Specialist builds

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Jacke
Posts: 623
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2017 1:10 am

Specialist builds

Post by Jacke »

Another one to work over! :)

Specialist Reaction
Cool Under Pressure - Revival Protocol - Suppression - Failsafe - Sentinel - Killzone - Full Override

Specialist Medic
Medical Protocol - Revival Protocol - Field Medic - Failsafe - Savior - Scanning Protocol - Restoration

The first one emphasizes the primary weapon skills. Revival and Failsafe are too important to leave out. The second is almost pure left-side medic, but again takes Failsafe as sometimes the medic will be the only Specialist.

I wonder if the Reaction Spec should also have Scanning Protocol. As well, I'm tempted to put Full Override on the Medic too, but I think a timely Restoration could safe a squad from certain peril.

A lot of people really like 3 Airdrop, but I think the other two skills for their respective builds are more important that just 2 more grenades.
leudaimon
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 6:26 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by leudaimon »

I've been working on Reaction focused specialists, but my build is quite different:

Cool Under Pressure - Revival Protocol - Airdrop - Evervigilant - Sentinel - Doubt here - Full Override

This build is for agressive missions, so Airdroping a grenadier works great. Besides, revival protocol is great to remove panic from the front line. Evervigilant is very good to reposition. I haven't got to the 7th rank and am really in doubt what to take, all of them look good. I don't take failsafe because I think if you are likely to fail, maybe you should be doing something else with your action.

I'm also struggling with a specialist build for covert operations - any ideas?
JulianSkies
Posts: 301
Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2017 12:17 am

Re: Specialist builds

Post by JulianSkies »

If you're going full aggression with this build, consider: Do you have a second overwatch build soldier? If yes you want Threat Assessment, if not you probalby want Killzone.
leudaimon
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 6:26 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by leudaimon »

Yeah, I had the same rationale. I intend to have the specialist as the only "overwatch only" class, but gunners and rangers should do well here, especially gunners. Besides, I think an aid protocol for defensive purposes to someone in the frontline, assault or spark, might also be effective with the free overwatch, in case someone tries to flank or approach.
I know killzone can be very powerful, but it usually doesn't work as well as I was expecting.
Hazelnut
Posts: 109
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2017 1:00 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by Hazelnut »

Killzone is awesome when it works. Out of a dozen killzones I've dropped 2 worked well, 3 shot 1 target and the other 7 did sweet FA. Find it very annoying. I did think it was range / LOS issues but now I think it's bugged - tonights fail ended with a drone out in the open in the middle of where I had dropped the killzone and the gunner had 81% shot on it on my turn. Why she didn't shoot it I don't know, but what I do know is I am going to respec to some other skill probably.. it's just too flaky.
Goumindong
Posts: 193
Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2017 11:04 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by Goumindong »

Depends on what I am doing. I generally have three builds.

1) Overwatch: for stealth missions

CuP : Revival : suppression : ever vigilant : sentinel : scanning : -

Reasons: only doing a small amount of hacking and it won't have penalties for failing. Will potentially get in situations where you want to use entire movement to run from activated aliens. OW spec will aid that. Similarly suppression will potentially provide cover for civilians on escape. Runs with expanded mag hair trigger smg (ideally laser or better). Won't have equipment in order to be fast, negates value of other skills. Paired shinobi has no value for grenades.

2) pure hacker: paired with pure medic for heavy missions

Build: straight down right side with exception of threat assessment dropped for scanning protocol. Suppression optional in lieu of grenade drop.

Reason: need a pure hacker and this is most efficient way considering gremlin upgrades. Double aid protocol allows a single unit to receive permanent aid which is why the overwatch bonus is dropped. Threat assessment valuable if you only have one specialist in squad and if you have an assault or ranger or spark. (If spark you really want the perma-aid though)

3) Pure Medic: paired with pure hacker for heavy missions

Build: Straight down the left side: potentially takes capacitor discharge or full override because those are very good as you upgrade your gremlin. Depends on initial back value

Reason: doesn't need fail safe since pure hacker will do that. Provides maximum utility on a single units worth of equipment. Wound reduction maximizes the amount of time the heavy squad can be deployed. Increasing total experience for entire group. Increasing officer infiltration bonuses. Increasing total missions possible. Etc etc.
aimlessgun
Posts: 66
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2017 2:22 am

Re: Specialist builds

Post by aimlessgun »

I really like Airdrop because I want Combat Engineer on my damage grenadiers and I actually need those extra grenades on big combat missions. Field Medic just doesn't come into play most of the time. Suppression is nice but Specs are my officers so I have other important actions to end my turn with (and also hacking and combat protocol).
Matlocko
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Feb 02, 2017 12:34 am

Re: Specialist builds

Post by Matlocko »

I feel like there's so many obvious picks for specialist. You can be cute with OW builds I guess if you want.

