Re: The X-Com Files - 3.7.2: Best and Brightest

[DarthTheIII]

Would that be usable in dimension X? 

[Stormtrooper]

Well, the description says "it works well in hostile environments" and it gives full choke protection, so in theory...
But the real answer is "no" given its warp resistance. Combined with severe stat penalties I also wonder about the usefulness of it all, especially since terramite isn't easy to get due to heavy rng involved in underground arc (the missions don't seem that frequent and require specific monster captures to unlock in the first place...).

But cool cybersamurai vibes, I want it to be useful so bad.

[DarthTheIII]

The warp vuln is rough, but I would totally use it in dimension X if it was available.  When fighting cyber web they’ve got a whole lot more laser than warp.  And it’s good enough against concussive to blunt high ex/boomeroids.

This is in comparison to aqua plastic suits, which is what I normally use to finish dimension X stuff.

[DarthTheIII]

They wouldn’t replace aqua plastic suits, but I’d love to use like 4 on the cyber web battleship, just to have some dudes who can tank the hordes of enemies pouring out.  The aqua suited guys can tank the disruption reaction fire as well. 

[edgarthewise]

I played a bit after transition from  2.8 to 3.5. Lots of new research. Ghost branch: research after hospital, reclamation faction; MAGMA tritanium ammo contract... I don't know if it is new researches, or fixed old ones.

And I have this research "Refuse contract: Cult arms dealer"(where it comes from?) and no accepting contract branch - how can I fix that?

What I'd like to know is - what is the benefit of researching "Refuse contract: Cult arms dealer"? Should I research it if I don't need their stuff?

[psavola]

What I'd like to know is - what is the benefit of researching "Refuse contract: Cult arms dealer"? Should I research it if I don't need their stuff?

Yes, you get 200 point bonus.

[Solarius Scorch]

Yes, you get 200 point bonus.

Also, you aren't being bothered by negative events and annoying missions.

[psavola]

Also, you aren't being bothered by negative events and annoying missions.

I think you're misremembering, because AFAICS (at least based on trigramreactor interface to the rulesets), there are no negative events and annoying missions or events that would get activated by researching any cult arms supplier or disabled by refusing the contact.

For what it's worth, I think the whole subplot is currently essentially useless. By the point you can get contact (cult operations researched), you already have access to similar or better gear. So I keep wondering why anyone would bother with the arms dealers. If you wanted to make the decision more relevant, one way might be to make this accessible already when researching any Cult Network instead of operations. And/or make the cult arms dealers have some heavier weaponry that would not be otherwise accessible at this point, such as stuff that's currently locked behind Promo III, like M82 Barrett (which Exalt enforcers already know about) which might come handy when dealing with esp. Red Dawn armored cars at their HQ. Currently the only weapon close to "special" is PKM (from red dawn suppliers) which otherwise requires machine guns license (though which you will also likely research before cult operations).

[DarthTheIII]

The arasaka 3000 is really good, but thats pretty much the only thing I use cult arms dealers for.  I think its fine the way it is though, allows access to decent weapons without promotion II.  I'll never get use out of it, but if you're doing a first time playthough and don't know to get promotion II quickly it's pretty helpful.

Getting barrets off of it would be insane though, those things are good until like mid 1999