Poll: XCOM 2 is Nigh - Prepare Your RNG Holes

[Dalisclock]

BONUS ACTUAL DISCUSSION VALUE

1. Are you planning on getting XCOM 2 for launch? Yes? No? Why? Why not?
2. What difficulty level are you planning to undertake? Easy? Normal? Commander? Legendary? Or whatever the Long War sadists have cooked up?
3. Anything about the game that worries/disappoints you?

EDIT FEB 1: Reviews are now coming out.

http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/xcom-2/critic-reviews

1. Nope. I pretty much never buy anything at launch anymore, with the rare exception of games where the reviews dropped early, were good, and I had a pre-existing interest. Most of the time I wait. The other bonus is getting to hear what people thought of the game over the next month or so, which gives me a better idea of whether or not I want to buy, as well as sooner/later.

That and I just got into Sunless Sea because I'm burned out on Space/Sci-fi games, so I'm not really in the mood for X-COM right now. That'll keep me busy for awhile.

2. Normal, which is my default for everything. If I start getting bored, I'll crank the difficulty up. It's a lot easier then smashing my keyboard out of frustration.

3. That it won't be sufficiently different then the first one to warrant spending time on.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

When you say "chop" are you referring to framerate shenanigans or the awkward pauses before enemies take their turn? Because I would love to have a fix for the latter. It's like Chinese water torture in video game form, not harmful but impossible to ignore.

Incidentally, watching a few Beaglerush videos seems to have turned me into some kind of XCOM god because I haven't so much as taken an injury yet (playing commander difficulty).

I've seen some brief AI pauses but nothing dramatic. Running off an SSD. Either I'm not experiencing it, or I am but it doesn't bother me.

I'm impressed. On Ironman runs I had trouble getting past mission 2 without everything going fubar because my boot was visible through a patch of leaves, triggering 5 pods.

 

[DoPo]

Has anybody actually tried out the psionic troops? Any idea how good they are?

 

[cathou]

The Lancer ADVENT troops would run what seemed to my troop sprint distance...

That's actually exactly what they do.

They work like your ranger troops in that they can sprint and then melee. It's what makes them so dangerous since they're basically impossible to kite.

Turning off AA and Ambient Occlusion entirely fixed the chop for me. Runs smoothly now. If there's a visual difference I'm not noticing it.

When you say "chop" are you referring to framerate shenanigans or the awkward pauses before enemies take their turn? Because I would love to have a fix for the latter. It's like Chinese water torture in video game form, not harmful but impossible to ignore.

Incidentally, watching a few Beaglerush videos seems to have turned me into some kind of XCOM god because I haven't so much as taken an injury yet (playing commander difficulty).

yeah, i was really kicking ADVENT asses for the 5-6 first missions, then XCom manage to tell me to respect them, and wipe out my entire squad 3 time in a row...

oh, and i found this : http://www.gamepur.com/guide/21988-xcom-2-pc-error-fix-fps-loss-save-game-location-cant-detect-4k-resolution.html

it give a few fixe that seems to work quite well on the performance and lag issues.

 

[Zhukov]

their MAIN issue is that they don't gain levels through combat like the rest of the classes, they only learn skills (and ranks) by sitting on the bench in the Psi Lab with their thumbs up their asses, meaning that to keep them up with the rest of the squad you need to spend time training them instead of doing missions. you also have to keep them updated with good gear, the top stuff being made of gatekeeper stuff

Aren't you supposed to be able to take them on missions while they're in psi training without actually interrupting their training?

I haven't got that far yet, just something I heard.

 

[Maladict]

Has anybody actually tried out the psionic troops? Any idea how good they are?

