Post by capthawk on Aug 3, 2016 9:51:30 GMT -5
First, I listened to Cory Trese. Always listen to TB. Second, I somehow misread the death rules on Nightmare, lol. A true "duh" moment.
All to say, I tried to jump from massive success at Brutal right into Ironman. There are many posts detailing those mishaps.
Anyone who reads my Battle Force posts knows I loathe losing knights, especially A-team knights. Nightmare is the last chance to abort to save lives, although now I realize it better be before you hit end turn if a Knight's in peril lol.
After Ironman kicked my booty, I took a break from Templar to play ST and such, then jumped back to Brutal to work out kinks in my strategy. I suspected I was too spoiled from my Brutal super squad, meaning my early game squad management needed work.
A couple runs confirmed this, I was getting merked hard by Extermination Protocol.
So I went back, played a run like it was my first time ever playing, smashed Extermination, and got to Stargates before I decided I was ready for Nightmare.
My first squad did great, made Stargates then I stupidly did not adjust overwatch, hit end turn and a Goli munched my critical hits soldier.
Yes, honor the fallen Templars and all that, blah blah lol. Of course I instead quit that run to go for no deaths run.
Tried switching it up for a blade heavy early squad, fail.
Back to basics, and the current squad is doing great. We are about to deploy into the hive mind!
I have aborted three or four times to save knights, and my Captain died two or three times.
AND ... we lost a knight, my second engineer, at the level prior to the hive. As he was basic level, and I'm so close, I recruited and moved on.
Yes, yes, all hail old what's his name, veteran of a few battles but mostly sitting on his ass.
What worked:
I think it was johndramey, posted about how he follows the in game idea of Templars: hit hard, move fast, and get out.
So I went healthy on willpower and went after top flight weapons. All points at first went to willpower: melee and Hydra got 7, everyone else 9, although I've since added a point respectively.I assigned points to defense skills next, and relied on weapons and war gear to hit hard. As I can, I've used hit point gear instead of spending points on fortitude. Then I began working on offense attributes.
I might post this as it's own topic, but the easiest path for adding Templar classes (at least at higher difficulties) seems to be following the in game story. As in, I unlocked Hydra and Paladin one mission before default assignment, Neptune as Soldier started needing heavy war gear, and waited on Berserk until Narvs, which breaks my heart because I love Berserkers.
I find if I unlock classes earlier I don't have the req points for the weapons I need to get past Extermination Protocol.
Captain went full melee, because all his best weapons are swords.
Soldiers got to MK 8+9 by Extermination. One was a strong gunner, one a critical with higher overwatch.
Scouts got up to Stealth Op and lvl 5 needle by Extermination, Mensin now for Narvs.
Scoped on my engineer. Lots of turret points.
Crippling fire on Scout until Narvs, now I have one head shot, one crippling.
Basically other than engineer and Paladin, my points went to primary and secondary attacks. I love buffs, but at Nightmare and the way we run, heat issues prevent me from using them too many times.
Tactics have been avoiding dumb mistakes, get all secondary objectives, get bonuses for turn if possible. Survival first though, if it's turn goal vs. probably need to fall back, I just fall back.
All in all, I'm enjoying Nightmare immensely. I'll let everyone know how the test of the hive mind plays out!
All to say, I tried to jump from massive success at Brutal right into Ironman. There are many posts detailing those mishaps.
Anyone who reads my Battle Force posts knows I loathe losing knights, especially A-team knights. Nightmare is the last chance to abort to save lives, although now I realize it better be before you hit end turn if a Knight's in peril lol.
After Ironman kicked my booty, I took a break from Templar to play ST and such, then jumped back to Brutal to work out kinks in my strategy. I suspected I was too spoiled from my Brutal super squad, meaning my early game squad management needed work.
A couple runs confirmed this, I was getting merked hard by Extermination Protocol.
So I went back, played a run like it was my first time ever playing, smashed Extermination, and got to Stargates before I decided I was ready for Nightmare.
My first squad did great, made Stargates then I stupidly did not adjust overwatch, hit end turn and a Goli munched my critical hits soldier.
Yes, honor the fallen Templars and all that, blah blah lol. Of course I instead quit that run to go for no deaths run.
Tried switching it up for a blade heavy early squad, fail.
Back to basics, and the current squad is doing great. We are about to deploy into the hive mind!
I have aborted three or four times to save knights, and my Captain died two or three times.
AND ... we lost a knight, my second engineer, at the level prior to the hive. As he was basic level, and I'm so close, I recruited and moved on.
Yes, yes, all hail old what's his name, veteran of a few battles but mostly sitting on his ass.
What worked:
I think it was johndramey, posted about how he follows the in game idea of Templars: hit hard, move fast, and get out.
So I went healthy on willpower and went after top flight weapons. All points at first went to willpower: melee and Hydra got 7, everyone else 9, although I've since added a point respectively.I assigned points to defense skills next, and relied on weapons and war gear to hit hard. As I can, I've used hit point gear instead of spending points on fortitude. Then I began working on offense attributes.
I might post this as it's own topic, but the easiest path for adding Templar classes (at least at higher difficulties) seems to be following the in game story. As in, I unlocked Hydra and Paladin one mission before default assignment, Neptune as Soldier started needing heavy war gear, and waited on Berserk until Narvs, which breaks my heart because I love Berserkers.
I find if I unlock classes earlier I don't have the req points for the weapons I need to get past Extermination Protocol.
Captain went full melee, because all his best weapons are swords.
Soldiers got to MK 8+9 by Extermination. One was a strong gunner, one a critical with higher overwatch.
Scouts got up to Stealth Op and lvl 5 needle by Extermination, Mensin now for Narvs.
Scoped on my engineer. Lots of turret points.
Crippling fire on Scout until Narvs, now I have one head shot, one crippling.
Basically other than engineer and Paladin, my points went to primary and secondary attacks. I love buffs, but at Nightmare and the way we run, heat issues prevent me from using them too many times.
Tactics have been avoiding dumb mistakes, get all secondary objectives, get bonuses for turn if possible. Survival first though, if it's turn goal vs. probably need to fall back, I just fall back.
All in all, I'm enjoying Nightmare immensely. I'll let everyone know how the test of the hive mind plays out!