XCOM: Enemy Unknown aka the one where Haphazard dies repeatedly

[Sareln]

----------------------
REPORT: XCOM RESOURCES
----------------------
We are in pretty good shape. We have a number of unnecessary corpses, so I go ahead and sell of the stuff we're guarenteed to not need, or the stuff we have a lot of extras of, for $220. For reference, with our medikit research started we no longer have a use for thin-men corpses. Likewise, with Mutons, we only need to keep 4 corpses on hand for the Ammo Conservation project. The rest are just cash. Additionally, since we've already completed their autopsies, I go ahead and reduce our Sectoid and Floater corpse count down to multiples of 3 for the interceptor boosts later on. I've never used an interceptor boost to great effect, so if I've screwed us over, I swear it was necessary to get the armors and weapons we want, honest!




I also sold 2 navcomputers for $80 since my math told me I could squeeze in a workshop along with all our other stuff if I did so. I wanted the other workshop so that we don't need to take engineers on the abduction missions this month in order to get the engineers necessary for the Satellite Nexus next month. We currently have 38 engineers on staff, and gain 5/month from our satellite coverage. Naturally, the Nexus requires 45 engineers. So there we go.

Of course, immediately after I make that sale, the Japanese government requests alien nav comptuters offering $53, or about 125% market value for 3 nav computers. I'm sorely tempted, but figured that our monthly income is such that we probably don't need the money unless we're trying to do something fancy this month. Having analyzed our Alloy requirements, I don't think we can squeeze any more armor or weapons beyond what we're already planning: 1 Plasma Sniper Rifle, and 4 sets of Titan Armor.




We then detect and shoot down a small scout UFO over Canada. Given that the fight will be fairly straightforward and shouldn't be too dangerous, I decided to take the less experienced members of XCOM, anchored by Dazed Royalty for command. I basically equip for 85 AIM on everyone if possible. Since Tasunke is still a rookie, he gets the most aim help.







----------------------------
OPERATION: FALLING VENGEANCE
----------------------------



The team advances towards the fallen UFOs. During alien turns, we hear what sound like Mutons.










A Berzerker! Hopefully we have enough firepower to bring it down. With no heavies on the squad for this walk-about, we're missing our rockets.

Catwalk does yeoman service with that Laser Sniper Rifle. Catwalk's performance this mission was quite good, laying down quite a bit of damage and dropping 1 Muton personally.




Unfortunately, Dazed misses his reaction shot as the Berzerker charges and he's stuck in a pretty bad spot.




But the Bezerker doesn't attack him on its turn. If it charges a bunch of time due to shooting, does it run out of AP On its turn to attack? Regardless, we're in a decent place now, and with Tasunke nearby, I tap him to take the Berzerker, since the Mutons are still at large.







Congratulations on your first kill Tasunke.




Xenin and Amelia advance on a Muton that Catwalk has softened up from range.




Amelia lands her shot to clear the area around the UFO.




The team then advances to the UFO proper and downs the outsider (Dazed picks up this kill, since 35% is pretty bad).




That ends the mission and Tasunke is promoted to Sniper. Which means he'll probably never see combat again. Congratulations Tasunke!




We gain a number of alloys and I need to return to my math to see if we've got enough to make something truly spectacular happen this month.

NOTE: with such a small mission, I want to do another, so this is a halfway point report. Thanks for the patience!

[spellman]

That ends the mission and Tasunke is promoted to Sniper. Which means he'll probably never see combat again. Congratulations Tasunke!

lolololol.

I like carrying around at least 1 sniper still. In larger maps their extra firepower and almost guaranteed hits are quite the boon. Also, oh gods Scanners are AWESOME.

Still, maneuverability is awesome, and Heavies do tend to provide much more damage than a Sniper. So.... yeah. If you're my killing machine, you're stuck back in the barracks.

[dazedroyalty]

Good job sareln!

I think the issue with tasunke is just that we're talking a out a third string sniper now. Unless we royally good something up, we probably won't even need second string sniper!

[Sareln]

That ends the mission and Tasunke is promoted to Sniper. Which means he'll probably never see combat again. Congratulations Tasunke!

lolololol.

I like carrying around at least 1 sniper still. In larger maps their extra firepower and almost guaranteed hits are quite the boon. Also, oh gods Scanners are AWESOME.

Still, maneuverability is awesome, and Heavies do tend to provide much more damage than a Sniper. So.... yeah. If you're my killing machine, you're stuck back in the barracks.

