... and the complex totally destroys your plans.
I started off this run intending to do a trapping build, with some questions in the forums about how rewiring traps work and hopes of finding or hacking schematics for a Trap Extractor. I had seen Valguris use traps to great effect in his stream but more importantly, my gallery is only at 85% and I figure getting all the trap items must be good for at least another percent or two. :)
Well, my hacking build went pretty much out the window by -5, with my flight units blown off, sensors gone (though I still had the processors to go with them) and I decided to go to a branch that I knew led to more hackware.
The rest is increasingly spoilerific:
Spoiler
Before fleeing to Extension I had grabbed some treads, I think, and a couple guns, which I hoped would be enough to build an army and get through. Normally I use hacking to open the doors there, this is the first time I have brought thermal weapons powerful enough to melt them, and I did quite well, rescuing A7 on the left side and making quite a few other friends, enough to take on the B's and Y's in the middle and win. I had also picked up an Imp. Targeting Computer that, while it reached red integrity quickly, lasted for a surprising number of floors. I picked up more allies on the right side and went to Cetus, knocking out the guards and stealing their treads and Adv. Variable Charge Guns.
At some point in Cetus A7 lost his weapons and his AI became somewhat deranged, running towards the Cetus Guards instead of hanging around back for his Remote Shield to help the rest of the army.
I met another robot at Cetus and decided to head back to factory instead of messing around with archives, since my new army and combat equipment seemed like a more likely way to go than hacking on treads.
The army did not last very long but was enough to take out a few patrols and luck into an exit to Research.
Even more spoilers below:
In Research I was a bit surprised when machinery started exploding and the robot from Cetus reappeared leveled up, asking for/insisting on Cogmind's aid. (I am not sure if he always appears near where you start; I missed him on a previous run when his army invaded from all the exits, but I couldn't find him. That run was flight and hacking so I think I might have left the starting position too quickly to meet him.)
Here I made a big mistake: I was curious whether he and his army would follow me to the next level, so I left when I stumbled onto an early exit near my starting point instead of taking the opportunity to rebuild much. I believe I did find a cache of nice Cmb. Gravmag units either on -4 or -3 though which lasted a long time and helped immensely with the rest of the game.
He didn't appear to follow, though, which was disappointing, and I immediately realized the opportunity I had wasted.
I fought through -2 and stumbled on an exit guarded by a warden and a large patrol of grunts (probably two patrols, actually), which I managed to get through though with hardly any weapons left. (At one point in this game I was reduced to ramming a programmer with hover because I ran out of matter to attach my remaining weapons.) It turned out to lead to Testing!
And another surprise, apparently the robot from Cetus was with me in spirit, because machinery started exploding in Testing... is that normal?
For a while I had had a second Adv. Sensor Array I had found, but no signal interpreter - they are still quite useful even though you can run into hunters without a good signal interpreter. But here is where I lucked out and testing gave me both an Adv. Signal Interpeter and a Lrn. Sensor Array, which lasted the rest of the game. Hurrah! The infowar build was back. :)
I also picked up some light arms in the form of two two-slot ballistic cannons and also a two slot thermal cannon which I didn't even end up using. One of the cannons is quite hilarious and managed to take care of a number of patrols well into Access.
Nothing very interesting happened in Access. My hover build lasted all this way and made most things easy to handle. I stumbled into several hunter patrols here and aggro'd a Behemoth while perforating one of them (oops), but handily escaped into a Programmer patrol, at which point that weapon died. I ran away until I found the exit, still with almost complete health (I think I had 1586 integrity or so) and the Lrn. Sensor Array, decided to fool around a bit with the Behemoths (following Kyzrati's example) and left.
Surprisingly, though it seemed like I blew up a lot of stuff, I ended up with a lower score than on some of my stealth wins.
