How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

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wobuffet
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2017 3:09 am

How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by wobuffet »

I wanted to start a conversation on how best to buff the Specialist Interference ability, which costs 1 action to cancel Overwatch on an enemy unit.

Here are mine:
(1) Make it a free ("green") action. This might make it preferable to just using Combat Protocol sometimes, even if both have plenty fo charges available.
(Implement this yourself with an *.ini edit: http://www.pavonisinteractive.com/phpBB ... 067#p46067)
(2) In addition to canceling Overwatch, Disorient the target for 2 turns.
(3) Make it cancel Overwatch and Suppression from all enemy units in visual range.
Last edited by wobuffet on Mon Jun 26, 2017 8:04 am, edited 2 times in total.
Thrombozyt
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:37 am

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by Thrombozyt »

How about letting it target non-overwatching enemies and reducing the hack resistance by 10/15/20?

That would allow you to expend a charge to increase your hacking chance on a tough enemy.
IslamDunk
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 8:43 am

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by IslamDunk »

I like OP's first suggestion, which improves Interference to be a free-action.

I wonder if changing its charge system, so the charges can be replenished per several turns would be overpowered.
Last edited by IslamDunk on Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
Daergar
Posts: 93
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2015 7:47 pm

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by Daergar »

I like both suggestions. Maybe it's simply how I play and my squad compositions, but I really regretted taking that skill on all my specialists, used it once during the entire campaign.
Dwarfling
Posts: 524
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2017 12:16 pm

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by Dwarfling »

It needs a buff, that's for sure. I'd like it as a free action.

The overwatch removal "baton" passed from my Support Grenadiers in 1.2 to my Assaults, who almost always pick Lightning Reflexes, unless they came with 13 mobility. I mean, it's almost a free action and it can remove at least 2 overwatches safely. And I try to have at least one Assault on all my missions.
RookieAutopsy
Posts: 80
Joined: Sat May 13, 2017 9:35 am

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by RookieAutopsy »

As a free action it could probably work.

As a single target disorient, I think you'd have to reduce the charges. Or share (or alternate) cooldown with Aid Protocol (drone dances around distracting an enemy instead of shielding an ally.
GauravDas
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue May 23, 2017 4:36 am

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by GauravDas »

I wish Interference would not direct require line of sight.
Yenreb
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 1:16 am

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by Yenreb »

I don't think it requires line of sight. I think I've had it where I could use interference on an enemy I couldn't combat protocol. But maybe combat protocol was on cool down or I wanted to save the charge. Hard to be sure. I later restarted the mission so no chance of a save.
nmkaplan
Posts: 207
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2017 5:14 pm

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by nmkaplan »

It requires an unobstructed path from the specialist, but it can be used at squadsight range (just like Haywire and Combat protocol)
Dlareh
Posts: 125
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:41 pm

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by Dlareh »

Free action would make it workable in its current form

I still don't think I'd use it, but it would be an o.k. ability then
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delcrossb
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jan 18, 2017 4:19 pm

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by delcrossb »

I sort of like the idea of applying a covering fire style malus instead of a straight up disorient. Disorient (and taking away abilities) feels a little too powerful, but just a simple 1 turn aim malus feels better for an ability we get 3-5 times per battle.
wobuffet
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2017 3:09 am

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by wobuffet »

Good news, everyone!
Turns out you can implement the "free action" option yourself with a simple *.ini edit:

Head over to \Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\268500\844674609\Config\XComLW_SoldierSkills.ini
, search for interference, and set

Code: Select all

INTERFERENCE_ACTION_POINTS=0
Works like a charm!
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DrBeast
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Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by DrBeast »

wobuffet wrote: Works like a charm!
Except you have to manually end your turn if there are enemies on overwatch your Specialist can apply Interference on ;)
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llll BlackFlag
Posts: 62
Joined: Mon May 29, 2017 4:12 pm

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by llll BlackFlag »

wobuffet wrote:I wanted to start a conversation on how best to buff the Specialist Interference ability, which costs 1 action to cancel Overwatch on an enemy unit.

Here are mine:
(1) Make it a free ("green") action. This might make it preferable to just using Combat Protocol sometimes, even if both have plenty fo charges available.
(2) In addition to canceling Overwatch, Disorient the target for 2 turns.
(3) Make it cancel Overwatch and Suppression from all enemy units in visual range.

Great idea OP, interference is a little underpowered in my opinion. I think disorient for 2 turns would be a little too strong though. Maybe a disorient for 1 turn, and interface ends the turn would be fair. It's comparable to the assault's stun gun but has squadsight. I also like the idea about allowing it to just be a free action. Alternatively, maybe the gremlin could remove overwatch from multiple enemies once it gets upgraded to Mark ll
wobuffet
Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2017 3:09 am

Re: How to buff/balance Specialist Interference ability?

Post by wobuffet »

DrBeast wrote:
wobuffet wrote: Works like a charm!
Except you have to manually end your turn if there are enemies on overwatch your Specialist can apply Interference on ;)
True... but you should've killed or suppressed that unit by then anyway, right?

I'm used to hitting End to end my turn sometimes anyway because I made picking up/dropping units free but at a cost of -4 Mobility.
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