silly bugs.
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Nov 8, 2013 10:07
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Darkrenown posted:Regarding Mind Control, does your squad suffer the "buddy died" panic check when a MCed alien is killed? Obviously it would be dumb if they did, but XCOM has a few silly bugs.
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Nov 8, 2013 10:14
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Out of curiosity, would it be possible to mod in an OTS upgrade to allow one/two SHIV(s) per squad in addition to the current squad size limitations and also increase enemy count and spawn sizes (four-five enemies in an activated/patrolling group) by a bit as well as the game progesses?
Welmu fucked around with this message at 10:31 on Nov 8, 2013 |
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Nov 8, 2013 10:28
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Anyone ever figured out why you can't shoot a mind controlled alien? Seems like a good thing to include when they're about to return to normal.
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Nov 8, 2013 10:31
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