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So I just picked up X-COM and in the spirit of Dakka I am stealing Just Dave's idea (I am also stealing the subsequent stealing of that idea) of naming his minions soldiers after people who want to follow him in his epic quest to do something...
Now, I'm not saying it will be easy. I am however saying you will die. I have the tactical sense of a colony of ants attacking an electric fence and a kill:death ratio slightly lower.
Now who wants to be first?
Give me your name and preferred class and I'll try to match you up. If you don't mind what class you are just post the name you want and I'll give you the next guy who turns up.
I've already done the 1st mission but I'll wait to get some more people on board.

Operatives.


Wall of the Fallen

Iblame Shrike, meatshield, reporting for duty!

Any front-line duty, preferably with as much close combat as possible please

Otto Von Swanzstucker II.

After the death of Otto Von Swanzstucker I at the hand of filthy xenos, his son has picked up the mantle of striking down aliens.

You're in...
I made you a heavy if that's okay?

Yes. I appear to be quite proficient with heavy ordnance

Lets hope you live long enough to make use of the heavy stuff.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Right then I decided it's time to get this show on the road.
WARNING: This mission contains high lorry content. If you are of a weird or nervous disposition do not read.
Mission 2: Operation Red Skull
Location - Egypt.

The squad is deployed to what looks like an industrial loading park, lorries and forklifts litter the ground. I.Blame Shrike moves up and takes cover behind a forklift and goes into overwatch while Otto jumps onto the back of a lorry (Despite the rocket launcher and LMG he is carrying) and immediately spots a group of Sectoids doing alien things. He moves a bit further up the lorry to get a better view and spots another pair of sectoids doing more alien things. Those dastardly aliens! Unable to do much of consequence the two rookies move up and go into Overwatch.

The foul aliens respond by shifting about slightly behind some boxes. One of them reveals himself long enough to be caught in the two rookie's overwatch and narrowly avoids death via lead poisoning. The evil aliens retaliate by blasting one of them causing slight singing of the eyebrows. The last sectoid moves behind some boxes which later proves to be his undoing.

Shrike immediately moves to the other side of the box the sectoid was sheltering behind and nips around it to blast it in the alien face killing it instantly. Otto travels even further up the lorry and gains a perfect vantage point to deploy his might cannon and blast a sectoid out of existence. One of the sectoids decides this is a good moment to act and removes it's psychic mumbojumbo from its wounded comrade which also removes its last point of life, killing it. The remaining sectoid is then targeted by the slightly singed rookie who opens fire... and just avoids killing it. I suspect we have a traitor among us. The other rookie avoids even hitting it.

The last sectoid decides this would be an excellent time to withdraw and stops its fleeing on the body of a previously downed sectoid... and right under Otto's cannon. The last sectoid goes down in a hail of high velocity lead and no small amount of testosterone.

The wounded rookie jumps down the lorry and moves to cover behind another lorry. (I told you about the lorries)
The last rookie and shrike both take cover at either ends of yet another lorry.

The aliens respond by doing something... it sounded gooey?

The entire squad moves up revealing a petrol station. Otto briefly wonders about firing a rocket at it but decides against it. He only has one rocket and he's really like to use it to kill something.

More gooey noises from the aliens... what are they doing back there?

In a move that scientists are describing as 'Pretty dumb' Shrike and the non-wounded rookie move up and take cover behind a petrol pump (Never take cover next to a redshirt!) revealing a pair of sectoids. the rookie and the sectoids both prove what a silly idea this is by shooting at each other and missing apart from a small singe for the rookie. Shrike demonstrates what a great idea this is by nailing a sectoid.

Otto and the other rookie move up, staying well away from the petrol pumps. The rookie who seems to be lacking in sense moves up from the pterol pump... to another petrol pump and then fails to kill the final sectoid, leaving it on the brink of death.

The final sectoid tells a joke that's popular on his homeworld about a sectoid who run into a corner and goes into overwatch. Otto adds a punchlinse to this joke with a rocket. The sectoid does not survive the subsequent explosion err round of applause.

Dr Vahlen shouts at Otto for blowing the sectoid up. Mission ends, everyone goes home for tea and biscuits.

All aliens dead: Yay!
No humans dead (Yet): Yay!

