XCOM: Enemy Unknown

TheChrisD

Shiminay wrote: »

When bumped to 14 then you're getting a greater return obviously, but I think it's possibly less useful than having that mega punch to guarantee the kill of a powerful enemy.

I had this debate with a friend of mine during an MP game we had. It really is a case of trying to figure out whether you want high damage on a single target (+mobility, but requires you to get in close), or good damage on potentially many targets. A flamer works well on a Support MEC along with Restorative Mist, and makes short work of terror missions as Chryssalids are one-shot by it when upgraded.

kowloon wrote: »

Are people going for MECs and gene mods or focusing on the one? I think I need another playthrough to try in the zone and mimetic skin.

Originally I did both, then did a playthrough each of focusing on just one or the other. MECs need a lot of Meld, so while I was able to field four of them (two achievements with one stone :P), I could only upgrade two of them to the max rank. Gene mods seem to provide a better return on investment.

DeVore wrote: »

I havent used SHIVs, like... ever. Does anyone find them useful?

Only ever useful if you have the money/fragments to burn, and are really in a pinch with most of your A-team in the infirmary and need a full squad for a big mission.

Tenger

DeVore wrote: »

....
I havent used SHIVs, like... ever. Does anyone find them useful?

I'm greedy.....I have used SHIV's but dislike if I have to kill aliens with them, thus depriving my troops of XP

ancapailldorcha

They're amazing when you start fighting Sectopods though. Suppression deprives the Sectopod of it's overwatch so you can move your troops while simultaneously inflicting an aim penalty of 30. The hover SHIV gains a defence bonus whilst airborne making it an even more viable choice. All that combined with the fact that SHIVs can't take cover means that enemies will preferentially target them due to the AI always choosing the most accurate shot. They can even be repaired with the ARC thrower.

Shiminay

I think the first run through I completed before Enemy Within I had a SHIV on almost all missions. For all the reasons listed above - distraction, psi attacks, reduced mental anguish when/if I got someone caught out of position. Well worth investing in if you're not "Melding" soldiers, maybe not bad to have as a back up if you've spare resources.

sin0city

Just came across this today.
For anyone on PS3 Enemy Within is now €14.79, or €13.31 if you have Plus.
Valid until 27/02/14.

DeVore

Basically I have broken the game now. My sniper team (with optional assault) is an unstoppable killing machine. The alien base invasion... not a single alien got a single shot off until the Robocop-walker thing at the end got one shot before it died.

I trapped an ethereal and since all my team have the meld-upgrade to just take a round out if he tries to mind control him, we basically danced around him (occasionally dropping unconscious).... before tazing him for interrogation

And this is all on Classic!

The difficulty curve is broken on this game, it far too hard and random at the start and far too easy later on. Still love it though

srsly78

Mr Internet tough guy still won't play on ironman or impossible tho :pac:

Shiminay

I just finished my own EW run through. Mind Control is such a pain in the arse when the Ethereals grab your 2 Assault troopers with Alloy Cannon and Close Combat Specialist - moving your own team away from them means they're getting blapped for 8-10 damage.

DeVore

I'm not masochistic...!!



But I *am* working up to it. Probably.



Actually, the thing I dont like about Ironman is that it hugely increases the influence of the random number generator and while that develops a certain amount of "dramatic tension"... ultimately its not the kind of game I like. I'm not a big fan of randomness in games as I feel its the antithesis of skill.

I think I might try an ironman normal or classic though, cos now I feel like I know how to beat the game.

ancapailldorcha

I've tried (and failed) Impossible Ironman a few times now. If you don't win the first 3 fights (with few to no losses) then you're screwed. Luck plays much to big a role for my liking. If I try it again, I might just disable Ironman.
Zemalf's channel on Youtube has a full walkthrough where he took only 2 losses.

jaxdasher

sin0city wrote: »

Just came across this today.
For anyone on PS3 Enemy Within is now €14.79, or €13.31 if you have Plus.
Valid until 27/02/14.

Just bought it there. Cheers! that's my month sorted.

ancapailldorcha

jaxdasher wrote: »

Just bought it there. Cheers! that's my month sorted.

More than that I would think.

jaxdasher

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

More than that I would think.

I was pretending to be cool and have a life. You got me
Ironman all the way.

DeVore

Dont start with Ironman, you will hate it and by extension, yourself and everyone around you.

Learn on Normal/Classic without Ironman setting on. Trust me, Classic is freakin' hard in and of itself.

If you survive just fine to laser weapons, then sure you can restart and go for it.

jaxdasher

DeVore wrote: »

Dont start with Ironman, you will hate it and by extension, yourself and everyone around you.

Learn on Normal/Classic without Ironman setting on. Trust me, Classic is freakin' hard in and of itself.

