Should Over Watch cost more AP?

[contributor]

I'm curious to see other players thoughts. OW is incredibly potent in the game. It allows the soldier to get in far more attacks than anybody else. I'm pretty sure that I've seen them land 6 or more hits on an enemy turn. It is basically moving their action to the enemy turn and allowing them a lot of ap in that turn. (I'm also curious about the actual mechanics of OW. Do soldiers have unlimited shots for all xenos entering the square? Can they pick up a max of 2 attackers? Is there a max number of times they can fire?) Anyways, I was thinking that maybe it made sense to make OW cost more AP (like 4). Effectively it would eliminate their attack on their turn and move everything to the xenos' turn. Everybody loves a nerf right?

[bobc]

I think that OW should stay as it is, at least until we get a better idea of the potential growth paths for the Soldier class.

Also, perhaps AP is not the best way to balance the benefits of OW.  I have not been monitoring heat gain when using weapons during the Xeno turn, but everytime the soldier shoots he should generate heat.  If he rattles off 10 shots that could be 60 or more heat units per turn depending on weapon.  If the soldier is running the full MP, using Burst Fire, setting up OW and then taking out several Xeno they should be red hot after a turn or two.  So maybe managing the heat gain could be enough to offset the AP cost?

[contributor]

That's a really interesting suggestion. Since you can't control your soldier once you position him for OW you would just have to sit and watch him boil himself if a swarm suddenly came through his zone. Tough choices make for good gameplay.

[fallen]

The next release does fix some bugs with OW not properly generating Heat. Now it does. Now you will see Soldiers running hot when laying down that much fire.

[ntsheep]

I've been happy for the most part with the way OW has worked. A few times it hasn't. I had one Xeno get blasted to bits while another ran through it without being shot at. Another problem I've had is that I forgotten to deselect OW when I've wanted to move first. This has caused me to put the box in the wrong spot. So far all other talents whether Melee or Ranged, still allow me to move first then attack even if their selected. We're still in Phase 1 so I think that we should wait to see what changes and improvements the TB's make. OW is very powerful right now I agree, but I think it will become more balanced in the future without needing to change AP cost.

[fallen]

Thanks for the all the feedback.

ntsheep - if multiple aliens are charging, then there is a real chance that the second will get through unshot.

P2 will give you a longer view of this -- seeing the leveling progress, increased monster threats, and other specialists. Heat for OW is now in. Sentry Turrets are now in.

At this time, I can't imaging changing the AP cost, but I can see that other balancing may be needed.

P.s. locking this thread, and if it needs to be further discussed, let's open a new one with "P2"