Nitrousoxide posted:Why do you guys care what gender your recruit is? I don't really care what any specific recruit's gender is, but it is sort of annoying when the RNG ends up favoring one gender over the other. Gender's another nice way to distinguish between units, so it's lame when there's a 3 or 4:1 ratio of men to women or vice versa. For example, I currently have 9 women and 3 men on my starting roster. And a lot of those women look hecka similar right now. I'll probably need to chop off some limbs and rub some alien spunk on a few of them to change that problem.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:36
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 10, 2024 09:07 |
|
|
So, at what point does EXALT start getting laser weapons? I'd love to make some cash off of raiding their poo poo but the basic stuff only sells for $1. I also want to take a look at how their models look.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:39
|
|
|
Did a perfect first run of the fishing village mission...and then the game bugs out and calls up the mission finished dialog at the same time as the evac dialogue and forces me to exit out and reload my last save...except that it corrupted at the very least my last 3 saves. This is why I don't play on Ironman.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:39
|
|
|
I have a Support that made Captain and is looking like the all star of my company so far. Which is the better mod, Bioelectric Skin or Mimetic Skin?
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:40
|
|
BigRed0427 posted:I have a Support that made Captain and is looking like the all star of my company so far. Which is the better mod, Bioelectric Skin or Mimetic Skin? I think Mimetic would beat out Bioelectric, even though it's nice to have both capabilities in a squad.
|
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:42
|
|
|
I tried classic earlier today and found out that i'm not hardcore enough for it. So I went back to Classic Ironman.  'm having a bit of a hard time staying a float financially, three months in and I just now got Alien Containment built. Australia went red but was able to get them back with a satellite. Research seems to be falling behind too. I usually focus on engineers for abduction rewards, but research seems slower than normal. I think I might have wen't a bit crazy with the new modding labs. I don't have the money to give everyone new Bone marrow.I am using the customization's a lot more now. I love that they added an actual combat helmet that looks good (Number 20). I would love it if they made something similar to a trooper helmet from Starship Troopers. I would rather that then having my men look like faceless Space Marines. BigRed0427 fucked around with this message at 03:54 on Nov 14, 2013 |
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:49
|
|
|
Alkydere posted:So, at what point does EXALT start getting laser weapons? I'd love to make some cash off of raiding their poo poo but the basic stuff only sells for $1. I also want to take a look at how their models look. I'm also having fun playing with new toys instead of going for captures; is Exalt progress tied to storyline progress? Should I start going back and building containments and capping things?
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:49
|
|
|
Mimetic is way better at the beginning but there is a major downside at the end of the game. You can't use ghost armor's ghost ability in conjunction with mimetic skin, which is massively lame. They're both pretty good; really, anything that breaks the symmetry of line of sight has the potential to be game-breaking due to the way the AI packs work.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:50
|
|
|
I do hope they add in the option to have gene-modded soldiers select the normal looking armors. Not a big fan of the sleeveless look.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:51
|
|
|
Opportunist followed by Sentinel on my Heavy 
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:54
|
|
|
Ravenfood posted:More importantly, when the hell does Exalt even show up? I'm doing the third Slingshot mission now and I've seen nothing from them but that convoy mission with the Exalt VIP you escort. He made it out fine and everything. It's rather random as a cell can sit there for a while before attacking you, which is what I think triggers the covert ops side-story. 2nd to 3rd month sounds about right to me. Depending on how you're doing, it can either be really annoying as EXALT troops tend to have 6-8 HP, or it can be laughably easy. My first one this game was loving magical as I had to defend a transmitter thing from Exalt. They all poured into the capture zone with no self preservation. I'd recently gotten Tactical Webbing and I'd been blessed with a Heavy that got both Grenadier and Deep Pockets so she could carry 6 grenades into battle. It's a good thing that laptop is very, VERY bullet and shrapnel proof.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:54
|
|
|
Mortabis posted:Mimetic is way better at the beginning but there is a major downside at the end of the game. You can't use ghost armor's ghost ability in conjunction with mimetic skin, which is massively lame. They're both pretty good; really, anything that breaks the symmetry of line of sight has the potential to be game-breaking due to the way the AI packs work. This alone is enough to take Mimetic off the table for me. Ghost armor is too good to never not be using it on anyone who might ever get shot at, +20 Defense simply cannot be topped. I love when you get to that point where between Smoke and TK Field rotations you can have 80+ defense while standing out in the open.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:54
