Typhoon only run: an exercise in unenjoyable (spoilers)

[Deadalready]

So my first run through was a mixed human/typhoon class but I only had two typhoon skills Kinetic Blast and Psychoshock. Most of my skills were invested in hacking/repair/leverage which gave me access to almost every area in the station and ensured I had more neuromods/resources than I knew what to do with. Most enemies were outright killed with a single shotgun blast.

So with my second run, it's the Typhoon only run and granted there are some really cool skills.
*Psychoshock is outright the best power, rendering most enemies into impotent punching bags.
*Kinetic Blast is necessary for doing much needed area damage but also moving annoying physical blockages
*Mimic level 1 lets you turn into cups to access otherwise inaccessible areas you can't hack
*Manipulation lets you scrap the huntress and use computers/buttons through windows, even using bots to heal yourself.
*Regeneration is especially nice for immediately healing you a portion of damage taken, though it NEEDS TO MENTION mention it's a PASSIVE.

Now to mention the PROBLEMS
*You will miss out on access to many locations, some computers/keypads simply don't have access codes.
*The mind control type skills are an exercise in rage. It seems like the AI is incapable of tracking computer controlled enemies and I estimate that about 50% of the time, my dominated allies will engage in staring contests until the skill times out. Issue two is dominated rarely use their abilities and resort to their pitiful melee attacks instead. Finally I take issue with dominated/enemies immediately giving up their fights as soon as the skill times out.
*Your dependence on PSI can be almost crippling. You'll need to make the decision whether neuromods or psi is more important. You lose access to most Science dispensers and miss out on freebies in locked areas. I got around most of these issues with excessive amounts of shotgun shells. Hopefully, you manage to get the chip for regenerating/reduced PSI use...
*Inventory space, coupled with the hugely reduced access to recyclers mean lots of backtracking or simply always being full of equipment.
*I don't see a use in many of the Typhoon skills, Is there a use to mimicing complex equipment? Electro static didn't seem to even affect robotic enemies. Superthermal is much too expensive a psi cost when you compare to kinetic.
*The more skills you have, the more you are forced to use the abhorrent selection wheel. Clumsy, ugly, marred by design decisions which make the icons too indistinct to quickly recognise.
*A lack of access increased PSI reserves or Psychoscope upgrades feels completely wrong. *Instead feeling powerful like a mage throwing waves of artillery, you get to be that kind of mage everyone hates who can throw out a single spell then swinging their spindly arms around for the rest of the fight.
*Though few, there are quests you simply cannot finish with out human skills.

These problems have really marred my enjoyment of the game in my Typhoon run, it becomes obvious early on that the human trees are far superior, in my opinion, both should be equally attractive and equally powerful.

*cue snowflake "typhoon run is my fav" reply

[redfblack]

Damn those Typhoons!

I also mixed human and Typhons skills during my first playthrough and have just started a second playthrough myself.. chose to go for human skills only.

Personally I don't really find the "problems" in your list to be problematic..

I really like the fact that you will miss out on certain locations and content by playing with only Typhon skills.. this is the kind of stuff that actually makes the decision meaningful to me.

Mind control skills worked perfectly for me in my first playthrough so can't relate to your frustrations there..

Other frustrations about "needing to make decisions".. again, I like that personally.. different strokes I guess.

I don't really mind the selection wheel.. what would you personally prefer to this? Genuine question..

Will be interesting to see if I have similar frustrations with my human skill playthrough. I wonder if I'll come to the conclusion that the Typhon skill trees are far superior? Sometimes the grass is always greener..

[Mr. Matt]

Originally posted by Deadalready:

So my first run through was a mixed human/typhoon class but I only had two typhoon skills Kinetic Blast and Psychoshock. Most of my skills were invested in hacking/repair/leverage which gave me access to almost every area in the station and ensured I had more neuromods/resources than I knew what to do with. Most enemies were outright killed with a single shotgun blast.

So with my second run, it's the Typhoon only run and granted there are some really cool skills.
*Psychoshock is outright the best power, rendering most enemies into impotent punching bags.
*Kinetic Blast is necessary for doing much needed area damage but also moving annoying physical blockages
*Mimic level 1 lets you turn into cups to access otherwise inaccessible areas you can't hack
*Manipulation lets you scrap the huntress and use computers/buttons through windows, even using bots to heal yourself.
*Regeneration is especially nice for immediately healing you a portion of damage taken, though it NEEDS TO MENTION mention it's a PASSIVE.

