XCOM: Enemy Unknown aka the one where Haphazard dies repeatedly

[Ug the Barbarian]

Crap! Crap! What can we say, poor catwalk? It was your own fault for running the long way around.

What? He did nothing? YES! Troops saved by random alien-does-nothing bug that occurs from time to time.

Yes! Captured a Commander!

Good work with the capture. Not much you can do about the game bugs but at least you're keeping your audience involved

Got the save and will hopefully be able to play today. Anyone got any burning issues they feel I need to address ?

[Sareln]

Satellites and Psychics. You've got the bridge .

[Ug the Barbarian]

Satellites and Psychics

OK looking through the save, our biggest issue is around facilities




As you can see, we can't do anything until power expansion is complete.
Priorities would seem to be Satellite Nexus (below Alien Containment? - Satellites complete in 16 days) and an Access Lift to lowest level. We're also very close to Psi Labs and Hyperwave Relay being available to build.

Looking at our soldiers, we also need to advance a second sniper to replace Catwalk but we have depth on pretty much all the other positions.




We complete Heavy Plasma research in 1 day then instantly interrogate and then autopsy a Sectoid Commander which opens up Psi Labs. Next research target is HyperWave Communication (FAST - 2 days).

The first power generator completes and gives us a surplus of 8 power, which is exactly what a Satellite Nexus needs. Looks like Psi Lab & Access Lift will have to wait until Elerium Generator is complete.

Start building Satellite Nexus (takes 21 days - Council Report 30 days away) and also build one Heavy Plasma and a fourth Titan Armour. This takes our remaining alloys down to 23.

Hyperwave Communication completes (making HyperWave Relay available) and I start us on New Fighter Craft (7 days) with a view to us getting a couple built (Alloys allowing) before Overseer UFOs.

Ammo Conservation completes and then we get this request




As we're now onto Plasma Weapons, I go with it even though the engineers won't make much difference

The Scope upgrade also completes and so does New Fighter Craft research. We're yet again short of weapon fragments to research more weapons, so I go for Ghost Armour, even if it costs us a precious 15 more alloys.




Elerium Generator completes giving us a nice rebate




Start an Access Lift and Psi Labs (leaving us 14 alloys left - HyperWave Relay needs 10).

Finally we get a mission but its Abduction Sites so probably no nice alloys

We get the choice of :

Uk - New Recruit : Support (Captain)
Australia - $200
China - 4 Scientists

We don't really need any of them as we're nearly through the research track, have two support Colonels already and plenty of money coming in.

I choose the UK mission for a new recruit as at least it allows another forum volunteer who might see action and another possible Psi candidate.

We go with a fairly inexperienced squad to try and get a few promotions. Tasunke loses the toss with Brian Shanahan on who gets the Plasma Sniper Rifle.

[Ug the Barbarian]

We start off in the train yard




We spot a pair of Heavy Floaters off to the left almost immediately. One ducks out of sight




We spread out in cover so as not to attract grenades but can't get a good shooting position. The Heavy Floaters decide they don't like Brian and blaze away at him with one knocking him down to two health. Two Mutons also wander into the fight. Xenin has a pop at them but misses




As the Mutons are flanking us, Commodore lets fly with a shredder rocket at them.




Brian shoots at a Muton but misses. Tasunke shows him how it’s done and kills the other.
Amelia moves up and tries for the remaining Muton but misses.
Xenin moves to flank the nearest Heavy Floater




He kills it with two shots and earns a promotion.
Pindicator rushes up to help out his exposed colleagues




... but misses.
Pindicator comes under fire from multiple sources, is hit once and suppressed.
Another alien patrol moves in, this time a Cyberdisk and drone




Commodore takes two bursts at the Cyberdisk with his HEAT ammo, hitting on the second for 16 damage.
Amelia closes with the Muton




and kills it earning a promotion

Brian hits and Cyberdisk with a plasma bolt and it explodes.
Pindicator hunkers down and Xenin rapid fires at the Heavy Floater but misses both shots.
The aliens both retreat out of sight.

We improve our positions and settle into overwatch.

The Heavy Floater pops out and Pindicator takes a shot but misses. Two thinmen also join the fight. Amelia spots them immediately and turns one into a cloud of acid.

Xenin again flanks a Heavy Floater and kills it with two shots




Amelia moves up but misses the drone. Commodore moves up & finishes it
Overwatch fire from Amelia and Commodore vapourises the last thinman

Mission Complete




We also get three promotions




Xenin has option of 'Close Combat Specialist' or 'Bring 'em on'
Pindicator has either 'Tactical Sense' or 'Aggression'
Amelia has either 'Field Medic' or 'Smoke and Mirrors'

Surprisingly we do get 20 Alien Alloys from the mission along with the obvious corpses etc.

Suggest the next priority is to get the last two satellites in production, excavate next to the access lift and build the Hyperspace Relay.

Save attached
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/122593020/RB%20Items/save512

[pindicator]

Awesome! I got a promo for missing every time i shot
Do we have any assault down the aggression line? I think i always go lightning reflexes so i am tempted to ask for aggression here.

[dazedroyalty]

Awesome! I got a promo for missing every time i shot
Do we have any assault down the aggression line? I think i always go lightning reflexes so i am tempted to ask for aggression here.

I don't think we do. In a personal game I have gone down that road and it can be really nice to run up to charge in and rapid fire the allow cannon with guaranteed Critical damage that is boosted by # of visible aliens. You can kill almost any alien for sure that way (Sectopod being the only iffy one but I've done that before). It could be fun to have one of these guys.

[Sareln]

Maybe there are alloys gained for downing a cyberdisk/drone/heavy floater/heavy muton? I have no idea.

I'll be able to get this tonight, in about 6 hours or so.

[dazedroyalty]

Buyers beware! If anyone buys the new DLC they will no longer be able to participate in the SG!!!

http://forums.2kgames.com/showthread.php...t-campaing!!!!

[Sareln]

Buyers beware! If anyone buys the new DLC they will no longer be able to participate in the SG!!!

http://forums.2kgames.com/showthread.php...t-campaing!!!!

That's pretty terrible.

[haphazard1]

Maybe there are alloys gained for downing a cyberdisk/drone/heavy floater/heavy muton? I have no idea.

You can get some alloys from mechanical enemies: drones, cyberdisks, and sectopods.

Unfortunate news about the DLC breaking saved games, but it does not appear to be intentional as some saves do still work. Hopefully that will get resolved quickly -- Firaxis not looking good on this one.