I will post the report that I shared after playing close to 200h LOTA , what do you think?
Beginning
Project Glory and Saving Helena mission are unlocked too early in the game,
and that mission is not easy at all, also apparently is not fitting with the main story, Lore,
so the beginning is confusing
then, weapons blueprint missions start to pop up, interfiring with other more important tasks and missions at that moment,
if you know about it, you postpone a few days, weeks, but if not it is a waste of time and resources,
because you have to deal with nests, haven defence missions, exploring POIs, activating bases, anyway, it is too much
Collections (blueprints) missions
These are regular maps except first one, with many enemies but not too hard, and yes, you feel that you have to kill a lot humans and mutants to get
just blueprints that actually at that point you don’t understand the future tedious process involved in weapons production,
for many players are just risky missions with 0 return of investment in time and even soldiers lives
Ancient Sites
Very tedious and complicated process, I have had to explain several times all the steps in forum, Discord, social media,
a better explanation and/or tutorial is required.
Archaeology labs, probes, scanning, excavation sites, requiring resources+aircraft to start the excavation,
and then you have to fight Hoplites, Cyclops, after that a manned aircraft just there mining, full time.
And also defend some sites every few days.
I would cut the process, getting rid of excavations process, and that includes days waiting to reveal what exotic material is located there.
Right now I feel the need for 5 aircrafts, 3 squads after mid game + 2 only for mining and those are very expensive if
you don’t want to steal. A couple of aircrafts through alliance, black marcket, rescue mission would be great, even damaged.
Fighting Hoplites and Cyclops
These are complicated missions, players have no idea until the try first assault to the sites. You can’t fight enemies with thick shields, or lot of HP
with only 6-7 soldiers and basic weapons. So this content is better after mid game for sure.
Stealth concept needs to be explained to awake only 1-2 Hoplites each time, and the missions need to be easier if you don’t playe Hero, Legendary
Also, Hoplites animations sometimes are off, moving back and forward without purpose, AI issues I guess
User Interface
This the worst, with so many excavations, new ancient sites pending, controlled by PX, controlled by other forces, with and without your own Guardian,
all over the planet with pink circles, mist repeller circles, aircrafts range circles,
you can’t track what mine, field, quarry or refineries you have or you require at a glance,
we need a dedicated panel with all the info, status, at least like bases have
Bottomline and personal opinion
This is not DCL 1 with 4 missions, 1 building and 9 augmentions, but DLC 2 is big, a great idea for sure,
I am delighted with new maps, gorgeous, best of the game, and music, ambient sounds, so many posibilities with corridors and ground elevation…
I enjoy every mission there
But the experience is ruined when you have to fight Pandoran global threat and at the same time so many tough content,
and players are asking, just for 6 new weapons?
Make the process simpler, better explanations, tutorials, maybe add a shield (orichalcum or living crystal) for a soldier as a reward after conquering a site
or mine/refinery couple, involves the factions, make them stronger if you trade/gift a site under your control, improving their defences.
I see so much effort from the team , I just want people enjoy it, without the frustration and confusion.