If you survive just fine to laser weapons, then sure you can restart and go for it.

I finished EU in ironman classic. I think ill be ok. Right?.....right?

degrassinoel

ye might not be if you're playing though enemy within - lots of unexpected stuff happens, and some mobs have been buffed, a lot!

I'd recommend a pilot playthrough on an easier setting too, especially if it's your first full campaign in EW

srsly78

Ehh he beat it on ironman classic. Don't insult the guy by telling him to play on normal...

Even impossible is easy is you savescum enough. Ironman is what makes it hard.

degrassinoel

srsly78 wrote: »

Ehh he beat it on ironman classic. Don't insult the guy by telling him to play on normal...

Even impossible is easy is you savescum enough. Ironman is what makes it hard.

Ehh Dont insult me by telling me what not to say to someone that's asking for advice :P

jaxdasher

Its all cool guys. But encountered my first Seeker(?), tried grenades on where I last saw them when I triggered them, missed. Are they invulnerable when cloaked? First one went after my heavy who was lucky on overwatch. Scared the crap out of me. Second one went after my sniper above the roof, luckily it was in range of my Assault.

These meld and seekers really add to the tension. I have yet to meet the new alien mech.

ancapailldorcha

Seekers can only really be damaged by AoE attacks and explosives when cloaked as they can't be targeted.

degrassinoel

sectopods got a massive armor buff, pretty tough to kill with any squad

. Mechtoids aren't too bad if you deal with them quickly. What way did ye decide to go? NI/CI/II?

Without spoiling or spoilering anything, dont rush too far in without covering your ass, both on tactical maps and with research, satellites and upgrades

jaxdasher

degrassinoel wrote: »

sectopods got a massive armor buff, pretty tough to kill with any squad

. Mechtoids aren't too bad if you deal with them quickly. What way did ye decide to go? NI/CI/II?

Without spoiling or spoilering anything, dont rush too far in without covering your ass, both on tactical maps and with research, satellites and upgrades

I'm doing CI, for now I'm doing ok. Lost 2 so far. I'm getting the handle on my monthly evaluation. I always prioritize satellites and only launching them close to the end of the month so I can prioritize which region I want to save. Move slow. Keep together. Hunker Down whenever I can. *breathes* its like riding a bike...

srsly78

Sectopods can be dealt with by a LOT of focused firepower. What helps is the HEAT anti-armor, and shredder rockets that heavies can get (or other classes if using roulette). Later in the game there is a certain mech upgrade that completely owns Sectopods and Mechtroids (EMP).

Best counter to Mechtroids is to just mindcontrol them ofc :pac: Also having your mech punch them to death works well, and has a cool animation. Not as good as mech vs berserker tho!! Don't try to punch sectopods unless your mech has a lot of health left -.-

TheChrisD

jaxdasher wrote: »

But encountered my first Seeker(?), tried grenades on where I last saw them when I triggered them, missed. Are they invulnerable when cloaked?

They move once triggered. And with 14 movement as well as flight, they can pretty much go anywhere, so a grenade/rocket on their trigger point is worthless.

sin0city

jaxdasher wrote: »

Just bought it there. Cheers! that's my month sorted.

No bother. I was going to give it a miss but caved at that price.

jaxdasher wrote: »

I finished EU in ironman classic. I think ill be ok. Right?.....right?

Same here but I'm going to go normal ironman for my first playthrough of EW.
Even if it takes me a couple of goes there's the freedom to experiment. I've avoided reading any of the tips on here so I know nothing about the new enemies either. Good luck on IC!

DeVore

jaxdasher wrote: »

I finished EU in ironman classic. I think ill be ok. Right?.....right?

Ah sorry I thought you were new to the game ... my bad.

Sarky

jaxdasher wrote: »

I finished EU in ironman classic. I think ill be ok. Right?.....right?

You're still in for a few nasty surprises, but that's the fun part, right?

DeVore

My feeling is that with the alien buffs etc they made heavies worth taking and favoured assaults too, which was needed really. The way some of the aliens now depower regular damage and crits means that snipers have a tough time with them. Because I cant one-shot them they end the In The Zone rampage too. I still think topped out snipers are OP but its nice to see the heavies having a role now too.

ancapailldorcha

Has anyone played with the second wave options yet? Any interesting combinations?

Sarky

Random starting stats and random stat increases can lead to some interesting troops. Every now and then you'll end up with someone with an insanely high stat or two, but often balanced with very low other stats. A sniper with huge attack stats but very low will is great, as long as nothing happens to spook them, in which case they'll never stop bloody panicking. An assault with mediocre attacks but massive willpower ends up being the perfect choice for taking down Sectoid commanders and Ethereals, and so on.

It will probably cost you more on hiring soldiers, but it can help tailor your squads even further to your tastes.