XCOM 2

[JanJansen]

Complete beginner here, rookie difficulty, will reload at will, especially while still learning the mechanics.
The idea is to get the hang of it and have fun.
If you're all ironman people who will lecture me that you can only learn and enjoy games the hard way, just let me know and I'll hit the road again

First impression of the game's introduction is nice. Didn't expect extended video cutscenes for a strategy game. The closest I can describe it is that it feels a bit like Mass Effect.

I played through the tutorial and went on my first mission to retrieve a something emitter. Got nervous because it was a timed quest with 8 turns until destruction, so I wasn't careful enough and lost half of my squad. There's crazy psionic critters who can mind control and basically charm or panic my squad members.

I'll reload and do the mission again to see how I can attack better. I think I did rather well getting close while staying in cover, but I didn't realize I have melee attacks that are less likely to miss than shots. Also, high ground helps to land a shot, I like that.

There's Overwatch that means you shoot at an enemy if they leave cover, I'm not sure how that even works. The way it sounds, it seems a good idea to have it always active when concealed.
Grenades seem to be a good option in early game too because they don't miss.

I love games where stealth and positioning are important. Also, sci-fi. Nice!

About priorities, I have read that it is important to go on missions that give engineers. Also, to build a facility to get trained gorillas. That's what the redditor wrote and I thought huh. After starting the game, I think it was a typo and meant guerilla.

 

[JanJansen]

Second time went better. Some wounded but nobody died.

Here's a few visuals if anyone cares.

 

[mlnevese]

I can play this in the hardest setting, and I still make silly mistakes. Just play it as you want. You're supposed to have fun not write a PhD thesis on the mechanics

Some beginner tips

1) rotate your soldiers. Sooner or later one or more of your soldiers will be sent to hospital to recover from wounds and you will want someone experienced in the team. If you feel it will be an easy mission, consider taking a rookie along with your other experienced soldiers.

2) There is a button in the screen where you select equipment for your team that will remove equipment from inactive team members. Remember to use it. You don't want your best armor/weapon left behind with someone who is in the hospital for the next weeks.

3) Do not rush for the next mission. Make sure you set all research/production/construction running before going on a mission. In later stages do not forget to train your psychic soldiers/treat your traumatized soldiers between missions. Both take time and you want those soldiers back as soon as possible.

 

[JanJansen]

Sooner or later one or more of your soldiers will be sent to hospital to recover from wounds and you will want someone experienced in the team.

Noted. Also the part about not rushing to the next mission.
At this point I had to do it though, because the next mission reward is an engineer and I need that one to build an infirmary, which I probably need ASAP.

I guess this is still a tutorial phase I'm in. I don't even know yet how to rotate soldiers, I hope it will be self-explanatory. Somehow I got an entirely different squad automatically for the second mission.

 

[mlnevese]

Not much choice in the tutorial. Next time you play you can disable the tutorial from the settings, but it is good to teach some basic mechanics.

 

[JanJansen]

Not much choice in the tutorial. Next time you play you can disable the tutorial from the settings, but it is good to teach some basic mechanics.

And here I was hoping I was already in the regular game, but I saw this morning that it still gives prompts so it is tutorial but a good one.

Difficult is the touch screen instead M&K but the port seems well done.

Combat from what I see, the most important are the basic things people who have played turn-based RPG already know. Like not moving ahead with your last person in the turn, not leaving cover if you have no actions left.
Also, remembering a 1HP soldier can still shoot. Better to focus on the same and make him not do damage the next turn.

It sounds simple but is one of the main points people tell beginners. I think I get that covered.
More complicated will be strategy, not tactics.

 

[mlnevese]

Also consider terrain. It's possible to punch holes through walls, for instance. This is not Fallout where you can't go through a rotten door even when you are literally carrying nuclear weapons...

 

[JanJansen]

XCOM 2 is 95% off on Steam. I decided to get it even if I can't cross save. I play Android because I have all that time on public transport. But in the future, maybe for higher difficulty, PC would be easier with control and positioning.

 

[mlnevese]

XCOM 2 is 95% off on Steam. I decided to get it even if I can't cross save. I play Android because I have all that time on public transport. But in the future, maybe for higher difficulty, PC would be easier with control and positioning.