|
|
|
Weissritter posted:I do hope they add in the option to have gene-modded soldiers select the normal looking armors. Not a big fan of the sleeveless look. Same, I always give them the big shoulder pads so that they have half-sleeves  Gene modded soldiers don't really deserve to get that much special appearance because it's all incremental upgrades and the investment is pretty small. Skippy McPants posted:This alone is enough to take Mimetic off the table for me. Ghost armor is too good to never not be using it on anyone who might ever get shot at, +20 Defense simply cannot be topped. You can still wear ghost armor, you just can't use the ghost ability. Also, you can re-spec your gene mods at any time for more meld and money and a 3 day waiting period.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:54
|
|
|
Photosynaesthesias posted:Don't worry about losing nations, it will happen in Classic and there's not much you can do about it. Lost income hurts but it doesn't completely cripple you unless you lose enough nations to actually fail the game. Rush the Alien Base if you're having problems with panic because worldwide panic decreases by a lot once it's destroyed. I would suggest choosing either MECs or Gene Mods for the first few months and not worrying about the other until later in order to conserve resources. MECs feel stronger but Gene Mods are really versatile, it's like a choice of pure firepower vs utility and either should be perfectly viable. Honestly MECs, at least at first, don't even seem that much like firepower. Sure I can nuke poo poo with the flamethrower or punch things for insta-gibs on most early game aliens, but they feel a lot like tanks supporting my infantry. They really change the way you play and give you some pretty gnarly options in certain circumstances - my kinetic MEC was punching the poo poo out of Chryssalids while we made the mad dash to GTFO town on the whaling mission. quote:I do hope they add in the option to have gene-modded soldiers select the normal looking armors. Not a big fan of the sleeveless look. Man you and me both I've been bitching about this since they were first revealed. I really hate the sleeveless look. It's just tacky. My soldiers are soldiers dammit. 
oswald ownenstein fucked around with this message at 04:00 on Nov 14, 2013 |
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:57
|
|
|
Titan armor provides the 3rd MEC upgrade.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 03:57
|
|
|
Alkydere posted:So, at what point does EXALT start getting laser weapons? I'd love to make some cash off of raiding their poo poo but the basic stuff only sells for $1. I also want to take a look at how their models look. Probably around May? If you're hoping for a big payday, their laser guns only sell for ~§3 a piece. Maybe ~§5 for the heavy lasers/laser snipers. Not exactly valuable. On the subject of EXALT being a cut-rate version of XCOM, why would you ever use EXALT dudes in multiplayer? The only ones that are even remotely "decent" for their points are the EXALT Medics. When XCOM Rookies have better stats than your "Operatives" and come in at 100 fewer points when you give those rookies frag grenades, you look like a bunch of incompetents. (RIP 2 Item Supports in Multiplayer  )Ravenfood posted:I'm also having fun playing with new toys instead of going for captures; is Exalt progress tied to storyline progress? Should I start going back and building containments and capping things? No and Yes in that order.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:00
|
|
|
Alkydere posted:It's rather random as a cell can sit there for a while before attacking you, which is what I think triggers the covert ops side-story. 2nd to 3rd month sounds about right to me. Depending on how you're doing, it can either be really annoying as EXALT troops tend to have 6-8 HP, or it can be laughably easy. My first one this game was loving magical as I had to defend a transmitter thing from Exalt. They all poured into the capture zone with no self preservation. I'd recently gotten Tactical Webbing and I'd been blessed with a Heavy that got both Grenadier and Deep Pockets so she could carry 6 grenades into battle. It's a good thing that laptop is very, VERY bullet and shrapnel proof. I set up 2 snipers in the cabin overlooking the encoder, with a Heavy to clear covers using rockets. I do love how hectic some of the missions now feel though - this one and the whale mission. Especially the whale mission. I had no deaths but holy poo poo all my guys except for a MEC trooper was injured at the end. I alternate my team each turn - those lagging behind dash, those further ahead provide cover by moving and shooting.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:01
|
|
|
Wales Grey posted:Probably around May? If you're hoping for a big payday, their laser guns only sell for ~§3 a piece. Maybe ~§5 for the heavy lasers/laser snipers. Not exactly valuable. I'm not expecting a huge payout, mostly curious about the looks. I understand why their laser/plasma weapons would be relatively cheap from a gameplay perspective, though it makes no real sense from a reality perspective because the armies of world would (and does) pay a mint to get their hands on new weaponry.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:03
