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

[CthuluIsSpy]

Well that's disappointing to hear, it's from Gollop too.

 

[ArchAngel]

First part of Phoenix Rising mod, called Better Classes has now reached its 1.0 version. You can download it here: https://github.com/MadSkunky/PhoenixRising/releases/tag/v1.0.0.0
For it to work you need Modnix v3, you can get that here: https://github.com/Sheep-y/Modnix/releases/tag/v3.0.2021.0204

For a list of changes between vanilla and Better Classes you can read here: https://docs.google.com/presentatio...CRQW3GpZA5Up8/edit#slide=id.g104cb6fd693_0_15

I recommend this mod, it makes the game more interesting. At least the tactical parts.

Other improvements are also coming (AI, Geoscape, enemies, base game mechanics and others) but they are not close to 1.0 version.

EDIT:
It is also recommended that this mod is used along with Better Classes: https://www.nexusmods.com/phoenixpoint/mods/40?tab=files
It works well with new Heavy letting him do Return Fire when alllies in range are attacked (most aliens don't attack heavy as he has lots of armor and they give priority to targets that have less armor). Just in Modnix config tab for this mod set "reactionAngle": 360.0.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

So I started player Phoenix Point.
I don't think its that bad, tbh. It's not as pretty or grandiose as the firaxis games, but its a hell lot closer to X-COM than the firaxis games, the AP system feels better so far and I like the overall pacing and mood more than XCOM 2's constant fanfare and ADHD shit.
I do understand why people might have an issue with it, because it is a lot more slower paced and it does try to copy the new XCOM games in some aspects, but it does provide its own twists and ideas at least.

I like the strategy layer more then XCOM 2's, that's for certain. I have yet to be interrupted every few seconds by some NPC or scripted event that takes control away from me to show me some shit on the map I've already seen 100 times before.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

A bit of an update : After several hours I get what people were talking about when it comes to the difficulty.
Whereas you have slow scaling, low resources and weak weapons, the enemy gets strong real fast.
I'm having a lot of trouble dealing with Chirons and Triton hitmen, and gauss rifles don't seem to deal that much damage. Should I go laser instead? They're just more accurate than ares rifles, right?
Shotguns are pretty great though.

When should I start using vehicles? I'm thinking of using the scarab to act as cover against hitmen.

Seriously though, how do I get more resources without raiding? Do I really just have to farm haven assaults? When do I get positive income?

 

[razvedchiki]

i never raid, up to hard that i have played the resources you get from mission completion/scavenging sites/defending heavens/destroying pandoran lairs is enough to finish the game.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

i never raid, up to hard that i have played the resources you get from mission completion/scavenging sites/defending heavens/destroying pandoran lairs is enough to finish the game.

You don't get resources for destroying lairs though, do you? On the rewards page it just said I can an influence increase.
Scavenging sites seem really difficulty because the maps tend to be wide open spaces that hitmen love. Are you supposed to cheese it with infiltrators?

But yeah, Raiding and stealing craft has a nasty hit to relations with factions. I guess it doesn't matter if you're already on someone's shitlist, but if you have positive relations with everyone and they're giving you tech then it seems to be a liability in the long run.

How do I get positive resource generation? Everything is stuck on +0.

Also, is it me or do the devs really love Synedrion? They seem to have the best and most useful stuff.

 

[razvedchiki]

lairs used to give some resources per tier last i played, scavenging missions are most usefull/easy early when you face melee pandorans (yea its rng). though you can do them later as they offer bigger rewards (especially those under the pandoran mist), but they spawn really nasty stuff. vehicles with 2-3 grunts are best to clear scavenging missions early, you park them were the boxes are 1 grunt exits gathers the shit get backs in etc.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

How good are vehicles on lair levels? Will it get stuck?
I wasn't expecting a lair to be such a huge map with a lot of open space, it is so much different to a nest.

 

[razvedchiki]

i havent played with the new vehicle dlc yet but generally vehicles are good until pandas start to field large numbers of mobs with armour piercing weapons. didnt use vehicles much, prefered to use grunts so they can lvl up.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

I don't have the buggy DLC, so that's ok.
I tried the vehicle and salvage trick and it worked wonderfully. Only problem is that the AI will spawn one of those goo Chirons which can really ruin your day.

