Who's preordering X-COM?

[Kindjal]

Does anyone know if the game gets harder on the second playthrough (same difficulty)?

I'm on my second "normal" playthrough and it seems that the enemies pounce instantly and in many more waves. I played a terror mission where I barely moved any members of my squad in order to dispatch around 15 aliens. Sectoid commanders are much more effective at mind control and panicking multiple members of my squads. The layout of the alien base was very different on the second playthrough.

I kind of like the increased difficulty but was surprised by how aggressive the aliens became on the second go round. It also seems like alien resources are a little scare too. I think the scarcity problem might be the game trying to get me to advance the story line.

[nanobreath]

Originally Posted by Kindjal

Does anyone know if the game gets harder on the second playthrough (same difficulty)?

I'm on my second "normal" playthrough and it seems that the enemies pounce instantly and in many more waves. I played a terror mission where I barely moved any members of my squad in order to dispatch around 15 aliens. Sectoid commanders are much more effective at mind control and panicking multiple members of my squads. The layout of the alien base was very different on the second playthrough.

I kind of like the increased difficulty but was surprised by how aggressive the aliens became on the second go round. It also seems like alien resources are a little scare too. I think the scarcity problem might be the game trying to get me to advance the story line.

No it doesn't change. Some possibilities though:

1. You actually played on easy last time and didn't realize it.
2. Patch since the last time you played it changed alien AI some making it more difficult.
3. You're playing more "difficult" or "very difficult" missions this time compared to your first playthrough.

I've had the missions before where my snipers just stood still the whole time, and I exhausted all my grenades and rocket launchers trying to kill the aliens as fast as they appeared, even though I wasn't exploring and spawning them. Sometimes your initial movements find the 2 stationary groups, and all the pathers stumble upon you in the first few turns. Provided you can kill them, it makes for very short missions. Otherwise it can mean terrible destruction of your whole squad. I chalk it up to the randomness of the game

[Kindjal]

I think the possibilities you raised are valid.

1. I downloaded the Slingshot DLC and played through the alien battleship - brutal at a low level. Perhaps a patch was included in this DLC.
2. Given my increased confidence, I probably have selected very difficult missions to challenge myself.
3. The randomness of the game can play a huge part - terrain plays a big part in whether you get your a$$ handed to you immediately.

Thanks.

[nanobreath]

Glad to help!

In my playthroughs, I honestly do not look at the mission difficulty anymore. I'm primarily concerned with the mission rewards and current terror level. I think playing on Ironman mode really led me to do that. I take each mission so much more carefully, that even on the difficult missions I rarely encounter more than one group at a time. Though it's always fun to run up to the first cover soon as you land and you engage 3 alien groups at once. How the fuck am I gonna get outta this one...

Also, in my opinion the terror and council missions far ecilpse the normal abduction missions in terms of difficulty. Such that, even a very difficult abduction missions is cake comparatively.

[mikeymikec]

When training soldiers for psi abilities, I have the feeling that it's a bad idea to send a rookie through (v.low chance of psi ability). Do other people concur with this?

Also, I have a soldier (colonel) whose will has dropped something like 25 points and I have no idea why. Any ideas?

[AlexAL]

Originally Posted by mikeymikec

When training soldiers for psi abilities, I have the feeling that it's a bad idea to send a rookie through (v.low chance of psi ability). Do other people concur with this?

Also, I have a soldier (colonel) whose will has dropped something like 25 points and I have no idea why. Any ideas?

I think if you have soldiers get knocked down through criticals, that will lower their will permanently.

[Born2bwire]

Originally Posted by mikeymikec

When training soldiers for psi abilities, I have the feeling that it's a bad idea to send a rookie through (v.low chance of psi ability). Do other people concur with this?

Also, I have a soldier (colonel) whose will has dropped something like 25 points and I have no idea why. Any ideas?

Maybe. I seem to think that the probability that they will pass is dependent upon their will. And contrary to what occurred in the original game, I haven't noticed that the will values of the rookies really vary. So unless you have the Iron Will from the Officer Training Center that would allow you to increase your rookies' wills via promotion, then I guess it won't matter much if you put in a rookie.

[mikeymikec]

I think it is dependent on their will because out of 40 or so soldiers I have three that are psi capable. I made the possible mistake of psi-testing rookies.

