XCOM Playthrough

Let me know if you want to volunteer to be a MEC trooper. Just keep in mind that they gain XP slower than normal soldiers, plus they can't get tested for the Gift (Psionic powers).
If my character can't be qualified for the Gift, then let him go MEC. Seriously, I want my character to become the volunteer so he could be that "one brony who saved humanity" or something like that. Then again, making him an ED with a human head sounds rather cool.
 
We've had a bit of luck, no alien sightings in a while, so we've had plenty of time to science.

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The alien materials research is complete and it allows us to build Nano-fiber vests. They'll give us a slight boost to our health. I've built two and given them to C-no and Flynn.

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Because of this, we've unlocked the Carapace Armour to research. But that can wait while we research Meld.

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Well, it's the end of the month, which means we get paid! It's not much now, but by launching satellites over other countries, they'll give us additional funding, plus engineers and scientists.

Since it's been quiet lately, we've been able to research Meld in relative peace.


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MEC suits for everyone!

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Of course, there are alternatives to MEC troopers. We can also genetically engineer our soldiers, giving them new abilities. We can gain more abilities by performing autopsies on the aliens.

With those out of the way, I've gone ahead and started to research Carapace Armour, because even with our nano-fiber vests, our standard armour just isn't cutting it. If we run into a chrysalid now, we'd be pretty much screwed.

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Right now though, we've got another Council mission to go on.
 
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Operation Cryptic Smoke. Appropriate name, considering that this mission sets up the EXALT mission arc.

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The CWCki Squad makes their way through the rubble of that building, and what should we see but...

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Snake men Thin men. Yay.

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Flynn kills the first one and Khan blows up the second one.

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More thin men show up.

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But Napalm quickly takes care of it.

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Bradford steps in to point out that the French corpses littering the area are bullet riddled and not plasma riddled. Wonder who could be responsible?

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Probably that jerk, not to be confused with Some JERK.


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Napalm manages to get on the roof of the building and snipe the last thin man.

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The CWCki squad retrieves the survivor, only for thin men reinforcements to drop in behind them. Fortunately, Surtur, Khan and Napalm make quick work of them.

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A sectoid and another thin man land on the first building, ready to fire.


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Well, I think we can count the sectoid out.

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Surtur and Napalm get shot by the last thin man, but Surtur manages to retaliate, allowing the survivor to get to the Skyranger.

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Ha! Oh, we are gonna torture the shit out of this guy!

Surtur and Napalm are injured (weirdly enough, Napalm is out for 9 days, even though he only took 2 damage, but Surtur is out for 5, while taking 4).

Also, promotions! Napalm is now a sergeant. He's now Bat "Emo" Napalm. Yes, seriously. Surtur and Khan are now Corporals and Flynn is an Assault Squaddie.
 
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Operation Broken King. Now, you have to admit, that just sounds badass. Also, since Emo Napalm reached sergeant, we can increase the CWCki Squad to five members instead of four.

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Cue the suitably dynamic entrance, into a graveyard. Well, that's ominous. Hang on, I need to find some sufficiently spooky music.

There we go.


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A nest of thin men and sectoids show up, slithering out of a crypt.

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But C-no manages to kill one.

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One of the sectoids shots at Saney, but fires way over his head. It seems that sectoids are the alien equivalent of Saney when it comes to shooting skills.

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Aw, shit, now we've got Cthulus!

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Invisible Cthulus.

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And Saney misses again. Gee, what a surprise. Well, at least he didn't hit the Meld.

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Wow, sectoids really are the alien versions of Saney.

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Damn it, C-no! You hit the Meld!

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The first Cthulu uncloaks to attack Khan and everyone except Khan takes a shot at it...and everyone except Saney hits it. Fuck's sakes.

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*sigh*

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Well, at least the mission's over, we managed to retrieve some Meld and no one got hurt.

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No time to rest though, we've got a new UFO to shoot down. This one's a Medium Scout though, so it should be a little tougher. Raven-2 is sent to intercept it.

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Ouch. Yeah, Raven-2 is going to be out of commission for a while. Now that the flyboys have softened it up, it's time for the grunts to finish them off.
 
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Operation Silent Throne. Here's hoping this streak of awesome mission names doesn't run out.

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A few sectoids clamber out of the wreckage of their ship.

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Khan kills one, but C-no misses the other. The survivor scampers off.

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C-no hears something suspicious, so the CWCki Squad investigates. Turns out it's a whole pack of sectoids.

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Saney finally manages to kill something.

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And Khan misses for once.

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Unfortunately, the sectoids are soon reinforced by thin men.

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And now its very hit-and-miss. C-no and Taggert miss, but Caffeinated Wench hits.

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Which sucks for C-no, considering he's out in the open. The sectoid scores a critical hit, leaving him with just one hit point. Fortunately, sectoids are stupid, so instead of finishing him off, they opt to shoot at Saney afterwards, but miss. Fortunately, Saney has a medkit on hand.

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Against the odds, Khan hits the sectoid who's linked with another, killing both with the psionic backlash.

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Caffeinated Wench manages to get a passing blow on one of the thin men.

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The thin men retaliate, missing Saney, but managing to do minor damage to Taggert.

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Fortunately, Khan puts them down for good.

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Alright, a new flight computer! We can now research this when we get back.

