Thread for Gamers: Yes, Yes, XCOM 2 is here...

[The Huskar Social Union]

For whatever reason, I remember my first run in a base where Chryssalids were plentiful went off without a hitch.

But then the next time I went through the same base in XCOM: EU my party got fucking wiped.

I honestly don't know how to deal with the bastards.

It isn't that the guns are weak... I remember having guns in the first run.

Maybe it's because I played on a lower difficulty the first time around?

I honestly don't know.

The game is, frankly, way too random at times.

I get that in real life skill won't always save you... But, well, this is a game. Of skill, strategy, etc.

Personally, I love it. You have to think on your feet. Adapt, or die horribly. And sometimes both, just to reinforce the fact that the universe hates your fucking guts.

Every single damn thing in the XCOM universe including space rabbits wants to rip you limb from limb.

Fuck em all i say.

[The Rich Port]

For whatever reason, I remember my first run in a base where Chryssalids were plentiful went off without a hitch.

But then the next time I went through the same base in XCOM: EU my party got fucking wiped.

I honestly don't know how to deal with the bastards.

It isn't that the guns are weak... I remember having guns in the first run.

Maybe it's because I played on a lower difficulty the first time around?

I honestly don't know.

The game is, frankly, way too random at times.

I get that in real life skill won't always save you... But, well, this is a game. Of skill, strategy, etc.

Personally, I love it. You have to think on your feet. Adapt, or die horribly. And sometimes both, just to reinforce the fact that the universe hates your fucking guts.

Well, that's the thing, innit?

So, I adapt... And I loose anyway because my dudes miss shots that really shouldn't be missed.

[Seventh Oblivion]

I bought Sniper Elite III for PS4 two days ago, the game is getting quite frustrating. I try to be stealthy, but I just end up going all out slow motion badass sniper guy who tries to kill everyone on the level before doing the actual objective.

[The Rich Port]

I bought Sniper Elite III for PS4 two days ago, the game is getting quite frustrating. I try to be stealthy, but I just end up going all out slow motion badass sniper guy who tries to kill everyone on the level before doing the actual objective.

You gotta be sure you won't be found before you take the shot.

Gotta be patient when you're a sniper, wait for the right shot.

[The Huskar Social Union]

I bought Sniper Elite III for PS4 two days ago, the game is getting quite frustrating. I try to be stealthy, but I just end up going all out slow motion badass sniper guy who tries to kill everyone on the level before doing the actual objective.

You gotta be sure you won't be found before you take the shot.

Gotta be patient when you're a sniper, wait for the right shot.

Also explosions and whatnot in the background, pretty sure they have that system in those games.

[The Armed Republic of Dutch Coolness]

Sony apparently still gets resources from suppliers using child laborers

Any claims those firms make about not knowing about it is as likely to be true as me becoming the god emperor of man.

Watch them try and make you just that with the money they saved by hiring kids!

[Wisconsin9]

Personally, I love it. You have to think on your feet. Adapt, or die horribly. And sometimes both, just to reinforce the fact that the universe hates your fucking guts.

Every single damn thing in the XCOM universe including space rabbits wants to rip you limb from limb.

Fuck em all i say.

We may not be able to speak their languages, but I like to think that an unending storm of bombs and lead, lasers and plasma communicates the meaning better than words ever could.

Personally, I love it. You have to think on your feet. Adapt, or die horribly. And sometimes both, just to reinforce the fact that the universe hates your fucking guts.

Well, that's the thing, innit?

So, I adapt... And I loose anyway because my dudes miss shots that really shouldn't be missed.

I mean, that's life, ain't it?

It's also why, if I'm in a bad spot, I make sure that I've got enough explosives to kill whatever it is if I don't make the shot.

[Seventh Oblivion]

I bought Sniper Elite III for PS4 two days ago, the game is getting quite frustrating. I try to be stealthy, but I just end up going all out slow motion badass sniper guy who tries to kill everyone on the level before doing the actual objective.

You gotta be sure you won't be found before you take the shot.

Gotta be patient when you're a sniper, wait for the right shot.

hehe, I'm not a patient player xD

I once literally tried to sprint through the middle of the frecken mission with my Welrod firing at the nearest head. I also like trying to go through the entire mission without having to relocate, never works...

[The Rich Port]

You gotta be sure you won't be found before you take the shot.

