First Campaign in the Books...

SpinDoctor
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Re: First Campaign in the Books...

Post by SpinDoctor »

Psieye wrote:
SpinDoctor wrote:But with your method, I guess I should buy a few more laser rifles, go heavy and hit the 15 to 19+ enemy missions... I only have two squads of CPLs now, so HQ level engagements is prolly off the table for now, lol...
Mmm, I can let you experiment but "a few extra laser rifles to hit 15~19" isn't what I do. In terms of equipment, the difference between "must stick to V.Light missions" and "I can go on E.Heavy missions" is 1 laser lance depending on how far Advent is with their tech. There is no "oh I can do Moderate but not E.Heavy missions" middle ground, it's all or nothing.
Hey I hear ya. It's worth doing I think.
gimrah
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Re: First Campaign in the Books...

Post by gimrah »

It is possible to manipulate the strategic layer a fair bit if you really understand the mechanics, i cluding all the hidden ones.

You can also do strange things. Psi-eyes zero infiltration strat. Whatever it is Sonny does, which I never really understood (I don't recognise most of the numbers and timings he quotes so I assume it's min/maxy). Joinrbs has some youtube vids on strat layer manipulation. He's also very willing to send single rookies and squaddies on suicide missions, which I really don't like doing.

I do switch up rebel jobs and have hot regions and cool regions, but I don't get clever with moving strength around. I don't find I can control it at all reliably. You can still beat Legend without all the rest.

But for me on Legend that means MSGTs from July/August maybe, Sept if you don't focus on an A team. Lasers in April, Mag in June and Coil in August.

I aim to lib one or two regions in June/July, and then stop - because HQs with late game enemies are brutal and you don't actually want that many libbed regions anyway. Regions with too much strength go on supply: hiding is rarely better because supply retals are managable and you need the resources.
SpinDoctor
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Re: First Campaign in the Books...

Post by SpinDoctor »

gimrah wrote:It is possible to manipulate the strategic layer a fair bit if you really understand the mechanics, i cluding all the hidden ones.

You can also do strange things. Psi-eyes zero infiltration strat. Whatever it is Sonny does, which I never really understood (I don't recognise most of the numbers and timings he quotes so I assume it's min/maxy). Joinrbs has some youtube vids on strat layer manipulation. He's also very willing to send single rookies and squaddies on suicide missions, which I really don't like doing.

I do switch up rebel jobs and have hot regions and cool regions, but I don't get clever with moving strength around. I don't find I can control it at all reliably. You can still beat Legend without all the rest.

But for me on Legend that means MSGTs from July/August maybe, Sept if you don't focus on an A team. Lasers in April, Mag in June and Coil in August.

I aim to lib one or two regions in June/July, and then stop - because HQs with late game enemies are brutal and you don't actually want that many libbed regions anyway. Regions with too much strength go on supply: hiding is rarely better because supply retals are managable and you need the resources.
Yeah, it seems like a straightforward approach is an acceptable method, although I did try to manipulate the strength somewhat the first time around. As you said, it wasn't reliable and it didn't turn out at all like I planned. Advent has the Super Emergency RNF mechanic and as soon as you get tricky, they simply bomb you with Legions.

So I dunno... I guess you need some overall plan early on, but after that, you just hunt lower strength regions for EXP and farm regions moving toward higher strength for resources. All the while, you move down the Golden Path.
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SonnyWiFiHr
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Re: First Campaign in the Books...

Post by SonnyWiFiHr »

Simple way to find Strength on move is to check your Region Strength and check numbers of Advent Legions on map (number must be higher than 16).
Than count missions you do. If you have more missions than strength do extra scan. Small havens will have trouble to detect anything so Avenger is needed.
UFO hunt = Full haven + Sci + Avenger for 3 days mission if you detect it at all. Or you can get it random with better timers.
Super UFO hunt: same as above. Best hunting ground - HQ mission has spawned or Add Strength regions.

Add Strength regions are: regions with Liberation 2 (rescue VIP), Tower regions.
Advent will reinforce any region connected to your liberated region. Vigilance is not important at all. So before you liberate anything make sure that you finished everything in those regions.

https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/fil ... =925598042
This mod will help with counting in the beginning. After few months there is nothing to count.