In other news, does anyone else think that the ethereals look (but more act) like the 'Grand Councilwoman' out of 'Lilo and Stitch'? The way they turn towards the person firing like a headmistress looking down on a student... I don't know, I just got that impression from them

[mikeymikec]

I started getting psi-capable soldiers once I stopped putting rookies through. After about 5 or 6 3-man psi tests with rookies/squaddies (and the occasional colonel) and getting entirely negative results, I only put in colonels and the odd major. In 2x 3-man tests, two came out with the psi gift.

Did anyone else think that the ending was a bit inadequate? I think "sequel fever" amongst film/game makers affects the audience negatively.

I've just completed it on easy. I found it quite challenging, though titan armour was a total game changer. I think I would be happier about trying it on a higher difficulty again now that I've "learnt the ropes" pretty much to my satisfaction, but I don't know, easy wasn't that easy The only way I consider it "easy" was how I only lost one soldier in the whole game (whereas UFO on easy I would probably would lose 30 or more on beginner level). If the higher difficulty levels simply mean less chance of hitting an enemy and probably a greater chance of natural panic, that just seems to add to the tedium rather than difficulty=enjoyment.

I wonder if I played it again that I wouldn't bother trying to arc throw until I've built my men up a fair bit. Titan armour probably ought to be the first priority with basic weaponry as a close second. Thoughts?

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Originally Posted by mikeymikec

I started getting psi-capable soldiers once I stopped putting rookies through. After about 5 or 6 3-man psi tests with rookies/squaddies (and the occasional colonel) and getting entirely negative results, I only put in colonels and the odd major. In 2x 3-man tests, two came out with the psi gift.

Did anyone else think that the ending was a bit inadequate? I think "sequel fever" amongst film/game makers affects the audience negatively.

I've just completed it on easy. I found it quite challenging, though titan armour was a total game changer. I think I would be happier about trying it on a higher difficulty again now that I've "learnt the ropes" pretty much to my satisfaction, but I don't know, easy wasn't that easy The only way I consider it "easy" was how I only lost one soldier in the whole game (whereas UFO on easy I would probably would lose 30 or more on beginner level). If the higher difficulty levels simply mean less chance of hitting an enemy and probably a greater chance of natural panic, that just seems to add to the tedium rather than difficulty=enjoyment.

I wonder if I played it again that I wouldn't bother trying to arc throw until I've built my men up a fair bit. Titan armour probably ought to be the first priority with basic weaponry as a close second. Thoughts?

On classic, soldiers get less health, you start with less money and without a satellite already built. On normal, as long as you're in half cover, you're basically fine and full cover you can be certain your guy isn't going to get one shot. On classic, half cover WILL result in some of your soldiers dying and there's a small chance of them getting gibbed even in full cover. That's just talking about the difference of fighting sectoids. Thin-men quite a bit more movement on classic and will frequently manage flanks from no where and gib your guys. Just in general the AI fights better on the higher difficulty.

I don't know if easy->normal is the same degree of change, but it's massive from normal->classic much beyond just a few numbers changing. Normal mode I found so boringly easy that I couldn't stand to play it once it became apparent that even the toughest aliens when they first appeared were easily rolled over by me.

[nanobreath]

Originally Posted by mikeymikec

I've just completed it on easy. I found it quite challenging, though titan armour was a total game changer. I think I would be happier about trying it on a higher difficulty again now that I've "learnt the ropes" pretty much to my satisfaction, but I don't know, easy wasn't that easy The only way I consider it "easy" was how I only lost one soldier in the whole game (whereas UFO on easy I would probably would lose 30 or more on beginner level). If the higher difficulty levels simply mean less chance of hitting an enemy and probably a greater chance of natural panic, that just seems to add to the tedium rather than difficulty=enjoyment.

I wonder if I played it again that I wouldn't bother trying to arc throw until I've built my men up a fair bit. Titan armour probably ought to be the first priority with basic weaponry as a close second. Thoughts?

The higher difficulties force you to take less risks, and be a lot smarter on your strategy within a mission. Once you adapt yourself to protect your guys more and not just charge in guns blazing, the higher difficulties are not that much more difficult. But if you play them the same way you play an easy game, you will die many times over. Late game is almost always a cake walk. Once you get the items, you're much more deadly, and nearly unstoppable.

I typically get the weapon research to get scopes quickly, and then always go for armor. You will get shot, and the extra armor is quite literally life saving. Not only will you not die as often, your troops will be critically injured less often.

[Nvidiaguy07]

anyone hear about any plans to add touch controls for this in the future? I know fraxis added it to civ V, so im really hoping theyll do the same for this.

Just read the guy from penny arcades review on the surface pro http://www.penny-arcade.com/2013/02/...ms-surface-pro

According to him, xcom is playable on it, and now that i think about it, im totally fine with 20-30fps for a game like xcom.