Lessons learned:
Adaptation is the key to victory. It may be fun to try to stick with a certain build but it also makes the game a lot harder. Now that I'm more familiar with what's necessary, combat certainly has many more useful utilities than hacking -- in hacking if you don't find the few things you need you're sunk. In particular hacking suites but for trapping you also need a trap extractor and probably a datajack and significant storage. (I do wonder if disarming traps from a terminal is enough to be able to extract them, but I wasn't able to try it.) And if you lose them your build is busted. In combat all sorts of utilities can make your build more survivable and it is considerably easier to find replacements. I had a couple Imp. Weapon Cyclers that lasted for quite a while and they made a very noticeable difference.
Also, combat can be a lot more fun for some reason. :)
I certainly lucked out with several nice caches of hover units.
Paying attention to your integrity, energy, and matter is quite important. The warnings flashing in the middle of the screen are nice but I find them hard to read before they disappear in the middle of everything else going on in a combat. I paid more careful attention to what I had equipped and how well it was doing this time, and it appears it paid off.
Spoiler
Some of the things you find in Testing are more practical than others. The Perforator is awesome (matter usage aside, but when you can take out a patrol in a few shots and claim their matter...), the Omega Cannon, not so much. And the Potential Cannons are not nearly as practical since they take so much energy and produce so much heat.
Scoresheet:
Spoiler
Cogmind - Beta 5 @@@ ROGUELIKE MODE
Name: Joshua
---[ ESCAPED! ]---
Performance
-------------
Evolutions (9) 4500
Robots Destroyed (171) 855
Value Destroyed (7738) 7738
Prototype IDs (32) 640
Alien Tech Used (0) 0
Bonus (13604) 13604
TOTAL SCORE: 27337
Cogmind
---------
Core Integrity 1372/1600
Matter 300/300
Energy 352/2395
System Corruption 12%
Temperature Cool (8)
Location To Epsilon Eridani
Parts
-------
Power (2)
Micro Fission Core
Antimatter Reactor
Propulsion (6)
Improved Antigrav System
Improved Antigrav System
Cooled Antigrav System
Cooled Antigrav System
Combat Antigrav System
Combat Antigrav System
Utility (13)
Experimental Heat Sink
Advanced Cooling System
Advanced Coolant Injector
Large Storage Unit
Experimental Energy Well
Experimental Energy Well
Advanced Signal Interpreter
Advanced Targeting Computer
Advanced Armor Integrity Analyzer
Experimental Transmission Jammer
Heavy Reflective Plating
Weapon (4)
Gamma Rifle
Multirail
Omega Cannon
Inventory (10)
Micro Fission Core
Micro Fission Core
Improved Antigrav System
Advanced Heat Sink
Gamma Rifle
Long-range Proton Cannon
Improved Potential Cannon
Gamma Bomb Array
Nanosword
Peak State
------------
Power
Micro Fission Core
Antimatter Reactor
Propulsion
Improved Antigrav System
Cooled Antigrav System
Cooled Antigrav System
Cooled Antigrav System
Combat Antigrav System
Combat Antigrav System
Utility
Experimental Heat Sink
Advanced Cooling System
Advanced Coolant Injector
Large Storage Unit
Experimental Energy Well
Experimental Energy Well
Advanced Signal Interpreter
Advanced Targeting Computer
