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Recommend me a squad-based TBS

Joined
Aug 6, 2008
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7,269
Ignore the obvious (JA2, X-Com, and Xenonauts). Looking for some good ol' kill baddies, preferably with some strategic layer on top of it (secondary concern). I know there's a ton of new stuff that's come out lately, but it's hard to filter through the shit to see what the good games actually are, so help me out bros.
 

octavius

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If you don't mind controling several squads in one game: Age of Wonders games, especially Shadow Magic if you don't enjoy the deployment phase of AoW1. Armies are small enough that they can be called squads and the tactical combat is excellent.
 
Joined
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If you don't mind controling several squads in one game: Age of Wonders games, especially Shadow Magic if you don't enjoy the deployment phase of AoW1. Armies are small enough that they can be called squads and the tactical combat is excellent.
AoW isn't what I'm looking for. Something closer to X-Com probably.
 

spectre

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I know there's a ton of new stuff that's come out lately
D:
Names. I want them.

The only recent thing that is remotely enjoyable in the genre IMO is Invisible Inc, a very decent TBS, squad based game.
It's a stealth game, and (unfortunately) early access, but surprisingly enough, it works.

There also was Space Hulk Ascension Edition, which is a slightly unfucked version of the previous Space Hulk by a shovelware developer. Decent presentation, very repetitive, barely playable if you really need a squad level, turn based fix.
 

Alienman

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Codex 2016 - The Age of Grimoire Make the Codex Great Again! Grab the Codex by the pussy Codex Year of the Donut Shadorwun: Hong Kong Divinity: Original Sin 2 Steve gets a Kidney but I don't even get a tag.
Door Kickers? Not really turn based, but you can pause and plan how ever you want.

Or Expeditions: Conquistador. Has pretty fun turn based combat, but it's also a good RPG. Much reading though if you don't want that
 

Johannes

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I remember playing the demo around the time it came out, and have a good memory of it. When I tried to play it now sometime on this decade, I had some problems though... IIRC I couldn't find a working torrent of it, and it's not on sale on any digital distributor, that or I failed to get it running. Don't remember exactly. I'll give it a quick try right today actually, to see if I can work it out now.
 

Baron Dupek

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UFO After- from Altair? Only Afterlight is decent and UFO Aftershock with ACM (Aftershock Convertion Mod) is really nice.
Apeiron games like 7,62 High Calibre + Blue Sun Mod 2.1 (if you have Steam version, just enable one option is properties) is pure gun porn, no strategic layer. And it's tough.
Brigade E5 is for die hard fan and Man of Prey is linear.

What about mods for JA2 like Urban Chaos or Renegade Republic?
 

rezaf

Cipher
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
650
All those games are not turn-based, though, right MotherMachinae?

Sadly, TBS games with a strategic layer are fairly scarce. In recent times, the only big name I remember is XCOM (and I didn't like it as much as others did, though it was a very solid game).

I recently ran across a game that looks similar to JA on the surface and has a monster management layer - I haven't played it much yet, though. I posted it to the squad based TBS master list if you're curious.
I'd link to it, but I'm new and not affilated with that game in any way, so I don't wanna pimp it everywhere.
Frankly, I picked it up, but it didn't grab me so far. In fact I haven't been able to penetrate the management portion yet and get to actual TBS action. :oops:
The developer immediately loses some credit for calling his game a "turn based action game"...

Sadly, the best recent TB"S" games that come to mind are Divinity: Original Sin and Halfway, the former quite obviously and the latter arguably a RPG game...
_____
rezaf
 
Joined
Aug 6, 2008
Messages
7,269
All those games are not turn-based, though, right MotherMachinae?

Sadly, TBS games with a strategic layer are fairly scarce. In recent times, the only big name I remember is XCOM (and I didn't like it as much as others did, though it was a very solid game).

I recently ran across a game that looks similar to JA on the surface and has a monster management layer - I haven't played it much yet, though. I posted it to the squad based TBS master list if you're curious.
I'd link to it, but I'm new and not affilated with that game in any way, so I don't wanna pimp it everywhere.
Frankly, I picked it up, but it didn't grab me so far. In fact I haven't been able to penetrate the management portion yet and get to actual TBS action. :oops:
The developer immediately loses some credit for calling his game a "turn based action game"...

Sadly, the best recent TB"S" games that come to mind are Divinity: Original Sin and Halfway, the former quite obviously and the latter arguably a RPG game...
_____
rezaf
Are you talking about Cold Contract? I just saw it - looks similar-ish to JA2...

Could be interesting. Will do some research.
 

DramaticPopcorn

Guest
If strategic layer really is a secondary concern then you can try Chaos Gate. It's WH40k themed XCom clone.
 

rezaf

Cipher
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
650
Are you talking about Cold Contract? I just saw it - looks similar-ish to JA2...

That's the one.

It's kinda tough to pinpoint what you're looking for - you write having a strategic layer is of secondary concern, and if by that you mean it's optional to have one, every squad-level TBS ever could be mentioned...
I'm a little in the opposite direction, I tend to eventually burn out on tactical combats and even find myself longing for autoresolve every now and then. So having a strategic layer is kinda important to keep me motivated.

I can live without one, of course, but then a game better had an engaging storyline...
_____
rezaf
 

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