(I was going to make some big, narrative intro, but let's face it, nobody cares.)
This is a Play by Post Let's Play of X-COM: Enemy Within!
This game will use the following effects:
Starting Continent: North America (As secretly selected by my Derail Thread a long time ago)
Normal Difficulty (Because I dislike the Aliens' cheating)
Second Wave Modifiers:
Damage Roulette (Weapons deal a more random amount of damage)
Not Created Equally (Soldiers have random starting stats)
Hidden Potential (Soldiers' stat increases are randomized)
Training Roulette (Soldiers' Perk selections are {somewhat} randomized)
Aiming Angles (Aim bonuses are applied the more you flank an enemy)
This will result in every soldier being entirely unique, and force people to actually use tactics and their own unique capabilities to survive. This also means that just because you end up with a class you dislike, doesn't mean you won't get the chance to take skills you really like. (I actually tend to get my supports and assualts mixed up with Training Roulette a lot.)
To Join the game, simply state that you wish to join, I will give you a random Rookie level soldier, and change their name to your username in some way.
If you end up with a terrible character, who ends up getting terrible perk options, then hopefully we'll have the resources to genetically/cybernetically modify you to make you good.
If you want to also change their look, tell me what you want, and I'll get as close to it as I can. I'll also let you change their name (and nickname if you live that long!)
Keep in mind that your character may be male or female. It's pretty random, along with nationality.
I will let everything be up to you guys, choices of what rooms get build where, who gets awarded medals, who gets chosen for modifications and everything. Which countries to assist and which to ignore.
Combat will be done turn by turn. Will this make a simple mission take over a week? Most likely. But it'll also be more fun!
So with that out of the way, I've completed the first mission to get it out of the way, so you guys begin at headquarters. (3 of the soldiers in the barracks are Squaddies, but I'll hold onto them as unclaimed for now to keep everyone at Rookie level to be fair.)
(With the exception of Elephant Parade getting to start as a Squadie support, to make up for me getting his test character killed by mistake.)
(http://cloud-3.steampowered.com/ugc/703984854463191553/0C382A436F26DB7D39AD7780704C52FFB138FCAE/)
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/703984854463187356/A3D75833C0ABEEB89481931940A3B84072191DA5/)
We have 375 credits. Building a satellite would cost 100, and we start with one.
I'll let people sign up, and make votes on what the first base actions will be, and then run it until a mission opportunity comes up.
CURRENT SOLDIERS:
Elephant Parade (Squaddie Support): Aim 57, Will 59
Death Sword (Rookie): Aim 65, Will 55
Dark Paladin (Rookie): Aim 65, Will 45
Darkening Kaos (Rookie): Aim 65, Will 41
High Max (Rookie): Aim 65, Will 29
Hatman Remuthra (Rookie): Aim 70, Will 51
Player of Games (Rookie): Aim 55, Will 59
Gentleman Raptor (Rookie): Aim 65, Will 57
Deceased:
Irony Owl (Rookie): Aim 80, Will 43. Died on first mission to Sectoid scum.
Waitlist:
TomatoWalrus
Yoink
MonkeyHead
Execute/Dumbo
Altasian
Irony Owl
Mephansteras (Raven)
4maskwolf
squidgen
(I'm gonna need to hire more soldiers...)
The commander strode into the barracks, watching as the men and women were engaged in a rousing game of cards.
"Who wants to get shot by aliens?"
The whole barracks suddenly stopped what they were doing, in a mix of surprise and confusion. One person actually toppled backwards out of their chair. The commander scooped up a small handful of nearby cards, and threw them at the congregation of rookies.
"Those of you that got hit with a card, follow me."
He walked out of the room, and in the hallway he had already set up a rack with 4 grenades and 4 medikits, made just minutes before.
He turned around. "This everyone?"
"I got hit with two cards, sir."
"Don't care, everyone grab your equipment, and get your rifles, and meet me at the hanger.'
The soldiers quickly rushed the rack, and grabbed the grenades.
"Seriously, guys? The Doc already got on me for you guys blowing up everything!"
With that, Irony Owl grabbed a lone medikit, and scampered off after the rest.