Good missions (jailbreak) will spawn at max vigilance 8. Vigilance will decay 6-12 days period (depending on haven size).
VIP- will spawn until max vigilance 6 for sure. But even 12 vig can spawn them but it is rare thing. Vip in trouble - if reward is soldier is better to let go (You need Scientist and Engineer ) it will just add vigilance in farming region.
24+ vigilance region still produce missions

About Super UFO. Check your Global Alert level and keep it bellow Severe (High) . This will ensure that you don't spike Global Legions to number 160 (10 per region) if you did not kill any Super UFO or Strength on map.
Hide your rebels as last option or just do less missions.
Normal UFO adds +2 Strength, Super UFO adds +4 and it comes with 2x normal UFO (+4 Strength on map for cumulative +8 )

Or you can play game without any information and still be good in it. No planning is needed or required. If you wan't something extra even your best plan can fail because this game is ruled by random numbers.

Rushing research needs planning and big and all 75 Aim barracks needs planning. Rushing research is simple keep vigilance below six in some regions for Scientist. Big 75 aim barracks needs rapid expansion - you research intel and everything is on recruit. Liberation 3 with +1 contact is only liberation that you will do. Big havens to actually recruit something (jailbreak is the key). Both are not needed at all. It is just extra stuff. Below 69 aim I don't even recruit except for Gunners and Assaults but high aim one is every 6th one.
The Preacher
gimrah
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Re: First Campaign in the Books...

Post by gimrah »

Exactly. You can get all clever but you don't have to in order to win on Legend.
Dwarfling
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Re: First Campaign in the Books...

Post by Dwarfling »

Also keep in mind your experience might be different to the people's giving you advice, since their games might be modded differently. For example, Sonny doesn't have to deal with random promotions, has information revealed that is hidden by design and has additional items you might not have access to.
SpinDoctor
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Re: First Campaign in the Books...

Post by SpinDoctor »

Dwarfling wrote:Also keep in mind your experience might be different to the people's giving you advice, since their games might be modded differently. For example, Sonny doesn't have to deal with random promotions, has information revealed that is hidden by design and has additional items you might not have access to.
That's true, but I have a lot of informational mods, so I probably have access to more info, than most people. What I do with it all is the trick, lol.

It's early yet, but my squads feel somewhat weaker this time around, but I suppose they will get better. I hope so, because my B-team can't hit a barn with a Buick...
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SonnyWiFiHr
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Re: First Campaign in the Books...

Post by SonnyWiFiHr »

@Dwarfling
I do not play with commander choice. Black market + GTS = horde of Specialist. I m doing just that - building Specialist (they pays off)

ETC weapons = month of research and they block Laser
MOCX = Extr. Light mission can turn in to Light-Moderate with most dangerous enemy that you will ever encounter.
ABBA guest enemy = increased dodge and HP compared to regular LW2 puts my difficulty in rating - impossible punishment.
Information Display - I m not caveman to count on my fingers Vigilance and I do not really need it. 6 Vig = VIP, 8 Vig = Jailbreak and I will scan anyway to fetch Liberation chain (free contacts).

Different experience ? In my game Laser sucks and Mag is only good for killing Sectoids.
Random promotions ? Who actually cares what stats 67 Aim soldier have or 69 aim or what class they pick. They do not exist and will be replaced with regular 72+ classes. I have means to do it - 6 x 13 rebels on recruit and 12 Specialists to fetch me Supply and Intel. All that in May (correction I have 9 Specialist and two in training - Miss-count, this is just +4 (or +2 if you count only active) from other classes and they will not finish training in May )
[Edit] I could not research Mag before - not enough supply but 15 Scientist and fully upgraded Lab will research everything in week range
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Dwarfling
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Re: First Campaign in the Books...