I rushed for them, and now I have one who's only missing two of the skills (just need a few more game days and she'll have them alllll! )

It takes a while for them to get going (depending on your luck with which skills the Psi Lab offers you), but they get verry powerful. They're especially good against organic enemies. Particularly if those organic enemies are kind enough to group up to be hit by a Void Rift. Landing Void Rift on enemies does a solid chunk of damage to them all by default, then any organic enemies have a chance to be hit by Insanity, which means more flat damage (if you have the Rupture skill) plus a random mental effect up to and including temporary Mind Control. And speaking of Mind Control, one ability lets them control an enemy for an entire mission. With another ability they can just do flat damage to enemies, which later upgrades to a life-leech spell. They can Stasis friends and foes, which stuns them for a turn but makes them immune to everything (useful if you've got a friendly who over-extended, or an enemy that you ran out of shots to kill). One passive ability lets them survive an otherwise-lethal shot once per mission. They can become permanently immune to fire, poison, acid and explosions. Another ability causes them to passively project a fairly-large aura around themselves that protects from (and removes) all negative mental effects from your troops. Oh, and should all else fail they can just cast a huge beam of destruction that penetrates cover and hurts everything along its path.

Edit: One ability I forgot lets them just blow up any explosives an enemy is carrying. Fun on those Mutons with their plasma grenades

I rather like them, basically

their MAIN issue is that they don't gain levels through combat like the rest of the classes, they only learn skills (and ranks) by sitting on the bench in the Psi Lab with their thumbs up their asses, meaning that to keep them up with the rest of the squad you need to spend time training them instead of doing missions. you also have to keep them updated with good gear, the top stuff being made of gatekeeper stuff

Aren't you supposed to be able to take them on missions while they're in psi training without actually interrupting their training?

I haven't got that far yet, just something I heard.

You can, yeah, but they still end up wasting some of their training time sitting on the Skyranger's bench as it flies back and forth. And more time if they get wounded, of course. Still worth taking it along IMO, at least once they've got a couple of abilities, as they're just so handy.

 

[LetalisK]

So, I broke down and bought it with money I was really hoping to save. Nah, this was a better use of the money. It's so good. :B

Also, about the simulation thing: granted I'm only one continent in, but very early on they revealed that the The Commander has been doing mental simulations, but it doesn't indicate that any part of the previous game was part of those simulations. I'm going to keep playing and see if they mention this stuff again.

 

[DoPo]

Also, about the simulation thing: granted I'm only one continent in, but very early on they revealed that the The Commander has been doing mental simulations, but it doesn't indicate that any part of the previous game was part of those simulations. I'm going to keep playing and see if they mention this stuff again.

It's right there at the beginning, when they say they've been running simulations. The simulations shown in the background is XCOM.

 

[LetalisK]

Also, about the simulation thing: granted I'm only one continent in, but very early on they revealed that the The Commander has been doing mental simulations, but it doesn't indicate that any part of the previous game was part of those simulations. I'm going to keep playing and see if they mention this stuff again.

It's right there at the beginning, when they say they've been running simulations. The simulations shown in the background is XCOM.

Simulations aren't brought up until after you research your chip. Besides Central making it clear that XCOM:EU did happen at least in part if not in full, even if those were all simulation images, the only image that goes through that related to EU was a scene of soldiers exiting an aircraft. It shows the surgery, the peace treaty, getting knocked out by a Muton, and a big old spaceship(can't say whether it would be the one from EU or a new one in keeping with the theme of the rest of the images). Is it possible all those things were part of the simulation? Yeah, though that would be odd and unnecessary if EU was supposed to be the simulation. I think it's far more likely that it's a flashback.

Here's the video, btw. It starts at the 18 minute mark.

Spoiler

 

[DoPo]

Also, about the simulation thing: granted I'm only one continent in, but very early on they revealed that the The Commander has been doing mental simulations, but it doesn't indicate that any part of the previous game was part of those simulations. I'm going to keep playing and see if they mention this stuff again.

It's right there at the beginning, when they say they've been running simulations. The simulations shown in the background is XCOM.

Simulations aren't brought up until after you research your chip. Besides Central making it clear that XCOM:EU did happen at least in part if not in full, even if those were all simulation images, the only image that goes through that related to EU was a scene of soldiers exiting an aircraft. It shows the surgery, the peace treaty, getting knocked out by a Muton, and a big old spaceship(can't say whether it would be the one from EU or a new one, I'm guessing it's the latter). Is it possible all those things were part of the simulation? Yeah, though that would be odd if EU was supposed to be the simulation. I think it's far more likely that it's a flashback.