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/792934719387692353/435CE4D8A4D2F5250307DF76ED1DF31EC9FD8535/)
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/792934719387891813/FEC065F5F3ED89D4320277CE6B7CD7F497B36D80/)
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/792934719387893131/B1641EBE3C4432403A1D12580243D93606BF29F1/)
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/792934719387896447/2F09BABC12C41E532F823A82524237ACDBD4EE14/)
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/792934719387898905/F37B3DB454714044B0CAB4A4863BB6C74D012B50/)
Operation Severed Breath
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/792934719387971062/7C6A545CE4E07E9194846BD6088BA6D64FFC5C52/)
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/792934719387976609/8C0F161FF0E0D6D73086FBCE52572E3736C84D11/)
Darkening Kaos
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Grenade]
Hatman Remuthra
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Grenade]
Dark Paladin
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Grenade]
Irony Owl
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Medikit]
Darkening Kaos
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Grenade]
Hatman Remuthra
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Grenade]
Dark Paladin
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Grenade]
Irony Owl
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Medikit]
Irony Owl starts to advance slowly over to the strange alien pod, using the cars as cover.
Remuthra moves up to a close car, he can see one of those Meld canisters through a window. He readies his rifle.
Kaos follows, and moves up next to Remuthra, rifle at the ready.
Paladin moves up to another car, but still can't see the enemy, so she readies her gun.
ENEMY TURN:
Nothing happens that you can see.
(http://cloud-3.steampowered.com/ugc/792934719421560828/8C6AC95DD649878D02376B0D6EEBA697AE1D183B/)
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Grenade]
Hatman Remuthra
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Grenade]
Dark Paladin
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full][Grenade]
Irony Owl
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Medikit]
The Hatman can't move all the way up to the door in a single move, so he moves up to the window and peeks through.
He doesn't see any movement, so he readies his rifle.
Kaos runs up to the other side of the door, and when she looks through a nearby window, she sees movement!
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/792934719491037146/F7FC64A13F6C3DE6FC69ECC09E4AA4B5B55D3E7B/)
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/792934719491039435/8E6F732F575D33DC1C7C0709D9DE325A07B879D4/)
Irony Owl moves up to the truck door.
Paladin moves up to the door, and opens it, she can see the aliens that Kaos spotted, so she opens fire! She misses!
ENEMY TURN:
The alien that's farther back uses its mental shield to protect the one in front, and it opens fire on Paladin, but only succeeds in taking out some scenery!
(Steam is messing up and won't let me upload pictures for some reason, basically, Remuthra, Paladin, and Kaos are all along the wall of the building, looking through windows and whatnot, and the aliens are on the other side of the building. Irony is by the truck, and just out of range of the aliens. When Paladin took that shot, it was only a 25% chance to hit.)
Kaos opens up the door to the building, she can't get a shot in, so she stays at the ready.
There isn't enough cover in between Owl's location and the building, so she sprints up to a nook in the building wall where the enemy shouldn't be able to get a shot in. As she moves, two more hostiles reveal themselves far out to the west side of the building! They run for cover, they're very far away right now.
Paladin moves up inside the building, and fires on the Mind-Melder, but misses!
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/796314802486540378/6781A8B840FBA9E6A81B2902458B27667B1708C2/)
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/796314802486542935/B26C8E323355C7889B72AA1C1218D05C023C6BA4/)
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/796314802486544459/DEE57897D8B67C58C5D9D397C321CFDFEE8400E2/)
ALIEN TURN:
After some wait, and alien empowered by psychic ability runs from the place where Owl saw them, and shots and kills Owl!
(http://cloud-3.steampowered.com/ugc/796314802486545934/D54629CBC312A768BAE80E245C4C89859E1EBCD7/)
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/796314802486547195/477DFA79E24081EE6A38B957F8010FAC1BDF1629/)
Darkening Kaos
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full][Grenade]
Hatman Remuthra
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Full]
Dark Paladin
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Half empty][Grenade]
Irony Owl
[Dead]
Ok, honestly, with the way Owl was moving, they were actually moving away from the fog of war, those aliens should not have been uncovered by that movement.
And now you've just lost your medic.
Kaos isn't able to make it to the Meld container, but can get close. She ducks behind the wall to provide cover, and takes aim at the fell beast, but misses!
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/796315865951543423/1A13323B2DEEADB3E2F2304063B01E5D3D692457/)
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/796315865951545257/9B8DB2B9848CDEAC8C6917742B85B21E47CC2172/)
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/796315865951547133/F0C1917F9A146673CA083F19BF7ED17524838DFC/)
Paladin, failing to see anymore scum to blow up, moves up to a window and watches for movement and retaliation.