I didn't get all of the resource packs because it was an Extreme threat rating and half the map was swarming with fireworms and pandorans, but I did get a lot of ammo and a couple of guns.

I actually like the idea of mechanized infantry, especially when you can cheese it with the free enter vehicle move. Might be worth picking up a Thunderbird after all. Only downside is that you can't really use a heavy because of the lack of AP, and you have to spam quick aim with the sniper.

 

[ArchAngel]

I don't have the buggy DLC, so that's ok.
I tried the vehicle and salvage trick and it worked wonderfully. Only problem is that the AI will spawn one of those goo Chirons which can really ruin your day.

I didn't get all of the resource packs because it was an Extreme threat rating and half the map was swarming with fireworms and pandorans, but I did get a lot of ammo and a couple of guns.

I actually like the idea of mechanized infantry, especially when you can cheese it with the free enter vehicle move. Might be worth picking up a Thunderbird after all. Only downside is that you can't really use a heavy because of the lack of AP, and you have to spam quick aim with the sniper.

The trick is to use 1 assault with vehicle as lvl 5 assaults can manage inventory for free

 

[ArchAngel]

i never raid, up to hard that i have played the resources you get from mission completion/scavenging sites/defending heavens/destroying pandoran lairs is enough to finish the game.

You don't get resources for destroying lairs though, do you? On the rewards page it just said I can an influence increase.
Scavenging sites seem really difficulty because the maps tend to be wide open spaces that hitmen love. Are you supposed to cheese it with infiltrators?

But yeah, Raiding and stealing craft has a nasty hit to relations with factions. I guess it doesn't matter if you're already on someone's shitlist, but if you have positive relations with everyone and they're giving you tech then it seems to be a liability in the long run.

How do I get positive resource generation? Everything is stuck on +0.

Also, is it me or do the devs really love Synedrion? They seem to have the best and most useful stuff.

You can only generate food with buildings, that is tech you get from Anu. For the rest you do missions or get resources from exploring. And trading food for other 2 resources.

Snyderion has best starting weapons but other two factions are also good. NJ has best explosives, Technicians and fire grenades, Anu has Priests and Berserkers and Mutogs and two best shotguns in the game.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

I don't have the buggy DLC, so that's ok.
I tried the vehicle and salvage trick and it worked wonderfully. Only problem is that the AI will spawn one of those goo Chirons which can really ruin your day.

I didn't get all of the resource packs because it was an Extreme threat rating and half the map was swarming with fireworms and pandorans, but I did get a lot of ammo and a couple of guns.

I actually like the idea of mechanized infantry, especially when you can cheese it with the free enter vehicle move. Might be worth picking up a Thunderbird after all. Only downside is that you can't really use a heavy because of the lack of AP, and you have to spam quick aim with the sniper.

The trick is to use 1 assault with vehicle as lvl 5 assaults can manage inventory for free

Yeah, but unless you park right in front of the crate you're going to have to run back and forth. Assaults do seem to be the best for mechanized infantry, yes.

 

[ArchAngel]

I don't have the buggy DLC, so that's ok.
I tried the vehicle and salvage trick and it worked wonderfully. Only problem is that the AI will spawn one of those goo Chirons which can really ruin your day.

I didn't get all of the resource packs because it was an Extreme threat rating and half the map was swarming with fireworms and pandorans, but I did get a lot of ammo and a couple of guns.

I actually like the idea of mechanized infantry, especially when you can cheese it with the free enter vehicle move. Might be worth picking up a Thunderbird after all. Only downside is that you can't really use a heavy because of the lack of AP, and you have to spam quick aim with the sniper.

The trick is to use 1 assault with vehicle as lvl 5 assaults can manage inventory for free

Yeah, but unless you park right in front of the crate you're going to have to run back and forth. Assaults do seem to be the best for mechanized infantry, yes.

and because you can open the box for 0 AP and take stuff, Assault effectively has +1 AP than any other class. And if you can bring the assault to exit next to the box he can pick it all and put it into vehicle for 0 AP and then enter for 0 AP and then you can do the same with another box in same turn.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

I don't have the buggy DLC, so that's ok.
I tried the vehicle and salvage trick and it worked wonderfully. Only problem is that the AI will spawn one of those goo Chirons which can really ruin your day.

