Long War 2 is really quite excellent and does the Guerilla theme much better than vanilla. I think the stroke of genius behind it is that it does so both on the tactical layer, where the bulk of early game missions are hit and run evac missions that can also conceivably be completed from stealth, and the strategic layer where the ADVENT vigilance and force mechanics encourage hopping between regions, dodging areas where missions are hard. I also really appreciated the emphasis in both Long Wars in having deep rosters capable of withstanding shock instead of vanilla XCOM's roll the game with one group that has some substitutes if someone eats damage. And again, the devs could easily have just recycled the fatigue mechanic from the first LW but infiltration is really just such a good change. It's both refreshing to front-load the unavailability of troops and also something that just makes thematic sense.
Honestly I think vanilla Long War 2 is a more cohesive experience than LWOTC but changes in optimisation, graphics and assorted mechanics such as bonds mean I still play LWOTC instead. IDK, I really disliked the Chosen.
LW2 was great and I feel like LWOTC is also worth it because of the additions that WOTC added to the base game. Basically its all good and I enjoyed them all.
I like playing vanilla The Chosen but then I found myself getting to the late game too quickly so I install LWOTC to slow it back down
Even in the Clans, there were failsons, starting with Nicholas Kerensky. In a way, the entire caste system is systematic nepo baby bullshit. :agony-minion:
I've already watched a lot of TTB but I don't agree with some of his conclusions. Unfortunately he also seems to have been influential in crafting some parts of the narrative about Nicholas Kerensky since I think his depictions ended up influencing the author of the Founding of The Clans trilogy.
See but the whole thing about Nicholas Kerensky is a late development. Originally when the whole Clans were conceptualized in the 90s it was not nearly fleshed out.
It's only in the past couple of years that Battletech has become more "gritty" and there has been more emphasis on "everyone is bad, there are no good guys" which is a significant departure from the Clans, as depicted in the Blood of Kerensky trilogy, where Stackpole couldn't help himself (and frankly the Battletech line developers encouraged) but depict Clan Wolf as the "good guys" ( or an approximation of).
Smoke Jaguars obviously were bad as well as pretty much all the Crusader clans. The wardens were written to be the "good guy" clans that you could like without feeling bad about it
I admit that Clan Wolf (and Wolf's Dragoons for that matter) were unapologetically as good and heroic as the setting allowed anyone to be and I do remember that.
Now, Hell's Horses were the real comrades, though their leadership sucked and made terrible decisions. :stalin-stressed:
Let's just all admit that Clan Fire Mandrill is the true faction that all leftist battletech players must play as, for their spectacular factionalism and inscrutable disagreements with one another
My main disappointment with XCOM 2 was you win, only to then become cops in XCOM chimera squad. :agony-shivering:
:astronaut-2: Wait, you're telling me we were cops the whole time?
LWOTC mod for XCOM 2 lets me roleplay as a maoist rebellion
Long War 2 is really quite excellent and does the Guerilla theme much better than vanilla. I think the stroke of genius behind it is that it does so both on the tactical layer, where the bulk of early game missions are hit and run evac missions that can also conceivably be completed from stealth, and the strategic layer where the ADVENT vigilance and force mechanics encourage hopping between regions, dodging areas where missions are hard. I also really appreciated the emphasis in both Long Wars in having deep rosters capable of withstanding shock instead of vanilla XCOM's roll the game with one group that has some substitutes if someone eats damage. And again, the devs could easily have just recycled the fatigue mechanic from the first LW but infiltration is really just such a good change. It's both refreshing to front-load the unavailability of troops and also something that just makes thematic sense.
Honestly I think vanilla Long War 2 is a more cohesive experience than LWOTC but changes in optimisation, graphics and assorted mechanics such as bonds mean I still play LWOTC instead. IDK, I really disliked the Chosen.
LW2 was great and I feel like LWOTC is also worth it because of the additions that WOTC added to the base game. Basically its all good and I enjoyed them all.
I like playing vanilla The Chosen but then I found myself getting to the late game too quickly so I install LWOTC to slow it back down
I'm tempted to boot that up. Haven't played X-Com in a while and it hits that sweet spot between RPG and RTS.
I have been playing BATTLETECH to scratch that itch but I may blow the dust off XCOM now
We need to have a struggle session about the Clans.
Even in the Clans, there were failsons, starting with Nicholas Kerensky. In a way, the entire caste system is systematic nepo baby bullshit. :agony-minion:
We're going to need to do a whole post to discuss this.
All those sourcebooks will not go to waste
Have I got a surprise for you. :maduro-gift:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDR_Zpb05uk
I've already watched a lot of TTB but I don't agree with some of his conclusions. Unfortunately he also seems to have been influential in crafting some parts of the narrative about Nicholas Kerensky since I think his depictions ended up influencing the author of the Founding of The Clans trilogy.
He's blatantly anti-Clan for sure, but my own readings into Nicholas Kerensky line up with him there, at least.
See but the whole thing about Nicholas Kerensky is a late development. Originally when the whole Clans were conceptualized in the 90s it was not nearly fleshed out.
It's only in the past couple of years that Battletech has become more "gritty" and there has been more emphasis on "everyone is bad, there are no good guys" which is a significant departure from the Clans, as depicted in the Blood of Kerensky trilogy, where Stackpole couldn't help himself (and frankly the Battletech line developers encouraged) but depict Clan Wolf as the "good guys" ( or an approximation of).
Smoke Jaguars obviously were bad as well as pretty much all the Crusader clans. The wardens were written to be the "good guy" clans that you could like without feeling bad about it
I admit that Clan Wolf (and Wolf's Dragoons for that matter) were unapologetically as good and heroic as the setting allowed anyone to be and I do remember that.
Now, Hell's Horses were the real comrades, though their leadership sucked and made terrible decisions. :stalin-stressed:
Let's just all admit that Clan Fire Mandrill is the true faction that all leftist battletech players must play as, for their spectacular factionalism and inscrutable disagreements with one another
Also Tex is anti clan because he is Fash, or Fash adjacent. The clans have too much socialism/collectivism in them for his taste
His "pay your bills, Fucko!" and "hippity hoppity get off my property" jokes were probably a warning. :yea:
Yeah because it was BASED CHAD national-sovereignists xcom fighting against multicultural neon-purple nanny state duh