Take Back Earth, or How I Learned to Guerrilla Combat - an XCOM 2 Diary

[Joker]

Okay, so.

Many of you know me. If you don't, you should get to know me- I'm pretty awesome.

I randomly picked up XCOM: Enemy Unknown when it was released and instantly fell in love with the game (which would continue to be a Firaxis games trend) and its expansion, Enemy Within. I used to spend HOURS talking about it with the old gang (mostly Joe and Alex) and it is fucking awesome.

Well, as many of you know, XCOM 2 just dropped yesterday. I bought it.

And I just started playing it.

This thread is intended to be a repository for all of my waaaaaaaaacky misadventures playing the game. I'll be essentially doing a short write-up for everything I do, be it random missions or plot-based; I will ATTEMPT to avoid plot spoilers where able, but at the same time, be aware that I can't eliminate them entirely - shit happens and it's a damn log of what I'm doing DAMN.

Anyway.

So I just booted up the game and lol noobs getting flanked. And who thought shooting at the enemy leader with your last rounds WHEN THERE'S A CAR IN THE WAY was a good idea? That said, it appears that RNGesus is with me (or it's entirely scripted), as I was sitting at like 35% chances to hit AND SUCCEEDED WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUCK.

Anyway PLOT TWIST but I kinda saw it coming when they did the first flashback to what happened 20 years ago. I'm soooooo glad the motherfucker's annoying-ass goddamn voice has been changed though MY GOD.

I'm unhappy that the word "Shen" exists.

Currently working through the first mission now.

 

[Joe]

I played an hour or two of this last night at a friend's. I don't have much to add right now other than BOY, am I glad Snipers start with the best talent already - squadsight. In Enemy Unknown/Within it was a chore to get a sniper their promotion before Squadsight as you rarely could move in range of an enemy and then rely on your next turn to kill them.

Aside from fps issues - which I hope gets patched soon - this game is improving on every aspect of the last.

 

[Joker]

I had to hard restart the first mission because I dicked it up too badly. I'm about to boot the game back up and see what I can do now that I'm a bit more awake.

 

[Joker]

Entry 2 - Well, after an afternoon spent with my mom, I get back in and boot up the game. This time I had a bit better success with the mission, largely because I knew what enemies I was up against. Whoops

No losses, although my already promoted "Jane Kelly" Ranger took a very nasty hit. Only one other injury - because lol exploding cover isn't good for you - but I think everyone netted a promotion out of it.

PS fuck you sectoids what the fuck is your problem

 

[Joker]

Entry 3 - The second mission went pretty well - just one reload required (ran into some damn civilians turn one and got discovered). I appear to have a soldier or two of each class; so far, it looks like Sharpshooter (Sniper) and Ranger (Assault) are the most useful...again.

That said, I haven't had a chance to actually use my Specialist, because they got injured on the first mission :/

btw shotguns with a flanking bonus are insaaaaaaane

 

[Joker]

Entry 4 - my first "rescue a VIP" mission. These guys have it out for my sharpshooter something fierce. Like every single officer marks them every single mission when there are squaddies much closer and weaker, fierce.

So naturally my sharpshooters keep getting injured. NOW I HAVE TO HAVE THREE THAT I ROTATE OUT AND I DO NOT LIKE IT. I'm used to playing XCOM with literally six total squad members, all of whom are maxed rank and I NEVER USE ANY OTHER CHARACTERS and it works really well THIS IS BULLSHIT lol

Really enjoying things so far. Now I'm about to do a resistance faction rescue mission!

UPDATE: god damn it why do people keep getting gravely injured

Mission to rescue civs was a resounding success, though the DARK ACTIVITY and AVATAR PROJECT seem pretty menacing

 

[Joe]

You got captured two days ago, brother. I was at a loss. I had no other Sharpshooter trained and you were invaluable on my main team. You'd even picked up a couple of additional skills outside of your class. I've been playing for two days now without a Sniper on my team and then...

Spoiler: Image

I got sent on a mission to rescue a VIP. I didn't think much of it at the time and sent my ace squad. What I found when I opened up that convoy almost brought a tear to my eye.

Let's get some revenge, shall we?

 

[Joker]

Entry 5 - finally had a chance to play a bit more tonight. Ran through a "hack this thing and kill EVERYTHING YOU SEE" mission, which happened to be my first encounter with the stun lancers (which I assume replace Mutons as the enemy melee class).

I learned two things: first, that stun lancers are INSANELY strong, as their attacks one-shotted my troops every time they did them save one; second, that ranger melee attacks are even MORE INSANELY STRONG, capable of one-shotting sectoids (schwing!).

Additionally, it seems that mind-controlled rangers have much better long range shotgun accuracy than specialists, which is bullshit, but whatever. I'm also finding my sharpshooters to be less useful this go 'round, although that might have simply been due to the fact that mine got gravely injured really early on in the mission thanks to a stun lancer.

I also found my naming theme, which caused me to spend about an hour customizing the available troops, now comprised of Wade "Deadpool" Wilson (Ranger ofc), Ororo "Storm" Munroe (Grenadier), Raven "Mystique" Darkholme (Sharpshooter), and Jocasta Vi Quiteria (Specialist). On my next day off, I think that Rogue, Gambit, Forge (and whoever my other Sharpshooters end up as) will join the roster. And once I've got psionics, Psylocke will be joining the crew, too!

 

[Clement Rage]

Don't have this game, but everything about it looks awesome. Always thought a group TLS X-Com Let's Play would be fun.

 

[Joker]

Entry 6 - we're a few more missions in, and things aren't looking so hot.

The Project is inching closer to completion, and we've now lost Bobby "Iceman" Drake to some bullshit. Deadpool is currently my highest-ranking member at Lieutenant, and does incredible damage with his Arc Sword. Rogue is no slouch with the shotgun, though, and Banshee is doing quite well as a sniper. I have hit a problem, however - Specialists. I only have two and they are CONSTANTLY getting severely injured, to the point that I had to run missions without one (that's how Iceman died).

Gambit's also doing well, and I've got a few more scientists and engineers helping to get my momentum machine going. We'll get 'em!