Apologies if this is a repost, I'm trying to avoid too many spoilers on my first playthrough.

I'm just starting out on a Chimera Squad playthrough, and seem to have some opening resources ($150 for example). I've had one mission where my lack of a second breaching charge meant subsequent breaches had to be through sub-optimal routes.

The obvious temptation is to now spend my opening resources on beefing up my equipment. Is that sensible, or will I be gimping myself down the line if I blow it all now?

Hey everyone! Hope it’s okay to post this here!

I’m working on Darkline, a turn-based tactics game for Android, and I’m looking for players interested in joining the beta.

If you’re a fan of the original UFO Defense or X-COM: Terror from the Deep and wish you could get that mix of tactical combat and base management on your phone, this might be your kind of game.

No ads. No in-app purchases. Just a full single-player campaign.

You can find more info and a look at the current game here:
darkline.abgepixelt.de

You take command of a base on a distant moon: expand your facilities, research alien technology, equip your soldiers, and intercept UFOs. On the ground, you’ll lead your squad through turn-based battles, explore alien ships, and rescue civilians. Your gear, positioning, and decisions in the field all make a difference.

How to join:

1. Email me at [contact@abgepixelt.de](mailto:contact@abgepixelt.de) with the subject “Darkline Betatest”.
2. Include the email address of the Google account you use for the Play Store on your Android device.
3. I’ll add you to the tester list and send you the signup link. (I'll launch the beta in early November )
4. Follow the link to join the test and install Darkline directly from Google Play. You’ll get updates through the store too.

The beta is completely free, and every tester who actively provides feedback will get lifetime premium access to the full release. I’m aiming for a launch in the next three months.

There are 20 spots available.

I’m especially interested in feedback on touch controls, how easy the game is to understand, game balance, and performance across different devices. Feature requests are welcome too, as long as they’re something that could work in a mobile game.

I'm a solo developer and I’ve reached the point where I’m a bit too close to the project to spot everything myself, so I could really use some fresh eyes.

You don’t need any testing experience—just an interest in classic tactics games and a willingness to share honest feedback. Feedback in either German or English is welcome.

Looking forward to hearing from you and getting Darkline ready for release together!

What advice do you give to keep from dying to the Avatar Project?

When do you start attacking facilities? When do you make the "minor and major breakthroughs" a priority for your gorilla ops?

I feel l loose too many good runs to the damn thing.

I've actually never experienced a squad wipe before, and I never want to again. I now got a difficult Terror mission with 2 assault squaddies and rookies. Can't buy any gear because I don't have many engineers. Send me prayers.

This operation almost ended in disaster I lost two soldiers one of them being my IRL cousin who's survived every campaign up until now.

Okay so if you've seen my absolute neurodivergent infodump about What If Firaxis stopped hoarding the XCOM IP and finally gave us TFTD then you'll remember I mentioned how I remixed some of the TFDT Aliens. Well what is an ADHD addled mind to do with a hyperfixation but to bust out the coloring pencils and somehow manage to draw with a finger brace due to a hand fracture (don't ask).

Aquatoid: You know them, you probably love them and you'll definitely shoot them in the face it's the Aquatoid! I actually wanted to give them the appearance of being more professional than the Elder's menagerie, specifically that the Aquatoids were the ones in charge because they have actual uniforms compared to the others.

Gilman: The Earthborn Traitors from the Ocean, they are a crafty bunch as they have been repurposing the trash humans have been throwing into the ocean for years, and to take the pain on land they carry water tanks on their back that they can take a sip from when the time calls for it.

Crustacean: A genetically modified lobster who now packs the punch of a Muton, they have the size to match and I specifically imagine an animation similar to the MEC Trooper vs Mectoid. Their pants are resized sweatpants and they are usually chained by the neck when not in combat.

Tasoth: The Invader's specialized soldier for defending their underwater assets, their uniforms are usually too small for them so they have to wear them in an ample V-neck. They are usually fed the scraps and remains of whatever human experiment the Aquatoids have deemed a failure.

Bio-Drone: An alien brain of dubious origin that serves as an air assault terror unit that is often seen during Beachside Defense missions. Being a Bio-Drone is actually a type of punishment for failure, often a threat to keep other Invaders in line.

Diver Man: I should explain that during Deep Offense missions you will sometimes have to save civilian divers who are either at the wrong place and wrong time or were treasure hunters who thought an Invader Facility was actually an ancient ruin. The Invaders noticed this and began to experiment on humans until they gave birth to a living sludge with a brain and stuffed it in a diving suit so as to give it shape. Because of their semiliquid nature, Diver Men can pack a heavy hit capable of cracking bones (this means that they can crit your Aquanauts in melee).

Oceanborn: The "Failed" experiments of the Invaders who were still useful enough to not be fed to the Tasoth. Cannon fodder by nature they actually still have a human respiratory system so that small tank is filled with vital oxygen, their intelligence has been artificially reduced so they never question the fact their oxygen tanks are of inappropriate size and in suboptimal positions.