Shrike killed 2 and is still alive.

Otto killed 4 and is now promoted to Corporal for his superior punchline abilities. Also still alive.

The two rookies were wounded (One promoted and is now a sniper)

Yay, I killed things!

Mission 3 - Operation Silver Skull - Investigate UFO crash
Location Egypt.

The squad is deployed to a rocky area littered with shattered trees from the crash. It's also a bit on fire. Shrike and Otto move up the middle and take cover next to a ridge. The promoted rookie (Yon Han) and the replacement for the wounded rookie (William Hill) take the flanks of the squad to stop any super sneaky flanking attacks.

The aliens respond by doing extra alien stuff.

Otto and Shrike move up and reveal the ufo. They go into overwatch in case the aliens are about. Hill and Han also move up their relative positions.

The sectoids burst out of cover! Unfortunately one is instantly gunned down by Otto and the other gets gunned down by Shrike.

Flushed by victory shrike runs further up the ridge and takes cover behind a rock. He spots a weird energy crystal which Dr Vahlen claims is made of pure energy. It goes into cover before Shrike can shoot it. Otto moves up with an odd grin on his face...
The Outworlder manages to shift position and shoot at Hill but misses. Then he begins to tell a joke but having heard it Otto jumps in with the punchline and blows him up.

Without anyone pointing guns at him, Hill is free to move up. As he does so he spots two sectoids in the UFO. Shrike and Han move up and take cover behind various detritus.
The sectoids take cover and begin shooting at their hated enemy. Hill. They miss.
Shrike assists his buddy and returns fire hitting and killing a sectoid.

Otto moves up and deploys his mighty weapon and misses. Fortunately his holo-targetting skill allows Hill to also fire at the alien but only wound it. Han finishes it off with a shotgun blast.

All aliens dead: yay!
No humans dead (Yet): Yay!

Shrike killed 2 aliens and was promoted.

Otto killed 2 aliens and is still alive.

The two rookies are still alive and uninjured.

Private Jacob McPants reporting for duty.
Like in the other topic: assault would be nice. At least you go in and die fast and hard like a real (wo-)man should. Nothing worst than a camping .

I have just the person for you.
Welcome to X-COM

I pissed off Vahlen. That was a good mission.

Dave reportin' for doodie. Sniper class please.

I'd recommend not hesitating to get laser weapons btw.

Venser reporting for duty. Whatever class is needed is fine by me.

Mission 4 - Operation Dark Stranger - Extraction
Location: Japan

The council has a mission for us gents!
Operatives:
Name: I.Blame Shrike-Shrike
Class:Support
Kills: 5
Rank: Squaddie
Equipment: Body armour, Assault rifle, Pistol, Grenade.
Missions: 3

Name: Otto Von Swanzstucker II 'Ze punchline is rocket' - CthuluIsSpy
Class: Heavy
Kills: 7
Rank: Corporal
Equipment: Body armour, LMG, Pistol, Grenade.
Missions 3

Name: Jacob Mcpants
Class: Assault
Kills: 2
Rank: Squaddie
Equipment: Body armour, shotgun, pistol, grenade
Missions: 2

Name: Ivan
Class: Sniper
Kills: 2
Rank: Squaddie
Equipment: Body armour, sniper rifle, pistol grenade.
Missions: 2

Our objective was to locate and secure Anna Sing, the only person known to have escaped alien captivity.
The squad was deployed in a town square type area with a fountain in the middle.

Shrike moved up and took cover behind part of the fountain revealing a thin man! Shrike opens fire and kills it with a single burst. Otto rushes up to the fountain and dives behind it for cover. Hill found some cover behind a flowerpot while Jacob Mcpants dives behind a statue of a lion.

The aliens respond by doing more creepy alien things.

Shrike moves up to the fountain and Mcpants moves to take cover behind a car. Hill sprints forward and spots a sectoid as he takes cover behind a wall. Otto moves up and takes cover behind a bench. Everyone apart from Hill goes into overwatch.

The sectoid runs towards Hill in order to claim him for his dark gods but gets cut down by Otto's mighty cannon.