|
|
|
Oh France you are getting terrorized when half of europe already hates me and will likely drop out of the council anyway? Yeah have fun you are on your own. Then my entire squad got wiped out on the first Exalt related mission.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:08
|
|
|
Alkydere posted:I'm not expecting a huge payout, mostly curious about the looks. I understand why their laser/plasma weapons would be relatively cheap from a gameplay perspective, though it makes no real sense from a reality perspective because the armies of world would (and does) pay a mint to get their hands on new weaponry. Does Covering Fire/Reactive shot seem to shoot at the step-out locations? It's the only reason I can think of for my MECs to not ever miss when it procs. Wales Grey fucked around with this message at 04:13 on Nov 14, 2013 |
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:09
|
|
|
cheesetriangles posted:Oh France you are getting terrorized when half of europe already hates me and will likely drop out of the council anyway? Yeah have fun you are on your own. Then my entire squad got wiped out on the first Exalt related mission. If you do good enough on a terror mission the entire region/continent loses panic. Always go for terror missions if you can, they exist as a sort of panic release-valve.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:10
|
|
|
Wales Grey posted:Their rifles and such look pretty nifty, a bit less blocky and white, more angular and black. Their laser trails are also weird and purple-black. Other than the cosmetics, they're totally identical. I don't think they even get plasma.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:11
|
|
|
Davin Valkri posted:Oh, that's nice, the Base Defense operation name is a poetry reference! That's pretty cool. Just cleared the whale mission at the cost of my entire squad except one lieutenant sniper running like hell with two lids on her tail, woulda gotten her next turn. e: oh god i only have 4 guys left and 3 are snipers StashAugustine fucked around with this message at 04:16 on Nov 14, 2013 |
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:11
|
|
|
Photosynaesthesias posted:It feels like the intent with MECs was to make them unsafe to use (no cover means a quick death), which was compensated by giving them overwhelming firepower and offensive capabilities and maneuverability. They end up feeling like Armored Core mechs that are jetting around the battlefield on rocket skates and sniping everything with giant cannons. They're too accurate, their guns do too much damage and can shoot too many times per turn (They get Bulletswarm as a forced choice and a skill that gives them one shot of reaction fire per turn on enemies shooting at them). I don't really feel like I should have three units that can shoot an enemy for 24 damage, then end their turn and get shot (and shrug it off because of a huge hp pool, auto-regen, and no recovery time unless Gravely Wounded), allowing them to shoot for another 12 damage. I don't know what game you're playing, but I'm not getting that impression at all. Well, late-game, sure, but at that point you're supposed to be OP compared to the aliens, that's the game's way of telling you to hit the Temple Ship and bring that playthrough to a close. In the beginning, they can't hit the broad side of a loving barn, and that two-shot clip is extremely difficult to work with. They're useful tanks in the beginning, definitely, but their weapon systems mean that every shot has to be (A) taken at extremely close range, and (B) count. So no attacking trash or finishing off stragglers. With that in mind, if I'm going to get in close I might as well just  rocket fist the target, it does more damage than the basic minigun, and most importantly it doesn't deplete that vital clip. If they can get almost-but-not-quite close enough to a big target, yeah, I'll have em shoot.They're friendly Berzerkers. Which, given that they do 12 damage with no chance to miss, and you can't hope to match that until late game with conventional weaponry, is still a hell of a thing. Later on once you get their ammo capacity upgrade and the Ammo Conservation foundry project they're more useful for shooting stuff. It's Mimetic Skin that's borderline overpowered. You can't use it to run away or run closer to an enemy with LOS, but compared to a fully tooled-out MEC it's quite cheap and it turns everybody who has it into the goddamn Predator (which, incidentally, is what I nicknamed my star psionic soon-to-be-volunteer Assault). You can lay a devastating ambush for enemy clusters that they practically have no recourse against, and it's almost better than Ghost Armor seeing as you don't even have any charges to ration. Not being able to make your squad invi(s+nc)ible for a turn if you've over-extended is not great I suppose, but it's so drat powerful so early on that it's probably worth giving that up. Which is an interesting way to nerf Ghost Armor, I suppose, but I wouldn't say it's much of a nerf.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:12
|
|
|
Davin Valkri posted:Oh, that's nice, the Base Defense operation name is a poetry reference! So glad someone picked up on that!
