XCOM: Enemy Unknown

[SlimKibbles]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Okay panicking soldiers can really suck sometimes. One incident in the alien base today had a Japanese assault soldier nicknamed "Psycho" panic and shoot my major support medic, a female who was also my highest ranking soldier at the time, just after she healed his wounds. A 10-point critical kill. Thanks a lot, Psycho. Then tonight I had a VIP escort mission for the council do a complete 180 when a weak-willed sniper panicked after a fellow soldier bit the dust. Out of all the things she could have done (ran away and hid, shot any number of enemies or fellow soldiers, etc) she shot and killed the VIP. Until today, I had not known why we would be given a "dismiss" option when viewing a soldier. Boy was I tempted on two. It still bothers me right now.

[nemesis04]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Okay panicking soldiers can really suck sometimes. One incident in the alien base today had a Japanese assault soldier nicknamed "Psycho" panic and shoot my major support medic, a female who was also my highest ranking soldier at the time, just after she healed his wounds. A 10-point critical kill. Thanks a lot, Psycho. Then tonight I had a VIP escort mission for the council do a complete 180 when a weak-willed sniper panicked after a fellow soldier bit the dust. Out of all the things she could have done (ran away and hid, shot any number of enemies or fellow soldiers, etc) she shot and killed the VIP. Until today, I had not known why we would be given a "dismiss" option when viewing a soldier. Boy was I tempted on two. It still bothers me right now.

LOL, you have to love soldiers who panic! For the first time I had a panic soldier shoot the right target and take down a thin man. I was shocked because most of the time they are shooting in the opposite direction. I still lost my VIP to a thin man on over watch.

I am starting to lose guys at a good clip now. I lost my most seasoned sniper, I was shocked when it happened!

[Knight165]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Yeah.....lost my sniper as well last night.
I've got two....but he was my more experienced guy and I gave him the move/shoot-overwatch perk(as opposed to his turn ending after a move ...in which the perk was squadsight....)
I've got plasma weapons now...and it's time to assault the alien base I would say.

So far I've lost 3 countries to the council, but have a good deal of sats up now, so panic is remaining manageable

M.K.
Knight165

[Phobia]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Update on my progress. I put in a lot of time this weekend with the game.

I had my first run in with a mission that went to hell. I lost 5 outta 6 of my soldiers and worst part they were all high ranking people. It was a standard abduction mission that turned out of be more of a ambush.

The crack team of 6 members hit the deck and made their way in slowly through the dark wooded trees. After picking up 2 mutons and a berserker from a sensor thrown by my sniper we moved in to take down these big brutes.

I ran up with "LaBeezy" my support man and threw a grenade right in the middle of all three. Then opened up with the rest of the squad dropping 2 of the mutons and hurting the berserker. A turn later 2 more mutons and a beserker pop up on our left flank.

"Iceman" whips out his rocket launcher and destroys both mutons. In the next several turns we managed to finish off both the beserkers.

I was thinking wow they threw some big guns early at us. Then out of no where it happened, 3 chrysalid came charging out the fog and before I knew it they were right on top my men. The first chrysalid took down "LaBeezy" with a quick slash. Then the second one charged my female assault gunner "Crackbarrel" with a quick throat bite I lost two of my original members. We then rained hell down on the chrysalids dropping two.

A turn or two later two zombies and a chrysalid are now barring down on my support guy "Red". Just as I'm thinking I might have a chance to take them out and finish this mission. The zombies explode into more chrysalids and charge "Red", "Cyborg", and our squad leader "Iceman". In one quick blow they over ran our squad and the last remaining solider "One Eye" the Sniper who was hanging back with support fire made a run for evac. As he reached the zone 2 chrysalids were also in the zone and he managed to board the bird and get out barely with his life.

It was the first time I hit a mission that just threw a wrench out of no where. What went from seeming like a easy trek through the woods turned into hell with all my top soldiers dieing then coming back to hunt me down.

Since that mission I have been back on a long win streak. I managed to complete the second main story mission in capture the Alien base. I am now on the final 1/3rd of the game. I am just afraid I might lose it before I get there. I have lost 6 out of 8 countries with two in the bright orange.