Also if anyones wondering the yoga 13 is on sale on bestbuy.com for 900. I think im gonna buy it right now and sell my mba.

EDIT: Just pulled the trigger on the Yoga 13. If anyone is interested in buying a sandybridge macbook air 13" pm me.

[you2]

Not really interested in the 2012 air book; but courious on your comments with regard to the yoga. From reviews it sounds not much better than the chrome pixel (short battery life and such) but maybe you will have more to say ?

[Nvidiaguy07]

Originally Posted by you2

Not really interested in the 2012 air book; but courious on your comments with regard to the yoga. From reviews it sounds not much better than the chrome pixel (short battery life and such) but maybe you will have more to say ?

Ive been using a sandybridge macbook air 13" for about a year and a half now. As an ultra portable I love it, and more than anything else - im gonna miss that trackpad - and gestures (hopefully since the yoga's touchpad is multutouch there will be some kind of way to get them on there).

My main reason for switching is that even for light gaming, having a mac if your main PC is is windows is a pain. (plsu moving from hd3000 to hd4000 will allow me to play xcom on the go) I also like the idea of having a laptop that i can sometimes use as a tablet.

As far as battery goes - i dont expect much better than my current macbook. I should mention I am fine with that because i get chances to power up throughout the day. Really im getting this mainly to just switch from OSX to windows, and i also get the bonus of having touch and tablet mode - so i can try out any new crap that comes out for windows 8.

I plan on only keeping this for maybe a year or two anyway, since im really excited for what haswell and anything after that brings as far as performance and battery goes. But for right now, i think the yoga is the best device for me. I was initially excited for the surface, but sincie id be primarily using it as a laptop, i think the yoga is a much better fit.

I mentioned games are an issue with my macbook air. This is why:
-not as many available (obviously)
-could saves arent all cross platform (I cant continue an FTL game from one to the other)
-some games were just poorly supported on mac
-360 controller had some issues on mac (with some games - meatboy, limbo, a few others)

Not sure why you mentioned the chromebook pixel. I dont think we should be comparing anything to that besides maybe expensive HDMI cables.

[you2]

Well regardless of what unit I get I will run linux; whether it be an airbook, chrome book or yoga I would run linux. Battery life is important for those cross coast flights (6-8 hours).
-
I would love to continue talking about yoga and yoga alternatives but I guess this isn't the right thread so I'll start one in laptops/mobile. Sorry for the side track.

[DaveSimmons]

Reviving this to ask:

Is the Slingshot DLC worth getting? How about the Elite Soldier pack?

[Nvidiaguy07]

Originally Posted by DaveSimmons

Reviving this to ask:

Is the Slingshot DLC worth getting? How about the Elite Soldier pack?

the elite soldier pack is just some new looking armor, and you get a guy who looks like guile from street fighter (inspired from the original?). Ive only heard bad things about slingshot - many of which said they regretted buying it. If you havent tried it yet - the second wave expansion offers the ability to make the game a little harder. You also get Chrs Kluwe as an unlockable character.

I hope they release a proper expansion pack. I think being able to play as the aliens is a pretty obvious one.

[Dijeangenie]

Originally Posted by DaveSimmons

Reviving this to ask:

Is the Slingshot DLC worth getting? How about the Elite Soldier pack?

no for slingshot - the elite soldier pack is just some new costumes for the soldiers, nothing too amazing - I got it for free with the game, doubt its worth the money unless you are really bored of how the soldiers look.

[CU]

Just beat it on normal with only reloading a few times when I hit a bug or to try out things and see how they worked. Pretty fun game. Was looking at Slingshot, why is it not worth it? To short, buggy, doesn't really add anything, etc? Also how long does the marathon option make the game and how does it make it longer? Going to try Classic next or maybe Impossible just to see how fast I die. Are their any second wave options I should turn on? I don't really want to make it harder by turning on options, at least not yet, but some like random stats sound like they could make it more fun not really harder or easier.

[AyashiKaibutsu]

So I found out recently that capturing the guardian guys is a really bad idea on classic. That was the point I usually stopped pushing objectives before, but the difficulty in the third month ramps way up if you do so best to just deal with the sci chick whining about you killing them until you have at least lasers/armor/officer upgrades.

The second wave options look really meh to me. They missed the point of what made the original a masterpiece. It wasn't random options; it was the organic style of the gameplay. Yea, stats raised randomly, but it was entirely based around what your troops did that determined how they got better. Things made sense they weren't just random to be random.