Is this more like Xcom or Civ?

[bonebrah]

It seems to be both but the trailers switch back and forth very quickly it's hard to tell. Does the game play out like Civ but when you engage in combat it zooms into to an xcom style combat scene?

[Midas]

Both? It's a 4x grand strategy like Civ and has a large strategic map of the overall world you're fighting for. But when you meet another army, it resolves the battle in a much closer-in tactical map. It's a bit like xcom, except with small armies instead of squads. Up to 42 units can be involved, plus summoned units brought in after the fight starts.

[sandman25dcsss]

If you are looking for civ, you will be disappointed, city management is not that advanced.
Tactical combat is superior to xcom. More decision making and variety in units and abilities, less RNG.

[CaptainChaos]

yes :)

all kidding aside it is literally Civ meets XCom.

[easytarget]

Planetfall does not give me much in the way of xcom vibe. So I find it amusing it comes up so often. Sure, it's got overwatch for some units, so what. That doesn't make this xcom, not even close.

And laughing at sandman making the bold claim of superior combat, as if just giving you more choices made something better. The cafeteria style approach to game design, more choices so belly up to the bar boys.

Tell me, why is it necessary that something be comparable to something else? How about play the AOW series as its own thing, wouldn't that be a novel idea.

[sandman25dcsss]

Originally posted by easytarget:

And laughing at sandman making the bold claim of superior combat, as if just giving you more choices made something better.

Did you notice just a single advantage in my post? I listed 4 actually. Yes, go is better than tic-tac-toe because number of options does matter.

[bonebrah]

Originally posted by easytarget:

Planetfall does not give me much in the way of xcom vibe. So I find it amusing it comes up so often. Sure, it's got overwatch for some units, so what. That doesn't make this xcom, not even close.

And laughing at sandman making the bold claim of superior combat, as if just giving you more choices made something better. The cafeteria style approach to game design, more choices so belly up to the bar boys.

Tell me, why is it necessary that something be comparable to something else? How about play the AOW series as its own thing, wouldn't that be a novel idea.

Not sure what this rant is all about. Xcom is a modern example of a tactical RPG and there's certainly some xcom vibes in the trailers. I suspect it comes up so often for a reason. Is it so wrong to try to get a feel for the gameplay? I think civ is OK, I *really* like xcom. If it leans one way and not the other, I probably won't buy it. Seems pretty logical.

[Midas]

Originally posted by bonebrah:

Originally posted by easytarget:

Planetfall does not give me much in the way of xcom vibe. So I find it amusing it comes up so often. Sure, it's got overwatch for some units, so what. That doesn't make this xcom, not even close.

And laughing at sandman making the bold claim of superior combat, as if just giving you more choices made something better. The cafeteria style approach to game design, more choices so belly up to the bar boys.

Tell me, why is it necessary that something be comparable to something else? How about play the AOW series as its own thing, wouldn't that be a novel idea.

Not sure what this rant is all about. Xcom is a modern example of a tactical RPG and there's certainly some xcom vibes in the trailers. I suspect it comes up so often for a reason. Is it so wrong to try to get a feel for the gameplay? I think civ is OK, I *really* like xcom. If it leans one way and not the other, I probably won't buy it. Seems pretty logical.

I supposed it depends on what specifically is x-com like. It has overwatch, it's turn based tactical combat, you have terrain that offers full or partial cover, you have hit chances modified by things like terrain, intervening obstructions, and special modifiers. Each unit can potentially do a ton of different things depending on what they are and what mods you give them. I find the combat is more reliable than X-com. You don't have to fight the RNG quite as much. Damage modifiers due to armor and resistances arguably have a more consistent impact than RNG does, unless special rules are in effect that swing the accuracy beyond the normal chances (blind, hard to hit targets, etc).

[bonebrah]

You pretty much described xcom. So there is no civ like elements? Or is just the combat like xcom

[Midas]

Originally posted by bonebrah:

You pretty much described xcom. So there is no civ like elements? Or is just the combat like xcom

The combat is just like that. On the strategic layer, you don't battle. The strategic layer is how you move all your armies, build colonies, control resources, explore, discover other players and factions, find loot, etc. There's diplomacy, and a system of Strategic and Tactical Ops, which are like 'spells' that are fueled by your research into covert ops. The more you focus into it, the more points you have to work with to prime Ops each turn. Some are for tactical combat and let you do things like call down laser strikes, heals, buffs, etc. Then on the strategic layer there's stuff like terraforming ops, abilities that help or hinder whole armies at once, and ops related to diplomacy, or subterfuge with/against other players.

Both tactical and strategic maps are equally important, but the 'fighting' is done almost entirely at the tactical level. The most you can do at the strategic level is hit enemy armies with strategic ops to soften them up.

I've never played Civ, so I don't know what it's combat is like for a comparison.

[Doktor von Zwitter]

Combat in Civ is pretty simplistic, just move a unit on another and they "fight." Sometimes you can bombard from several spaces away, but it's nowhere near the intricacies of AoW: Planetfall or XCOM.

But yes, the combat is similar to XCOM in that it's tactical (sure you can autoresolve, but where's the fun in that?). Beyond that, it's 4X empire building.

[sandman25dcsss]

It is not xcom for me.
Stupid things of xcom which are not present in planetfall:
1) killing enemies while they can't do anything (reaper with sharpshooter combo)
2) fighting just a single pod instead of all enemies on the map , you are basically required to have a reaper or concealed ranger in timed missions
3) stupid RNG where you can miss a 99% chance shot (planetfall guarantees half damage if your chance is 75%)
4) spoilers make the game much easier (don't melee some units, don't be adjacent to some units when they die etc.)
5) most combat time is spent moving instead of actually fighting, missions without timer is overwatch crawl
6) weapons of the chosen are even more broken than any weapon in planetfall and unlike planetfall they are guaranteed to get and can be used in every fight making the rest of the game boring.
This leads to extremely low time spent per fun ratio.
If anything, I won legendary ironman so I know what I am talking about

[Råb!d]

Watered down Civ
+
Watered down Xcom
= AOWP

But, is better than both individually, imho.

[CaptainChaos]

Originally posted by sandman25dcsss:

3) stupid RNG where you can miss a 99% chance shot (planetfall guarantees half damage if your chance is 75%)

That's XCOM baby! :)

I so love that game.

And hate it passionately.

Reminds me of some of my own Xs, lol. Wouldn't surprise me if a few of them were extraterrestials.

[easytarget]

So someone makes a simplistic equation that's full of ♥♥♥♥ and OP picks that as the "winning" answer.

This thread is so typical of steam discussions it should be pinned as an example.

[easytarget]

Originally posted by sandman25dcsss:

Originally posted by easytarget:

And laughing at sandman making the bold claim of superior combat, as if just giving you more choices made something better.

Did you notice just a single advantage in my post? I listed 4 actually. Yes, go is better than tic-tac-toe because number of options does matter.

Don't worry yourself little one, I've muted you, no more time wasted on you here.