Cryofloat: Genetically modified jellyfish armed with special sacks that have can generate a chemical similar to that of the Ice Bombs and they have a special ability called "Ice Spear" which is like a Sharpshooter's sniper shot but with an added FREEZE effect.

Tentaculat: I'll admit that I definitely took some inspiration in the Elder Brains from D&D and The Brain of Cthulhu but if we are gonna make flying Chryssalids we better make them freaking terrifying. Also they have some level of Psionics which is why they can fly in Beachside Defense missions, "But isn't that kinda unfair?" Yeah, suffer.

Xarquid: I'll admit that I was running out of ideas for this one but I decided to lean into that as these things have a cybernetic implant that gives them gravity defying abilities which allowed the Invaders to stuff it to the gills (which I'm pretty sure the animal that was modified into the Xarquid doesn't have, irony) with enough weapons to turn cover into dust.

Scylla: The Invaders elite hybrid unit. You all have no idea how much furry art, actual shark photos and Hungry Shark World promotional art I had to look at to finally figure out the head structure of the Scylla. Fun Furry Artist Fact: Apparently something Furry artists have to take into account when drawing anthro characters is that the neck has to be thickened to be proportionate to the size of the animal head, and this even applies to XCOM's own Vipers (seriously look at a Viper's neck in proportion to its body).

I'm gonna be starting a new run on veteran where I stream XCOM 2 WOTC with commentary and wanted some pointers to avoid getting my guys killed.

First time playing Long War, Dynamic War and in August I started to run out of alloys. I am blocked on research and building gear and am waiting for UFOs to appear that I can shoot down for the alloys. I want gauss weapons and carapace armor for an entire squad, but haven’t been able to afford it. Is this normal or was there something I could have done to avoid this situation?

For context:

I regret not doing Alien Metallurgy in the Foundry earlier (+20% Alloys recovered). Also, I probably sold ~100 alloys in the early months when I had 300+ and nothing to spend it on, but that’s only 3 gauss weapons, so it’s not ideal, but I probably need 600+ alloys for all the stuff I want.

I have ~8 Interceptors with Laser Cannons and 11 satellites on 3 continents, but aren’t upgraded enough to down large UFOs. I only remember encountering 2 landed large UFOs at this point, so perhaps I’ve been unlucky.

I’ve been experimenting with MECs, so I have 5 MEC soldiers, 1 MEC suit, and 1 alloy SHIV.

Since this is my first run, I was hoping to build a bit of everything to try it all, but may have to abandon this plan now that resources are limited.

I’m doing my first Alien Base Assault at the end of September with mostly Lasers, because I need the resources and lack the alloys to build gauss.

I haven’t been tracking my alloys expenditures. After I ran low, I noticed my Alloy SHIV cost 80 alloys. That’s a lot, but I think it was worth it.

EDIT: only 8 laser cannons, not 15.

I downed a UFO,landed,and then it just booted me to the end screen

I got Alien Alloy from this

Is this a thing that just happen sometimes?

Howdy! Noob to Long war. Got that up and running with the mod manager, but tried to add the LOS mod from nexus https://www.nexusmods.com/xcom/mods/666?tab=description And it doesn't seem to work via the mod manager, OR the guiloader. Not sure what im doing wrong but it's the only mod i really think i want to run on my first LW attempt. Any ideas why it wont work?

Fresh install, windows 10, steam.

I bought, played and really enjoyed the android post of Xcom 2 and wanted to spice up a new playthrough and was wondering of there are anyway to get Long War of the Chosen to work on the android port of the game?

Any thoughts on this DLC? I just started it yesterday and I'm really enjoying it, can't believe I slept on this. I like the replay value of improving your scores.

So I've been a fan of the games for a while, and I think 2 still holds up easily. A part of that has been this custom class idea floating around in my head for a while. The Witch!

The idea behind the Witch is serving as an alternative to the Psi Operative more focused around Area Denial than straight control. They'd have abilities like a psionic fireball or frostbolt that does damage, and with another ability can explode in an AOE and inflict burn/freeze respectively with cool downs, a black hole AOE that damages and pulls enemies out of cover, a heal, and teleportation, both for yourself, and your allies, and unlike with the Templar, you don't need to swap places with said ally that you're rewarping.

First off, does this sound too OP, and second, if it doesn't, how would I go about making it a thing with accompanying animations? (Instead of a Psi Amp they'd obviously have a staff BTW)

¿Podrías recomendarme algún mod cosmético, como conjuntos de armadura, que no desentone con el juego? He probado mods basados ​​en *Halo*, *Gears of War* y *Titanfall*, pero no encajaban bien con *Long War of the Chosen*. No sé si me explico bien, pero no me daban la sensación de estar liderando un grupo de resistencia. Lo que deseo es que mi grupo no se vea de SCI-FI.

It's always "oh shit, it's a sectopod", never "oh shit, how is the sectopod"