Completely worthy it. Great mods out there, like Long War of the Chosen, that will only work in the computer version.

 

[JanJansen]

Completely worthy it. Great mods out there, like Long War of the Chosen, that will only work in the computer version.

Not ready for mods yet, if ever.

I met an Elder Assassin. Scary SOB. Also found out, sadly, that I have to choose between taking a frag grenade or a med kit with me. Chose frag grenades for all, now I hope I'll bring that gravely wounded squad mate home in one piece because it's a long ass mission and I'd hate to do it all over again. Next time I'll take one med kit maybe. If I kill them all first, I don't need healing, but they brought grenades too. "always stay in cover" only works until it goes boom

 

[mlnevese]

Not ready for mods yet, if ever.

I met an Elder Assassin. Scary SOB. Also found out, sadly, that I have to choose between taking a frag grenade or a med kit with me. Chose frag grenades for all, now I hope I'll bring that gravely wounded squad mate home in one piece because it's a long ass mission and I'd hate to do it all over again. Next time I'll take one med kit maybe. If I kill them all first, I don't need healing, but they brought grenades too. "always stay in cover" only works until it goes boom

Have your faster squad members carry them. Also some of your squad member can have drones with healing ability. You'll come to rely on them

Also I blame this thread for this:

 

[JanJansen]

With that forum avatar I would suspect you to play for the wrong team though...

 

[JanJansen]

One of the 3 Chosen.

And the aliens use subtle biological warfare, putting cactus plants in Africa that are found only in Southern US and Mexico

 

[mlnevese]

See! The aliens are finding ways to preserve and protect life!

 

[mlnevese]

BTW flashbang grenades are your friend. Not only they interrupt telepathic control, but also force those friendly aliens that love to hug your soldiers to release them,

 

[JanJansen]

BTW flashbang grenades are your friend. Not only they interrupt telepathic control, but also force those friendly aliens that love to hug your soldiers to release them,

Thank you. I already found that out but I'm not quite sure how to place them for best effect.

I already see inventory management is an issue. I can only equip each soldier with one grenade before missions. I need frag grenade to blow cover, med kit to heal, and flashbang grenade against mind control etc. Probably means I need two with flashbang, otherwise I'm in trouble if exactly the one carrying it is hit.

Also, this game really, really likes to interrupt scanning for supplies with missions that can only be done now or never.

 

[mlnevese]

You can resume scanning later with no loss of the time you already spent doing it.

I'm partial to the sniper shots to the head myself, but when it's not possible, the grenade will affect everything in the area of effect marked on the ground. You should have in mind explosive grenades will affect a volume of space, not an area, so fragile buildings may just decide to fall on the poor alien's head.

 

[JanJansen]

I'm partial to the sniper shots to the head myself,

Indeed they're the best possible when available.
I'm trying to pay attention to rotate soldiers so that I have a backup for every role. With infirmary ready and a med drone, I should have people back on duty faster but it still helps to have a full B-Team.

 

[WarChiefZeke]

Now I need to get a wireless mouse and keyboard so I can play this on my steam deck. All the talk of this game has me feeling the itch.

I was always partial to the melee weapon builds and taking all the perks because swords = cool. I made it work on normal difficulty, that was enough for me. I kept two around so one could make use of the axe you can find. Much safer to do the higher level you get. Supported them with a sniper and plenty of healing.

In my first couple runs, I actually had a much harder time against the clock than I did with the battles. Which I actually enjoyed a lot. Sure, you can win battles, but if your larger war strategy is ineffective, you still lose. Great stuff.

 

[JanJansen]

In my first couple runs, I actually had a much harder time against the clock than I did with the battles. Which I actually enjoyed a lot. Sure, you can win battles, but if your larger war strategy is ineffective, you still lose.

Indeed, I have a feeling that's what's going to break my neck, because it's impossible to do everything and I have no idea which clocks are running where and what should be a priority, what is only for resources, or what isn't as urgent as the game makes it feel.
But it is fun to figure it out even if it takes a few playthroughs. I don't have too many options on the strategic layer yet but that's because I haven't made too many contacts yet.

I like to have a ranger with the melee attack on the team too, especially now that shots still miss often. But yeah combat is fun.