Combat Protocol (finish off anything, break OWs, quaranteed kill drones early game)
Revival Protocol (no reason not to it's too good to ignore, can save anyone)
Airdrop (busted as well, even if you don't build a single plasma you can just feed your grenadiers those nades after research)
LordYanaek
Posts: 940
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2017 1:34 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by LordYanaek »

Some rather obvious picks for me too. Anyway here are a couple of builds (currently no-one on MSGT) i'm playing with.

Generalist Several of them as i have one specialist in every squad. They go with the 3 men infiltration squads or 5 men skirmish squads doing most missions.
  • Combat Protocol. Just soooo many uses to this handy perk i find it hard to take anything else.
  • Revival Protocol. Incredible insurance against those drone stuns early and then plenty of annoying effects.
  • Field Medic. Because i don't have Grenadiers in the smaller "skirmish" squads.
  • Ever Vigilant or Failsafe depending whether i have high hack and plan to haywire a lot. Failsafe isn't there so i can attempt a 30% haywire, it's there for when i eventually fail a 85% haywire, and to allow me to be greedy for those 40% superior PCS from the "lamps"
  • Sentinel if i have Ever Vigilant, Trojan otherwise.
  • Scanning Protocol as those squads are likely to avoid at least some pods
  • Capacitor Discharge (Oh shit button) or Full override with good hack and Failsafe
Heavy Duty support This guy goes with "Sledgehammer" squad, the squad that does 0% infiltration missions, retaliations and other "fun" missions. He don't have great aim.
  • Combat Protocol. Too useful to pass.
  • Revival Protocol. I need all my guys fighting.
  • Airdrop. Really helps the grenadiers in those long fights.
  • Field Surgeon. It's rare to avoid being hit. It's rare to spend a long time in the AWC.
  • Trojan. I don't want my hacked units to suddenly turn on me.
  • Threat Assessment. For overwatch from the Spark on the now flanked Advent also fun on the gunner
  • Restoration (probably) in case things get ugly.
Overwatch sentinel High Aim. Deployed with a sniper heavy team.
  • Cool Under Pressure. OW build
  • Revival Protocol. I don't like covering fire, like really.
  • Field Medic. Other 2 don't seem that great for this build.
  • Ever Vigilant. In case i need to re-position.
  • Sentinel. If they finally find me, they'll feel the pain
  • Kill Zone. Now they really feel the pain and threat assessment is bad on snipers.
  • Capacitor Discharge (probably). Mooaar pain.
Jacke
Posts: 623
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2017 1:10 am

Re: Specialist builds

Post by Jacke »

I think it's crazy that a soldier class would need 3 builds. It increases the complexity of managing the solider and squads. Lots of pressure to do with Grenadiers and Technicals, but at least with them 1 or 2 of the builds would be rare variants. Trying to hold to 2 builds with Specialists. I can see taking Airdrop instead of Suppression and even Scanning Protocol instead of Killzone on the non-medic, but going beyond that I'm resisting.
nightwyrm
Posts: 260
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 4:52 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by nightwyrm »

I think I would only make a medic or hack specialist. If I wanted an overwatch soldier, I'd go with a Ranger instead.
Manifest
Posts: 236
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2017 6:30 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by Manifest »

Hazelnut wrote:Killzone is awesome when it works.
I'm not sure if it's the same issue or only issue but with the LWPP I experimented with gunner Killzone and much of the time the flakiness resulted from the fact that it seems like the enemy has to run into a Killzone tile. If they're on the edge of the effect they can run out without getting shot. So make sure the enemy is not just in Killzone, but also surrounded on all sides with it and see if that helps.
nightwyrm
Posts: 260
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 4:52 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by nightwyrm »

I always feel Kill Zone has weird LOS issues and I don't really like that it takes 2 actions. It was good when it was on the Sharpshooter coz he doesn't move much anyways, but positioning and sight is so much harder when your soldier isn't up on a nest half a screen away. Also, I know KZ grants Long Watch when you activate it, but does Long Watch even work if your soldier doesn't have basic Squadsight?
mordewolt
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2017 11:57 am

Re: Specialist builds

Post by mordewolt »

Maybe i have to play legend to appreciate it, but as i see, restoration isn't needed to begin with if you just use more gun.
Tuhalu
Posts: 433
Joined: Wed Feb 01, 2017 9:02 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by Tuhalu »

For a stealth running Specialist with some healing potential:

Medical Protocol - Revival Protocol/Interference - Field Medic - Failsafe - Trojan - Scanning Protocol - Full Override/Restoration


The first three picks are to keep your guys alive and moving when things go wrong.