Gotta be patient when you're a sniper, wait for the right shot.

hehe, I'm not a patient player xD

I once literally tried to sprint through the middle of the frecken mission with my Welrod firing at the nearest head. I also like trying to go through the entire mission without having to relocate, never works...

Nope, that's sniper school 101: shoot, relocate, rinse, repeat.

[Seventh Oblivion]

hehe, I'm not a patient player xD

I once literally tried to sprint through the middle of the frecken mission with my Welrod firing at the nearest head. I also like trying to go through the entire mission without having to relocate, never works...

Nope, that's sniper school 101: shoot, relocate, rinse, repeat.

I am on mission 5, Siwa Oasis.

[The Rich Port]

Nope, that's sniper school 101: shoot, relocate, rinse, repeat.

I am on mission 5, Siwa Oasis.

Frankly, from what I've seen from Sniper Elite, it doesn't look like it's capable of reproducing good sniping techniques, or at least all of them.

Usually, the reason you have to relocate is because enemies usually can hear your sniper shot, and will move towards your position in search of the origin, usually in the general direction they heard the shot come from.

Military sims usually reproduce ideal sniping conditions better.

For example, one time in ARMA 2, I got sent to harass some guys out in a field behind some trees.

I was at extreme range, hiding behind some trees, and they seemed to be resting, standing by or receiving orders.

Either way, I had a shooting gallery on my hands. The key was to mask my shots.

I was at extreme range, so sound and muzzle flash were non-issues, but it's quite possible they'd be able to tell where the shots were coming from by judging from where the hits were coming from, or at least what my favorite targets were (side of the car or a certain position, for example.)

I took one guy down, then waited. They were panicking, taking cover, searching for me. They seemed to believe I was on the left of where I actually was... So I let them think that. I let them calm down, think I was relocating or retreating since they figured me out. After a couple minutes... Next shot. Another guy goes down. This time, they spray the area where they think I am with bullets. I again let them think they got me, and let them proceed with their safety spray of bullets. After they were satisfied with the number of holes they put into a nearby hill... I wait a couple more minutes... And then take another shot.

Three kills out of seven. Now they're really freaking out, and they get into their vehicle and retreat from the area, clearing the way for an advance that flanked the enemy in a nearby town.

[Licana]

In all seriousness, they're not too bad post-laser weapons, when you can reliably two shot them and often one shot them. It's the early stages where they're horrible; you may need three shots to kill one, and a single stray can turn a terror mission into a disaster.

They're not even that bad pre-laser weapons. The base Shotgun is more than enough to tear them apart, to the point where having two CCS Assaults in a squad turns any kind of Chrysalid rush into a joke.

It's even easier in LW, where assaults get CCS at their second rank and you can get Infantry with LnL as their specialist upgrade.

I bought Sniper Elite III for PS4 two days ago, the game is getting quite frustrating. I try to be stealthy, but I just end up going all out slow motion badass sniper guy who tries to kill everyone on the level before doing the actual objective.

You gotta be sure you won't be found before you take the shot.

Gotta be patient when you're a sniper, wait for the right shot.

I agree, I would have never completed Sniper Elite entirely with nut shots if I did not possesses incalculable patience.

[Wisconsin9]

I am on mission 5, Siwa Oasis.

Frankly, from what I've seen from Sniper Elite, it doesn't look like it's capable of reproducing good sniping techniques, or at least all of them.

Usually, the reason you have to relocate is because enemies usually can hear your sniper shot, and will move towards your position in search of the origin, usually in the general direction they heard the shot come from.

Military sims usually reproduce ideal sniping conditions better.

For example, one time in ARMA 2, I got sent to harass some guys out in a field behind some trees.

I was at extreme range, hiding behind some trees, and they seemed to be resting, standing by or receiving orders.

Either way, I had a shooting gallery on my hands. The key was to mask my shots.

I was at extreme range, so sound and muzzle flash were non-issues, but it's quite possible they'd be able to tell where the shots were coming from by judging from where the hits were coming from, or at least what my favorite targets were (side of the car or a certain position, for example.)

I took one guy down, then waited. They were panicking, taking cover, searching for me. They seemed to believe I was on the left of where I actually was... So I let them think that. I let them calm down, think I was relocating or retreating since they figured me out. After a couple minutes... Next shot. Another guy goes down. This time, they spray the area where they think I am with bullets. I again let them think they got me, and let them proceed with their safety spray of bullets. After they were satisfied with the number of holes they put into a nearby hill... I wait a couple more minutes... And then take another shot.

