OpenXcom Forum

Modding => Released Mods => The X-Com Files => Topic started by: jackmoodles on November 28, 2022, 01:38:42 pm

Title: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: jackmoodles on November 28, 2022, 01:38:42 pm
Sent a 6 man team to this and doing ok.

Halfway through the mission i get 4 of my experienced wiped out by invisible enemies. Presumably Nijas. WTF how am I supposed to defend that? Is there any need for this?

Really enjoying this tough mod but this is a step too far!

How does anyone defend this?  Many thanks in advance
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: Juku121 on November 28, 2022, 02:29:24 pm
how am I supposed to defend that?
More men to watch each others' backs (Osprey carries a goodly number). Motion scanners and proxy grenades. Dogs and incendiary grenades. Just grenades for any and all suspiciously empty areas (Milkor is good for this).

Is there any need for this?
Yes. You chose to assault a giant nest of cultists with just 6 men.

...this is a step too far!
So, what are you going to do about it? :P
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: CaptainVietnam on November 28, 2022, 08:28:48 pm
avoid all cults hq until you get better armor and better transport it tends to help a lot.

Better armor is the key to other cults. take down red dawn at first (your first cult)(helps unlock promo 3 and better armor). attack at night and stick to shadows. have tnt ready to blow up tanks they have. 1-2 sticks if perfectly placed kills them.

try your best to avoid shooting them and stick to the shadows and throw bombs at red dawn unless you would like the person shooting to be shot at by snipers in return which turns into a luck/slug fest. keep just spamming grenades from shadows to avoid sniper/spotters.

after it starts getting a little more clear and only 1 or so cultist at a time start shooting them and send dogs to guard bunker doors to kill them.  they usually all surrender before I'm able to send my men down to clear the base.


Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: jackmoodles on November 29, 2022, 12:07:07 pm
Thanks man, a helpful answer is much appreciated.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: Chuckebaby on November 29, 2022, 12:42:18 pm
WTF how am I supposed to defend that? Is there any need for this?

it's one of the reasons we love the game my friend. It is the unfair challenges, the 20 minutes of reloading saves to complete one turn or the bringing everyone back to the drop zone to abort the mission.

I've sat their listening to my wife talking. I see her lips moving, but in the back of my mind.. all I'm thinking about is how I'm going to kill those last 2 Sectoids that are mind controlling everyone.

This is not anger and frustration, this is actually why you love the game.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: jackmoodles on November 29, 2022, 12:48:25 pm
Haha!You've nailed it my friend!

On the verge of giving up but will soldier on :)

I've played xcom since the early 90's on the PS1 and always loved it. This mod is fantastic but I sometimes feel like I no longer know what to do to progress and hit a brick wall.

I get missions to attack an HQ with what I've got? Should I do it? What happens if I don't?

Good to know my agents can get better armour etc to have a better chance.

Just felt that if these hard missions pop up I can't ignore them. Good to know I can actually ignore them until my dudes are stronger. Thanks

Also sorry it was a Cult Manor, not an HQ
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: AmanitaVerna on November 29, 2022, 03:58:52 pm
It's funny, I find XCom Files easier than Firaxis's XCOM 2, and way easier than the Long War mod for Firaxcom. Those are just frustrating. I couldn't even get past the first mission in Long War.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: Juku121 on November 29, 2022, 04:49:23 pm
I've sat their listening to my wife talking. I see her lips moving, but in the back of my mind.. all I'm thinking about is how I'm going to kill those last 2 Sectoids...
Does she know about your Sectoid... affair? :P
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: SBBurzmali on November 30, 2022, 07:57:52 pm
WTF how am I supposed to defend that?
Save scum. Once a mod designer decides to use the tools at their disposal to tilt the game against the player, that's the signal that it is okay to use the tools provided to you to tilt them back.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: BreakRelease on December 01, 2022, 03:11:35 am
Save scum. Once a mod designer decides to use the tools at their disposal to tilt the game against the player, that's the signal that it is okay to use the tools provided to you to tilt them back.
I bet you 99% of players just save scum against ninjas, I sure did. The best method I've found without save scumming is to smoke grenade and camp, periodically running around to check for the assassin. It's just too damn tedious, though. Same with poltergeists, although my recommendation to others would be to just not research Cover:Scientists because the ghost levels are a hassle without much reward.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: CaptainVietnam on December 01, 2022, 06:59:44 am
I bet you 99% of players just save scum against ninjas, I sure did. The best method I've found without save scumming is to smoke grenade and camp, periodically running around to check for the assassin. It's just too damn tedious, though. Same with poltergeists, although my recommendation to others would be to just not research Cover:Scientists because the ghost levels are a hassle without much reward.

I tend to avoid black lotus outpost as much as possible. If I do I use the ai drone who can see them better or the dog sniff ability to find them. using shield you get armored vest is really good for tanking the hit as well still a last resort thing.

the only thing that bothers me is the sniper/spotter mechanic. even in full darkness if you fire a shot and hit anyone every sniper on the map knows your location even if they cant see you or you are in full smoke crouching in a far corner of map 50+ tiles away. Most of my deaths early on are my guys shooting a shot and being 360 no scoped across the map. or they yell kobi and chuck a frag and one shot me.

You get punished for firing a gun in this mod (reactions as well). throwing grenades seem to be the best way to play it. since it doesn't activate sniper hacks the ai has.


Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: BreakRelease on December 01, 2022, 09:32:34 am
The only thing that works against sniper/spotter is running behind full cover. I fought the red dawn by firing hunting rifles and then running behind my helicopter. Nothing is a sure bet against grenades, though.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: Chuckebaby on December 01, 2022, 12:41:06 pm
Does she know about your Sectoid... affair? :P

Sectoid ?
No. The Black Lotus Avatar lady ? Yes.  ;D
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: SBBurzmali on December 01, 2022, 05:52:29 pm
the only thing that bothers me is the sniper/spotter mechanic. even in full darkness if you fire a shot and hit anyone every sniper on the map knows your location even if they cant see you or you are in full smoke crouching in a far corner of map 50+ tiles away. Most of my deaths early on are my guys shooting a shot and being 360 no scoped across the map. or they yell kobi and chuck a frag and one shot me.
It is more than that, not only do they know where you are the moment you fire, they will continue to know your exact position for 3 turns since that is how the AI's memory works.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: Chuckebaby on December 02, 2022, 11:47:18 am
It is more than that, not only do they know where you are the moment you fire, they will continue to know your exact position for 3 turns since that is how the AI's memory works.

This doesn't always work but sometimes if you send another guy to the approximate firing location (a soldier with good reaction shot) you can snuff him out.
Get him kneeling down and ready to go.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: CaptainVietnam on December 04, 2022, 01:01:14 am
This doesn't always work but sometimes if you send another guy to the approximate firing location (a soldier with good reaction shot) you can snuff him out.
Get him kneeling down and ready to go.

That's not how it works especially in the open. Basically if you shoot and damage a target you are then visible to everyone on the map that is a sniper. Firing location doesn't matter since they know your exact position even if you move (apparently for 3 turns). A lot of people are snipers in this mod. unless you get full concealment you can be shot at or blown up. Reaction fire also reveals your position so it is better to turn it off unless you are cqc range.

your guy can shoot a reaction shot and then the same turn be blown up for doing it.

an option to disable this feature or alternatively weaker weapons that can be used to counteract this would be great. something like the crossbow, bows, knifes, suppressed weapons, etc.

as of now it's a slug fest of RNG hell to keep people alive when your on an open map which is most of the maps in this mod.

Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: krautbernd on December 04, 2022, 02:06:25 am
That's not how it works especially in the open. Basically if you shoot and damage a target you are then visible to everyone on the map that is a sniper.
Unless I am mistaken that only holds true for spotters. Damaging "normal" enemies does not reveal that unit to snipers.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: CaptainVietnam on December 04, 2022, 03:37:31 am
Unless I am mistaken that only holds true for spotters. Damaging "normal" enemies does not reveal that unit to snipers.

most enemies fall into either a spotter/sniper even if you shoot a sniper or a spotter you are still spotted. damaging anyone with a weapon seems to get you spotted. even if you are in full darkness and with no one around to spot you. Boot up a red dawn factory or outpost to see what I mean.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: Juku121 on December 04, 2022, 09:12:29 am
That's a bad example because Red Dawn are all spotters without exception. They also used to be all snipers as well, but the gangers were recently downgraded.

What happens is that if you hit someone who's not a spotter, you still get 'spotted', just not for the purpose of sniping. So no-LoS psionics, Blasters, etc are still fair game, but snipers can't get at you.

This is kinda moot, though, because everyone and their dog has spotters.


All in all, it's an unfortunate combination of OG mechanics that worked pretty well when alien squadsight was not a thing, but now we have these new mechanics that ohartenstein is adamant about not changing from his original vision while modders use the feature in ways that are not incompatible with that. And who can blame them, it's a shiny feature and aliens need to level the playing ground.

Xilmi/Ail has been doing his own AI that stumbled upon the same problem and removed this behaviour exactly because it felt cheaty, but since his project is all about the AI the enemies now have a clue and can outmaneuver and kill you so much more easily that his own foray into XCF was very short and bloody, if I'm reading his posts right.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: Chuckebaby on December 04, 2022, 12:11:41 pm
That's not how it works especially in the open. Basically if you shoot and damage a target you are then visible to everyone on the map that is a sniper. Firing location doesn't matter since they know your exact position even if you move (apparently for 3 turns). A lot of people are snipers in this mod. unless you get full concealment you can be shot at or blown up. Reaction fire also reveals your position so it is better to turn it off unless you are cqc range.

Yeah, Yeah, hence my comment "This doesn't always work but sometimes"...  ;D


an option to disable this feature or alternatively weaker weapons that can be used to counteract this would be great. something like the crossbow, bows, knifes, suppressed weapons, etc.
as of now it's a slug fest of RNG hell to keep people alive when your on an open map which is most of the maps in this mod.


This, great suggestion.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: karatewalrus on December 26, 2022, 01:50:31 am
This just happened to me. I start getting hit by throwing knives from the air and I'm like WTF. I thought maybe if I ran toward where they came from I'd find the guy, but no. so I just ran everyone away and threw bombs at where I thought he was. Still didn't get him. Thankfully after receiving more knives in the face I found him and killed him. I had to be within like three tiles. It's nuts. He had a katana. It's insane he didn't kill anyone. I got really lucky. And there was just one of these dudes. I tried to capture him but surprise! he can't be hit in melee. I imagine he can but I swung like 10 times and missed them all. So I shot him in his big sexy booty with my shotgun.
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: Juku121 on December 26, 2022, 02:16:47 am
I tried to capture him but surprise! he can't be hit in melee.
Some enemies can be stabbed more easily in the back than from the front, but not ninjas. :(
Title: Re: Invisible Ninjas??? Black Lotus HQ
Post by: CaptainVietnam on December 26, 2022, 02:26:16 am
Some enemies can be stabbed more easily in the back than from the front, but not ninjas. :(

Assassin stats
Melee Dodge   1 * REACTIONS
REACTIONS   70
Back Dodge Penalty   0%
Side Dodge Penalty   0%

so that's 70 dodge? yeah lol don't bother with melee. tasers seem to be more reliable then melee is anyway since you don't have to google how much dodge they have to smack someone in the head with a stick.