KickStarter Phoenix Point - the new game from X-COM creator Julian Gollop

[PanteraNera]

I have a question, UnstableVoltage. This point is still valid or has been dropped (I hope so)? I haven't read anything new about it for a long time:

The procedural levels will have their own in-built mini objectives in the form of strategic points scattered throughout. These might be elevated structures or vantages, control rooms, or alien installations. Taking control of them will allow you to play tactical cards, brought into combat from a deck built in the strategic layer, that provide buffs to individual soldiers or entire squads.

Didn't the last demo have two objectives like that (tower and control room, giving a soldier will points)?

Yes. The PC Gamer Weekender had two objectives: tower and control room, which were marked blueish on map.

 

[Shog-goth]

Didn't the last demo have two objectives like that (tower and control room, giving a soldier will points)?

Yes. The PC Gamer Weekender had two objectives: tower and control room, which were marked blueish on map.

I was referring to this part: "taking control of them will allow you to play tactical cards, brought into combat from a deck built in the strategic layer".

 

[PanteraNera]

I was referring to this part: "taking control of them will allow you to play tactical cards, brought into combat from a deck built in the strategic layer".

Uh, I didn't even heard about that before, will ask UV tomorrow if he hasn't answered it before

 

[Shog-goth]

Uh, I didn't even heard about that before

I'd bet on it, I think it's an aspect that has gone unnoticed almost by everyone. Except for me because I'm allergic to any tabletop mechanics in videogames, especially when it comes to the "successor" of my favorite one ever.

 

[Mustawd]

I'm allergic to any tabletop mechanics in videogames

Why is that/ I like stuff like that. It's fun. Like WHFB had magic cards during the magic phase. Shit was fun. Wouldn't mind it in a video game tbh.

 

[Shog-goth]

Why is that/ I like stuff like that. It's fun.

If you like it that's totally okay by me, it's just a question of taste. I personally don't like at all boardgames mechanics in videogames, I prefer a more simulationist approach and for that very reason I hate nuXCOM.

 

[Israfael]

Yeah, it's completely arbitrary, unneeded and it just shoehorns the users to play the game in a certain, developer-approved way instead of thinking on their own and inventing their own strategies. You can just go with +%range, +%accuracy for height advantage that is present in most tactical sims / squad games.

 

[udm]

Cautiously fapping once more after the free aim video. Reminds me of what shysnake is doing with Spy DNA.

 

[PanteraNera]

I have a question, UnstableVoltage. This point is still valid or has been dropped (I hope so)? I haven't read anything new about it for a long time:

The procedural levels will have their own in-built mini objectives in the form of strategic points scattered throughout. These might be elevated structures or vantages, control rooms, or alien installations. Taking control of them will allow you to play tactical cards, brought into combat from a deck built in the strategic layer, that provide buffs to individual soldiers or entire squads.

In answer to these questions, I don't know. There will definitely be random objectives for missions. My current understanding is completing these objectives will give some sort of "in-mission" buff such as a squad-wide heal or massive will point boost

 

[Shog-goth]

So there is a concrete possibility that this "strategic deck / tactical cards" thing has been scrapped. Good.

 

[Mazisky]

UnstableVoltage do you know that a 2nd Xcom 2 expansion is probably announced on E3 and released on fall 2018? i think you have to take this in consideration to avoid overlapping releases. It will hurt sales.

 

[Mustawd]

UnstableVoltage do you know that a 2nd Xcom 2 expansion is probably announced on E3 and released on fall 2018? i think you have to take this in consideration to avoid overlapping releases. It will hurt sales.

http://www.shacknews.com/article/103683/a-new-xcom-2-expansion-may-be-coming-soon

 

[ArchAngel]

Nah, Xcom expansions are usually shitty. I predict this one will be even shittier than WotC one.

 

[Alienman]

I think we will get Terror from the deep this time.

 

[Mazisky]

Nah, Xcom expansions are usually shitty. I predict this one will be even shittier than WotC one.

Doesn't matter, it will still hurt sales of PP.

 

[PanteraNera]

UnstableVoltage do you know that a 2nd Xcom 2 expansion is probably announced on E3 and released on fall 2018? i think you have to take this in consideration to avoid overlapping releases. It will hurt sales.

While the official word still is Q4 2018, I still belief that my assumption holds true that they are unlikely to release the game at that deadline. I think they will release earliest Q1 2019 February / March. If you want to see the references I am drawing this assumption from I will gladly answer in detail.

While I was worried about the delay, I do not anymore as they seem to have the money through pre-orders to pull it of.

 

[Shog-goth]

Nah, Xcom expansions are usually shitty. I predict this one will be even shittier than WotC one.

I agree: expansions are terrible. Main games, on the other hand, too.

 

[Shog-goth]

While I was worried about the delay, I do not anymore as they seem to have the money through pre-orders to pull it of.

And maybe, in case of delay, the floating fortress could be available at release, without waiting for the dlc.

 

[xmd1997]

UnstableVoltage do you know that a 2nd Xcom 2 expansion is probably announced on E3 and released on fall 2018? i think you have to take this in consideration to avoid overlapping releases. It will hurt sales.

While the official word still is Q4 2018, I still belief that my assumption holds true that they are unlikely to release the game at that deadline. I think they will release earliest Q1 2019 February / March. If you want to see the references I am drawing this assumption from I will gladly answer in detail.

While I was worried about the delay, I do not anymore as they seem to have the money through pre-orders to pull it of.

Honestly, what Kickstarter or Fig project hasn't been delayed at least once? Battletech's finally being released despite the fact that its Kickstarter started in 2015.

 

[udm]

Israfael sorry I rated your post retadred, bud. I just woke up and managed to into reading comprehension this morning.

 

[Assisted Living Godzilla]

I hope they will also let us target middle of square from the top down mode. The way they removed cover from the crabman that was in full cover was not needed to be done from cinematic view.
For removing cover or making "doors" we don't want to switch camera all the time.

It takes less than a second for the camera to switch into the free aim view, and the more precise pinpoint aiming isn't something you could do as easily staying in the isometric view. It also takes a second or less to switch into the over-the-shoulder view, and in that view it takes the camera less time to cycle between visible targets than it would in the isometric view since it's a shorter camera pan.

Even the cover removal your talking about in the video might not work in isometric as well. It's cover directly behind cover, you do a isometric free aim into the middle and half or more of your bullets might may end up in the concrete barrier too. The free aim as is lets you make sure the whole bullet cone is right on that box and nowhere else. The Pre-Alpha video on UnstableVoltage's channel has that same bit of cover taking some stray rounds and still standing, so if you're wanting to remove that cover making sure all your bullets are more likely to hit it would probably be a good thing.

 

[ArchAngel]

Nah, Xcom expansions are usually shitty. I predict this one will be even shittier than WotC one.

I agree: expansions are terrible. Main games, on the other hand, too.

While base games share same design problems as their expansions Firaxis at least puts some effort into balancing the base game. On the other hand both their expansions completely unbalanced the game to the side of Xcom that both were made a joke.

 

[rashiakas]

that fucking ui. pips instead of numbers. a swap button instead of directly chosing what to equip. ugh.

 

[Grotesque]

 

[luinthoron]

According to their Facebook comments, the demo has also had some tweaks and additions, so let's see what new they'll show us this time.