I didn't get all of the resource packs because it was an Extreme threat rating and half the map was swarming with fireworms and pandorans, but I did get a lot of ammo and a couple of guns.

I actually like the idea of mechanized infantry, especially when you can cheese it with the free enter vehicle move. Might be worth picking up a Thunderbird after all. Only downside is that you can't really use a heavy because of the lack of AP, and you have to spam quick aim with the sniper.

The trick is to use 1 assault with vehicle as lvl 5 assaults can manage inventory for free

Yeah, but unless you park right in front of the crate you're going to have to run back and forth. Assaults do seem to be the best for mechanized infantry, yes.

and because you can opet the box for 0 AP and take stuff, Assault effectively has +1 AP than any other class. And if you can bring the assault to exit next to the box he can pick it all and put it into vehicle for 0 AP and then enter for 0 AP and then you can do the same with another box in same turn.

Yep, its pretty nice.
Vehicle salvage missions are a pain in the arse though late game because you have to make your way back to the start, and sometimes the map forces you to drive through a specific route that can get blocked by pandorans.
Also, sniper pandorans are bullshit. They deal way too much damage through armour.

How am I supposed to kill a Scylla? A lair turned into a citadel and I tried to fight the boss but she had 4k health, way too much armour and was making a mindfragger every turn. Not to mention the amount of damage she can deal herself and the goons with her.
Am I just supposed to spam explosives or something?

 

[razvedchiki]

what tech lvl are you? if you have unlocked the new jericho technician and his turrets you can use them to take the skylla down, the lazer ones can do a lot of dmg. to combat the mindfraggers or/and the mist it craps out i spam spiders from the synedrion tech, you can also use them to cripple body parts of the scylla (best are the legs, she wont be able to jump).

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

what tech lvl are you? if you have unlocked the new jericho technician and his turrets you can use them to take the skylla down, the lazer ones can do a lot of dmg. to combat the mindfraggers or/and the mist it craps out i spam spiders from the synedrion tech, you can also use them to cripple body parts of the scylla (best are the legs, she wont be able to jump).

My standing with NJ is crap right now because barely any NJ havens spawned near me. I am on good terms with Synedrion and Anu though, and I did unlock infiltrators. I just haven't built them yet.
Funnily enough, I did find one technician. I take it that the path to success in this game is to multiclass?

 

[razvedchiki]

both single/multi have their merits and synergies, ie for technicians i usually lvl up a soldier- hoard some xp on him- and when the tech unlocks i multi him to a techinician. same for infiltrators, sniper/infiltrators for stealth sniper and spider spam is very good.

 

[Parabalus]

what tech lvl are you? if you have unlocked the new jericho technician and his turrets you can use them to take the skylla down, the lazer ones can do a lot of dmg. to combat the mindfraggers or/and the mist it craps out i spam spiders from the synedrion tech, you can also use them to cripple body parts of the scylla (best are the legs, she wont be able to jump).

My standing with NJ is crap right now because barely any NJ havens spawned near me. I am on good terms with Synedrion and Anu though, and I did unlock infiltrators. I just haven't unlocked them yet.
Funnily enough, I did find one technician. I take it that the path to success in this game is to multiclass?

Use war cry from the heavy to lock her down. If you have a max level heavy the last burst ability can deal immense damage.

Technician does a ton of damage, but specifically against Scyllas in haven defense missions, I found them hard to use because of how much Scyllas move while destroying terrain, with the turrets being low they easily move out of range/sight.
Very good for citadel pew pew though.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

Is there a way to increase the deployment limit? I'm stuck at 8 for all missions. Being able to send in a small army to fight the Scylla would make things a little easier. Like, I just want to drop in a couple of vehicles and a bunch of soldiers.