Three kills out of seven. Now they're really freaking out, and they get into their vehicle and retreat from the area, clearing the way for an advance that flanked the enemy in a nearby town.

That makes me want to try ARMA again.

[The Rich Port]

Frankly, from what I've seen from Sniper Elite, it doesn't look like it's capable of reproducing good sniping techniques, or at least all of them.

Usually, the reason you have to relocate is because enemies usually can hear your sniper shot, and will move towards your position in search of the origin, usually in the general direction they heard the shot come from.

Military sims usually reproduce ideal sniping conditions better.

For example, one time in ARMA 2, I got sent to harass some guys out in a field behind some trees.

I was at extreme range, hiding behind some trees, and they seemed to be resting, standing by or receiving orders.

Either way, I had a shooting gallery on my hands. The key was to mask my shots.

I was at extreme range, so sound and muzzle flash were non-issues, but it's quite possible they'd be able to tell where the shots were coming from by judging from where the hits were coming from, or at least what my favorite targets were (side of the car or a certain position, for example.)

I took one guy down, then waited. They were panicking, taking cover, searching for me. They seemed to believe I was on the left of where I actually was... So I let them think that. I let them calm down, think I was relocating or retreating since they figured me out. After a couple minutes... Next shot. Another guy goes down. This time, they spray the area where they think I am with bullets. I again let them think they got me, and let them proceed with their safety spray of bullets. After they were satisfied with the number of holes they put into a nearby hill... I wait a couple more minutes... And then take another shot.

Three kills out of seven. Now they're really freaking out, and they get into their vehicle and retreat from the area, clearing the way for an advance that flanked the enemy in a nearby town.

That makes me want to try ARMA again.

If you like "emergent gameplay" then yeah you're gonna love it.

I guess I'm more of the strategist type. :/

In fact, I suppose I would have to be.

My psychology classes really paid off in that sniper encounter. Woo. I guess. XD

I personally prefer the intensity of city combat.

I think I've recounted a couple ARMA 2 war stories on here before.

[Wisconsin9]

That makes me want to try ARMA again.

If you like "emergent gameplay" then yeah you're gonna love it.

I guess I'm more of the strategist type. :/

In fact, I suppose I would have to be.

My psychology classes really paid off in that sniper encounter. Woo. I guess. XD

I personally prefer the intensity of city combat.

I think I've recounted a couple ARMA 2 war stories on here before.

Wargame gave me a bit of a fetish for intense urban combat. Even when you're watching from a god's-eye-view, having infantry fighting block-to-block with assault rifles and machine guns, supported by artillery and airstrikes, with every known method of deploying napalm in use... you don't really care if you win or lose, it's worth it either way.

[The Rich Port]

If you like "emergent gameplay" then yeah you're gonna love it.

I guess I'm more of the strategist type. :/

In fact, I suppose I would have to be.

My psychology classes really paid off in that sniper encounter. Woo. I guess. XD

I personally prefer the intensity of city combat.

I think I've recounted a couple ARMA 2 war stories on here before.

Wargame gave me a bit of a fetish for intense urban combat. Even when you're watching from a god's-eye-view, having infantry fighting block-to-block with assault rifles and machine guns, supported by artillery and airstrikes, with every known method of deploying napalm in use... you don't really care if you win or lose, it's worth it either way.

Eeyup.

Frankly, XCOM is still a great game specifically because of that... I just don't like the luck elements in it.

Everybody likes a little improvisation, but it's bad game design if the game punishes you even though you're technically playing it correctly.

Hopefully, they'll make the game less luck-based in the future.

Really, I think they did that to compensate for the A.I.

[Anywhere Else But Here]

Wargame gave me a bit of a fetish for intense urban combat. Even when you're watching from a god's-eye-view, having infantry fighting block-to-block with assault rifles and machine guns, supported by artillery and airstrikes, with every known method of deploying napalm in use... you don't really care if you win or lose, it's worth it either way.

Eeyup.

Frankly, XCOM is still a great game specifically because of that... I just don't like the luck elements in it.

Everybody likes a little improvisation, but it's bad game design if the game punishes you even though you're technically playing it correctly.

Hopefully, they'll make the game less luck-based in the future.

Really, I think they did that to compensate for the A.I.

If you take the luck elements out, you take a huge chunk of the risk assessment aspect out, which is half of playing well.

