This episode of X-Com Files starts with the GuyTruck parked in a really bizarre spot. I'm pretty sure real cops would have a problem with Mr. Pikachu's parking.
The Reds. One of them has a baseball bat, the other packs an AK. Ms. Big also has an AK, because I forgot to change people's loadouts.
The ambush is ready. Mr. Particular was investigating a warehouse to the north, so he's going to miss the fun, but it's okay since he's always getting all the fun.
That was easy. Two free AK-47 clips for us.
Another ambush, this time risk-free.
inb4 that guy has dynamiteThe ganger tried to bail, so Ms. Gigantism shot him twice in the back. That's what he gets for not resisting arrest hard enough.
The standard shotgun. Snap shots are much more accurate than with the pump-action, but aimed shots are a little bit less accurate. This baby spits 15 pellets 5 damage each, while pump-action fires 15x5. The real difference is that this one can fire AP slugs that can hurt armored targets. Let's research tonfa next. If we're supposed to be arresting people, we should have nightsticks for administering police brutality.
That was fast. Tonfa gets damage bonuses from strength and melee accuracy, so it may be better than stun batons for more quick-handed agents. Now it's time to research a supporter of Dagon. We'll have all main cult arcs besides EXALT started.
Research ho! The megascorpion is, unsurprisingly, a large scorpion. Apparently we needed to research a monster, not cult operations for a summary report, so we know what we'll be researching next. That and an abducted farmer, because large glock research is done. It's actually large glock clip, so that was a waste.
Oh, these guys are actual cultists! Much better than gopniks and evil karate kids. We won't be seeing those guys for too long.
And he taught us about double-barreled shotguns! Deadly accurate, and can potentially fire six shells in one turn, which means 85x5. Granted, the range is abysmal compared to other shotguns, but getting ambushed by a cultist packing this baby could be bad. Oh, and we're researching magnum now.
Slow day today, huh? The big iron makes bigger holes in people, but is slower to shoot and has slightly smaller range than our colts. That unlocked researching something called The Kludge. I'd rather have the nerds working on alien fuel traces instead.
MEDIOCRE. At least we've been WITNESSED by some council members.
The Flavor Delivery truck embarked to Brazil to investigate strange creatures sighting. Meanwhile, a farmer told us that pitchforks don't make good weapons. You pretty much need the enemy to approach you first before you stab them with this junk. Maybe if we research medicine, we'll learn how to fight using IV stands as quarterstaves.
The truck couldn't make it to Brazil on time, so how about more research? Or not, Red Dawn in Mecca, Church of Dagon in Niamey (apparently capital of Niger), strange creatures in Japanese wilderness. All in one day.
Team A landed in Mecca. They may or may not be surrounded from all sides, there's just no way to know.
Mr. Pikachu found the first suspect in the butcher's shop. The ganger has an SMG of some sort, so let's back off.
Mr. Pikachu zapped once, and failed. We've stunned a piece of meat though. Mystery meat arc when?
Red dawn ganger made one fatal slip - he tried to match the agent with the big iron on his hip. Stunning is nice and dandy, but one 49% shot wouldn't do it. Apparently the guy had a Skorpion SMG. Not some kind of super-gun, but enough to make a few holes in Mr. Pikachu. After all that the gopnik survived thanks to Pikachu's medkit.
Ms. Big found the other suspect after a long bug hunt. He's sitting in an office in this crummy building. Tried to gun him down through the window, but Ms. Big isn't the best of shots.
He's hiding in that cupboard, isn't he?
There was an emergency exit in there the whole time? Son of a gun got away!
He ran into this building. Mr. Particular and Ms. Gigantism are ready to breach.
That wasn't needed after all. Now all we have to do is hit him on the head with a stick and we can go home. Two whacks and it's done.
I'm sorry, Rince Wind, but you're a horrible agent. Maybe if you came to us in the late game you could be a powerful psychic, but as it is now, you should hit the gym.
Great, both calls expired before team B returned from Brazil. We need a base in the Americas sooner or later.
Zamboni corpse researched. They went with parasite instead of virus or fungus. I'm a big fan of voodoo magic zambonis myself, but I could hardly imagine those becoming a world-scale threat.
So now we have to investigate cult activity. Have to research some specific topics, but I was about to do that anyway. For now, one more nerd for medicine, one for Skorpion.
Monsters in Argentina. No.
It's actually trash. I should have researched UZI first. In Piratez Skorpion fires incendiary rounds, so it's a game changer early on. Here? Not so much. Now it's time for our first promotion.
We're not The Bureau anymore, and we haven't killed a single Zudjari. And ethereals still have physical bodies. And silacoids aren't pools of black goo. Man, whatever happened in the 60s?
A lot of research has been unlocked. We could go for hunting rifles to have some long range coverage.
It counts as a sniper rifle - unlimited range and 50% CQC penalty. Better than BB guns we'd be using if there were suitable missions.
