How long is too long to spend on a mission?

[pyremind]

I'm on Dead Hills, at 79% completed (I am just entering the mine) and I'm on my third deployment. Is that going too slow? I have no idea lol...

[Deepeye]

You will have to think more about this after 40% of the game when you get the doom clock (day countdown before end event). Basically until that time only planetary infestation increases which raises diversity and amount of enemies during missions with each level.

When you'll get to doom clock, most likely you'll now if you can manage with 3-4 days for each mission (it depends on difficulty you chose for the timer). It's from 30 to 20 days, if not mistaken depending if it's story or nightmare.

[Paladestar]

Originally posted by Deepeye:

... doom clock... It's from 30 to 20 days, if not mistaken depending if it's story or nightmare.

Spot on. I did my first run on normal, but with the doom clock set to casual and it was 30 days. Doing my second play-through on nightmare and just finished mission 5 yesterday and the doom clock started on 20 days.

[phroZac]

If you don't lose any marines, 100% the mission, and do it in 2 deployments or less, you're doing great. 4 deployments or more is probably too much, especially in the 2nd half of the game.

[Mirvra]

Originally posted by Deepeye:

You will have to think more about this after 40% of the game when you get the doom clock (day countdown before end event). Basically until that time only planetary infestation increases which raises diversity and amount of enemies during missions with each level.

When you'll get to doom clock, most likely you'll now if you can manage with 3-4 days for each mission (it depends on difficulty you chose for the timer). It's from 30 to 20 days, if not mistaken depending if it's story or nightmare.

Side note: The doom clock only governs the AMOUNT of xenos that spawn, not the types (or at least not ''new'' types, it might handle ratios I guess)

Different kinds of xenos are only ''unlocked'' from story progression, you'll know when you've unlocked a new type of xeno since they all have introduction cutscenes.

[Deepeye]

Originally posted by Mirvra:

Originally posted by Deepeye:

You will have to think more about this after 40% of the game when you get the doom clock (day countdown before end event). Basically until that time only planetary infestation increases which raises diversity and amount of enemies during missions with each level.

When you'll get to doom clock, most likely you'll now if you can manage with 3-4 days for each mission (it depends on difficulty you chose for the timer). It's from 30 to 20 days, if not mistaken depending if it's story or nightmare.

Side note: The doom clock only governs the AMOUNT of xenos that spawn, not the types (or at least not ''new'' types, it might handle ratios I guess)

Different kinds of xenos are only ''unlocked'' from story progression, you'll know when you've unlocked a new type of xeno since they all have introduction cutscenes.

Correct, it's meant to be ratio based on unlocked story wise types.

I base that on nexus mod displayed data https://www.nexusmods.com/aliensdarkdescent/mods/16

Not sure why it's level 10 mentioned in regards of infestation though.

[Freziod]

Your ♥♥♥♥♥♥ bossin the ♥♥♥♥ out of that campaign. Git R Done!

[Daяқ|мaѕta]

1-2 deployments per mission for me

[Jhea]

take as many deployments as you need.
the first 3 missions don't have a doom counter, so it doesn't matter.
the fourth mission must be done in a single session.

the later missions (aka mission 6 and after) have the doom clock
by now you should be able to do a mission with 2 deployments, sinc eotherwise you will have a hard time finishing the game.

but it's always up to you on how good you are, and how confident you are in your skills and your squads abilities.

[Daяқ|мaѕta]

Originally posted by Jhea:

and how confident you are in your skills and your squads abilities.

I cannot express enough how amazing this particular detail is, I honestly have 5 that are just top tier and the others I worry when deploying hahahaha

[R.J.Travis]

Originally posted by pyremind:

I'm on Dead Hills, at 79% completed (I am just entering the mine) and I'm on my third deployment. Is that going too slow? I have no idea lol...

I redeploy after every level up.

[Harathan]

Originally posted by R.J.Travis:

Originally posted by pyremind:

I'm on Dead Hills, at 79% completed (I am just entering the mine) and I'm on my third deployment. Is that going too slow? I have no idea lol...

I redeploy after every level up.

This, for me. By the time my marines level up in a mission I've done a couple of objectives and managing stress is starting to become a drain on tools. Some missions that means 1/2 deployments. Some of the later missions that means 4/5 deployments, especially if a careless misclick lands you with a marine or two heavily injured.

[R.J.Travis]

I also 100% almost every map I think I missed 1 data pad out of all the missions.

Its also good to note that your marines 2 most important stats are armor and accuracy.

having 70+ accuracy and 4-5 armor plates is very strong later game when acid damage can be blocked by armor.

An your able to kill targets like aliens so fast they sometimes don't even detect you + humans die so much faster with high accuracy

[Beltane]

Highly depends on outside factors. For Dead Hills its perfectly fine imho to go with 3 deployments. I usually go as far as the first level up, second one is for roundup on the surface, third is for mines only. But even if it you need a fourth one, don't mind at that stage.

Don't mind the aggression level, imho its more of the rustle your jimmies kind of counter. On two playthroughs, second almost finished, i averaged somewhere on Level 4 - using the tech to decrease only once.

Just always try to be as stealthy as possible, keeping in mind at some point ♥♥♥♥ will always hit the fan. Later missions can sometimes be done in one go, the usual will be 1 - 2 deployments. And just saying - unbreakable will is one of the best perks for each of your marines, since they won't know the term tired. That helps alot with speeding up the process in general and always going in with your best assets at hand. Which means they can stay much longer on the field until you should consider a reatreat.

[pyremind]

Originally posted by R.J.Travis:

I also 100% almost every map I think I missed 1 data pad out of all the missions.

Its also good to note that your marines 2 most important stats are armor and accuracy.

having 70+ accuracy and 4-5 armor plates is very strong later game when acid damage can be blocked by armor.

An your able to kill targets like aliens so fast they sometimes don't even detect you + humans die so much faster with high accuracy

Does getting datapads matter for anything beyond completion stat?

[Barbarian]

There is no right or wrong here. I couldnt care less because I bought the game and I play as it pleases me. I have disabled the clock and take my time. I like to spend time watching the map and observe enemy movements. I rather play safe than take risks. But the game forces you to adapt and there have been some missions where continuous movement is mandatory. Maybe I will play with clock enabled in a new playthrough. But right now I am taking my time.