X-Com

[klayman]

Originally Posted by Shepp

I just had my first terror mission and they mopped the floor with me. Have any of you guys won a terror mission; or are they a get as many people as you can and get out sort of thing?

I also lost way more soldiers than I needed to ealry on because I hadn't figured out how to use the med kits or the weave vest armor upgrades.

I just survived my first terror with no losses, but lost half the civilians. It was on a bridge though, so it was pretty much straight forward, didn't have to worry about getting flanked at all.

[Lonnie]

Originally Posted by klayman

for PC users, which do you prefer: Mouse and keyboard or 360 controller? Personally, I'm finding it a lot easier to navigate around with the controller and no annoying double click needed to execute orders.

I'm using the 360 controller. It works great. I thought about trying the keyboard/mouse, but I'm already used to this and don't feel like learning the extra keys.

I've made it to the base invasion. My first run at it I was doing decent until four Chryssalid showed up. Zombied up 4 out of my 5 guys. My lone unit made several daring escapes then I found out something that worked well. She was wearing the grapple armor and I found some pedestals that I could graple up on to and the Chryssalids couldn't reach me. Of course after I picked them all off one by one I ran into a couple of Mutons and just couldn't take them solo. I'll give it another run tomorrow.

[spleen1015]

I wasn't having much luck last night capturing a Sectoid. I has 1 soldier with the Arc Thrower. I'm thinking I should probably have multiple folks with them.

How have you guys captured them?

[Shepp]

Originally Posted by klayman

I just survived my first terror with no losses, but lost half the civilians. It was on a bridge though, so it was pretty much straight forward, didn't have to worry about getting flanked at all.

Its the damn Chryssalids that I don't have the answer for. I was all fanned out getting to the civilians when I encountered them. My guys didn't have enough firepower to take them one on one and they overtook my squad before I could pull them back. The real pain was that for every squad member and civilian they impregnated added one more to them. By the end I was outnumbered as well as outgunned.

[Grover]

You guys are really making me want to purchase this. It's a good thing I can't afford any new games for a month or two.

[WVUFAN]

So, I just discovered the alien base. I've lost 6 players, but three of those were lost in the first mission (which everyone loses). I don't have enough engineers to manufacture laser rifles or pistols yet, and I don't have any new armor researched aside from the vest.

Am I woefully unprepared for the alien base?

[Blackadar]

Originally Posted by Shepp

Its the damn Chryssalids that I don't have the answer for. I was all fanned out getting to the civilians when I encountered them. My guys didn't have enough firepower to take them one on one and they overtook my squad before I could pull them back. The real pain was that for every squad member and civilian they impregnated added one more to them. By the end I was outnumbered as well as outgunned.

You *cannot* send your guys out to fight one on one and expect to live against a Chryssalid. You have to treat your team as a squad and fight as a squad. That means a scout, an assault guy, a heavy weapons guy and a sniper all working in concert with each other. See a Chryssalid and it's the #1 priority for the team - break out the rocket launcher if need be - and everyone focuses fire on that SOB until it stops twitching. Your team has to work like a team. Only when you get 6 guys can you make two teams of 3...and even then there will be times they'll need to recombine to take on a tougher area.

I played for 5 hours last night, so I've managed to make it through the entire tutorial, some regular missions, a couple of terror mission and a base assault. I've seen the sectoids, thin mints (yeah, that was on purpose), the chryssalids (quite the disappointment, visually), the zombies, the floaters, some small robot claws, some green guys, the crystal guys and even a sectoid commander. I'm playing on normal to get familiar with the mechanics. Just some general thoughts:

1. I got tired of being in "tutorial mode" long before it was over. I'm never, ever doing that tutorial again.

2. I like the look of the maps, but they're a bit too rectangular and therefore more linear than I'd like. It's hard to flank an enemy and use proper small-squad tactics when you're hemmed in on both sides. I had one terror mission on a freeway that, while it looked cool, was almost tactically impossible. A ramp up to a 2nd level that triggers 4 mobs right at the edge that you can't see until you're on top of them? There aren't any tactics there - that's just a stupid trap. Reload time. I don't mind getting my men killed when I'm being stupid, but I do mind it when it's a cheap game mechanic that I can't avoid. My first mod desire - bigger maps.