Damn this game is stressful but a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chizzypoof]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

As it stands right now Nigeria, Canada, Mexico, Japan and the entire continent of South America all withdrew from the council. The really sad part is I just captured an alien for the first time, so I think I am still technically on the tutorial. I am sure this campaign will not end well for Earth.

The good news is I figured out the beauty of overwatch. Before that my squads consisted of whoever didn't get mortally wounded or die in the previous mission.

[nemesis04]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

I don't know how but I have managed to keep all the countries so far. I sent up a few satellites in the nick of time to calm down a few countries. In the process of having interceptors transferred to those geographic locations. I am getting worried though as funds are low and I need another up-link station in order to send out some more satellites.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Over the weekend I started 3 different attempts at Classic. I actually got a good start in one before it all went to hell. This level borders on unfair and I can't believe there's another, more difficult setting.

Basically you have to put your base in Africa for the extra money. Then I'm convinced that you have to get incredibly lucky to even have a chance to win the game. It's not a matter of if, but when you will be wiped out. If you can make it much past the introduction of Mutons, you will have beaten my best effort so far. Oh, and the first bomb mission. LOL - good luck.

[willIam9387]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Similar to Phobia, I had one of those missions where I was caught off guard and I had my whole platoon wiped out by 3 Chyrssalids. Squad leaders Melissa Jericho and Max Gold were no match for 3 Chryssalids and after they fell it was all but over for the rest of that squad. I thought I was in good shape as I cleared out one of those huge UFO's and I thought some stragglers were left, probably a few floaters or mutons left, nothing I couldn't handle. But I was horribly wrong as there were 3 chryssalids. I mean this mission was insane when I come to think of it. There were like 3 to four teams of mutons and berserkers with 3 Chrysallids, wtf? I was totally taken off guard and basically that was the beginning of the end. I never could regroup or field a team of capable soldiers as all rookiers were left. I actually was able to win one mission after that and level up a few rookies and get a colonel sniper as a reward, but then the very next mission I was faced with an insane enemy list to wipe off. A group of those leveled floaters with armor, a cyberdisc, and three teams of mutons and berserkers, which again wiped out my squad. And that was it, I lost. Now knowing what I know, I recommend people to keep a full squad of at least two deep because if you don't and you get wiped out, it's tough to come back.

[Phobia]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Similar to Phobia, I had one of those missions where I was caught off guard and I had my whole platoon wiped out by 3 Chyrssalids. Squad leaders Melissa Jericho and Max Gold were no match for 3 Chryssalids and after they fell it was all but over for the rest of that squad. I thought I was in good shape as I cleared out one of those huge UFO's and I thought some stragglers were left, probably a few floaters or mutons left, nothing I couldn't handle. But I was horribly wrong as there were 3 chryssalids. I mean this mission was insane when I come to think of it. There were like 3 to four teams of mutons and berserkers with 3 Chrysallids, wtf? I was totally taken off guard and basically that was the beginning of the end. I never could regroup or field a team of capable soldiers as all rookiers were left. I actually was able to win one mission after that and level up a few rookies and get a colonel sniper as a reward, but then the very next mission I was faced with an insane enemy list to wipe off. A group of those leveled floaters with armor, a cyberdisc, and three teams of mutons and berserkers, which again wiped out my squad. And that was it, I lost. Now knowing what I know, I recommend people to keep a full squad of at least two deep because if you don't and you get wiped out, it's tough to come back.

I no longer run a full squad of ranked guys. I take 4 high rank guys and then 2 rookies as cannon fodder and recon eyes. I learned my lesson the hard way also, lucky I had several other higher rank guys.

[Russell_SCEA]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Over the weekend I started 3 different attempts at Classic. I actually got a good start in one before it all went to hell. This level borders on unfair and I can't believe there's another, more difficult setting.

Basically you have to put your base in Africa for the extra money. Then I'm convinced that you have to get incredibly lucky to even have a chance to win the game. It's not a matter of if, but when you will be wiped out. If you can make it much past the introduction of Mutons, you will have beaten my best effort so far. Oh, and the first bomb mission. LOL - good luck.

