Messages

46

The X-Com Files / Re: Some of your most Bizarre missions?

« on: November 30, 2023, 11:25:25 pm »

Recently I shot down such a cool UFO. Averages, spans, flyers. He flew out. There are 30 legionnaire flyers on the map around UFOs. I was lucky with the respawn. The iron fist rests against the upper edge of the map with a ramp. Well, like, keeping a low profile, let's shoot back. And you know what? I pass the turn, and the basketball begins in the hatch of the iron fist. 10-15 plasma grenades per turn were thrown and delivered. They even threw and blew up one dog a couple of times. By the way, in my memorial there are two extreme agents killed just from this mission. On the plates of the spans, the Aliens always have the fiercest weapons. Even two photon spears taked.

I hate losing good agents on missions like this but the excitement value is huge. Especially when you see something you have never seen before. That is the cool thing about RNG. It can either be so frustrating or so amazing.

What I find to be ironic is how difficult it is to deal with small ufo's early to mid game. it seems like those first few ufo's you encounter are on steroids.
I know it gets easier because x com gets better technology but I swear those first couple small ufo's are so difficult to deal with.

47

The X-Com Files / Re: The X-Com Files - 3.1: Lights in The Sky

« on: November 30, 2023, 01:28:41 am »

what is the best defense against ghosts? I think I might have asked this before, but I always lose troops like crazy

Scout drones or dogs to snuff out their locations. Don't underestimate the power of dogs. I've lost tons of them. They are indispensable yet also disposal compared to a soldier with good stats.
They have high Time units. Use them to your advantage.

48

The X-Com Files / Re: Turn 1/Game strategy for XCF

« on: November 29, 2023, 07:42:45 pm »

Learned a lot from writing this post only 3 months ago.
Sometimes it's best to come out swinging, other times it's best to lay low on turn one.
I've had situations where you fire at an enemy then you get sniped by another alien who you couldn't even see.

I'm a pathological savescummer

I'm also a dedicated, promising save scummer 

Any pointers ?

I don't use any shortcuts or options for save scumming. I use the mouse/buttons manually to reload saves.

Is there an easier way ?

49

The X-Com Files / Re: Some of your most Bizarre missions?

« on: November 29, 2023, 07:08:33 pm »

WTH the playstyle is it?
I mean no offense, but what was the aim for such weird moves?

Trying to avoid being zombified I presume. Those early missions when trying to take live prisoners can be challenging.
Also.. everyone plays the game a bit differently. We build our own strategy that has carried over 30 years.

50

The X-Com Files / Re: Some of your most Bizarre missions?

« on: November 29, 2023, 07:03:27 pm »

No ammo? Or what do you mean specifically?

I liked and subscribed to your channel 

That benny hill soundtrack was perfect.

51

The X-Com Files / Re: Bugs, crashes, typos & bad taste

« on: November 29, 2023, 12:18:11 pm »

I try not to report on too many bugs unless they are really obvious because I play this game with my own mods. Some of this could be my own doing.
I have a storage limit mod I created that increases storage limits. That might be part of this issue.

The reason I wrote "Possible" bug. I don't want to send anyone in circles looking for anything. But it is reproducible. Happened again yesterday after I posted this.
Thank you for the reply.

52

The X-Com Files / Re: Bugs, crashes, typos & bad taste

« on: November 28, 2023, 06:58:13 pm »

Possible bug:

Has happened to me a couple times now in 2 different playthroughs. Toward the end of the game (close to reaching Cydonia),
- Osiron missions do not return Osiron boxes to base.
Example, I did 2 Osiron warehouse missions, collected 15 boxes each mission (Per the inventory screen). I get back to base, nothing to unpack.

Not that I really need anything in those boxes at this point. But just something to take note of. If I remember correctly, something similar happened with MIB boxes as well. Almost like I reached my max.

[Spoiler]

53

The X-Com Files / Re: Some of your most Bizarre missions?

« on: November 27, 2023, 12:11:28 am »

This latest game was a bit different. I saw something I've never seen before.
Spoilers coming ...

Spoiler:

Terror missions full of only Ethereal servitors (the red ones) and two Eliminator Ethreals (the black ones). The eliminator Ethreals are similar to Muton shadors. You can't see them until your right on top of them (I believe within 8 to 10 tiles).
I had a few of these missions. I believe the hyperwave decoder says "Order of earth" for Alien mission type.

Super cool.

54

The X-Com Files / Re: Some of your most Bizarre missions?

« on: November 24, 2023, 05:11:27 pm »

So XCOM just had to play Minecraft and just dig a way through for infantry to pass

This is super cool. I love oddities like this.

[Spoiler]

55

The X-Com Files / Re: Some of your most Bizarre missions?

« on: November 24, 2023, 05:10:22 pm »

Just had a MIB Striker ship. Those are bad ass. They carry elite forces (including a MIB commander) which helped me unlock

Spoiler:

MIB Lunar

.

Was a total grenade fest. At one point, my guys couldn't step out of the ship without getting pelted by grenades. Proceed with caution.

56

The X-Com Files / Re: New Topic

« on: November 23, 2023, 04:57:32 pm »

Well, yes. You can't use those items (except throw them around or some such) unless you research the "using" topic.