Post by Dwarfling »

I am fairly confident you're not playing the same game as I am. Because according to your "balanced legendary" AAR, you have over 50 missions completed with a 100% flawless record. A great deal of those underinfiltrated. And you want me to believe you've somehow managed that feat playing a harder game than the vanilla LW2 legendary? Somehow the AI hasn't managed to punch thru your ablative with some random yellow alert shot on some perp that ended a turn on low cover or that had negative defense, or that somehow your soldiers haven't managed to screw up a turn with a grace/minroll/miss leaving something alive to get a 20% shot that the AI seems to hit 60% of the time. Yesterday I had a trooper max roll a 1% to hit thru disorient, suppression and high cover. May 23th with 14 scientists, 8 engineers, 62 soldiers. Really? Those are 2nd year numbers.

If this was, I dunno, Call of Duty, and someone was hitting incredible snap headshots back to back I'd give them the benefit of the doubt because a person might train to such levels of proficiency. But XCOM is a game of blackjack where the house has the upper hand. Just because you can count the cards doesn't mean you'll always win. Unless you're playing with a different set of rules.
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SonnyWiFiHr
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Re: First Campaign in the Books...

Post by SonnyWiFiHr »

30. Scientist must hug Snake (it is safe) :D :D :D :D

First 12 missions you are right - rest Hacking and Luring + Phantom (any class). Most was done without a single shot fired at me. First encounter with ABBA and Exalt pushed me to scout first attack latter and research ETC weapons because ABBA starts with 5 HP. I can't shoot in March and April and Suppression is crap. I do not need Gunners and Rangers until May. Specialist hack is usually flawless mission and heavy Supply raid in March is the best boost that I can have (Free Trooper autopsy). Advent can't kill the drone in one turn and they will shoot drone - my squad is safe. Moving Drone to my OW ambush for free shots and Advent will still shoot at drone. 60% ? (actually we are not playing same game)- using Flashbang on high mobility soldiers, Smoke on low mobility (no flanks in smoke) and grenade on everybody. Vests are crap and waste of resources. Low cover is crit even on rooftop. Phantom can prevent first turn LoS activation and give me far better chance on 2nd turn. Shootout with Advent is squad suicide I will never move without fail safe (Formidable "luring" Gunner, hacked drone or VIP lure). VIP lure activation is best activation - Advent is doing suicide on that. Every soldier you have will have chance to flank (some of them will be in Mist). Be one blue move behind VIP and move VIP to dash range and retreat VIP somewhere right or left or back to lose LoS . If you have Phantom and VIP - this is not a single shot at me mission. Gift from haven.
Under-infiltrated mission ? I probably send 5 soldiers including grenadier + technical this is just clean up of map. March Supply raid - moved back to corner for OW camp. April big one - killed Shield Bearer (2x Sniper) and moved whole squad back for two dash fight vs 3x Super MEC (You must have real Shinobi for that and 2x Luring Formidable Gunner). Did not try that again but in June every Enemy Materiel should be Heavy

Only 62 soldiers mean that did not managed Vigilance properly. 2nd and 3rd Jailbreak can net you up to 12 soldiers and save you supplies (first region excluded). This is actually my screw up. If I just put few rebels on hiding - this number should be double. I m in June below 120 and I m thinking to restart game
14 Scientists = early rapid expansion + black Market. Early equipment must be sold for greater good. I can't shoot even with elite Scope so why to keep ? PCS is auto sold. Free contact on Avenger means no research.
Researched Alien datapad to contact 3rd after that I had surplus of intel. Scientist on detection actually can detect something vs 2 day mission. I do not scan second set of mission with Avenger, I scan new region

Advent is shooting 75% less on me because I will pick up every drone on edge of map and do something with it and rushing Robotics is just that. Flawless missions until May when actually ABBA and EXALT are biggest threat on map and drone will be one shoot killed. Then I can hack MEC for 75% chance because I m spawning Specialists. Ranger in GTS is waste of time. I could do 2x Specialist missions but this will cut off my supply production.

You don't need to save scum for that. If your VIP is killed mission will fail you can rescue another without vigilance increase. 2x Gunner is best fail safe after 2x Specialist. 2x Specialist is Flawless mission on early Force Level.
Commander Choice is Dismiss button. Earlier is done better barracks you will have. Building Bladenobis will not fetch you UFO-s
Forgot to tell but I have only 3 Dark Events Active
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