Shrike dashes forward and takes cover behind a statue of a half naked man and a lion doing... something. In doing so he spots a sectoid who promptly takes cover. Hill moves up to take cover behind the same statue and spots another sectoid and the objective. Otto moves up to another bench and goes into overwatch. Mcpants sprints forward and takes cover behind a car intending to fire at the sectoid.

The sectoid has other plan however and quickly moves to a position where it can fire directly at mcpants. The sectoid targets him and opens fire... missing completely. The other sectoid shoots at hill and only just avoids killing him instantly.

Shrike fires at the sectoid who shot at Mcpants but misses, Otto then shows him how it's done and blasts him with his cannon. Hill returns fire but misses his sectoid aggressor. Mcpants decides to go into the lightning round and runs forward to the car the last sectoid is hiding behind and shoots him in the face, killing him instantly.

The squad shuffles around, Otto turns around and takes cover in case any aliens decide to ambush them on the way back. Shrike and Hill move up to fire on any aliens that attempt to interfere with the VIP while Mcpants goes and comforts/rescue the VIP. Comforted and rescued the VIP sprints back towards Shrike and Hill.

A thin man lands on a nearby truck and goes into overwatch. Shrike shoots him directly in the face on his own overwatch shot.

Shrike runs back and takes cover behind a bench while Otto and Hill go into overwatch. the VIP carries on running backwards and takes cover behind the abomination statue. Mcpants manages to get into Shrike's previous cover.

The aliens response is quiet... Must be plotting.

Shrike runs back past the fountain. Otto takes cover behind a bench and goes into overwatch. Mcpants sprints behind a bench while Hill moves to behind a flowerpot. The VIP manages to make it behind the fountain.

The aliens respond by deploying a thinman between the operatives and their objective. Bad move alien scum!

Otto moves up triggering the thinman's overwatch but he misses. Hill moves up and takes cover on the other side of shrike's cover. Shrike does the same. Mcpants however decides now is a good time for beast mode and rushes towards the thinman and blows his head off.

The alien response is non-existent. Otto having realised he has a rocket left ponders what to do with it. The rest of the squad carry on to the objective.

No alien response.

Otto, having decided what to do with his one rocket, turns and blows the abomination statue to dust. Good work making the world a better place.
The rest of the squad sprint to the skyranger and make it easily.

All aliens dead: Yay!
No humans dead (Yet): Yay!

Shrike killed 2 aliens and received a promotion to sergeant and the nickname 'Ouja'

Otto killed 2 aliens and received a promotion to sergeant and the nickname 'Popa Bear'

Mcpants killed 2 aliens and received a promotion to corporal.

Good job people!

Just add me, you pillock.

I have updated the OP.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Just Dave wrote:
Dave reportin' for doodie. Sniper class please.

I'd recommend not hesitating to get laser weapons btw.

Oh god yeah...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Mission 5 - Operation Fallen Crown - Abduction
Location: Melbourne, Australia.
Operatives:
Name: I.Blame Shrike-Shrike
Class:Support
Kills: 7
Rank: Sergeant
Equipment: Body armour, Assault rifle, Pistol, Grenade.
Missions: 3

Name: Otto Von Swanzstucker II 'Ze punchline is rocket' - CthuluIsSpy
Class: Heavy
Kills: 9
Rank: Sergeant
Equipment: Body armour, LMG, Pistol, Grenade.
Missions 3

Name: Jacob Mcpants-Macok
Class: Assault
Kills: 4
Rank: Squaddie
Equipment: Body armour, shotgun, pistol, grenade
Missions: 2

Name: Just Dave
Class: Sniper
Kills: 0
Rank: Squaddie
Equipment: Body armour, sniper rifle, pistol, grenade.
Missions: 2

Name: Edoardo - Soladrin
Class: New Guy
Kills: 0
Rank: Rookie
Equipment: Body armour, assault rifle, pistol, grenade.
Missions: 0

Note: Unfortunately the person who is now Venser was injured in the previous mission.

Our objective was to chew gum and kick arse. Unfortunately we ran out of gum on the flight there.
The squad deployed to a high street/commercial area.

Shrike, Otto and Edoardo all moved up to the store front. Dave and Mcpants took cover behind cars and spotted a pair of sectoids. the sectoids rushed out of the store they were in and took cover behind a pickup truck.