Here's the video, btw. It starts at the 18 minute mark.

Spoiler

That wasn't the cutscene where they talk about the sumulations - that was just the chip extraction. The simulations are very slightly later on - possibly the next main quest-based cutscene or the one after, as I think it's when you research the chip.

Actually found it - it is after you finish the chip research, which is exactly the next thing you can do after the extraction, and comes in after the first mission you have control of:

 

[LetalisK]

Also, about the simulation thing: granted I'm only one continent in, but very early on they revealed that the The Commander has been doing mental simulations, but it doesn't indicate that any part of the previous game was part of those simulations. I'm going to keep playing and see if they mention this stuff again.

It's right there at the beginning, when they say they've been running simulations. The simulations shown in the background is XCOM.

Simulations aren't brought up until after you research your chip. Besides Central making it clear that XCOM:EU did happen at least in part if not in full, even if those were all simulation images, the only image that goes through that related to EU was a scene of soldiers exiting an aircraft. It shows the surgery, the peace treaty, getting knocked out by a Muton, and a big old spaceship(can't say whether it would be the one from EU or a new one, I'm guessing it's the latter). Is it possible all those things were part of the simulation? Yeah, though that would be odd if EU was supposed to be the simulation. I think it's far more likely that it's a flashback.

Here's the video, btw. It starts at the 18 minute mark.

Spoiler

That wasn't the cutscene where they talk about the sumulations - that was just the chip extraction. The simulations are very slightly later on - possibly the next main quest-based cutscene or the one after, as I think it's when you research the chip.

Actually found it - it is after you finish the chip research, which is exactly the next thing you can do after the extraction, and comes in after the first mission you have control of:

Oh, yeah. Dur. But those are generic combat scenes. Those would be in a tactical combat simulation either way.

On another note, I need to restart my game. I completely screwed my base building and this is one of those games to the point where if I try to rearrange my base, it'll take far too long to build stuff back up again. I just hope I get good power coil placement again.

 

[DoPo]

Oh, yeah. Dur. But those are generic combat scenes. Those would be in a tactical combat simulation either way.

So, we have three pieces of evidence here:

1. XCOM lost the war.
2. The commander was captured and ADVENT has been running tactical simulations in their brain.
3. The tactical simulations include situations from XCOM.

So, we can very confidently conclude that your first playthrough of XCOM: EU was the canon ending[footnote]We could even go further and say that any non-Ironman game was already initiated in the simulation, hence why there is the rewinding and redoing functionality otherwise known as reloading[/footnote]. Well, assuming you lost, which is statistically very likely. Every other game since, has been run inside the simulation. So, yeah, every game where you've won has been a simulation.

It is likely that Enemy Within might not have actually happened, in fact, and that has been an enhancement of the simulation that was introduced by the aliens. Now, I don't know for sure if that's the case, however, so far nobody has mentioned Meld and that was a very key thing in EW. Thus, this gives me a basis to think that EU contains what happened in the "real world".

 

[Zhukov]

Simulations aren't brought up until after you research your chip. Besides Central making it clear that XCOM:EU did happen at least in part if not in full, even if those were all simulation images, the only image that goes through that related to EU was a scene of soldiers exiting an aircraft.

Okay, I shall attempt to spell out my reasoning.

First, watch the video that DoPo posted.

Now, it is made clear several times in XCOM2 that as far as the game's canon is concerned the war ended early, maybe 2 months in or thereabouts. For example, it refers to the EU skeleton suits as prototypes that were never completed. It's also the reason you don't have laser or plasma weapons, XCOM didn't last long enough to develop them.

Then when you get a glimpse of the simulations it's footage from EU. It includes humans wearing advanced titan armour and using laser rifles. It also shows a sectopod, an enemy that only showed up in the late game.

Hence why I think they're implying that any memories the commander (and the player) has of winning the war, or even just surviving to the late stages, are actually just the simulations that were being run in the commander's brain.

Now, let me be clear, I could well be overthinking this. They might have just grabbed the first EU footage that came to hand. Even if I'm right it's an just an implication. It could be interpreted as throwing a bone to the people who got upset about the whole 'XCOM loses' setup. Or as giving them a stealthy middle finger. No prizes for guessing which one I like to see it as.