Advanced Armor Integrity Analyzer
Improved Weapon Cycler
Experimental Transmission Jammer
Centrium Medium Armor Plating
Advanced Force Field
Weapon
Phase Gun
Multirail
Omega Cannon
Inventory
Micro Fission Core
Micro Fission Core
Advanced Heat Sink
Long-range Sensor Array
Gamma Rifle
Long-range Proton Cannon
Improved Potential Cannon
Gamma Bomb Array
Nanosword
[Rating: 200]
Favorites
-----------
Power Micro Nuclear Core
Engine Light Ion Engine
Power Core Micro Nuclear Core
Reactor Light Quantum Reactor
Propulsion Combat Antigrav System
Treads Centrium Heavy Treads
Wheel Compact Wheel
Leg Flexi-carbon Leg
Hover Unit Combat Antigrav System
Flight Unit Cesium-ion Thruster
Utility Advanced Heat Sink
Device Advanced Heat Sink
Storage Medium Storage Unit
Processor Advanced Signal Interpreter
Hackware System Shield
Protection Centrium Medium Armor Plating
Weapon Axe
Energy Gun Advanced Variable Charge Gun
Energy Cannon Cooled Nova Cannon
Ballistic Gun Light Assault Rifle
Ballistic Cannon Perforator
Launcher Proton Missile Launcher
Slashing Weapon Axe
Special Melee Weapon Datajack
Stats
-------
Bonus Breakdown 13604
High Alert Combat Kills 971
Follower Combat Kills 2549
Met Imprinter 300
Built Enhanced Grunts 300
Met R17 at Cetus 500
Met R17 at Research 2000
Win 3000
Win Speed 4004
Friendly Fire -20
Classes Destroyed 15
Worker 12
Builder 6
Hauler 7
Recycler 14
Mechanic 1
Operator 3
Watcher 11
Swarmer 22
Grunt 26
Duelist 3
Protector 1
Sentry 19
Hunter 18
Programmer 25
Behemoth 3
Major NPCs Destroyed 0
Best Kill Streak 14
Combat Bots Only 7
Best States 0
Heat Dissipation 128
Coolant Potential 100
Energy Generation 45
Energy Capacity 2395
Matter Stores 300
Matter Capacity 300
Sight Range 22
Robot Scan Range 20
Terrain Scan Range 18
Terrain Scan Density 210
Jamming Range 22
EM Shielding 2
Armor Coverage 600
Resistance: TH 25
Core Shielding 30
Weapon Cycling 40
Phase Shifting 20
Evasion (%) 81
Targeting Accuracy 16
Core Analysis 10
Armor Integrity Analysis 66
Recoil Reduction 4
Energy Filtering 50
Salvage Targeting 1
Datajack Penetration 35
Offensive Hacking 10
Defensive Hacking 24
Matter Collected 6605
Salvage Created 9253
Parts Attached 312
Power 25
Propulsion 54
Utility 134
Weapon 99
Parts Lost 77
Power 13
Propulsion 19
Utility 22
Weapon 23
Average Slot Usage (%) 92
Naked Turns 0
Spaces Moved 11744
Fastest Speed (%) 357
Average Speed (%) 165
Slowest Speed (%) 14
Overloaded Moves 0
Propulsion Burnouts 0
Targets Rammed 3
Targets Kicked 0
Targets Crushed 0
Cave-ins Triggered 0
Heaviest Build 109
Greatest Support 160
Greatest Overweight (x) 35
Average Overweight (x) 1
Largest Inventory 16
Average Capacity 9
Most Carried 16
Average Carried 9
Final Capacity 10
Final Carried 10
Damage Taken 13183
Core 1778
Absorbed by Shields 2736
Average Core Remaining (%) 79
Depth 11 Exit 100
Depth 10 Exit 88
Depth 9 Exit 41
Depth 8 Exit 67
Depth 7 Exit 81
Depth 6 Exit 83
Depth 5 Exit 57
Depth 4 Exit 92
Depth 3 Exit 96
Depth 2 Exit 81
Depth 1 Exit 85
Volleys Fired 475
Largest 4
Hottest 381
Shots Fired 861
Gun 334
Cannon 507
Launcher 20
Special 0
Kinetic 169
Thermal 443
Explosive 6
Electromagnetic 243
Secondary Targets 0
Shots Hit Robots 624
Core Hits 364
Critical Hits 96
Critical Kills 24
Critical Parts Destroyed 61
