Sparks not worth it?

[Terrarius]

If i recall correctly sparks are indredible op earlygame...but fall off lategame
They cost quite alot if you disablet he story mission for them...so i ask you if they are still worth it?

[Zer0]

Originally posted by DisasterZone:

Originally posted by Th3Zer0:

Low cover is plan B lol

But I have used SPARKS in many diffrent campaigns to warmachine builds to future machine builds. I just dont find them useful when I could get the same output from any one of my soldiers and have them in full cover. Having a future machine that is all about absorbing damage is useless to me when I dont want my guys to take damage. Cause that is literally the core way to beat Xcom. Dont let soldiers die or get injured.

Bringing a future machine build is preparing to take damage when you shouldnt be doing that. You should go into each machine with a mindset of having a flawless mission.

Well, maybe this is also artly because I am an "Ambush Specialist". I usually try to maximize the potential lethality of the first ambush, and annihalate as many enemies as possible using such methods, A SPARK is great for the opening strike with it's heavy Weapon, and then the other soldiers finish off the rest. Especially a sharpshooter using Killzone. Ahh, so much death.

But yeah, that is just one of the uses for a SPARK. There is also the fact that he is another unit that can shred armor, and posses a few abilities to help enhance direct combat. Also, sometimes I use overdrize to help create openings or maximize the destruction of enemy cover, so that helps too. Its all a mtter of how you use them.

I play an adaptive all purpose comabt unit squad. A SPARK really doesnt fit in as either the SPARK is a bullet sponge or just another grenadier. I can see why some people use them but to me they are not useful.

[DedJim]

Mechs look cool. Nuff said

[drake_hound]

Originally posted by DedJim:

Mechs look cool. Nuff said

That I do agree on. now make cool good too, we are counting on that in Wotc.

[talemore]

Originally posted by DedJim:

Mechs look cool. Nuff said

Did you meant Mech(mechanized infantry) or mech(Science fiction) because it's entirely different things. Mech are soldiers with a supporting veichle or equipment. Mech is for example exosuits. Spark on other hand is technically not a mech while a tank with supporting crewmembers is a mech or a fighter aircraft driven by a pilot.

Spark is not a mech.

[DedJim]

Mechs are a cartoon / japanese invention.. it's based on appearance.. they are Mechs

[HeyRomo]

Same SPARK-1 seen earlier in this run and thread (doing exactly what i said i was doing). 1st mission with SPARK-1. The image published earlier in this thread is a screenshot of my team after i finished Predator: With Tier1 ballistic weapons. After i built a SPARK i built EXO/Spider suits, ammo, the usual. I upgraded my Gremlin, upgraded my sword and upgraded my grenade launcher before i even researched magnetic weapons. I'm not afraid to go with Tier1 ballistics for awhile.

Note another Flawless mission with nobody under fire. SPARK-1 being useful again here.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1109718172

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1109720192

[HeyRomo]

The first mission played since i was accused of not only "Git Gud" but a liar as well. 2nd Mission for SPARK-2. Another Flawless. The first 4 pods were dead by the end of turn6. With no enemies in sight all i did round 7 was casually hack the objective without moving my specialist, reload and go into overwatch trap. Turn8 i wrap up pod5. I don't use mimic beacons either. Sold those corpses.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1109903283

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1109902753

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1109901644

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1109904032

[Roomba King]

So, yeah. Depends on how you use them.


That said, I'm really curious. Are any of those SPARKS programmed with Julian? No it's unrelated, but since you have a few I got curious.

[HeyRomo]

I think the different voices for SPARK are pretty cool. I like the kill shot celebration animation.
I've played so much of this game that my brain can't handle the sound anymore so i've got everything turned off except for ambient sound at half-volume. Bradford still tries to talk. I see him yapping away in the top right corner.

I play on a Mac laptop. I can barely run Vanilla and am too ignorant of how to install mods for Mac to have enough time to figure that out considering work is so busy that i've worked 50% of my weekends for the past 26months. So for various excuses i have not modded this game to a state i like and remain in vanilla.