3. On that note, I was pretty disappointed with the base layout (extremely linear, didn't like the look) and some of the spawns in there as well. Trigger the LOS and the next thing I know there's like 8 mobs rushing headlong towards my guys? Again, that's just not right. Tactically, all you have to do is set up a firing line, send your least experienced guy up to scout and drag the mobs back to the kill zone.

4. The cut-scenes and character art direction isn't that good. In fact, it can be pretty ugly at times.

5. I don't like how limited my carrying capacity is. One rocket? A medkit *or* a grenade *or* a scope *or* a protective vest? What's the use of making these things if I can't wear most of it? Maybe I'm just missing a way to increase their carry capacity over 4 items, but that just is very limiting to me.

6. I don't mind the monster spawn on escort missions, but I do mind the spawn on other types of missions. I should be able to carefully isolate and eliminate targets without them always coming in pairs or more.

Ok, with all of these gripes, I must hate it, right? Hellz no. I played for 5 fucking hours straight last night. It's a great variation of X-Com (the first decent one since the original game) and I feel I'm just now getting into the meat of the game. The missions can be very intense and the strategic part of the game is now opening up to allow many different options. I was so eager to get to the next turn I haven't even bothered to rename my guys yet. So while it's still early yet, I'm loving this one thus far.

[chesapeake]

Originally Posted by Blackadar

5. I don't like how limited my carrying capacity is. One rocket? A medkit *or* a grenade *or* a scope *or* a protective vest? What's the use of making these things if I can't wear most of it? Maybe I'm just missing a way to increase their carry capacity over 4 items, but that just is very limiting to me.

I'm really irritated by this artificial restriction. I'm still enjoying the game, but I can't understand why they would group all these unrelated items into one inventory slot.

[dubb93]

I'm past the tutorial and into the actual game. How the hell do I get more engineers? I need to build crap but only have five of those guys. Can't build any building worth a crap either as far as engineering goes.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Excited about this game. I'm picking up a brand new laptop tonight with tons of RAM. Will buy this game and download tonight along with a save transfer of my FM dynasty and some Civ V. Can't wait to see the improved speed on both games. The demo for this game was far too jumpy on my current laptop.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by dubb93

I'm past the tutorial and into the actual game. How the hell do I get more engineers? I need to build crap but only have five of those guys. Can't build any building worth a crap either as far as engineering goes.

I think I have only gotten more engineers from completing missions where they were a reward.

[Blackadar]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

I think I have only gotten more engineers from completing missions where they were a reward.

Offering satellite coverage over some countries also will give you engineers and such. For example, I think you get one a month if you cover the USA.

[Lonnie]

Originally Posted by dubb93

I'm past the tutorial and into the actual game. How the hell do I get more engineers? I need to build crap but only have five of those guys. Can't build any building worth a crap either as far as engineering goes.

Build Workshops.

[Lonnie]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

I wasn't having much luck last night capturing a Sectoid. I has 1 soldier with the Arc Thrower. I'm thinking I should probably have multiple folks with them.

How have you guys captured them?

When I need to capture something I usually send out two of my squad with Arc throwers. The Outsider was the hardest as there is only one per downed UFO and I kept killing it with Overwatch. Took me a couple months to capture one.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Grover

You guys are really making me want to purchase this. It's a good thing I can't afford any new games for a month or two.

I'm thinking Steam holiday sale anyway.

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by Lonnie

Build Workshops.

Figured that out. For whatever reason I couldn't build them at the time.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by Matthean

I'm thinking Steam holiday sale anyway.

+1

FM13 is my only necessary purchase up through Christmas time.

[chinaski]

If anyone wants to try out multiplayer, hit me up on steam, username is chinaski.

[Izulde]

I caved and got the PS3 version. Funny thing was, Target had the 360 version, but was sold out of the PS3 edition. Gamestop had the PS3 version, but 360 only enough for people who preordered.

[PurdueBrad]

I've gotten way too attached to my team. I find myself playing it too safe, especially during my first terror fight in Japan.

[EagleFan]

This game is pissing me off. Keeps crashing to desktop. I get just a little further each time. Made it through the first mission finally. Tried everything that I have read so far about this issue. All drivers up to date, lowered settings, switched to windowed mode. Not getting one clue about why it crashes either. Guess it's not meant to be.

