KickStarter Phoenix Point - the new game from X-COM creator Julian Gollop

[luinthoron]

Thanks for keeping this thread updated luinthoron.

No problem, I spend way more time than is reasonable keeping an eye on the campaign page anyway, so I'm usually there to notice new updates even when there's no e-mail notification again.

 

[luinthoron]

And here's campaign update 13:

Semper Fi
Posted: 05/17/2017
Here is a new story:

Semper Fidelis, by Jonas Kyratzes

Allen Stroud wrote an article for ScififantasyNetwork

Phoenix Point Far Beyond Its Goal. Can They Better X-Com?

Flamethrowers
Here are some nice rotating views of rendered and textured New Jericho flamethrower weapons by Sami.l

 

[Cyberarmy]

Ahhh, every game is better with flamethrowers.

 

[Grotesque]

I guess I'll actually have an interesting question to ask Gollop on the campaign page now.

Don't bother. These kind of questions will fall on deaf ears because this game will take the road the new xcoms did, meaning the only meaningful aspects of it will be the combat. The rest is just decor. The hoi polloi love their violence!

 

[luinthoron]

I guess I'll actually have an interesting question to ask Gollop on the campaign page now.

Don't bother. These kind of questions will fall on deaf ears because this game will take the road the new xcoms did, meaning the only meaningful aspects of it will be the combat. The rest is just decor. The hoi polloi love their violence!

And yet...

JulianG:
I can't say too much about this at the moment - but the intention is to have something similar to the original X-COM - a top down view of a grid where you build facilities of various sizes. The base layout will determine the map used in battle while defending it.

He has also replied to another backer yet again asking about character customization:

JulianG:
We are aiming for a system very similar to XCOM 2, but there will be some differences. Firstly, the armour is modular and has different effects on the body parts it covers. Secondly, customisation options are expanded by recruiting from different factions. Thirdly - there will be mutations.

 

[Irenaeus]

He has also replied to another backer yet again asking about character customization:

JulianG:
We are aiming for a system very similar to XCOM 2, but there will be some differences. Firstly, the armour is modular and has different effects on the body parts it covers. Secondly, customisation options are expanded by recruiting from different factions. Thirdly - there will be mutations.

Finally the information I was looking for!

 

[luinthoron]

More Gollop replies from the comments:

Vaccines are indeed developed against alien viral attack, but the mist has other components - large and complex bacteria like entities that seem to be under intelligent control.

You have correctly identified a key use of flamethrower weapons. The aliens will indeed have insect like swarms.

There will be prosthetics in the game - New Jericho in particular have great expertise in this area. The Disciples of Anu have other methods, shall we say, of overcoming injuries.

On a possible DLC/season pass reward:

We are not considering it at this stage, but if there is sufficient demand, we will think again.

 

[Achilles]

This all sounds great, let's hope they can deliver.

 

[Space Satan]

 

[Alienman]

I so wish Phoenix Point would have the Apocalypse esthetics's instead of the grimdark setting it has.

 

[Darth Roxor]

I so wish Phoenix Point would have the Apocalypse esthetics's instead of the grimdark setting it has.

yes to hovermustangs and art-deco

definite no-no-no-no to alien designs

 

[Alienman]

You upset Mr. Anthropod.

 

[Grotesque]

the space turd.

VS

robotic kid's toy

VS

 

[Jaedar]

The art of apoc wasn't a huge problem (although not very good either), but the ingame models man.... Furry blobs and doughmonsters everywhere.

 

[Darth Roxor]

AHEM

 

[luinthoron]

Campaign update 14:

There are two new stories for you:

Hanamaru Sushi, by Chris Fellows

Launch Codes, by Allen Stroud

A Youtuber by the name of Retcon Raider has produced a fascinating analysis of Phoenix Point in a continuing video series. Here is a particularly interesting one on the Pandoravirus witch contains quite a bit of speculation - which we can neither confirm nor deny.