Overload Shots 3
Energy Bleed 0
Heat Surge 0
Short Circuit 0
Meltdown 0
Melee Attacks 194
Impact 0
Slashing 194
Piercing 0
Sneak Attacks 3
Follow-up Attacks 0
Damage Inflicted 22754
Projectiles 16559
Explosions 3546
Melee 2617
Ramming 32
Kinetic 4702
Thermal 9415
Explosive 925
Electromagnetic 5063
Impact 0
Slashing 2617
Piercing 0
Overflow Damage 176
Projectiles 50
Explosions 74
Melee 52
Self-Inflicted Damage 429
Shots 12
Rammed 3
Highest Temperature 608
Average Temperature 108
Received Heat Transfer 1478
Shutdowns 6
Energy Bleed 5
Interference 10
Matter Decay 1
Damage (minor) 1
Damage (major) 5
Highest Corruption 12
Average Corruption 4
Corruption Purged 0
Message Errors 30
Matter Fused 35
Heat Flow Error 21
Energy Discharge 15
Parts Rejected 2
Data loss (database) 13
Misfires 4
Alerts 1
Misdirections 7
Targeting Errors 26
Weapon Failures 4
Depth 7 End 2
Depth 6 End 1
Depth 5 End 6
Depth 4 End 3
Depth 2 End 5
Depth 1 End 12
Impact Corruptions 0
Haulers Intercepted 7
Robots Corrupted 8
Parts Fried 48
Impact Corruptions 0
Robots Melted 0
Parts Melted 22
Heat Transferred 9894
Parts Sabotaged 0
Parts Stolen 0
Parts Stripped 0
Parts Self-Destructed 17
Prevented 3
Power Chain Reactions 13
Communications Jammed 5
Times Spotted 329
Peak Tracking Total 14
Tactical Retreats 41
Parts Field Recycled 0
Retrieved Matter 0
Parts Merge Repaired 0
Drone Launches 0
Drone Recoveries 0
Traps Triggered 11
Indirectly 0
Trap Hack Attempts 24
Triggered 0
Disarmed 0
Reprogrammed 1
Reused 0
Traps Extracted 0
Installed 0
Triggered 1
Machines Disabled 36
Machines Sabotaged 0
Data Cores Recovered 1
Used 1
Machines Hacked 69
Terminals 52
Fabricators 3
Repair Stations 3
Recycling Units 1
Scanalyzers 3
Garrison Access 6
Total Hacks 208
Successful 88
Failed 118
Catastrophic 25
Database Lockouts 1
Manual 114
Unauthorized 79
Terminals 157
Fabricators 13
Repair Stations 4
Recycling Units 4
Scanalyzers 16
Garrison Access 12
Terminal Hacks 30
Part Schematic 2
Robot Analysis 2
Open Door 4
Level Access Points 1
Branch Access Points 1
Terminal Index 2
Alert Level 3
Unreport Threat 6
Locate Traps 3
Dispatch Records 1
Recall Investigation 2
Recall Reinforcements 2
Hacking Detections 63
Full Trace Events 7
Feedback Events 0
Feedback Corruption 0
Feedback Hackware Fried 0
Feedback Blocked 0
Trojans Installed 38
Terminals 34
Fabricators 3
Repair Stations 1
Recycling Units 0
Scanalyzers 0
Garrison Access 0
Fabricators Overloaded 0
Fabricator Schematic DLs 0
Garrisons Disabled 2
Garrisons Compromised 0
Fab Network Shutdowns 0
Robot Schematics Acquired 0
Robots Built 0
Total Robot Build Rating 0
Robot Fabrication Matter 0
Robot Fabrication Time 0
Part Schematics Acquired 9
Parts Built 2
Total Part Build Rating 6
Part Fabrication Matter 255
Part Fabrication Time 109
Parts Repaired 0
Part Repair Time 0
Parts Recycled 0
Recycled Matter 0
Retrieved Matter 0
Retrieved Components 0
Parts Scanalyzed 8
Part Schematics Acquired 7
Parts Damaged 0
Robot Analysis Total 2
Robots Rewired 15
Robots Hacked 0
Non-combat 0
Combat 0
Robot Hack Failures 0
Allies Hacked 0
Hacks Repelled 0
Total Allies 27
Largest Group 13
Highest-Rated Group 710
Highest-Rated Ally 156
Total Orders 4
GOTO 2
FOLLOW 2
Terraforming Orders 0
Walls Tunneled 0
Ally Attacks 409
Total Damage 10755