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Storming the UFO, Khan manages to put down the last crewmember, an Outsider.

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Well, we didn't get all of the Meld and C-no was grievously injured, but Khan and Saney got promoted, so silver lining!

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Back at the base, we've finally finished research Carapace Armour, which is sure to be useful. Now that's out of the way, what do we research next? Xeno-Biology, Experimental Warfare, the Alien Nav Computer, the UFO Power Source, Precision Lasers, Heavy lasers or the Skeleton Suit?
 
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Operation Silent Throne. Here's hoping this streak of awesome mission names doesn't run out.

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A few sectoids clamber out of the wreckage of their ship.

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Khan kills one, but C-no misses the other. The survivor scampers off.

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C-no hears something suspicious, so the CWCki Squad investigates. Turns out it's a whole pack of sectoids.

AADE0113D06F075CE7BB63AE38A23819836EC68E
Saney finally manages to kill something.

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And Khan misses for once.

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Unfortunately, the sectoids are soon reinforced by thin men.

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And now its very hit-and-miss. C-no and Taggert miss, but Caffeinated Wench hits.

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Which sucks for C-no, considering he's out in the open. The sectoid scores a critical hit, leaving him with just one hit point. Fortunately, sectoids are stupid, so instead of finishing him off, they opt to shoot at Saney afterwards, but miss. Fortunately, Saney has a medkit on hand.

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Against the odds, Khan hits the sectoid who's linked with another, killing both with the psionic backlash.

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Caffeinated Wench manages to get a passing blow on one of the thin men.

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The thin men retaliate, missing Saney, but managing to do minor damage to Taggert.

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Fortunately, Khan puts them down for good.

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Alright, a new flight computer! We can now research this when we get back.

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Storming the UFO, Khan manages to put down the last crewmember, an Outsider.

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Well, we didn't get all of the Meld and C-no was grievously injured, but Khan and Saney got promoted, so silver lining!

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Back at the base, we've finally finished research Carapace Armour, which is sure to be useful. Now that's out of the way, what do we research next? Xeno-Biology, Experimental Warfare, the Alien Nav Computer, the UFO Power Source, Precision Lasers, Heavy lasers or the Skeleton Suit?
Thank you Saney for the medkit. I don't want to die just yet. And sorry for destroying the meld, I just can't believe I got promoted, what rank am I?
 
Thank you Saney for the medkit. I don't want to die just yet. And sorry for destroying the meld, I just can't believe I got promoted, what rank am I?
You're a corporal now, so you outrank Caffeinated Wench and Taggert.
 
I do wonder, who is the highest ranked member of the CWCki squad?
Sergeant Bat "Emo" Napalm and sergeant Unwise "Flash" Khan.
 
With the progress you have in the game, I bet it wouldn't take long for them to reach the highest rank.
Depends. If either of them get turned into MECs, it slows down XP gain and makes it a bit harder.
 
Depends. If either of them get turned into MECs, it slows down XP gain and makes it a bit harder.
Since you are a dang dirty shazbot, would you want to become a MEC?
 
Maybe research precision lasers next so that I can have my laser sniper rifle and the heavies can have their scatter blasters.
 
I find that the best tactic against the Chryssalids is constant overwatching due to their aggression and how they're infighters.
 
If you still haven't renamed the medals, here's some funny ones from the steam forum by someone named Nelo112.
"The Coward's Honor", "Hide yo fool!" or "Hide Behind the Badge" for the +defense medal
"Litteraly So Brave" or "The Brain of a Child" fo the never-panic medal
"Will via Visa" or "I ain't no racist" for the +will for diversity medal
"Such Heal Much Medic" for the +2 heal medal
"Aim for the World" or "What the ♥♥♥♥ kind of sense does this make" for the medal that gives +2 Aim for every continent bonus you have.
 
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Contacts over the USA, but Raven-1 manage to intercept and neutralise
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Time to try out the new armour. Taggert and Saney get the only pairs. Taggert because his shotgun means he has to go up close and personal and Saney because...well, it's me, and I'm just too important to die.
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Operation First Fist is a go. Caffeinated Wench will be sitting this one out in order to recieve genetic augmentation and Khan is undergoing surgery to become a MEC trooper.


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Disembarking, the CWCki Squad quickly runs into a pair of sectoids.

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Saney manages to get into position to kill one. Surpisingly enough, he hits it on the very first try.


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The surviving sectoid attempts to retaliate, but misses.

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The shooting draws the attention of a pair of thin me, who rush to reinforce their sectoid comrade.

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Surtur takes aim...and misses.

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Although Saney manages to wing the surviving sectoid and Taggert kills one of the thin men.

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Unfortunately, the last sectoid manages to hit Saney.

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Although Saney manages to finish it off.

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Surtur takes a reaction shot at a thin man as it attempts to rush him, but misses, as does Napalm.

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Fortunately, Surtur manages to put it down before it can do any damage.

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Approaching the ship, Taggert triggers the Outsder. Thankfully, he manages to destroy it in short order.

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Well, mission First Fist was a success, no one was hurt and Tagget even got promoted! Now, maybe we can sit back for a few days and hope nothing happ-

Oh, fuck.
 
Is it sad that I'm just now noticing that Surtur looks like a paler version of Clyde Cash?
 
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