Phoenix Point - Everything We Know About the PandoraVirus, by Retcon Raider

Demo News
A number of you have asked about seeing more game play. The good news is that we are going to show some - but not until the end of the month. Why the long wait? Well, we want to show something that is a bit more distinctive - a battle against a monster - and it is not quite ready. You can rest assured that the team is working hard on it. It will show how body part targeting can be a crucial factor in the tactics you employ against large creatures, and how different body parts grant different abilities and have different weaknesses.

A Better Class of Soldier
There have been quite a few questions about character development in the game, specifically - do we have soldier classes and how do soldiers improve? Phoenix Point will use the concept of soldier classes, but they are not rigid classes, rather they are skill disciplines with certain types of specialisation.

There will be three ‘base’ classes in which all soldiers start:

• Marksman - tends to have good perception
• Assault - tends to have good mobility
• Heavy - tends to have good endurance

Then there will be five specialist classes. These represent more refined, interelated skill groups, although there may be some crossover with other classes. Any base class soldier may acquire a specialist class if the right training and technology is available. A specialist class will also offer at least one unique skill depending on the base class origin.

The Infiltrator
Here is an example of a specialist class we call the ‘infiltrator.’ The main abilities for this class involve stealth, evasion, reconnaissance, booby traps, target designation, close quarters combat and scaling difficult terrain. The infiltrator will normally be equipped with stealth weapons which include crossbows, silenced guns, blade weapons, gas grenades and proximity mines. The armour technology is built for evading detection and agility. Helmets tend to be the most sophisticated element, with 360 degree vision systems, rebreather apparatus and comms systems. Grappling gear, ultra-thin climbing lines and retractable climbing spikes on hands and feet allow for navigating highly vertical terrain. One possible loadout includes a ‘drone hive’ - a backpack loaded with miniature drones which can rapidly spread out in all directions for highly effective reconnaissance.

All of the main factions have technology that is relevant to build equipment and skills for an infiltrator, but Synedrion have the most advanced tech in this area. Disciples of Anu will have some mutations which can be highly beneficial to this role.

 

[ArchAngel]

So 15 total class combinations? Nice.
Also scaling difficult terrain? 360 degree vision equipment - meaning others don't have this?
Nice

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

360 degree vision equipment - meaning others don't have this?

Let's hope so.
Though how they are going to include facing based LOS into 2 action game is a mystery.

 

[luinthoron]

360 degree vision equipment - meaning others don't have this?

Let's hope so.
Though how they are going to include facing based LOS into 2 action game is a mystery.

I honestly see this more as flavor text than anything actually related to game mechanics, especially with communications equipment mentioned there as well, although now that I think about it a bit more, it could be actually done if you make turning on the spot a free action. I doubt we'll see this in the game, though, even if I'd love to be proven wrong.

 

[Jack Dandy]

Dang, I really liked that 2nd story! That Shroud fella is alright.

 

[Alienman]

Classes

 

[Jimmious]

IF there are indeed 15+3 classes in total... It's not really an issue. Still waiting for some gameplay though. It all sounds good in theory but..

 

[ArchAngel]

IF there are indeed 15+3 classes in total... It's not really an issue. Still waiting for some gameplay though. It all sounds good in theory but..

No, there are 3 classes x 5 prestige classes.

 

[Jimmious]

IF there are indeed 15+3 classes in total... It's not really an issue. Still waiting for some gameplay though. It all sounds good in theory but..

No, there are 3 classes x 5 prestige classes.

Which means 15 prestige "combos" plus the 3 initial classes.

 

[ArchAngel]

IF there are indeed 15+3 classes in total... It's not really an issue. Still waiting for some gameplay though. It all sounds good in theory but..

No, there are 3 classes x 5 prestige classes.

Which means 15 prestige "combos" plus the 3 initial classes.

I think that you will need to choose that prestige class. And even if you don't they are not really seperate, each base class or prestige only gives a packet of abilities. If you stay base class you are just weaker than those that have same class + prestige.