So I'm trying to learn to play this game, and I have to say the lack of anything consistent (apart from game mechanics) is probably the single biggest impediment to trying to learn it. I've been trying to follow various guides, and I can make it through the early game and get a steady flow of 3EE per day, but I'm having difficulty ever managing to obtain any breaks really. current file is on day 25 and I haven't managed a single one, but I can't tell if that's because I'm doing something wrong, because this particular group is a challenge, or just using the wrong technique. 25 days in and I only just realized there's no autosave, so I can't even really go back to try things again against the same group, and a new playthrough would throw an entirely different set of Chosen at me.
Would it be possible to implement, either as a standalone scenario or an optional 'loop 0' in the campaign, a run where the chosen you face at least have the same distribution of stats if nothing else? The direct input function for creating custom chosen at least implies the possibility would exist, and such a thing might make it easier for those writing guides to get somewhat more specific with regards to showing off different strategies or providing milestones for a new player to check themselves against.
I'd also really like an option to retry the entire day, instead of just the current fight, or a Lobotomy Corp-style system where the game makes an autosave at regular intervals (LC does every five days), and present the option to reload that save as a regular feature on the menu. I think that would make it much easier for new players to experiment with their approach on a given group of chosen.
Also, are the goals that pop up in green selected randomly, or does the game try to give you goals that are relatively easy to achieve? more than once I've had the system tell me to inflict 10k damage on a particular stat for a chosen who only takes single-digit damage on that particular stat. Is that bad luck, or am I missing something that makes doing that much easier?
It sounds like you're not utilizing commanders, like DeviantArtaaa and Superskippy said. Loop 1 plays out pretty similar with a few variations depending on pre-broken minors and weakness distribution but basically:
Day 1-2: Only one Chosen, get to 100 in as many circumstances (other than Fear) as possible, and do a 2-3 turn surround on the turn before the battle ends in order to buy more turns. You do this because the second and third chosen show up after a fixed number of turns and the sooner they show up, the quicker you can get more EE.
Day 3 (maybe Day 2 if you're really lucky): Switch to the new chosen as soon as they arrive and hammer their weakest stat to get it above 200 before the battle ends. Don't forget to surround Chosen #1 the turn before the battle ends.
Days 4-6: Focus on the chosen with lower Angst (probably Chosen #2) and do the same thing you were doing days 1-2.
Day 7 (6 if you've gotten good surrounds): Same as Day 3 but with Chosen #3.
Day 8+ is like days 4-6, just focus on the weakest chosen while you gather EE.
For upgrades, I usually go Fast Breeders, Psychic Reading, Wide Deployment, Focus, Enhanced Polymorphism, Weakness Sense in that order and then Perception, Patience, and Cunning in any order. That will let you buy a 5 point commander who lasts for 4 turns and can capture twice. You CAN achieve a lot with a 4 point commander (3 turns, 2 captures) but let's play it safe.
In total you'll need to have spent 16 EE* (not factoring in Tomorrow's Newspaper) on upgrades and have another 5 for the commander, which means on Day 11 you should be ready to strike. Build your commander and attack the Chosen who has the most points in HATE and ANTI (the first and third lines on the right side). Grind/Pummel (whichever has fewer points), then the other, then Caress, then Humiliate. If they aren't at 100 points in Hate, Plea, and Anti, restart and try hitting whichever of those three didn't hit 100 first. Experiment.
Once a second Chosen shows up, capture them and do the same thing. Before the battle ends, re-surround the first Chosen you targeted. This may mean you aren't able to do all four actions to Chosen #2, in that case, prioritize Humiliate because they're just there for the Expose bonus to your real target.
Do the same ability rotation on Chosen #1. Before the surround ends, make sure to re-surround Chosen #2 and you can use any spare turns to work on them a little. Then, before their surround ends, re-surround Chosen #1 for the third time.
Because of the randomness, you may have to try targeting a different Chosen or switch up ability order, etc. Just play around but this should allow you to get some breaks starting on Day 11.