 

[LetalisK]

Oh, yeah. Dur. But those are generic combat scenes. Those would be in a tactical combat simulation either way.

So, we have three pieces of evidence here:

1. XCOM lost the war.
2. The commander was captured and ADVENT has been running tactical simulations in their brain.
3. The tactical simulations include situations from XCOM.

So, we can very confidently conclude that your first playthrough of XCOM: EU was the canon ending[footnote]We could even go further and say that any non-Ironman game was already initiated in the simulation, hence why there is the rewinding and redoing functionality otherwise known as reloading[/footnote]. Well, assuming you lost, which is statistically very likely. Every other game since, has been run inside the simulation. So, yeah, every game where you've won has been a simulation.

I think every game since...is just another game. I think you're giving the developers too much meta credit, particularly trying to give a story justification for reloading. Unless that's just you messing with me. At this point I think you and I have put more thought into the continuity then they have.

 

[LetalisK]

Now, it is made clear several times in XCOM2 that as far as the game's canon is concerned the war ended early, maybe 2 months in or thereabouts. For example, it refers to the EU skeleton suits as prototypes that were never completed. It's also the reason you don't have laser or plasma weapons, XCOM didn't last long enough to develop them.

I've yet to see any of that, but, again, I'm still early in the game. And restarting, actually.

Now, let me be clear, I could well be overthinking this. They might have just grabbed the first EU footage that came to hand. Even if I'm right it's an just an implication. It could be interpreted as throwing a bone to the people who got upset about the whole 'XCOM loses' setup. Or as giving them a stealthy middle finger. No prizes for guessing which one I like to see it as.

Don't get me wrong: it would be pretty cool if they put this much thought into it. But so far, to me, it doesn't look any different than any other slapped together "more baddies" rationale for a sequel. Nor do I expect more than that. I've considered XCOM to be less about story and more about sacrificing players to RNGesus.

Also, I take back my previous statements about using the dream trope. After all, I was a fan of Indoctrination Theory(liked the idea, didn't think it was actually there). I also wanted the Reapers to win for the sake of the story, so that should tell you where I stand on protagonists having to win.

 

[DoPo]

Oh, yeah. Dur. But those are generic combat scenes. Those would be in a tactical combat simulation either way.

So, we have three pieces of evidence here:

1. XCOM lost the war.
2. The commander was captured and ADVENT has been running tactical simulations in their brain.
3. The tactical simulations include situations from XCOM.

So, we can very confidently conclude that your first playthrough of XCOM: EU was the canon ending[footnote]We could even go further and say that any non-Ironman game was already initiated in the simulation, hence why there is the rewinding and redoing functionality otherwise known as reloading[/footnote]. Well, assuming you lost, which is statistically very likely. Every other game since, has been run inside the simulation. So, yeah, every game where you've won has been a simulation.

I think every game since...is just another game. I think you're giving the developers too much meta credit, particularly trying to give a story justification for reloading. Unless that's just you messing with me. At this point I think you and I have put more thought into the continuity then they have.

I admit, the save/load mechanics are purely speculations on my part. The EW part is also one. The rest, though - well, which one of the three facts there would you dispute? Because they are each present.

The only logical conclusion I can get from them is "you lost the war, therefore every game you've won is non-canon, and by cannon must have been played in the simulation". It's a pretty short logical chain to get there, really, not the seemingly gigantic leap you assume it to be. I've just expanded very slightly upon it - canonically, you've lost, then have been forced fed tactical simulations. At least part of them (if not all) have been of the war you lost. Therefore, in-universe the commander started the war, lost, then continued redoing the war in their mind. Pretty similar to how most players would have done it - first game is lost, then they kept playing.

I don't really think I'm giving the developers too much credit to say that's what they wanted to say. It's pretty similar to what they've already said, after all.

 

[LetalisK]

snip

snip

*wanders around the internet to find dev interviews* Huh. Okay, you guys are right. XCOM 2 is an alternate history from EU. I just figured it was a "you lost the war...off screen" situation.

Edit: On to something more important: How are you guys doing your base layouts?