So i do things like a vanilla SPARK rush. It's viable (meaning possible to win) and probably the funnest way to use SPARKs because if you get them quickly they can have a respectable impact and utility. You start liking your SPARK more after it helps you win a couple missions.

This game is basically over because my SPARK-1 just died. It was my own fault. Forgot about the pod i knew was there from a Phantom-Conceal-Shadowstrike-Spider Suit-BattleScanner Max Scouting Build Ranger. Got too focused on doing the best overdrive combo attack that i could and revealed that 2nd dangerous pod with Strike. Got hit with an Acid bomb (i try to NEVER let that happen) which shredded armor and then was hit with max damage rolls. SPARK-1 died from acid burn. Sigh. He went out tanking damage and felt no pain doing it. Good soldier. Did his job to the best of his abilities until killed in combat.

The run is over because i wanted to get Nova ASAP so it would have the most impact but i won't be able to level up SPARK-2 fast enough. The rest of the squad is just gonna get stronger and stronger while i finish leveling up SPARK-2.

Vanilla SPARK has problems. Bulwark-Strike bug (unacceptable bug IMO), Rocket pathing is too low to the ground, Wrecking Ball should be independent of Overdrive and Vanilla SPARK should really be able to equip at least a PCS or a weapon mod or, for more power, both.

[yodabauer]

I run on a Mac too and can also barely run the game. I only run mod because I needed it to fix a glitch. But it isn't hard to figure out. You go to the workshop. Pick out a mod. Hit subscribe. Launch the game, and click on the mods tab from the menu before the main menu. Mods get complicated when you multiple.

[HeyRomo]

Originally posted by yodabauer:

I run on a Mac too and can also barely run the game. I only run mod because I needed it to fix a glitch. But it isn't hard to figure out. You go to the workshop. Pick out a mod. Hit subscribe. Launch the game, and click on the mods tab from the menu before the main menu. Mods get complicated when you multiple.

That sounds easy enough. I thought i had to install and run a windows mimic program first. No time for that. Thanks.

[HeyRomo]

For PCS both Speed or Perception would be really good with Conditioning having value as well. Auto-loader would be great, Scope or a Superior stock + 3 shots sounds powerful to me. Etc. I have not paid attention to the expansion details so i have no idea what changes are planned for SPARKs. Proving Ground projects to invest in that result in SPARK upgrades would be something i'd like.

I'd like to be able to use a SPARK as a medic. Carry a heal in a utility slot. Maybe a PG project that upgrades uses to 2. Healing deployed with the BIT. Stuff like that.

[Cactuskiller]

They are way to strong to be ignored, regardless when u get them
My First Colonel rank last playthourgh was a spark simply because he made about 6 - 10 kills per mission and assisted the rest via rocket launcher cover recovery. the rest he kills with either spark melee (super op with 8 dmg at the begining, later even more and fixed 90% or more hitchance) and one-crits on a regular basis. Everyone who cries about their aim needs to learn more about their positioning: FRONT and FLANKING!!! everywhere else their aim sucks hard, yes, but most flanks will get you one crits against most regulars and many stronger enemies. Immunity to psi,status effects exept acid and shredder are more pros for them, even at squaddi level. Unitl they rank up, babysit them with aid protocol and smokes, after that they can carry squaddy squads through very dificultt´s.

The high cost is only suck if ou let them die, so dont let them die, get hit (exept if you plan on a Tank build) and always upgrade armor first for them, NOT WEAPONS, since they still can one crit T2 regulars and srly dmg higher T2´s with T1 weapon

Edit: Use their ability to get to highground from EVERYWHERE, not just ladders to increase poor Squire aim, ideal shots are made from rooftops at flnked targets with overdrive active

[HeyRomo]

Thank you

[Chances]

Also considering in WOTC that the Chosen can kidnap and interogate soldiers, sending a SPARK means the Chosen have one less person to kidnap while in the field. A full team of SPARKS with one Operator? That could get nasty for the Chosen when you think about it.