While the A team is traveling to Mojave, our nerd crew finished studying throwing knives. They found out those are the favorites of edgy kids, and that a total chump won't hurt anybody with them. It's all about throwing accuracy. TU cost is fixed, which isn't exactly good for slower agents.
Red Dawn network and UZI are next.
This gun is better than Skorpion only because it sprays more bullets in only slightly longer time. I prefer a solid revolver over this piece of junk. Church of Dagon network needs to be researched too, so let's get to it.
Sorry, Mojave, no radscorpion extermination today. Maybe get a mailman to do it for you?
Have you checked on your local car mechanic lately? He might be a gopnik in disguise. If you notice that someone starts wearing Adidas tracksuits for no apparent reason, contact X-Com, we will take care of that issue.
Next on the research list: transport alternatives.
Cattle mutilation in Canada, monsters in Greenland. We can do both, I think.
Werewolves at the north pole. I expected something else entirely, but I'm not upset.
Mr. Pikachu's BB gun did a round fat 0. Gotta get those hunting rifles soon.
This might not look too good, but the werewolf took four magnum hits and a full blast from a shotgun. It's bleeding and hopefuly it will pass out. Hopefuly. The other wolf got a fatal wound from the sporting rifle, so they have very little armor after all.
Okay, he died. The other one took similar treatment and died too.
The canadian call expired, but another one for monsters showed up. The GuyTruck is out already, so...
It's zamboni apocalypse my dudes. Let's get out of here, it's not worth anyone's time.
Japan begs to differ, but I don't care what Japan thinks. We're going to assault a cult safehouse in Ireland. This will grant us a few points to make up for us being repeatedly sent to America.
Great, eldritch amish villages. They might not even be up to anything, but let's harrass them just in case.
General strategy is next because it unlocks a lot of important research.
Doctor lady wants to turn our agents into supersoldiers. Now what path will we choose, Marvel's Captain America, 40k's Space Marines or Fallout's Super Mutants? No point in thinking about this right now. We have a farmer to question, and MP5 to unlock.
Ah, a quaint Irish farm...
Crawling with green klansmen. I think they're actually recolored klansmen from Piratez.
Time for an overview of the situation:
We're hiding behind this building right now. Ms. Big is about to take down this axeman with her magnum. One shot later, and there's one less cultist to worry about.
A klansman with a double-barreled shotgun is standing by the window, ready to blast anyone who comes close. Another one, armed with a pistol and a knife, is on the roof.
Ms. Gigantism got this guy with a trick shot through the window. He's not going to live for much longer.
Uh-oh, a shotgunner came out of nowhere. He got hit once, and hopefuly that will discourage him from further advances. Mr. Pikachu tried to hit one of the roof klansmen, but missed. Gotta love classic X-Com where you can miss a 110% shot.
Mr. Particular got hit hard. Six fatal wounds, and 19 HP left, but before he retreats:
Shame on you, cultist. You had a pump-action shotgun, and you still failed to kill a man at point-blank range. Oh, and his double-barreled friend passed out.
Holy crap, a guy managed to sneak up behind the van! Pikachu, use slam!
Foe cultist of Dagon is paralyzed! It can't move!
Ms. Big was trying to get a crossbowman hiding in an orchard, but instead she found a huge group of cultists with pistols and shotguns. Rip in peace in peace, Ms. Big. Or not, turns out aiming with that hood on is difficult.
The crossbowman ran away or hid somewhere. Ms. Gigantism spent her turn healing Mr. Particular, but got only 3 wounds out of the way. Mr. Pikachu shot a klansman with his hunting rifle causing fatal wounds.
Oof, she's dead this time for sure.
We found the crossbowman, though. Mr. Pikachu shot him, but that wasn't enough. Jeez, this isn't going too well.
Mr. Particular, who's back in action, finished that supporter off with his shotgun. Don't bring a bolt to a buckshot fight.
She ded in a turn.
We've already avenged her. Mr. Particular is back, bay-bee!
I wanted to help her, but I couldn't send anyone to that orchard - too many cultists, too little time.
A few more dudes killed and... done! 9 killed, 1 captured, 3 surrendered. Grabbed some new tools: crossbow, machete, Sten, Steyr AUG, Einfield revolver. I'm curious about Steyr, but the rest is trash.
Yeah boi, we can finally get to America on time! No we can't. It unlocked the research for private transport, which unlocks private cars. Somewhat faster, but only 2 people. Steyr is next.
Monsters in Italy. Giant rats go down after a single shot from a sporting rifle (which I forgot to replace). A breather mission, it seems. The other rat was captured alive.
Suddenly, another Dagon safehouse in Ireland. What's going on out there? This time we're sending boys in kevlar.
Abducted farmer told us all he knew about axes. They can be devastating in the hands of a swole agent, while accuracy doesn't play that much of a role. Let's get flamers. A live giant rat will probably be useless, but we'll need to examine it eventually, so let's do this one too.
Versatile rifle with a long-range focus. We'll have better rifles before we can get this baby.
Black Lotus safehouse in Japan. B team better get ready.