The problem isn't that he's a sniper insomuch as he's our 4th sniper, and doesn't have squadsight while Catwalk and Ug do.

[pindicator]

If you're ever in need of cannon fodder please add my name to list!

[Sareln]

Do we have a master list of lurkers who want their names used by the way? I figure next month is going to be a bumper recruitment month as we embark on training up rookies with the iron-will perk in place looking for our psychic volunteer . Don't worry, nothing bad will happen to you, honest!

[Sareln]

Bwahahahaha, the math works!

[Sareln]

Fiscal Analysis - Prepared 15.7.2015

Executive Summary

By using Drs. Shen and Vahlen's projections from our last meeting, I estimate that we should be able to accomplish either of the two proposed build plans. Both plans require that XCOM accepts the offer from our Japanese friend for the UFO flight computers, and sells the extra Muton corpses from the last mission. Both of these plans will allow us to equip our entire response team with Drs. Shen and Vahlen's proposed Titan Armor as well as building a Plasma Sniper Rifle. The primary decision then, between Plan A and Plan B, is whether or not we wish to raise $16 or $140 from the gray market in order to fund the construction of an additional workshop and power generator in anticipation of our plans for next month.


In Depth Analysis

XCOM can currently raise or expect the following funds before the next council report period:

$0710 from Cash on Hand
$0161 from fulfilling the Japanese Request
$0009 from the completion of our currently building Workshop (7%)
$0008 from the completion of our research into advanced Medkits (7%)
$0015 from the sale of Muton Corpses not necessary for the research of Ammo Conservation.
---------
$0903 Total

---------
Plan A does not call for any additional construction beyond the initial replacement of one of our power generators with a workshop. Since that work has already begun, all analysis already includes the cost of that build order.

Dr. Shen estimates that after we finish constructing our 3rd workshop in 8 days, we will have enough engineers on staff to manufacture 6 suits of Titan Armor, 1 Plasma Rifle, and the Skeleton Key for a total cost of:

$0921

This would require us to raise an additional:

$18

It would probably be easiest to raise the funds by selling 3 Sectoid or Floater Corpses, and making up the remaining $3 with weapon fragments or a piece of Elerium. I strongly recommend that we do not sell any piece of alien alloy. Additionally, since weapons fragments are, by far, the easiest piece of alien salvage to acquire, I recommend that we sell only fragments if at all possible. It's not yet clear how much Elerium we will require in the near future.

---------
Plan B requires us to replace an additional power generator with another workshop, while rebuilding the generator deeper underground in order to ensure we have sufficient power for next month's planned satellite nexus. Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient Alien Alloy to build an Elerium Generator this month and meet our equipment goals. Such is the difficulty inherent in depending upon alien materials.

If we can build the additional Engineers, the budget will be as follows:

$0884 for Equipment Costs
$0135 for Replacing generator #3 with a Workshop
$0060 for Rebuilding generator #3 deeper within the base

With careful timing, we will also generate savings of:

$0018 for completing the Workshop with a 14% recovery from our 3 existing workshops
$0016 for completing the rebuild of generator #3 with a 28% recovery from our 4 workshops

For an overall plan cost of:

$1045

Which would require us to raise an additional:

$140

The easiest way to raise the required funds is to sell 2 UFO power supplies on the gray market for $150. Dr. Shen's predicted ratio for the theoretical Firestorm Advanced Aircraft is 2 nav computers and 1 power supply. After the Japanese sale, and reserving 2 flight computers for the Satellite Nexus and 2 power sources for an elerium generator (so we can later replace our remaining normal power generators with either laboratories or other structures) we are left with:

6 Flight Computers &
5 Power Sources

Selling 2 Power Sources will then give us the 2:1 ratio necessary for 3 firestorms, hopefully these will allow us to shoot down more UFOs and obtain the resources necessary to build more firestorms for global coverage.


Recommendation

As we are highly dependent upon the amount of Alien Alloys that we can scavenge from the alien invaders, I recommend build plan B. Each firestorm will need significant alien alloys to complete, and by cashing out 2 power supplies now, we can increase our alloy savings on both our currently planned equipment buys, and also on future buys in buildings, the foundry, and in the workshops themselves.


Supplements

Find attached a schematic of the current and proposed base layout under Plan B

[Ug the Barbarian]

Happy to go with Plan B - good analysis

Uberfish (UP)
Haphazard (on deck)
Dazedroyalty
Ug
Sareln (just played)

[uberfish]

Why do you need to sell the power generators? Is this just to get the workshop adjacency bonuses?