I have a partial iron man game in progress from months ago that I just stopped playing. I don't remember if it was on classic or not. I've kind of moved on at this point, though I still really like the game. I'm hopeful that they make some really nice expansions for it, especially ones that improve the base building and stuff like that. There's lots of room for improvement, but I still enjoyed the game. I really hope it sold well, so there'll be reason to improve it and release a sequel.

I actually think the game hasn't sold very well, despite critical success. But I still think we're gonna see an expansion or sequel with some of the features you mentioned. After all, they got the base engine down already. They know how the turns go, the editor is in place, and most of the base building/soldier customization can be built on from this game. So I have high hopes!

I started that ironman classic game and I already dropped it. I came through the first contact mission quite easily, then had a nice starting squad with an Italian assault guy (Derf!), a Norwegian heavy with great aim (me!), an American support guy (Satis!) and a Canadian sniper (shiny!). But then the first mission happened and I more or less ragequit.

What happened? I was in a shootout with some sectoids, kill 2 out of 3 and the last one retreats just out of line of sight. So, I send assault Derf in with his "run and gun" ability to finish him off, knowing he was the only one left. As you may remember run & gun allows you to dash and still shoot (but not move!).

So Derf dashes forward to the only cover close by, a parked car with an opened door. As he reaches the car, the sectoid fires a shot (he was on overwatch in the fog). Fair enough. Shot misses, but it sets the car Derf is dashing to on fire. At this point, Derf was already doomed. With only 5 HP (early, EARLY game) and a car that would explode at the end of the round he was fucked.

Since I can't do anything but try to fire at it anymore (derf misses), I end my turn and the sectoid retreats a bit further and ends his turn as well. Round ends, car explodes, Derf is killed. WTF. I mean seriously? I have no problem with aliens in overwatch in the fog of war, but I DO have a problem with perfectly fine cover turning into a bomb without there being anything I could have done to prevent this. Serious bullshit.

So I quit the mission, killing everyone. I won't be playing this run any longer. I understand that you will have casualties, but that's redonk. At least make it impossible for the car to catch fire WHILE I AM DASHING TOWARDS IT. Shit suddenly changing on my own turn without a rollback option isn't turn-based, but a bug.

Maybe I should just not name the soldiers after anyone I know, so I won't give a fuck if someone dies in such a fucked up manner so early in the campaign. In that case there's no point of keeping a diary here either, though, so we'll see.

When I started my game ( think it was classic ironman actually), I had a lot of wiped runs, because the crap is hard and your people can't shoot for shit. I remember numerous times of running up to windows with aliens on the other side, shooting my shotgun, and missing. *shrug* The trick of course is to just get someone (anyone) to survive, then slowly building a squad of people that don't totally suck.

Yeah, that's what made it even sadder to encounter that bug with the exploding car. I lucked/played through the very first mission without any casualties. Almost every shitty 40% shot hit and everyone cam away unharmed, so that I could start the next mission with a full squad of squaddies already. Who knows, maybe I'll give it another go some time.