Now to mention the PROBLEMS
*You will miss out on access to many locations, some computers/keypads simply don't have access codes.
*The mind control type skills are an exercise in rage. It seems like the AI is incapable of tracking computer controlled enemies and I estimate that about 50% of the time, my dominated allies will engage in staring contests until the skill times out. Issue two is dominated rarely use their abilities and resort to their pitiful melee attacks instead. Finally I take issue with dominated/enemies immediately giving up their fights as soon as the skill times out.
*Your dependence on PSI can be almost crippling. You'll need to make the decision whether neuromods or psi is more important. You lose access to most Science dispensers and miss out on freebies in locked areas. I got around most of these issues with excessive amounts of shotgun shells. Hopefully, you manage to get the chip for regenerating/reduced PSI use...
*Inventory space, coupled with the hugely reduced access to recyclers mean lots of backtracking or simply always being full of equipment.
*I don't see a use in many of the Typhoon skills, Is there a use to mimicing complex equipment? Electro static didn't seem to even affect robotic enemies. Superthermal is much too expensive a psi cost when you compare to kinetic.
*The more skills you have, the more you are forced to use the abhorrent selection wheel. Clumsy, ugly, marred by design decisions which make the icons too indistinct to quickly recognise.
*A lack of access increased PSI reserves or Psychoscope upgrades feels completely wrong. *Instead feeling powerful like a mage throwing waves of artillery, you get to be that kind of mage everyone hates who can throw out a single spell then swinging their spindly arms around for the rest of the fight.
*Though few, there are quests you simply cannot finish with out human skills.

These problems have really marred my enjoyment of the game in my Typhoon run, it becomes obvious early on that the human trees are far superior, in my opinion, both should be equally attractive and equally powerful.

*cue snowflake "typhoon run is my fav" reply

Haha, I'm doing a no needles run right now. Enjoy having any powers at all, man. XD

I feel you on the inventory space, though. With no needles, I've got that same issue. I'm managing, but I have to come back to a recycler every five minutes. That said, I can make ammo for days since I'm not making neuromods or weapon upgrade kits.

[Deadalready]

@redblacktree
I'm going to point out that you're comparing a very different experience to my own, an apple to an orange. I suggest you try a Typhoon only run and see if your opinion changes because I suspect it might.

There is a huge difference between a mixed play and a Typhoon only run. The issues you hand waved are very different when you're FORCED to rely on them and have to rely on them. The other issue is because I'm forced to use certain skills more often, I simply have had more opportunity to see them fail.
*You simply would not have come close to have used the mind control abilities as much as myself, nor in as many different situations.
*You are probably unlikely to have had your skill wheel balloon to 15+ selections long


Story-wise it also doesn't quite make sense, the Typhoons are supposed powerful and there's supposed to be a temptation to the "dark side".
The reality is when you stay a human you actually end up waaaay stronger by comparison.

[Mr. Matt]

Originally posted by Deadalready:

@redblacktree
I'm going to point out that you're comparing a very different experience to my own, an apple to an orange. I suggest you try a Typhoon only run and see if your opinion changes because I suspect it might.

There is a huge difference between a mixed play and a Typhoon only run. The issues you hand waved are very different when you're FORCED to rely on them and have to rely on them. The other issue is because I'm forced to use certain skills more often, I simply have had more opportunity to see them fail.
*You simply would not have come close to have used the mind control abilities as much as myself, nor in as many different situations.
*You are probably unlikely to have had your skill wheel balloon to 15+ selections long


Story-wise it also doesn't quite make sense, the Typhoons are supposed powerful and there's supposed to be a temptation to the "dark side".
The reality is when you stay a human you actually end up waaaay stronger by comparison.

Btw, if you want all the achievements, I'd recommend doing what I'm doing: play a no needles run, and finish the game, then quickload 1 min before the end, inject one neuromod, and beat the game. Boom, both "runs" done. You probably already have all the power-related achievements by now, anwyay.

My first run was all human skills, and wow was it powerful. Nightmares are a joke on normal if you're using that combat skill that slows time.

[TheBlackS]

Originally posted by Deadalready:

Story-wise it also doesn't quite make sense, the Typhoons are supposed powerful and there's supposed to be a temptation to the "dark side".
The reality is when you stay a human you actually end up waaaay stronger by comparison.

well, they are way more powerful, the problem is that typhoon tree lack any sort of utility skill beside combat focused ones

[Tea Jitsu]

Kinect Blast is stupidly strong. Mimcry helps you jump in to areas early. You have a spammable emp, you can even reduce and absorb elemental damage, you can regen lost health. Typhon runs are fine mate :)

[redfblack]

Originally posted by Deadalready:

@redblacktree
I'm going to point out that you're comparing a very different experience to my own, an apple to an orange. I suggest you try a Typhoon only run and see if your opinion changes because I suspect it might.

There is a huge difference between a mixed play and a Typhoon only run. The issues you hand waved are very different when you're FORCED to rely on them and have to rely on them. The other issue is because I'm forced to use certain skills more often, I simply have had more opportunity to see them fail.
*You simply would not have come close to have used the mind control abilities as much as myself, nor in as many different situations.
*You are probably unlikely to have had your skill wheel balloon to 15+ selections long


Story-wise it also doesn't quite make sense, the Typhoons are supposed powerful and there's supposed to be a temptation to the "dark side".
The reality is when you stay a human you actually end up waaaay stronger by comparison.

That's fair enough. A lot of what you described sounded okay to me and I was going from that but you're right that that all might change when I actually do a Typhon run myself..

I can see that 15 active skills on the wheel might be a bit annoying.. when I try a Typhon run I'll probably try assigning my faves to the number keys and only use the wheel for changing assignments.

I do very much like the idea of missing out on certain locations though.. but that's just a personal preference. It makes the decision to do a Typhon run more "meaningful" for me..