I have a bone to pick with XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

[Zhukov]

**hedgemaze-of-text-clipper**

Reading your post, I gather that you didn't play the original, which at the highest difficulty was more of a keyboard smashing simulator. Granted you could save before any risky moves, but the RNG was much more punishing than the remake (or maybe I played so many rounds that it just seemed that way). I enjoy both versions, and find the new one to be a little less a headache than the original. Still with most games that run off of RNG's its the mercy of luck/fate/whatever that gets you through it sometimes no matter what skill level you may have.

Yeah, I've played the original. Didn't care for it. Too much faffing about with logistics. Oh, and fuck having to re-equip all your soldiers every mission.

Thing is, while the original wasn't forgiving of failure either, it didn't give you as much reason to keep your soldiers alive. You could shrug off losing six guys in one mission no worries, even six experienced guys.

 

[thetoddo]

**hedgemaze-of-text-clipper**

Reading your post, I gather that you didn't play the original, which at the highest difficulty was more of a keyboard smashing simulator. Granted you could save before any risky moves, but the RNG was much more punishing than the remake (or maybe I played so many rounds that it just seemed that way). I enjoy both versions, and find the new one to be a little less a headache than the original. Still with most games that run off of RNG's its the mercy of luck/fate/whatever that gets you through it sometimes no matter what skill level you may have.

Yeah, I've played the original. Didn't care for it. Too much faffing about with logistics. Oh, and fuck having to re-equip all your soldiers every mission.

Thing is, while the original wasn't forgiving of failure either, it didn't give you as much reason to keep your soldiers alive. You could shrug off losing six guys in one mission no worries, even six experienced guys.

You were a better player than I then. Towards endgame in the original taking rookies with you was a nice gift of a mind controlled soldier for the enemy. Definately agree equipment micromanagement was a pain. First played it on the PS1 port and had a much better time with it when I got it for PC.

 

[Pulse]

Tactics boil down to risk mangement, as any rng games does, but imo this game gives you enough options to consider using.

The thing is, you have to stack the odds in your favour incredibly. Consider anything under 70% to hit as a pot shot to be used if you have no better options. And if you miss, is there a contingency (a rocket launcher in range/a support with smoke/other friendlies can move out of harms way etc)

Personally I found normal difficulty perfect for a first playthrough to "get" the game, and classic ironman as a "real" playthrough (i did try classic first but had to quit). Tried impossible ironman.....surviving a mission is a grinding drudge of risk management extraordinaire. made one mistake (moved one squad memeber one square too far...alerted two seperate groups of skinnymen (groups are larger in impossible as well)... and lost my entire squad without firing a shot. Any shot in the open or even half cover is basically an insta-kill, and you do less damage. Needless to say I didnt try that again.

The main issue is the first half of the game is far more challenging and exciting than the first, then it becomes a bit of a turkey shoot as long as you don't take adverse risks, even on classic. It would be perfect if they maintained the difficulty throughout for each respective difficulty somehow.

As for your squad...
- The most important stat it the aim one. Pick and choose members with higher aim stats wherever possible.Get scopes for all your members. And *always* go for the shot with the higher chance to hit.
- Consider heavies purely as rocket launchers/grenade carriers and level up in that regard.
- know who you would sacrifice if you had to, I would have one or two in every mission with specifically selected red armour, usually assault rookies with grenades.
- start leveling a sniper as soon as possible

Personally, my favourite squad ends up being (IIRC)
1 sniper - doubletap squadsight pistol
1 heavy - 2 grenades (or shoot twice), shredder, rocketeer
2 or 3 assault - lightning reflexes, 2 shots, within 4 reaction.
1 or 2 support - move faster, deep pockets, medic

I do find assaults with rifles the most useful, but the one sniper absolutely critical. In fact, the game would be near impossible without one.

 

[Doclector]

Ack.

I occasionally struggle on easy.

That just says how much I suck at strategy games...on my side of things, I didn't have many major problems. Sure, it was annoying when things went south just because of luck, but generally, precautions can be taken to prevent it, or make it less damaging when it does happen.

Then again..."Easy"

 

[aelreth]

This reminds me of an interview with Sid Meier of the Civilization fame.

The context was that the battle calculator was wrong.

Eventually they figured out that players want to win while giving them the illusion of difficulty.

 

[Zhukov]

This reminds me of an interview with Sid Meier of the Civilization fame.

The context was that the battle calculator was wrong.

Eventually they figured out that players want to win while giving them the illusion of difficulty.

You sound like your're answering a different post.

I've never had a problem with the battle calculator. I don't think it's skewed in the AI's favour or anything. I just don't like that one or two bad rolls can demolish your entire campaign.

 

[aelreth]

This reminds me of an interview with Sid Meier of the Civilization fame.

The context was that the battle calculator was wrong.

Eventually they figured out that players want to win while giving them the illusion of difficulty.

You sound like your're answering a different post.

I've never had a problem with the battle calculator. I don't think it's skewed in the AI's favour or anything. I just don't like that one or two bad rolls can demolish your entire campaign.

Completely true, but civilization is more about the macro than the micro, where the only resource finite thing is time. While X-COM features attrition, finite resources and being a purely reactionary force for most of the game makes all the advantages we enjoy in Civ go away.

Many people just wanted to win more while being given the occasional challenge. X-COM has a habit of forcing those challenges often on the AIs terms.