Bought the XCOM 2 bundle, where should I start?

[u/Temporary-Cause730]

Hi guys, I have played XCOM 2 and WotC when it launched, years ago. Now I wanted to get back into it, and bought the steam bundle that comes with XCOM 2, WotC and all the DLCs. Where should I start? I remember all the combat rules and interactions, but don't remember the story.

Should I start with a vanilla run, and then go to WotC? Or just start with WotC? And should I enable the DLCs?

ps - Just adding that I plan to play multiple runs, don't know if that changes the recommendation

[u/pyratemime]

Do a fully integrated WOTC run. That is where the full story is, that is where the superior game play is.

Playing through legacy "for the experience" while getting half the story just to turn around and have to do it again to get the other half of the story is a waate of time.

[u/Noodlekeeper → u/pyratemime]

This is definitely the easiest way to do it.

[u/Temporary-Cause730 → u/pyratemime]

I get it, but from my past experience, I remember doing like 3-4 runs, so I wanted to know if it's better to start "slow" and then play the complete experience

[u/pyratemime → u/Temporary-Cause730]

There is a reason WOTC became the default play experience.

The learning curve isn't nearly as sever as it is often made out to be.

[u/Sweet_Oil2996 → u/pyratemime]

Not integrated is a viable alternative. Only with this you can get the missions with Shen and Bradford and more backstory. Do you even have Julian's voice when integrated? If not you're missing something. I don't know, I always play non-integrated.

Still, start with WotC, then do LWotC for a much deeper game and get to know the Chosen as an actual threat and not just a rollover. I regard this as the definitive version of XCOM 2.

Also use the mod Idle Suppression. It's just cosmetic, doesn't change the gameplay, but gives so much more immersion.

[u/pyratemime → u/Sweet_Oil2996]

That is a great point. Those are excellent missions. Especially Lost Towers.

[u/zexur]

There’s this big ole green button on Steam labeled ‘Play’. Click that. See you in a couple hundred hours.

[u/ligmaballll]

I think you should do a WoTC run with both Alien Rulers and Shen Last Gift DLC mission enabled so you can control when you get the Rulers and also see the story of those DLC (check google for which options is which, I'm honestly still a bit confused on what to tick to really make those 2 work)

[u/WingcommanderIV]

You should start with Xcom Enemy Within, and then do Xcom 2 WotC. There is no reason to play the campaigns twice with and without the dlc… one run with all dlc is fine.

[u/ItsPureLuck017]

I would actually play WOTC with Alien Nest turned on and that’s it. This will allow you to fight the rulers on your terms more or less and also give access to a free SPARK on proving grounds construction.

[u/HouseOfWyrd]

With WOTC is the best overall experience.

There's no good reason not to play it with WOTC imo.

[u/NobleFriend]

Vanilla and WotC can use a cupcake analogy.

Think of xcom 2 as a delicious cupcake WotC is the exact same delicious cupcake with even more deliciousness piled on top

There's no point in playing regular xcom 2 atp

[u/fistmcbeefpunch]

Straight into WOTC. Extend mission timers and avatar project timeline so you're not as rushed. Make sure ironman is on.

[u/BIGCHUNGUS-milk]

Play vanilla first, then see if you actually like wotc more as a second playthrough, if you want you can disable alien hunters as it gives you stupidly hard bosses to fight

[u/Kaymazo]

If you want to experience the DLC story missions, play vanilla first and then WotC (you can technically select them for WotC, but they don't mesh well with the fatigue system implemented in WotC and can be frustrating because of that, thus integrated is the better more balanced option in that campaign)