XCOM Second Wave options

[tippy2k2]

So as some of you know (or at least 21 of you know), I have been doing a XCOM Let's Play [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Tippy2k2-s-XCOM-Army-Let-s-Play] here on everyone's most favorite website, The Escapist dot com

I am about to start a new game for my canon fodder brave soldiers and am trying to decide what "Second Wave" options I should do.

So if you've played through Second Wave, here are my questions...

1. Is the "random options" (Damage Roulette, New Economy, Not Created Equal, and Hidden Potential) actually fun or does it just kind of feel bullshit as the "randomness" usually involves your soldiers sucking more?

2. How does Marathon make the game last longer? Does it just take longer for your research or something? Does it balance out and actually work or does it take so long that you're going to lose just because it takes so long to get anything to let you not die (or the opposite; it becomes way too easy)?

Thank you for your assistance if you so choose to give it. Just realize this if you don't; the lives of everyone on Earth is at stake...

 

[triggrhappy94]

I just read an article on Second Wave. It seems really interesting, I can't wait to get around to playing it again.

I'd imagine the randomness would lead to a more intense experience. I don't think Firaxis would make it too hard, they were really careful about balancing the base game. On the other hand, if you do get all crap, you'll probably fail pretty quickly and have to start over and re-roll.

From what I can tell, I wouldn't use The Greater Good and More Than Human in the same run, unless you really want a long and hard play-through.

Haven't played it though, so this is all my speculation. It does seem like it'd mix things up pretty well.
(On a sidenote: I didn't know the Escapist was in the business of LP's)

 

[tippy2k2]

(On a sidenote: I didn't know the Escapist was in the business of LP's)

I don't think The Escapist really is that big in the LP business. In fact, besides for a handful like Caramel Frappe's LP, I don't think I've ever really seen any Let's Play on this site.

Besides...I don't think I do the LP right anyway. I just make up stories during the game using the events of what happened with no input from the players

 

[triggrhappy94]

(On a sidenote: I didn't know the Escapist was in the business of LP's)

I don't think The Escapist really is that big in the LP business. In fact, besides for a handful like Caramel Frappe's LP, I don't think I've ever really seen any Let's Play on this site.

Besides...I don't think I do the LP right anyway. I just make up stories during the game using the events of what happened with no input from the players

Ahh Ok. Yeah I checked out your group's page, it looks interesting.
A friend and I have been trying to put together a LP series, and I was thinking about posting a thread for it when we finally release a pilot.

 

[triggrhappy94]

Good guy tippy2k2, defending Earth from aliens and such.

In all seriousness though, is XCOM worth picking up? Heard good things about it.
I've never played any of them. It's like a strategy rpg right?

Also your text-based LP is pretty cool. Like a war journal.

I think it's a great game, but you have to be into strategy games to like it.
The combat is basically chess if the peices could shoot each other. The base management side is where most of the RPG stuff comes into play.
I'd suggest finding a couple reviews or some gameplay video of it, if you like what you see than it's for you.

 

[tippy2k2]

Good guy tippy2k2, defending Earth from aliens and such.

In all seriousness though, is XCOM worth picking up? Heard good things about it.
I've never played any of them. It's like a strategy rpg right?

Also your text-based LP is pretty cool. Like a war journal.

I absolutely ADORE it. If the 2012 Game of the Year voting here had been just a few weeks later, it would have been my pick.

It is a tactical RPG (examples: Valkyria Chronicles, Final Fantasy Tactics, Fire Emblem, Tactics Ogre, etc.).

However, it also has an economy system and panic levels. You can't help everyone at the same time so you have to make some hard decisions. You have to balance between equipping your men with the best possible equipment while making sure that the countries you are trying to protect stay protected. If you put too much into your men and not enough into countries, they will leave the council and cripple you later. If you put too much into countries and not your men, you'll get slaughtered when you run into something with some teeth...

If you enjoy tactical RPG's, it's in my ever so humble opinion, one of the best ones you can buy. Also, if you are a PC gamer and intend to get Bioshock Infinite, XCOM is free with a pre-order (EDIT: That deal is still going on. You'll get Bioshock 1 & XCOM for free).

Also; thank you for the kind words about the LP. Having no video means I have to try to put what's going on in words so it's nice to know that it's working

 

[Bostur]

Good guy tippy2k2, defending Earth from aliens and such.

In all seriousness though, is XCOM worth picking up? Heard good things about it.
I've never played any of them. It's like a strategy rpg right?

Also your text-based LP is pretty cool. Like a war journal.

It's good, no doubt about it. I would describe it as a turn based tactical game, with a meta campaign to add context to the tactical maps. The context is quite important to the true XCOM feel which adds a significant RPG element.

