X-COM Preorders

Silent Disapproval Robot · October 18, 2012, 12:55:56 PM

Yeah, I found that in my game too. My medic could heal 10 hp per shot but she was a plasma sponge. I think she was injured in about 90% of my battles. I always brought 2 support guys along in Titan armour and usually went through 4-6 heals per mission.

Arctic Blast · October 18, 2012, 01:56:05 PM

Defeated the enemy base, only to lose an entire 6 man team on a big UFO. I was down to 3 troopers, and we came across 3 Sectoid Commanders at the end. It didn't end well. :(

Bison · October 18, 2012, 10:12:32 PM

Quote from: Arctic Blast on October 18, 2012, 01:56:05 PM
Defeated the enemy base, only to lose an entire 6 man team on a big UFO. I was down to 3 troopers, and we came across 3 Sectoid Commanders at the end. It didn't end well. :(

Reload!

Arctic Blast · October 18, 2012, 11:18:35 PM

Quote from: Bison on October 18, 2012, 10:12:32 PM
Quote from: Arctic Blast on October 18, 2012, 01:56:05 PM
Defeated the enemy base, only to lose an entire 6 man team on a big UFO. I was down to 3 troopers, and we came across 3 Sectoid Commanders at the end. It didn't end well. :(

Reload!

No thanks, I don't have a vagina. ;D

Also, I'm playing Ironman.

Bison · October 19, 2012, 03:13:58 AM

Quote from: Arctic Blast on October 18, 2012, 11:18:35 PM
Quote from: Bison on October 18, 2012, 10:12:32 PM
Quote from: Arctic Blast on October 18, 2012, 01:56:05 PM
Defeated the enemy base, only to lose an entire 6 man team on a big UFO. I was down to 3 troopers, and we came across 3 Sectoid Commanders at the end. It didn't end well. :(

Reload!

No thanks, I don't have a vagina. ;D

Also, I'm playing Ironman.

I suspect not for long, but I'm sure you'll remember your failings when you start over again. :)

LongBlade · October 19, 2012, 08:59:32 PM

I managed to take out an Overseer vessel, which crash landed nearby. But having played the scenario about half a dozen times I'm finding I'm simply under-equipped to take on the big mechs. They've got a rocket barrage that I simply cannot deal with.

I'm thinking I need to start making armor and my own mech.

Kushan · October 20, 2012, 11:03:48 AM

Was browsing mods on X-Com nexus this morning and saw this: http://xcom.nexusmods.com/mods/18/

It makes a number of changes, but one of the biggest is that it allows 2 accessory slots. I haven't tried it out myself, so I don't know how the other game play changes affect the balance of the game.

Capn Darwin · October 20, 2012, 11:40:07 AM

The only mod I have loaded right now is the one that amps the graphics setting for the PC. I like to go through the game a few times as written before hitting the mods that change stuff and make it more "playable". 8)

Barthheart · October 21, 2012, 09:35:13 AM

Interesting article about the "dumbing down" of XCOM:UE...

http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/xcom-enemy-unknown/1226388p1.html

Bison · October 21, 2012, 09:50:32 AM

I had to restart my campaign this morning due to a fresh install. It needed to happen anyway, because I was to the point of being out gunned, out teched and no means to remedy the situation. PVTs are never a match when it's 5 of them against a hord of greys and their bio-tech enhancements.

This time I'm going tactically slow and steady. Move to cover, overwatch, buddy aid, shoot and repeat. I had been going in hard and fast, while that is an ideal technique in certain situations - its not in XCOM.

LongBlade · October 21, 2012, 12:00:14 PM

Quote from: Bison on October 21, 2012, 09:50:32 AM
This time I'm going tactically slow and steady. Move to cover, overwatch, buddy aid, shoot and repeat. I had been going in hard and fast, while that is an ideal technique in certain situations - its not in XCOM.

It's good with the Assault class when they have the Run and Gun perk. Even then, I like to keep the rest of the squad held back in cover with supporting fire.

Even more useful is to pull the Saving Private Ryan "rabbit" when you send a redshirt out to find the aliens, then rush back to the rest of the squad pulling them in.

Only rarely will I rush an entire squad into combat.

Kushan · October 21, 2012, 12:10:38 PM

Quote from: Bison on October 21, 2012, 09:50:32 AM
This time I'm going tactically slow and steady. Move to cover, overwatch, buddy aid, shoot and repeat. I had been going in hard and fast, while that is an ideal technique in certain situations - its not in XCOM.

I never use dash, except on the first turn of some maps where there is no immediate cover. It also helps if you cycle through1 turn on all of your soldiers, in case one of them uncovers something you can take the shot or move them back.

Bison · October 21, 2012, 12:37:09 PM

The real struggle I'm having is keeping a good number of troops advancing up the experience totem. It's easy to rely on a few crack units and add in a single rookie every mission or two, but if they aren't getting the kills they don't advance. So I've taken a slightly different approach this time, but running the first several missions with all rookie squads. Losses have less impact, but I feel it's setting up a nice stable of experienced troops to start pulling for missions.

tgb · October 21, 2012, 02:42:57 PM

Something else that worked for me was using lower-ranked officers when I had more than one of a class to choose from. Also, all other things being equal, take missions that reward you with an officer whenever you can. I picked up 3 or 4 Colonels that way that stayed with me through the game.

W8taminute · October 21, 2012, 03:26:51 PM

This whole thing about letting the rookies gain experience reminds me of the differences in doctrine between the Luftwaffe and the USAAF during WWII.

Luftwaffe aces tended to be worked to death until after establishing an impressive number of kills then to die with nothing but rookies with no training to replace them. Meanwhile, aces in the USAAF would get rotated out of combat and train the new rookies so that the experience was evenly spread throughout the team. Yes, each pilot gets a smaller kill tally but most of them got to return home alive.