Failsafe allows you to try and get a tower out of the way without risk. It also prevents damage from a failed Skullmining hack if you need to go loud.

Trojan with Failsafe allows you to Shutdown Hack a Drone from stealth safely. If your Gremlin is levelled up enough, the Drone will die when the Hack runs out and it will neither reveal you nor activate the pod it was with (if any). The damage done is basically the same as Combat Protocol.

Scanning Protocol to try and avoid nasty surprises.

Full Override for when you want to take one home with you (having a spare MEC or two in your haven is very nice for those mission types). Optionally, Full Restoration for when it really hits the fan on your way out.
Last edited by Tuhalu on Sat Feb 11, 2017 1:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
Hazelnut
Posts: 109
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2017 1:00 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by Hazelnut »

Manifest wrote:
Hazelnut wrote:Killzone is awesome when it works.
I'm not sure if it's the same issue or only issue but with the LWPP I experimented with gunner Killzone and much of the time the flakiness resulted from the fact that it seems like the enemy has to run into a Killzone tile. If they're on the edge of the effect they can run out without getting shot. So make sure the enemy is not just in Killzone, but also surrounded on all sides with it and see if that helps.
You're quite right. :D But, yes I knew that already from playing with killzone in vanilla. I wish the highlighted area would show where the range of your weapon stops. It's probably down to it originally being for a squadsight sniper. If the skill granted squadsight temporarily it would be a lot more useful. Setup 2 gunners killzone and 1 ranger tonight. Not a single shot because the ayys moved laterally and not towards us. :) It's cool from hidden positions, but apart from that is really hard to use.
Undershaft
Posts: 96
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 8:18 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by Undershaft »

Wondering what Gunnery Seargent ability to pick for a hacker officer.
My choices so far are: Combat Protocol - Revival Protocol - Air Drop - Failsafe - Trojan.

In vanilla, Threat Assessment used to be the auto-pick super-ability for me, but since a lot of you favor Scanning Protocol, I wonder if the more stealthy ways of Long War 2 make surveillance more useful while its greater number and higher quality of enemies make a single distributable overwatch shot - awesome as it is - less so, also because it diminishes the protective power of Aid Protocol a bit.

What is your experience?
trihero
Posts: 1099
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2017 7:01 am

Re: Specialist builds

Post by trihero »

I prefer not to increase the cooldown of aid protocol, and unless you use both a rifle + cool under pressure, kill zone is pretty tame, so scanning protocol wins by default even though I barely use it.
nightwyrm
Posts: 260
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 4:52 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by nightwyrm »

For me, Threat Assessment is the autopick. I have mentioned on another thread that it combos supremely well with overwatch spec'd Rangers.
gimrah
Long War 2 Crew
Posts: 422
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2016 12:25 pm

Re: Specialist builds

Post by gimrah »

Depends on stats to a large degree.

I'd consider building a dedicated medic late game but not before then. I'd respec if I got a hack reward boost and/or hack PCS.

If I draw a high aim one from gatecrasher, rescue or black market, then I think the OW build can be pretty good. I groaned when my highest aim gatecrasher rookie rolled specialist but actually, whilst not absolutely optimal, she's been pretty valuable. Getting CuP early is quite powerful, and you probably have spare hair triggers. If not very high aim, then not OW build, and combat protocol is my pick here.

I went interference for OW in case she ended up on stealth missions. Interference lets you shut down OW and still make a move to escape. Also in combat you can use it and still shoot/OW. That said, I haven't actually used it yet: OW specialist is wasted on a stealth op but I figured sometimes you have to use whoever's available. But I think revival is probably better here. I hate covering fire, even on an OW spec.

Field medic and airdrop are both really good but I prefer airdrop. On the missions where you need multiple medkits you normally have enough soldiers to spread them around. Not a fan of suppression vs the other two.

Has to be Ever Vigilant for OW build. Mobile multi-shot is pretty nice. Failsafe is otherwise very strong. I can see Field Surgeon having some value in LW2 but I'd want the effect to be more pronounced to consider it.

Sentinel obviously for OW. Otherwise Trojan if it actually worked.

Killzone for OW. Otherwise either, but probably scanning unless regularly partnered with an OW ranger.

Restoration every time for me. It's just so good. Full override seems fun but possibly a bit of a gimmick unless you have very high hack. Capacitor discharge is fine but not amazing by that stage in the game.
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