While true fans can argue the strengths and weaknesses of this reboot eternally, I think it is without a doubt that Firaxis released a very solid game with XCOM. Definately a highlight of 2012.

 

[Tom_green_day]

Second Wave to me felt like a 'super handicap' option, as instead of making the enemy better it made your team worse. I found the damage roulette always made me do less damage, and the other options as well never seem to convey any advantage. If it meant, for example, the damage range extended further in each direction it would be worth it, but from what I could tell it only increases the potential to fail.
Try it if you want, but it isn't too enjoyable.
Have fun =]

 

[BloatedGuppy]

So as some of you know (or at least 21 of you know), I have been doing a XCOM Let's Play [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Tippy2k2-s-XCOM-Army-Let-s-Play] here on everyone's most favorite website, The Escapist dot com

I am about to start a new game for my canon fodder brave soldiers and am trying to decide what "Second Wave" options I should do.

So if you've played through Second Wave, here are my questions...

1. Is the "random options" (Damage Roulette, New Economy, Not Created Equal, and Hidden Potential) actually fun or does it just kind of feel bullshit as the "randomness" usually involves your soldiers sucking more?

2. How does Marathon make the game last longer? Does it just take longer for your research or something? Does it balance out and actually work or does it take so long that you're going to lose just because it takes so long to get anything to let you not die (or the opposite; it becomes way too easy)?

Thank you for your assistance if you so choose to give it. Just realize this if you don't; the lives of everyone on Earth is at stake...

Damage Roulette sucks. Very annoying. The game is built around reasonably predictable results, this breaks it.

Not created equal and hidden potential are fun, and give your soldiers more individuality, but it makes it easier to cherry pick super soldiers, and makes the game easier overall.

New economy is meh and fairly pointless.

Marathon makes the game significantly longer, and gives you "more XCOM". This is quite a positive during the fun/dramatic early stages, and less of a positive during the late game when you're blowing through every encounter. It can turn it into quite a slog.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

Good guy tippy2k2, defending Earth from aliens and such.

In all seriousness though, is XCOM worth picking up? Heard good things about it.
I've never played any of them. It's like a strategy rpg right?

Also your text-based LP is pretty cool. Like a war journal.

It's a great game. Snooping around will show you that there are Fist Generation purists who believe that having only two turns per character and only six squad members maximum is cheapening the experience. They miss the way the 1993 original stuck a Time Unit cost for virtually everything. They miss having multiple bases and base defence missions, they miss having to purchase ammo. The truth is that the first take on the franchise fostered an insanely methodical approach, with the fifteen-men squads allowing for basic Cannon Fodder tactics.

Personally, having player the original and the recent one, I prefer the reboot. The experience is much more immediate and tactical, with your team's small size making every decision matter. You can't afford to throw squaddies to the wolves, as hiring others is costly. Base-building adds a ton of additional variables to take into account, with the lack of additional bases not taking anything away from the experience. It's easy to rationalize the Skyranger as being able to cross the globe in three hours because, hey, Science Fiction. You're already dissecting Greys, so why not?

If anything, I'd add that the game doesn't consistently remain friendly. There's predetermined threshoolds in the game that involve the introduction of a new enemy type, like the Chryssalid or the Sectopod. If you haven't beefed up your tech tree by the time you're facing these monstrosities, you'll suffer for it. That's less a problem as something that's good to keep in mind. If you rush through the campaign, you'll get your ass kicked even on Easy.

Ultimately, both the old and new versions have their merits. In both cases, they foster slow and cerebral gameplay. This isn't a Gears of War-ish twitch fest, as rotten luck can still make a 80% Accuracy Sniper shot hit the broad side of jack shit. It might seem masochistic, but it's part of the fun.

There's nothing quite like watching one of your soldiers panic, only for his previously inept shots to be seriously buffed by fear. The same moron who suffered from Stormtrooper Syndrome before losing his mind is suddenly landing six-dot Criticals against enemies, one-shotting targets he could barely make a dent in, before. It's frustrating, but oh-so-fun at the same time.

 

[Pink Gregory]

Are you gon' do another Let's Play with your Second Wave options?

 

[tippy2k2]

Are you gon' do another Let's Play with your Second Wave options?

Yes I have already setup the new Let's Play (the link is in the OP if you're interested).

I decided after the assistance from this thread to active:

-Not Created Equally
-Hidden Potential

I decided against Marathon since I don't want the LP to get boring by taking a year and the other ones I decided against on BloatedGuppy's recommendation.

I have also changed the way I'm doing the LP to what I hope to be a much better story-telling format. Less "here's exactly what happened" and more "Here's a story that I made up with your actions incorporated into the story". I have done one mission in this format now so a taste of what I'm talking about is there. It is also a Public group so joining is not needed for you to enjoy...though it does help my ego to see that number go up