 

[ArchAngel]

I don't have the buggy DLC, so that's ok.
I tried the vehicle and salvage trick and it worked wonderfully. Only problem is that the AI will spawn one of those goo Chirons which can really ruin your day.

I didn't get all of the resource packs because it was an Extreme threat rating and half the map was swarming with fireworms and pandorans, but I did get a lot of ammo and a couple of guns.

I actually like the idea of mechanized infantry, especially when you can cheese it with the free enter vehicle move. Might be worth picking up a Thunderbird after all. Only downside is that you can't really use a heavy because of the lack of AP, and you have to spam quick aim with the sniper.

The trick is to use 1 assault with vehicle as lvl 5 assaults can manage inventory for free

Yeah, but unless you park right in front of the crate you're going to have to run back and forth. Assaults do seem to be the best for mechanized infantry, yes.

and because you can opet the box for 0 AP and take stuff, Assault effectively has +1 AP than any other class. And if you can bring the assault to exit next to the box he can pick it all and put it into vehicle for 0 AP and then enter for 0 AP and then you can do the same with another box in same turn.

Yep, its pretty nice.
Vehicle salvage missions are a pain in the arse though late game because you have to make your way back to the start, and sometimes the map forces you to drive through a specific route that can get blocked by pandorans.
Also, sniper pandorans are bullshit. They deal way too much damage through armour.

How am I supposed to kill a Scylla? A lair turned into a citadel and I tried to fight the boss but she had 4k health, way too much armour and was making a mindfragger every turn. Not to mention the amount of damage she can deal herself and the goons with her.
Am I just supposed to spam explosives or something?

Heavy is best Scylla killer from the base 3 classes. You use Boom Blast to lower their armor from far away and then when they get close use the MG gun to do a lot of damage. And if you have lvl 7 sniper, use Mark of Death first so every bullet from that MG does +10 damage.
On the other hand Berserker is best tank vs Scylla (well Mutog is but that is 2 slots), you take 25% less damage from Scylla, you buff their HP by a lot, give them Ignore Pain so if Scylla manages to break something they ignore it and you heal him with medkits so he can tank more. Also you can use his Shred ability in combination with a standard grenade to shred a lot of armor from Scylla.
Another easy way to kill Scylla is to bring one Priest with Redeemer gun and pump her full of viral. After you put 50+ viral into her (that gun does 15 viral per 2 AP) she will spend the rest of combat panicking. You just need to shred armor first because Redeemer does nothing vs armor 30+ body parts

 

[Parabalus]

After you put 50+ viral into her (that gun does 15 viral per 2 AP) she will spend the rest of combat panicking. You just need to shred armor first because Redeemer does nothing vs armor 30+ body parts

Didn't they nerf this?

Now she'll only panic every other turn, meaning she can still fuck you up if her jump is available.

 

[ArchAngel]

After you put 50+ viral into her (that gun does 15 viral per 2 AP) she will spend the rest of combat panicking. You just need to shred armor first because Redeemer does nothing vs armor 30+ body parts

Didn't they nerf this?

Now she'll only panic every other turn, meaning she can still fuck you up if her jump is available.

Nah, AI is still retarded. On her immune from Panic turn she uses Recover because her WP is still very low. Also they waste two turns on panicking and 1 turn "free". it is because viral happens at start of their turn and they panic on that turn, then they spend next turn on automatic Recover. And then on 3rd turn they choose to Recover. And after that the whole cycle starts over again... in Phoenix Rising this was fixed in two ways. Scylla start with 200 WP now and Recover was changed for everyone that it also halves current Viral value. Recover change was also done so players don't spend whole combat fighting 10 viral points they gained from random enemy but it also helps Scylla and other larger enemies.

If you cause enemies to panic on your turn (by killing some) then those panic immediately and on their turn they recover but when they panic on their turn (not just because of viral) they lose two of their turns.

 

[CthuluIsSpy]

Do you actually have to extract after killing the Scylla? Or is it like Nest missions where the mission just ends when you kill the objectives?

 

[ArchAngel]

Do you actually have to extract after killing the Scylla? Or is it like Nest missions where the mission just ends when you kill the objectives?

it is like Lair