When do the new PCS worth?

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josna238
Posts: 182
Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2017 4:09 pm

When do the new PCS worth?

Post by josna238 »

I am feeling most of them much worse than the stats bonus. The only one that I really think is better than the PCS bonus is the Depth Perception. This is not a complaint post, neither a request for moding PCS, neither a suggestion for changes. It is just to share ideas of who and when should receive each PCS because I feel them nearly useless compared with +7 defense, +2 HP or +6 aim and am really curious about when they could be more useful. So I begin with my idea (in fact the only one I have).

Depth Perception: In my high terrain Sniper. The high terrain snipers (DFA, DGG, Deadshot, Center M...) with tracer, scope and stock mean a free kill per turn in non timed missions and two of them plus a shinobi can clear a 8 alien pod before they reach LoS of squad. Not to mention the AWC upgrades like lone wolf, steady hands or deadshot... But also can fail losing one turn plus a stock for the next. And it happens when a graze occurs. So, as the graze is the only weakness of high terrain snipers, an ability that reduces dodge in 25 is fantastic (and with a tip of +5aim).
nightwyrm
Posts: 260
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 4:52 pm

Re: When do the new PCS worth?

Post by nightwyrm »

Damage Control can do some pretty sick things if you're stacking armor.
jfoevv820ueb
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2017 5:24 am

Re: When do the new PCS worth?

Post by jfoevv820ueb »

Combat Awareness is pretty good on overwatch specialists (or rangers, but I usually give them depth perception + grapple or, if I'm lucky, Combat Rush). The 15 defense make them less likely to be shut down by enemy fire, and the armour is nice, too.

I'd give Combat Rush to my Rangers (but I haven't seen it in a campaign since 1.0) since they always kill things. The aim bonus would be great for the first two turns of an engagement where you absolutely have to hit things.
cerebrawl
Posts: 137
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 10:41 am

Re: When do the new PCS worth?

Post by cerebrawl »

The biggest game changer is Fire Control, which you can build and isn't loot. You can still be baited with lightning reflexes unfortunately.

Combat Awareness is damn near a must on area suppression gunners. That +15 defense is very good for keeping the suppression from being interupted by damage, the armor point doesn't hurt either. Also good on Rangers, and Assaults who roll Eternal Vigilance from the AWC.

Damage Control is essential for tank builds.

Most of the rest are pretty meh though.
jfoevv820ueb
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2017 5:24 am

Re: When do the new PCS worth?

Post by jfoevv820ueb »

cerebrawl wrote:Combat Awareness is damn near a must on area suppression gunners.
Didn't know that CA worked on suppression. Good to know!
burns
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2017 3:28 pm

Re: When do the new PCS worth?

Post by burns »

I never tried CA on a gunner because I thought suppression and OW were two different things. So, ist this confirmed? It would be really strong.

Most of the PCSs are just minor buffs and I sell them especially early on when every supply counts. After the economy comes online I equip whatever I got. More will, immunity to poison and acid, more agility, more speed, another HP? Why not? If you find a rookie with great stats midgame that you really would like to level up, every little advantage might keep him/her alive. +Def. to make the soldier a lese likely target, +Agility to maybe avoid the crit, ELS as a last resort and so on.

And if you really feel your soldiers get along without any PCS, go back to step 1 and consider it 5-10 supplies.

They are differently strong, obviously, but every type has its niche. As I hate early sneks over everything, smart macrophages have really grown on me.
Kharneth
Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2017 9:28 pm

Re: When do the new PCS worth?

Post by Kharneth »

burns wrote:I never tried CA on a gunner because I thought suppression and OW were two different things. So, ist this confirmed? It would be really strong.
Yes, it is the first thing i tried in game when see the PC. At least he obtain the armour point, so i understand that the defense increase works too

I like hipereactive pupils for rangers and gunners with traverse fire, you can't take a difficult shot to use the bonus with the second, usually combined with rapid fire/chain shoot
burns
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2017 3:28 pm

Re: When do the new PCS worth?

Post by burns »

Thanks for the confirmation. Now I just need to finish work and see if there ist a CA PCS left for my favorite gunner. Which happens to be me in the current campaign. :D
josna238
Posts: 182
Joined: Sun Feb 05, 2017 4:09 pm

Re: When do the new PCS worth?

Post by josna238 »

I have another, but needs a good AWC roll.

Impact Field to make biotanks: If we have a good roll on a gunner (high dodge, health and low defense) and resilience, will survive, etc.. AWC. We can stack armor on him with vests and armors, chose the perks that ad armor and dodge and put him over low cover what with his -10 defense makes him a bullet magnet. So, +4 for armor and +1 for WTS plus "inmunity" to criticals, plus high graze chance and -33% dmg per PCS could be too much.
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