I can choose which direction to use the Ranger's Slash from with the mouse, but using a skulljack activates the GUI where you can't seem to change the attack direction.
How do I choose the attack direction?
I can choose which direction to use the Ranger's Slash from with the mouse, but using a skulljack activates the GUI where you can't seem to change the attack direction.
How do I choose the attack direction?
As of the May 2016 patch (released at the same time as the Alien Hunters DLC), this user interface is a big better. You select the action like Skullmine, and each of the spaces around the targeted enemy from where the attack is valid (not the far side of a solid wall) will be highlighted in yellow. Left-click on one of those spaces and the soldier will run to that spot then perform the skulljack attack.
In the vanilla base game, you can't.
Unfortunate as it is, you can rest easy that the automatically picked angle often is in cover, and is generally in the direction you're approaching from.
Yes, in the base game you can't choose the attack like you can do with a sword attack.
Even with sword attacks, once you choose sword attack you cannot switch the angle anymore, instead you just have to position the cursor and wait for the sword icon to appear towards the enemy in order to attack from that angle, which is a bit stupid anyway.
Nevertheless you can always position yourself next to the enemy, wherever you want and then use skulljack attack.
It helps a lot if you have Run&Gun! Especially if you are fortunate enough for a specialist of yours to get Run&Gun (Hidden Ability). That's when you know this is gonna be the best campaign :)