Of course, it's a bit illogical. You can spend quite a bit of research and figure out what the item does. Then you can decide whether you want to research it further. But it would be more logical to figure out how to use the item also in the first bit of research. If you didn't know how to use it, you shouldn't learn much of what it does either. That is, you shouldn't be able to find out what those magical items can do unless you at the same time figure out how you use them.

Thanks. I just realized in order for these specialty items to be available to use you need that second research. I suppose the only other issue is the documentation being blank/empty.

57

The X-Com Files / Using Flame Glove

« on: November 23, 2023, 03:44:58 pm »

Edited title (thanks for moving)

Probably been covered but, is there any benefit at all into researching "Using flame glove".. Using Dragon staff" "Using Storm rose".. "Using"..etc..etc..
No completed research documentation ever pops for these (Ufopedia) when the research is done.

[Spoiler]

58

The X-Com Files / Re: The X-Com Files - 3.1: Lights in The Sky

« on: November 22, 2023, 02:55:53 am »

oh alright, didn't know it had such kind of damage


Is this too late to recover from? I have not wasted time with other things, I have 15 scientiests and have quite good progress with the research I can do, got bored enough to research alien containment (sadly too late for a military shot down ufo mission but I lost barely anyway because I Could only reach it with a car... was really hoping for that cash boost but I told myself no reloading! died to the last alien and a panic that ran the other guy into the alien)

You should fine. You'll have other chances to get cult members. Early missions for cults are recurring and allow failures. Just minimize casualties.

Note: Here are some of my game notes over the past year or so. There's some spoilers here but it will help you figure out who you looking for.

Spoiler:

Early game 1.0:
Cult apprehensions.
Strange life forms.
Crop circles.
Cattle mutations.


Cult apprehensions will hopefully lead to the successful capture of lower ranking gang members of each cult. These missions have one cult member per mission. If you fail to capture cult members alive to interrogate them don’t worry this will be a reoccurring mission allowing you several chances to capture one alive.
Researching these lower ranking cult members will pop research for each of the 4 cults. The following is a list of lower ranking cult members and their respective cults.

Red Dawn- Red Dawn ganger
Black Lotus- Black Lotus follower
Church Of Dagon- Supporter of Dagon
Exalt- Exalt infiltrator
------------------------------------------------------------------

Early game 1.1:
Cult Safehouses.
Cult Outposts.
Soul harvest.
Spiders Nest.

Once you have researched a cult you will open up research for each cult's “Network”. You’ll also begin having “Safe Houses” missions. These are small storage shacks lightly guarded by lower to mid ranked cult members. Your best strategy here is to capture a mid ranking cult member from each cult. The following list a list of mid ranking cult members and their respective cults.

Red Dawn- Red Dawn lad or Red Dawn Pioneer
Black Lotus- Black Lotus assassin or Black Lotus Footman
Church Of Dagon- Disciple of Dagon, Priest of Dagon
Exalt- Exalt Goon or Exalt Enforcer
------------------------------------------------------

Early game 1.2:

To terminate a cult you must capture and interrogate cult leaders. Most leaders can be found on Cult Forward missions (and HQ). These are mini bases with loads of heavily trained cult members. Below is a list of higher ranking cult leaders.

Red Dawn- Red Ops Soldier And Red Dawn Coordinator
Black Lotus- Black Lotus Witch and Black Lotus Avatar
Church Of Dagon- Chosen of Dagon And Sorcerer of Dagon
Exalt- Exalt Goon or Exalt Master And Exalt Brainer

[Spoiler]

59

The X-Com Files / Re: The X-Com Files - 3.1: Lights in The Sky

« on: November 20, 2023, 07:01:17 pm »

okay thanks all for advice, and yes I meant to say, Mass Driver weapons, I am wondering where you get them? The description to me sounds like a rail gun. I am assuming it is worse weapon than other late game things but I just like the idea of them lol

Mass driver weapons are cumbersome in my opinion. They can be lethal but they are not a good long range weapon. Gauss or lasers are my favorites. But even those have long range issues. However heavy Gauss has 150 damage power and if you're close, you can take out a Sectopod easily (the most feared enemy machine).

Spoiler:

But I'll tell ya, those Sectopods don't like portable lasers/Turbo lasers either 

[Spoiler]

60

The X-Com Files / Re: Bugs, crashes, typos & bad taste

« on: November 20, 2023, 06:51:26 pm »

and to my surprise then had a 40 turn dance with the queen...and 2x Knights

good thing is that its 30 penalty to not do it...so I will not do it again

The Vampire queen pops research for better missions which unlock cool shit. I've done the Vampire Castle around 10 times now (10 different games) and each time it is slightly different. But out of those 10 times only twice  (I believe) there was a zombie hidden and encased in the lower levels in a room. You can either blast it with a plasma grenade, Erilium charge, High Explosive and go in after him.

Spoiler:

Sometimes on this mission, another strategy is to place your high reaction shot soldiers in open areas with back cover. Skip a few turns (but not too many) and pick them off.

Agreed with Psavola though, this mission can be tedious. But it reaps rewards.

Spoiler:

4 soldiers wearing Stormtrooper armor or flying suits help. Typically the vampire queen won't die. she will lay stunned with fire.