Turn-Based Tactics Phantom Doctrine - "tactical Cold War conspiracy thriller" by Hard West devs

[Modron]

His death or capture is also pretty much the only reliable game over cause

Good to know your avatar isn't some kind of special immortal type but that kinds of brings up a different set of problems in my head. Is there some kind of limiting mechanisms/motivations not to keep your avatar a perpetual bench warmer? Exanima's arena does something similar and most people just leave their main sitting naked in the main room instead of fighting with them because of the risk.

 

[Kacper Szymczak]

There are a couple of solutions to this problem implemented:
1. Hero starts with a slight XP boost, so you want him in your squad for the edge he brings.
2. Missions and combat are the key XP source, and
3. Story missions demand hero participation; so you better have him ready.
4. Getting shot in the face isn't an instant gameover: all you gotta do is pick the hero up and get him to evac. It's actually relatively difficult to have your agent permanently killed. More often than that they're kept alive, captured and interrogated/brainwashed by your enemy.
5. A combat armor - while very shitty for sneaking purposes - is actually very good protection in combat. You won't withstand infinite attacks, but the armor is almost always enough to get to evac and scram, if things go south.

 

[Rahdulan]

4. Getting shot in the face isn't an instant gameover: all you gotta do is pick the hero up and get him to evac.

I hope my danger sense is just acting up here for no good reason.

 

[CaffeineConquistador]

God, I'm such a sucker for spy fiction. Lookin' gud.

But seriously, get fucked if you like Graham Green.

 

[Kacper Szymczak]

4. Getting shot in the face isn't an instant gameover: all you gotta do is pick the hero up and get him to evac.

I hope my danger sense is just acting up here for no good reason.

I'll need some more context and information here.

Spoiler

didn't play SS2

 

[ERYFKRAD]

4. Getting shot in the face isn't an instant gameover: all you gotta do is pick the hero up and get him to evac.

I hope my danger sense is just acting up here for no good reason.

I'll need some more context and information here.

Spoiler

didn't play SS2

I know you're under launch workload, but fix this now. NOW.

 

[Rahdulan]

4. Getting shot in the face isn't an instant gameover: all you gotta do is pick the hero up and get him to evac.

I hope my danger sense is just acting up here for no good reason.

I'll need some more context and information here.

Spoiler

didn't play SS2

Don't read too much into it. Just a mechanic I remembered from the game that got on my nerves where you could carry wounded party members to the extraction point to keep them alive. You needed to play on higher difficulty for it really factor in, though.

And yes, you should check out Silent Storm ASAP.

 

[sser]

Tuesday release

 

[ArchAngel]

4. Getting shot in the face isn't an instant gameover: all you gotta do is pick the hero up and get him to evac.

I hope my danger sense is just acting up here for no good reason.

I'll need some more context and information here.

Spoiler

didn't play SS2

I know you're under launch workload, but fix this now. NOW.

Fix what? Your few agents not dying instantly all the time? When did you see James Bond die when shot?

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Fix what

Not having played Silent Storm.

 

[Alienman]

Well, can't blame him for nuXcom combat then when he never played the classics

 

[someone else]

Interested but too expensive for now.
Recently bought Hard West for around $2 on daily sale.
I will appreciate a review from those day-one-purchase folks.

 

[Kacper Szymczak]

Yeah, I know, I know. It just aged really badly. On my defense I keep coming back to ol' xcoms and JA2.
And regarding catching up, it is a bit like suggesting to a sailor to eat another fish Sure, why not, but definitely not in the imminent future XD

 

[veevoir]

Kacper Szymczak What is the release hour? If I get it from GOG will I be able to dload at 0:00 (so in ~10 hrs)?

This is of great importance, I might need to get a stock of caffeinated drinks.

 

[Kacper Szymczak]

Release hour is in exactly 28 hours 16 minutes from this post

 

[ArchAngel]

Release hour is in exactly 28 hours 16 minutes from this post

Are any bigger twitch streamers planning to stream it on release?

 

[Kacper Szymczak]

Are any bigger twitch streamers planning to stream it on release?

I don't know much about streamers, ok, I actually don't know the first thing about streamers, but we keep having all sorts of big and small streamers running PD - eg. Christopher Odd. Dunno who else.

 

[Ivan]

mod support?

 

[waterdeep]

How long does an average playthrough take?

 

[Kacper Szymczak]

mods - work in progress

playtime - the average we get is 40h for single campaign, slow at 60+, and if you know the game really well and step on it you can shave down to 20h

 

[Jinn]

That's a great playtime for each faction. Lot of value there.

Really excited to play this tomorrow! Liked Hard West a good deal, but this project seems to have so much more depth. Hope launch day goes wonderfully for you guys, Kacper Szymczak

Of course a day 1 purchase for me.

 

[Jimmious]

Releasing this on a Tuesday is a crime against humanity... The weekend has never felt so distant.

Actually this Tuesday is not too bad of a choice, as this Wednesday, 15th of August, is a bank holiday on most European countries... And certainly in Poland where the devs are from (if that makes any difference)

 

[veevoir]

However - 7pm is wasting 19 hours of tuesday

 

[Whiskeyjack]

ETA? I'm stuck at work all day but want to get home and fire this up.

 

[Belegarsson]

ETA? I'm stuck at work all day but want to get home and fire this up.

It should be 1 hour and 45 minutes from now.