Kills 64
Allies Corrupted 1
Allies Melted 0
Peak Influence 1486
Average Influence 326
Final Influence 151
Maximum Alert Level 4
Low Security (%) 38
Level 1 32
Level 2 19
Level 3 5
Level 4 5
Level 5 0
Triggered High Security 0
Turns 0
Squads Dispatched 38
Investigation 11
Extermination 12
Reinforcement 11
Assault 4
Garrison 0
Intercept 0
Derelict Logs Recovered 7
Scrap Searched 5
Exploration Rate (%) 32
Regions Visited 18
Pre-discovered Areas 4
Garrisons Visited 0
Relays Disabled 0
Generators Disabled 0
Network Hubs Disabled 0
Actions Taken 14421
Turns Passed 12484
Depth 11 3
Depth 10 453
Depth 9 839
Depth 8 560
Depth 7 996
Depth 6 2140
Depth 5 2988
Depth 4 875
Depth 3 409
Depth 2 1264
Depth 1 1957
Scrapyard 3
Materials 1852
Factory 2732
Research 926
Access 1957
Lower Caves 1266
Proximity Caves 798
Zion 579
Extension 1290
Cetus 334
Testing 747
Prototype IDs
---------------
Advanced Myomer Leg
Cooled Antigrav System
Improved Flight Unit
Improved VTOL Module
Experimental Heat Sink
Improved Energy Well
Experimental Energy Well
Precision Energy Filter
Experimental Actuator Array
Experimental Transmission Jammer
Centrium Medium Armor Plating
Experimental System Shield
Gamma Rifle
Improved Spread Laser
Cooled Plasma Rifle
Warp Gun
Heavy Quantum Rifle
Advanced Beam Cannon
Long-range Phase Cannon
Potential Cannon
Cooled Nova Cannon
Improved Potential Cannon
Improved Assault Rifle
Enhanced Coil Gun
Multirail
Perforator
Omega Cannon
Ionic Axe
Nanosword
Fabricated
------------
1x Hacking Suite (-4/Factory)
1x Hacking Suite (-4/Factory)
Alien Tech Used
-----------------
None
Route
-------
-11/Scrapyard
-10/Materials (discovered 2 exits: *Mat / [*Min])
-9/Materials
-8/Materials
-7/Factory (discovered 7 exits: *Fac x3 / *Sto x2 / *Low x2)
-6/Factory
-6/Lower Caves
-6/Lower Caves
-6/Zion
-5/Proximity Caves
-5/Factory (discovered 3 exits: *Upp x2 / *Ext)
-5/Extension (discovered 2 exits: *Fac / *Cet)
-5/Cetus (discovered 2 exits: *Fac / [*Arc])
-4/Factory
-3/Research
-2/Research
-2/Testing
-1/Access
To Epsilon Eridani
Challenges
------------
None
Game
------
Seed: DirtyStasisRegulator
Manual?: 0
Play Time: 368 min
Cumulative: 13863 min
Sessions: 18
Easy Mode: 0
Game No.: 154
Easier: 0
Easiest: 0
Win Type: 0
Total: 17
Types: 13/0/1/3/0/0/0
Lore%: 88
Gallery%: 85
Options
---------
ASCII: 0
Keyboard: 1
Movement: Vi
Kebinds: 0
Fullscreen: 1
Font: 12/Smallcaps
Map View: 83x54
FOV Handling: Fade In
Map Filters: NONE
Filters: NONE
Steam: 0
U=405710321
R=201220482
Combat has its perks in terms of fun :). Regarding your score, it's lower because you didn't destroy that many robots compared to a normal full-combat win, less than 200 as opposed to the usual 400~800. That and you can also really rack up bonus points by doing a lot of the destruction at higher alert levels, but you got less than 1k bonus points there.
Quotedecided to fool around a bit with the Bs (following Kyzrati's example) and left.
I love doing that, since you're already relatively safe and get to play with them when in general they're usually best avoided :)
Regarding your special weapon finds, while P is good and I agree the OC is not great, once you learn how to use PotCan they are easily one of the best weapons in the game, preferable over even P.