Glad I'm not the only one, I've restarted on Classic about 5 times already and I just can't seem to get my head above water fast enough. I'm losing missions and it's not that hard to lose a mission on classic. I'm also avg. one soldier death per mission as well. I'm not having any attachment to my soldiers because they are so fragile on classic. They panic a lot with the lower starting Will.

Over-watch is also pretty useless for your soldiers until their accuracy is in the 85 range. I've learned that hunker down is a much better option on classic. It's also letting me get the drop on alien patrols since they can't see you at all sometimes you will start your next turn and the enemies will be standing there out of cover. It gives you one free shot then they move to cover its nice and scary at the same time.

My last save I was doing pretty good then I lost an entire squad on a terror mission. Afterwards Mutons started spawning and I didn't have laser weapons or carapace armor....................................So I got slaughtered and what do you know I'm starting over again lol.

[42]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

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[murph17]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

I have 2 games going on...

My first XCOM experience started on the Xbox - normal, no ironman. I didn't mean to, but I stumbled into a pretty decent strategy. I got off to a horrible start and almost lost the game - didn't make enough satellites, lost 7 countries - 1 more and my game is over I believe. However by the time I got my feet planted and invested in satellites, it allowed me to concentrate and lock-down all the countries I still had left. So I'm getting the North America and South America bonuses now, and the panic level for everyone left was pretty much under control.

...and then the game introduced me to Sectopods. Total party kill.

I also made the mistake of focusing on my "A Team" and didn't really level up my "B Team" very well. I was pretty thin in the barracks and the next mission went just as bad. TPK again.

So now I'm halfway (?) into the game, and I'm sending in squadees and corporals to get massacred against berserkers, cyberdisks and alien PSI soliders. I have a decent amount of armor and weapons (plasma, titan armor) but it's tough. My last mission was a small UFO crash - great I thought, level up some noobs - wrong, elites, berserkers, heavy floaters. Still lost 2 guys. Ugh. I have a feeling this game is on it's last legs.

Game 2 is on the PC. I bought it in hopes to get it up and running on an older MacBook Pro so I could play and watch TV at the same time, but no luck. So instead I'm playing on a laptop at the office

Classic difficulty, no ironman. Really should have turned that on, I will for my next game.

I'm off to a better start at the global level - I have a much better understanding/strategy for satellites, building facilities, etc. But combat is much tougher, losing 1-2 guys a mission. Compounding the AI difficulty level, by focusing on satellites and facilities I'm a little behind on weapon and armor upgrades.

But regardless, I am loving this game. Even better that it was so under the radar for me and such a pleasant surprise.

[redsrule]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

I agree, and that is why I am not playing on classic. The accuracy is ridiculous, and the aliens never miss.
Something as a whole that kinda aggravates me, is that these are elite soldiers, if you 5 feet from an alien and have him flanked, you are not going to miss, and you should have a lot higher chance of a critical than 30%.

[murph17]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

As expected, my Xbox game came to an end last night. Despite an excellent effort by a squad of 6 noobs vs Aliens Terrorizing where 5/6 came back home, I lost another country when my next council report came up and that ended the game

Classic and Ironman starts tonight on Xbox.

[murph17]

Re: XCOM: Enemy Unknown

DLC inbound! Deets (but no price or release date) on the first one, at least one more coming.

Firaxis talks future XCOM content, 'Slingshot' DLC announced | Joystiq

http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/23/firaxis-talks-future-xcom-content-slingshot-dlc-announced/

The first of two planned pieces of DLC, Slingshot features three new missions on three new maps, which promise to be visually distinct from the maps already available in XCOM (unfortunately, they won't be available in multiplayer). Triad operative Zhang has had "an attack of conscience regarding some interesting technology," says Gupta, "and he's offering it to XCOM." In addition to the new locales, the missions promise more varied objectives, which DeAngelis says are "riffs on some of the existing gameplay objectives," but with "new mechanics."