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:16
|
|
|
Mr Dog posted:I don't know what game you're playing, but I'm not getting that impression at all. Well, late-game, sure, but at that point you're supposed to be OP compared to the aliens, that's the game's way of telling you to hit the Temple Ship and bring that playthrough to a close. My first MEC was built off a sniper and had ~80 aim. "Can't hit the broad side of a barn" my rear end. That said, I have a Major-level MEC that was built off a Heavy, and he only has ~74 aim, so it's really loving dependant on which class the soldier was at first.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:16
|
|
|
Well, I'm about halfway through my Classic campaign and have a couple thoughts. 1) Exalt is a bad addition to the game. On paper, they sound great. Human enemies provide more enemy variety than the same aliens you always shoot. Their tactics and weaponry are a bit different. They throw a wrench in the system and force you to change things up and adapt to what they throw at you. They're there to provide adversaries in a game that previously had none, only the mindless aliens who could never surprise or impede you. There are problems with their implementation though and in my opinion they exist to solve a problem that shouldn't exist in the first place, and it's one which the game cannot actually support a solution for in its current form (which is why a week ago I was wishing for a sequel rather than expansion). The implementation problem is that it's just plain not fun to randomly lose resources like money out of the blue with no real way to prevent it from happening. When I'm trying to follow a plan I've laid out and Exalt randomly just jacks 100 bucks from me that DOES force me to adapt, I guess, but in a very frustrating and unfun way. This leads into my next point, where the game currently just cannot support a way to impede the player in dynamic ways other than by that sort of random resource drain. The geoscape and campaign are all very scripted and static. Exalt is there to mix things up, but since they have to operate in the game's existing ruleset, they do so in very gamey ways that are antithetical to what interesting decision making in strategy games should be about. They aren't another actual organization operating by similar rules as you trying to oppose and impede your progress like we hoped, they're just a series of scripts with percent chances each day to rob you or slow down research or whatever. XCOM is a game that would greatly benefit from a worthy adversary to oppose you on almost equal terms but the game as it is just cannot provide it and Exalt is a very hamfisted and poorly implemented attempt at this. 2) MECs are rad as hell. Dr. Video Games 0031 fucked around with this message at 04:22 on Nov 14, 2013 |
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:19
|
|
|
I'm currently living in Korea. What are the odds if I get some friends to record the XCom lines in Korean that they can be modded into the game?