[chinaski]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

This game is pissing me off. Keeps crashing to desktop. I get just a little further each time. Made it through the first mission finally. Tried everything that I have read so far about this issue. All drivers up to date, lowered settings, switched to windowed mode. Not getting one clue about why it crashes either. Guess it's not meant to be.

What video card?

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by chinaski

What video card?

Radeon HD 6490M

[dubb93]

After a marathon session today I've reached a point where it is starting to get a little frustrating. The game just introduced a new enemy that I'm completely unprepared to deal with. After losing almost no one for a very long time I am now losing one or two every fight. The damn thing one shot crit one of my guys for 27 for crying out loud.

Anyone I'm rocking all plasma weapons but I have noticed I haven't had an armor upgrade since the beginning of the game it seems like. My guys are still rocking carapace armor. A quick google search shows the next step up is Titan Armor. How the hell do I get that? It hasn't ever showed up to be researched.

Sadly my last two battles I have lost a Colonel and two Majors. I also have no living support class soldiers anymore. Bastard killed both my mains and then my backup. I got some serious squad rebuilding to do.

[dubb93]

DOLA: Worse yet I was just told about a terror mission in France. This should be a massacre.

[mckerney]

Had my first terror mission this evening, what a fucking blood bath.

[Izulde]

Is it just me, or does Squad Sight make snipers crazy overpowered? (I love it, though.)

Having a blast with this game so far, and love all the different color hair and uniform styles that come with the Elite Soldier pack. IMO it's better than the original so far, which is sacrilege to say I know, but that's how fun this has been.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Had my first terror mission this evening, what a fucking blood bath.

Seriously.

[SirFozzie]

Let's see, my thoughts on the game (spoilers):

Spoiler

Sectoids: Easy Peasy, it's kinda funny though, that whenever one sectoid mind merges with the other, I'll go out of my way to try to kill the mind merge initiator, because it's a two for one special if you kill the mind merge initiator (the psychic feedback snaps and kills the other one)

Thin Men: Don't bunch your guys up too closely, the posion spit can be a pain (not fatal, but bothering) if they catch your guys too tightly wound)

Floaters: Still mostly one hit kill, but partial cover is really the best you can hope for with these guys mobility. Every so often they'll do a half board jump to try to flank my guys, but they always do so un supported, so it's just a matter of one or two guys turning around and picking them off.

Chrysalids (Terror and Base Missions only): Still the freaking terror that they were in the original. On missions where you expect them, you cannot play loosey goosey at all. YOu have to be disciplined, and move your group up slowly because A) They're fast as hell and B) They make zombies which if not killed make MORE Chryssalids (which starts the Death Spiral very quickly). Focus fire on them as soon as they show up, and don't advance until they're all dead. Hint for Terror Missions: Chryssalid kills OFF SCREEN don't create zombies. On Screen Kills (Ie, the one where you see the cut scene of them eviscerating the civvie (or your xcommer), expect to see a Zombie. Also: If your character is surrounded by chryssalids with no hope to escape, it might be worth it to drop the grenade and blow yourself up (hopefully taking at least one of the bastards with you)

Mutons (regular): By now, you will have gotten used to easily taking down floaters and sectoids. These guys are tough. If you have unupgraded weapons, it might take three or four shots to take down. This is the first real "Oh geez, grenades alone won't do it" guy. Again, teamwork in quickly taking down them are key. Because they don't miss much while shooting, hopefully by the time you've ran into them, you'll have better armor. Oh, and keep them at a distance.. I had double charged an assault guy next to them to make sure I did maximum damage with the shotgun (preparing to finish him off with the three guys hanging back), and wthe shotgun guy hit, the Muton did his intimidate thing, and set off a panick chain starting from the assault guy. Oh, and they're good at throwing grenades if you leave your team too bunched up.

Muton (berzerker): Only ran into one so far, but while it can't shoot, it's got more HP then anything else that I'd faced so far, and we were lucky we could perform a retrograde movement (ie, run backwards, pausing to fire) and take it down before it could do TOO much harm, but facing it in close quarters is a sure way to take a disabling hit.