[Wisconsin9]

On the subject of XCOM, I just took my first loss in my current playthrough. Friends in low places, a squaddie got shot by a muton.

[The Rich Port]

Eeyup.

Frankly, XCOM is still a great game specifically because of that... I just don't like the luck elements in it.

Everybody likes a little improvisation, but it's bad game design if the game punishes you even though you're technically playing it correctly.

Hopefully, they'll make the game less luck-based in the future.

Really, I think they did that to compensate for the A.I.

If you take the luck elements out, you take a huge chunk of the risk assessment aspect out, which is half of playing well.

You can't really make risk assessments with both extremely limited information and the possibility of failure despite you taking risk into account and adapting accordingly.

At best, you're making blind guesses, usually.

Hence why I despise harder difficulties beyond normal, especially ones where the computer is allowed to cheat.

I prefer to avoid playing with other people if it means having to deal with their control or anger issues... I don't also need to simulate them using hacks, now, in order to compensate for the fact that A.I. remains poor these days.

[Anywhere Else But Here]

If you take the luck elements out, you take a huge chunk of the risk assessment aspect out, which is half of playing well.

You can't really make risk assessments with both extremely limited information and the possibility of failure despite you taking risk into account and adapting accordingly.

At best, you're making blind guesses, usually.

Hence why I despise harder difficulties beyond normal, especially ones where the computer is allowed to cheat.

I prefer to avoid playing with other people if it means having to deal with their control or anger issues... I don't also need to simulate them using hacks, now, in order to compensate for the fact that A.I. remains poor these days.

I don't think blind guesses is a fair description.

Consider a situation where there are enemies that you only have a low chance to hit. You can try to get closer or flank, but you'll be exposing yourself more. You have to decide, based on the status of the mission and squad, as well as the layout of the map and even the broader strategy level, what the best course of action is. You might expose yourself and still miss, or you might stay in cover but still get hit. Take that out and it just becomes a case of knowing that you either can or can't kill those enemies, so you either do it or don't. That removes a whole layer of the game.

Sure, the RNG means you sometimes have the frustration of missing a 90% shot, but you also get the blessed relief when an alien flanks you but still misses. By itself, it's neither good nor bad, because it works equally against and for you. In terms of its effects on strategy, as discussed above, I think it's definitely a good thing.

[The Huskar Social Union]

So im playing TTT in Garry's mod, one of the other players goes down a lift on the roof top map, some seconds later he screams in the chat "WHY DID I COME DOWN HERE! NO! NO!" And then falls silent. Now naturally, you would think, dont go down there then, bad things well happen. I decided, fuck that, time to be a hero and went down myself, leave no man behind i say (unless there are zombies).

Suddenly i was no longer in a lift, i was standing in pitch blackness on a small metal platform covered in blood with an un identified body on it, only light source is my flash light. I identify said body, it was the player who came down before me, they were dead clearly. After a few panicked seconds of utter loneliness, I hear screaming in the darkness and in defiance i whipped out my shotgun and fired against the unknown enemy in the dark, in the God Emperor's name!

Yeah about that...

In short, be smart, dont go down random lifts in garrys mod.

[Czechanada]

Wargame gave me a bit of a fetish for intense urban combat. Even when you're watching from a god's-eye-view, having infantry fighting block-to-block with assault rifles and machine guns, supported by artillery and airstrikes, with every known method of deploying napalm in use... you don't really care if you win or lose, it's worth it either way.

Eeyup.

Frankly, XCOM is still a great game specifically because of that... I just don't like the luck elements in it.

Everybody likes a little improvisation, but it's bad game design if the game punishes you even though you're technically playing it correctly.

Hopefully, they'll make the game less luck-based in the future.

Really, I think they did that to compensate for the A.I.

Luck has nothing to do with XCOM. One has to incorporate the probability of each shot into their tactics. As the character Julio Scoundrel from the Order of the Stick webcomic said: "A true hero makes his own luck."

If a shot has anything less than a 100% chance of hitting, then one had better anticipate what will happen if that shot misses. It's best not put oneself in a position where the probability of one's shots will hamper them to begin with.

[Esternial]

Frankly, from what I've seen from Sniper Elite, it doesn't look like it's capable of reproducing good sniping techniques, or at least all of them.

Usually, the reason you have to relocate is because enemies usually can hear your sniper shot, and will move towards your position in search of the origin, usually in the general direction they heard the shot come from.