ALIEN TURN:
No movement.
(http://cloud-3.steampowered.com/ugc/796315865951548661/EC2B05E0C6E6AECE8840446E6EFD3D0E762B014E/)
Darkening Kaos
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full][Grenade]
Hatman Remuthra
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full]
Dark Paladin
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Half empty][Grenade]
Irony Owl
[Dead]
Remuthra is now guaranteed a promotion at the end of this encounter, so don't get yourself killed!
I positioned the camera so you could see the second Meld canister over to the right. Keep in mind that there is still another sectoid over to the left, where the other one came from.
Kaos runs over to the odd Meld Container and scoops up the goodies. Then runs and hides in a corner by the shelves.
Paladin moves up to the perfectly suitable canister for cover, and watches for the alien scum.
Remuthra moves up to the door by Paladin, and also watches.
ALIEN TURN:
Kaos could hear movement up to the north-west.
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/796315865980682988/40D51A01C28255FB91701987CBA984AA23A96048/)
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/796315865980684239/AD7B562AD8AA281858EC11416D75316B6CB61859/)
Darkening Kaos
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full][Grenade]
Hatman Remuthra
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full]
Dark Paladin
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Half empty][Grenade]
Irony Owl
[Dead]
Paladin and Remuthra take up places a bit farther back and hold their rifles at the ready.
ALIEN TURN:
No movement.
(just going to go ahead and move up Kaos to the proper spot now.)
Kaos inches forward and overwatches. Where'd that jerk go?
Remuthra also moves up to the window. He can't see them either.
Paladin moves back a bit. She could move up to join her comrades next turn, or go for the other Meld container before it expires.
In any case, she readies her rifle in case of any alien shenanigans.
ALIEN TURN:
Kaos can hear the alien now. It must have moved into the building next door.
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/792938544891471082/434083B8171A14668B4E7C92043D9B0701657EF3/)
(http://cloud-4.steampowered.com/ugc/792938544891472345/CF8C201C5E4FF4A49F435846AB5321AE0185645F/)
Darkening Kaos
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full][Grenade]
Hatman Remuthra
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full]
Dark Paladin
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Half empty][Grenade]
Irony Owl
[Dead]
I'd like to request a wait list spot. And I also humbly ask that my limbs be amputated so I can punch off the aliens's
added
Kaos moves up to behind the strange alien pod. She doesn't see anything yet, so she overwatches.
Remuthra reluctantly moves over to Kaos' previous position, since it's more useful and just as good. He then sits on his lazy butt, holding his rifle up.
Paladin decides to get that Meld, and moves up to a hole in the wall nearby, since there isn't any cover inbetween her and the container. She then hold her rifle ready, in case the Meld is a lure for a trap.
ALIEN TURN:
Nobody hears a thing.
Paladin then dashes over to the container, so she can collect it right before it can expire.
Kaos and Remuthra hold position, waiting for the enemy to move first.
ALIEN TURN:
Kaos can hear the bastards moving around in the other building.
(http://cloud-3.steampowered.com/ugc/792938544916457165/856E66632ED7369EEFC3404CBA6E45A19F37C8A4/)
Darkening Kaos
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full][Grenade]
Hatman Remuthra
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full]
Dark Paladin
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Half empty][Grenade]
Irony Owl
[Dead]
I went ahead and had Paladin grab the Meld before saving, since it doesn't take a turn.
Also, I'm trying to speed up the non-combat parts by doing two turns at a time, is that good for you guys?
OH LOOK THE GAME ISN'T DEAD, THE GM IS JUST LAZY
Dark Paladin runs back into the building, as Remuthra holds his rifle steady, and Kaos pulls the pin off of her grenade.
(http://cloud-3.steampowered.com/ugc/796316693162284285/DCD99614262ECCA2B5CAC0C0749130E8C186FF59/)
ALIEN TURN:
An alien at the far end of the second floor of the building runs and hides, but it's too far for Remuthra to get a shot in.
(http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/796316693162286377/DEAD6FC9A1D6E3FA56CB5697D77EDE8C36A19060/)
Darkening Kaos
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full]
Hatman Remuthra
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Almost Full]
Dark Paladin
[Health:6/6][Rifle: Half empty][Grenade]
Irony Owl
[Dead]