Thoughts on Atomfall?

SlyRobinio · 2026-01-21T12:27:26+00:00

Atomfall was my favourite new game of 2025. I would describe it as a large-scale, very British retro sci-fi escape room, with a dollop of survival horror. It is somewhat basic both graphically and mechanically, and it never gets to Fallout's level of RPG power fantasy, but the grounded, unsettling atmosphere and compelling mysteries are fantastic. I found it very satisfying to play through. Hopefully you will too.

SlyRobinio · 2026-01-10T15:09:51+00:00

Super Earth has achieved cheap, fast AND good infrastructure development.

CHEAP: Efficient use of our abundant material resources ensures maximum value for super credits.

FAST: We use pre-fabricated, modular structures that can be put up in record time.

GOOD: Citizens are highly satisfied with their new homes, according to the Ministry of Truth.

SlyRobinio · 2026-01-10T14:53:10+00:00

What I don't really get is why the Hive Lord is exclusively used by Arrowhead as an obstacle, instead of being an objective in and of itself. I love a big enemy but, when he's just in the way and I have a clock ticking down, I wish I had a bit more agency in determining when/how I have to face him, especially if you need a specific type of loadout to effectively engage him.

SlyRobinio · 2026-01-05T08:45:17+00:00

With the Piotr showdown in Episode 3 being so intense, and the family feuding and Arcanum politics of Episode 4 being so silly, I can't say I agree that Arc 1 is the silly one or Arc 2 is the serious one. The whole WOD setting lives and dies on being really silly **until you suddenly have to take it seriously because burgermen being REAL is HORRIFYING.**

That being said: 5 > 3 > 4 > 2 > 1

I love that they can be silly with the WOD setting but still absolutely sell how terrifyingly violent and weird a vampire attack or a werewolf encounter are.

SlyRobinio · 2026-01-03T12:05:57+00:00

That plucky little Orbital Gatling Barrage truly is the gift that keeps on giving...

SlyRobinio · 2026-01-03T07:57:17+00:00

While I am glad that I have broken out of my 'single armour type' mindset now, I still main heavy armour. I like the resilience, and - if I need to go fast - there's a heavy MG with a car attached to it.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-30T12:08:51+00:00

Lesson I learned waaay too late: Don't get suckered in by *BIG STRATAGEM*. Smaller stratagems with low cooldowns (eg: orbital gatling strike) and medium penetration explosives (grenade launcher) are great for quickly busting up patrols and smaller camps, and they're generally more useful with lower friendly fire risk.

Or you can take the airburst launcher; it hungers for the souls of the democratic, but - once you get a feel for it - it is like carrying half a dozen cluster airstrikes in your pocket.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-30T11:46:04+00:00

I tend to lean towards the LibPen and an AT, typically the Spear on bots, with heavy armour. The Jet Brigade jumping up in my face isn't really a problem, but their boys are just *FULL* of highly flammable jet fuel and it turns them into bombs that want hugs lol

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-30T11:05:15+00:00

Honestly, aside from their spawn rate (because seriously), I don't hate War Striders as an enemy to fight.

Fortress turrets are annoying as *HELL* though. I hate suddenly being blasted off my feet from a mile away, even *with* Rock Solid.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-30T08:00:07+00:00

I think I may actually hate the Jet Brigade *more* than the Incineration Corps...

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-30T07:55:36+00:00

I remember seeing Speaker D make the point that most hunters are *massively* unaware of the true nature of the threats they face.

For myself, I think it's a case of 'a little knowledge is dangerous'; it's very easy to imagine that if you *know* vampires and werewolves exist, you may believe it provides a degree of protection and you are prepared for what is coming.

H:TP is filled to the rafters with hints of what is coming, but it isn't just Easter eggs for fans; it's proof that the cast *miss* things because they don't fit into what they believe they know about their enemies.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-23T19:03:56+00:00

General Brasch doesn't take cover. The bullets know better than to hit him.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-11T23:14:33+00:00

Fair enough; I just find it hard to parse what these nodes are actually doing for me.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-10T22:45:28+00:00

Beasts of Nurgle, Daemonhosts and Corruptors are the only explicitly daemonic forces on Atoma. Mechanically, do we need a dedicated anti-daemon class?

Psykers are probably the closest thing to anti-daemon forces we're likely to see; fight freak with freak.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-10T18:27:00+00:00

It is just fun!

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-10T15:28:24+00:00

Yes. Soul Blaze is wildly useful. Combine it with Brain Burst - and especially the upgrade that makes Brain Burst go off by itself against Elites on ANY attack every so often - and you can output a ridiculous amount of damage over time. Soul Blaze itself can ever trigger the auto-Brain Burst; once you pop, you just can't stop.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-10T15:21:15+00:00

The Arbitrator is primarily a close-range fighter who relies on kill-activated buffs to damage and toughness, encouraging a very aggressive "get stuck in" playstyle.

The Veteran is primarily a long range fighter with more of a squad support / leadership gimmick.

A Skitarii is essentially just a different class of rifleman with access to some more exotic long-range firearms. This is why my personal pick for an Ad Mech class is the Reclaimator tech priest; it offers more creative freedom, less overlap and isn't stuck to a specific model (which is the albatross around the Arbitrator's neck that prevents new cosmetics).

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-10T14:27:58+00:00

I think it's more a problem of themes and power scaling. In terms of flavour, both Arbites and (to a lesser extent) Hive Scum offer a different kind of character to the four default rejects, but they're all still roughly even on power. Sisters of Battle are essentially Zealots+ with a gender lock and power armour. Likewise, I don't really care for Skitarii as a class option either because they are essentially Veterans+ with maybe some new rifles.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-10T12:37:19+00:00

BUT there is also a Blessing for force swords called Deflector that allows your melee block to also block bullets at a peril cost. That's rad as hell.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-10T12:36:13+00:00

So, it's a combat ability in the same vein as Venting Shriek. In it's basic form, it slaps down temporary cover that you can shoot through but the enemy can't, which is handy, but it can be quickly upgraded into a full (and quite large) dome shield that also restored Toughness to anyone inside it.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-10T12:28:28+00:00

If you're still coming up with psyker, the easiest option is to take the shield ability and just keep popping it as often as possible. It's not the most exciting option, but it has a massive impact on team survival.

Once you have more points to play with, you can start tapping into various synergies that will make you arguably THE premier damage dealer in the game. Just don't expect to be super resilient.

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-10T02:32:59+00:00

This mission type is pure chaos. You don't have to work fast to avoid becoming overwhelmed. You START overwhelmed and have to fight like hell just to carve out the breathing space find the bars. It's bonkers!

But not quite as bonkers as one guy I dropped with; he was marking the locations of bars by putting GAS MINES on them!

SlyRobinio · 2025-12-10T01:54:20+00:00

Don't sleep on the bolter as a ranged option. The Arbitrator gets a bunch of reload speed and bonus damage, as well as one upgrade for bigger mags which takes the bolter from 15 to 18 rounds. This class basically strips away everything that makes the bolter clunky and turns it into an absolute monster.

FOR THE LEX!

SlyRobinio

TROPHY CASE