Cyberdisc/Drones: You will see Drones seperate from Cyberdiscs, but trust me, Drones are only worrisome when paired with a cyberdisc. Cyberdiscs are living hell. If you leave ANYOnN out of cover when there's a cyberdisc around, you might as well start planning what you'll be drinking when you're toasting the dead at the memorial after the mission. Close up range, it ginsu-s your unlucky solider with more blades then a knife factory.. from far away, it unleashes a full squad's worth of firepower against one target. And so far it's never missed. Oh yeah, the Drones? They HEAL the cyberdisc :P.

Sectoid Commander: Treat them like they were a Chryssalid: You have to take them down quickly because they will mindcontrol your teammates, setting off a panic chain

[Izulde]

Lost my sniper with Squad Sight, my top soldiers all got hurt, so I had to do a mission with a squaddie and 4 rookies. And my squaddie got critically wounded on the very first turn. Fortunately I was able to get out there with everyone alive. And spoiler person above me, use the spoiler tags thanks.

[SirFozzie]

So, has anyone enabled the Heroes in Xcom? (Hidden Characters)

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

This game is pissing me off. Keeps crashing to desktop. I get just a little further each time. Made it through the first mission finally. Tried everything that I have read so far about this issue. All drivers up to date, lowered settings, switched to windowed mode. Not getting one clue about why it crashes either. Guess it's not meant to be.

When I get random stuff that others aren't getting, I blow out all the dust in my case. It's amazing what heat buildup will do to a modern computer, and that simple step has been bringing my two main PCs back from the dead every few months. I've had 2 bluescreens on my PC lately (one while playing Rage a week ago, the second last night when I quit the X-Com demo) so probably time to do it again.

[Lonnie]

I finally beat the alien base infiltration mission. I ran a lot of scan missions building up my team before I took it on and still lost two guys and had one bleeding out as I took the kill shot or he would have been dead too.

I have lost 6 countries, all on the left side of the map. The only two left on that side are the US and Nigeria. I have every country on the right and now everyone is at minimum panic. I'm sure that won't last long.

[PurdueBrad]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

So, has anyone enabled the Heroes in Xcom? (Hidden Characters)

Ummm, no, this is news to me actually. What is special about them other than being hidden?

I got the elite soldier download thing but haven't done it yet, trying to play without it thus far.

[BYU 14]

I really don't have time for another game as GW2 gets my free time, but damn you guys are tempting me!!

[spleen1015]

Just landed for my first terror mission. I'm looking forward to it after reading the descriptions of them here.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Left my new computer on this morning to load up Civ V and X-Com.

I can say that I did get my FM12 save game transferred over to the new computer. That game's going to have a new lease on life with the improved sim speed (as if the 650+ hours I've put into that game already aren't enough).

[Apathetic Lurker]

Ye Gods ! I got proofed ! Proofed for a fucking video game. What ? The gray hair and the bald spot didn't give my old ass away? Seriously? Douche nuggets....I nearly left the game there but figured i'd have to deal with sub morons wherever I went to buy this game......

[sterlingice]

Shouldn't you be flattered?

SI

[Apathetic Lurker]

I'm too old to be flattered

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by PurdueBrad

Ummm, no, this is news to me actually. What is special about them other than being hidden?

I got the elite soldier download thing but haven't done it yet, trying to play without it thus far.

Well, the good newsis, if you enable them, it's like having the xcom version of the Expendable (allof them are super fighters with everytihng)

The bad news is you can't earn acheivements with them

[Apathetic Lurker]

I keep hearing of all these horrendous missions...Are there levels of difficulty?

[sterlingice]

I believe they start at "X-Com hard" and work their way up from there

SI

[Apathetic Lurker]

So nothing like easy medium hard ? Just hard +?

[SirFozzie]

Easy, Normal, Classic and Impossible.

[Apathetic Lurker]

thanks

[spleen1015]

I'm playing on normal and don't feel like it is as hard has the original was.

[Apathetic Lurker]

Sigh....I have this useless hardcover picture book with my game. Why the hell coudn' t they put in a , oh, I don't know, 30 page manual instead of this useless fishwrap?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Apathetic Lurker

Sigh....I have this useless hardcover picture book with my game. Why the hell coudn' t they put in a , oh, I don't know, 30 page manual instead of this useless fishwrap?

I thought young whipper-snappers like yourself were supposed to love picture books and stuff like that?

[Apathetic Lurker]

I've graduated to chapter books