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:19
|
|
|
Dr. Video Games 0031 posted:Well, I'm about halfway through my Classic campaign and have a couple thoughts. I'm honestly curious how you ever have money. I think the most EXALT ever stole from me was $8. If I have anything more than that I'm investing it in all the moneysinks this game has and waiting for the next cash injection. I do think that EXALT is too skewed to stealing your cash though. Having them increase research times more would be better, as it is that never popped up even when I was literally getting notifications about them stealing %1 from my treasury. Other than that, I really liked them. The new mission types were fun as hell. And it was so satisfying to blow them up.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:29
|
|
|
Dr. Video Games 0031 posted:Well, I'm about halfway through my Classic campaign and have a couple thoughts. I don't know if EXALT can be removed completely.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:30
|
|
|
Some more notes: Shiv repair with Arc thrower also extends to MECs Covering fire(Support) and Reactive Sensors(MEC) will trigger on psionic attacks, before and after respectively. Sentinel won't apply twice on the same target unless the target makes two actions (Handy for exalt dashers). Edit: Proximity mines can be set off by punching a body into it. Just to clarify how Mimetic Skin works: If you're not seen by an enemy when you start your move, and you end up in full cover (Low profile does interact with Mimetic skin as one would hope), you're invisible. While invisible, as long as you don't take any overt action (Throwing anything, Shooting, Moving out of full cover, Moving while enemies have vision on you at the start of your move); you'll stay invisible. This means you can hunker down or reload, or overwatch (The overwatch shooting will break the Mimetic skin, but not activating overwatch). This also means that if you take no overt action while seen; you'll remain invisible indefinitely. TalonDemonKing fucked around with this message at 04:38 on Nov 14, 2013 |
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:30
|
|
|
So Mimetic Skin triggers in full cover, right ? Would that work on a sniper with the low profile perk ?
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:30
|
|
|
Hammerstein posted:So Mimetic Skin triggers in full cover, right ? Would that work on a sniper with the low profile perk ? Yup. Low Profile makes everything full cover, so Mimetic Skin triggers every time you're in cover. Also, I got Low Profile so many times on so many soldiers thanks to Training Roulette it's amazing. Seriously, I think 3 or 4 out of my A-Team have it.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:34
|
|
|
TalonDemonKing posted:Just finished the Base invade and got the last medal. The Star of Terra - Either grants everyone in the squad +5 defense and +5 will or grants 25% bonus experience to squadmates under lieutenant. Is... is that a Mass Effect reference? It's been years since I played ME1, but iirc that's the medal that War Hero Shepard got.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:39
|
|
|
Wales Grey posted:Probably around May? If you're hoping for a big payday, their laser guns only sell for ~§3 a piece. Maybe ~§5 for the heavy lasers/laser snipers. Not exactly valuable. And I prefer to get all my panic done before I tart capturing things. Or at least multiple continents. Lasers and high-ranking troops last me for a long, long time.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:39
|
|
|
Emong posted:I don't think they even get plasma. They don't. Also if you're willing to save/load, you can guess their base after just three covert ops missions and knock them out. So you can pretty much be through with EXALT after 2-3 months.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:43
|
|
|
Eifert Posting posted:I'm currently living in Korea. What are the odds if I get some friends to record the XCom lines in Korean that they can be modded into the game? If it makes you feel any better, I tweeted Ananda Gupta begging for asian voicepacks and to take my money, and he favorited my tweet. Also I'm not having any issues with EXALT so far except they're a bit easy. It's nice seeing some of those terror maps that you never actually get to explore because the terror mission is won/lost already. Nice addition to the game.
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:44
|
|
|
Dr. Video Games 0031 posted:Well, I'm about halfway through my Classic campaign and have a couple thoughts. You absolutely can keep EXALT from sabotaging you, you just need to be proactive with your intel scans and keep hitting their cells. If you let them run wild, they'll sabotage you like crazy. That's kind of the point. Killing EXALT cells also reduces panic in that nation, so it's very much intended that you keep after them. I get the feeling a lot of people forgot that intel scans exist, and just go after the cells after they hit you. That's not the optimal way to play. Covert Ops give a nice niche for SHIVs: they're great at rolling up next to the encoder and blocking EXALT from capping it. If they get killed, oh well, it's just a SHIV--but if you win, you get that sweet extra cash. Also, Covert Operatives get XP for a successful mission even if they don't get any kills. I leveled a guy from LT to Colonel just doing CO missions. His nickname was "Shadow", was I NOT supposed to call him up for every sneaking mission? 
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:45
|
|
|
BenRGamer posted:Is... is that a Mass Effect reference? It's been years since I played ME1, but iirc that's the medal that War Hero Shepard got. Could also be a WH40k reference (or just a generic sci-fi sounding medal name )
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:47
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 10, 2024 09:07 |
|
|
TalonDemonKing posted:Some more notes: Does mimetic skin provide the +50% crit rate for ghost attacks?
|
|
#
?
Nov 14, 2013 04:49
|
|