Military sims usually reproduce ideal sniping conditions better.

For example, one time in ARMA 2, I got sent to harass some guys out in a field behind some trees.

I was at extreme range, hiding behind some trees, and they seemed to be resting, standing by or receiving orders.

Either way, I had a shooting gallery on my hands. The key was to mask my shots.

I was at extreme range, so sound and muzzle flash were non-issues, but it's quite possible they'd be able to tell where the shots were coming from by judging from where the hits were coming from, or at least what my favorite targets were (side of the car or a certain position, for example.)

I took one guy down, then waited. They were panicking, taking cover, searching for me. They seemed to believe I was on the left of where I actually was... So I let them think that. I let them calm down, think I was relocating or retreating since they figured me out. After a couple minutes... Next shot. Another guy goes down. This time, they spray the area where they think I am with bullets. I again let them think they got me, and let them proceed with their safety spray of bullets. After they were satisfied with the number of holes they put into a nearby hill... I wait a couple more minutes... And then take another shot.

Three kills out of seven. Now they're really freaking out, and they get into their vehicle and retreat from the area, clearing the way for an advance that flanked the enemy in a nearby town.

Been awhile since I've played ARMA 2. Switched over to ARMA 3 for awhile, then I gave up and settle for DayZ Standalone.

Also played the DayZ ARMA 2 Mod, which was possibly the most fun ever. My friend and I spent a long time on one particular server, repairing a broken Blackhawk helicopter. Managed to get it to work again, so we took off and flew around playing Flight of the Valkyrie through direct communication.

Of course our brazen show of superior was met with a well-placed round in my pilot friend's cranium. All I could do was cringe as we fell back down to Earth.

DayZ Standalone has been fun, too, though. My two mates and I have applied all sorts of tactics to take down other hostile survivors.

[The Rich Port]

Frankly, from what I've seen from Sniper Elite, it doesn't look like it's capable of reproducing good sniping techniques, or at least all of them.

Usually, the reason you have to relocate is because enemies usually can hear your sniper shot, and will move towards your position in search of the origin, usually in the general direction they heard the shot come from.

Military sims usually reproduce ideal sniping conditions better.

For example, one time in ARMA 2, I got sent to harass some guys out in a field behind some trees.

I was at extreme range, hiding behind some trees, and they seemed to be resting, standing by or receiving orders.

Either way, I had a shooting gallery on my hands. The key was to mask my shots.

I was at extreme range, so sound and muzzle flash were non-issues, but it's quite possible they'd be able to tell where the shots were coming from by judging from where the hits were coming from, or at least what my favorite targets were (side of the car or a certain position, for example.)

I took one guy down, then waited. They were panicking, taking cover, searching for me. They seemed to believe I was on the left of where I actually was... So I let them think that. I let them calm down, think I was relocating or retreating since they figured me out. After a couple minutes... Next shot. Another guy goes down. This time, they spray the area where they think I am with bullets. I again let them think they got me, and let them proceed with their safety spray of bullets. After they were satisfied with the number of holes they put into a nearby hill... I wait a couple more minutes... And then take another shot.

Three kills out of seven. Now they're really freaking out, and they get into their vehicle and retreat from the area, clearing the way for an advance that flanked the enemy in a nearby town.

Been awhile since I've played ARMA 2. Switched over to ARMA 3 for awhile, then I gave up and settle for DayZ Standalone.

Also played the DayZ ARMA 2 Mod, which was possibly the most fun ever. My friend and I spent a long time on one particular server, repairing a broken Blackhawk helicopter. Managed to get it to work again, so we took off and flew around playing Flight of the Valkyrie through direct communication.

Of course our brazen show of superior was met with a well-placed round in my pilot friend's cranium. All I could do was cringe as we fell back down to Earth.

DayZ Standalone has been fun, too, though. My two mates and I have applied all sorts of tactics to take down other hostile survivors.

Why'd you switch back from ARMA 3?

[Kanaria]

Anyone here have, or still play, Tom Clancy's EndWar?
I played that last weekend and boy oh boy, did the fucking Russkies piss me off during my assault on Moscow. Can't do shit with my troops because artillery keeps on blasting them to pieces before they even get near Alpha, so I spend ten minutes managing to kill half their guys and then the mega legions come in guns blazing and rather than destroy my Xbox in rage, I have to quit.