Shrike opens the door to the store and takes cover behind a winerack. Otto opens a door and then jumps through the window next to it before taking cover behind the counter. Edoardo walks through the open door and ducks behind the same counter. Mcpants moves to get a better angle on the alien scum and spots even more sectoids who rush out of view. He opens fire on the two he can spot and kills one. Dave moves up next to Mcpants in order to get a better shot.

The sectoid in view giggles a bit and receives a boost from an out of view comrade before running away. As the coward flees Shrike (Somehow) spots him and opens fire but only manages to wound him.

Shrike runs forward and is fired at by a sectoid who misses. he takes cover behind a aisle and returns fire, also missing. Otto moves up to get a better shot but can't see anything. Dave and Mcpants rush forward to take cover behind a police car while Edoardo dashes towards the store's rear exit.

One of the sectoid flee's while another gives the wounded one another boost. The wounded one now takes aim at Mcpants and misses.

Shrike runs to the second rear exit while Otto moves up to take over in Shrike's previous cover and goes into overwatch. Just Dave attempts to shoot the booster sectoid but misses hitting his own cover. Mcpants activates beast mode and runs forward, in doing so he triggers 3 sectoid ovewatches and they all miss. He then fires at the booster that Dave missed before and annhialates it. The feedback kills the boosted/wounded sectoid gaining him a double kill and a promotion.

One sectoid moves into the store where Otto is still apparently looting (It's a wine store) and goes into overwatch. The aliens in the book store that Mcpants is sheltering behind fire at both Mcpants and Dave. They both hit but only really singe them (2 Damage)

Shrike runs around from the back of the store into cover by the side of the store. Otto spots the alien in his wine store and blows a hole in the side with his rocket launcher killing the alien instantly. Mcpants re-activates beast mode and rushes the alien who injured him and blows his face off. Dave returns fire at his aggressor but can't see through the haze of blood and smoke.

The remaining sectoid fires at Dave again and hits him again (Now on 1HP) Dave decides enough is enough and shoots him in the face.

All aliens dead: Yay!
No humans dead: Yay!

Shrike killed nothing but is still alive.

Otto killed 1 alien and received a promotion to lieutenant.

Mcpants killed 2 aliens and was promoted to Sergeant and the nickname 'Loco' he is also wounded.

Edoardo killed nothing but is still alive.

Dave killed 1 alien and was gravely injured.

How dare that alien interrupts my inebriation!

Sniper Scott calling in. Would also go Assault/Heavy if need be.

I'll slot you in when I next get a sniper but if heavy comes up first that'll be your new home

My highlight from that surprisingly was not my getting shot or sniping ineptitude, but rather Otto opening a door then (presumably shouting "get to da choppa!) deciding to jump through a window, rather than said door.

That was probably one of my favourite moments as well.

Going through the door would not have been dashingly manly.

Of course I got injured. I just can't get a break.

Just done two more missions the write up will be done tomorrow some time.

-We have taken two prisoners.

-We have taken our first casualty.

-We have laser weapons.

-We have laser weapons.

 purplefood wrote:
So I just picked up X-COM and in the spirit of Dakka I am stealing Just Dave's idea (I am also stealing the subsequent stealing of that idea) of naming his minions soldiers after people who want to follow him in his epic quest to do something...
Now, I'm not saying it will be easy. I am however saying you will die. I have the tactical sense of a colony of ants attacking an electric fence and a kill:death ratio slightly lower.
Now who wants to be first?
Give me your name and preferred class and I'll try to match you up. If you don't mind what class you are just post the name you want and I'll give you the next guy who turns up.
I've already done the 1st mission but I'll wait to get some more people on board.

Name: I.Blame 'Ouja' Shrike-Shrike
Class:Support
Kills: 7
Rank: Sergeant
Equipment: Body armour, Assault rifle, Pistol, Grenade.
Missions: 3

Name: Otto 'Popa Bear' Von Swanzstucker II 'Ze punchline is rocket' - CthuluIsSpy
Class: Heavy
Kills: 10
Rank: Lieutenant
Equipment: Body armour, LMG, Pistol, Grenade.
Missions 3

Name: Jacob 'Loco' Mcpants - Macok
Class: Assault
Kills: 6
Rank: Sergeant
Equipment: Body armour, shotgun, pistol, grenade
Missions: 3

Name: Just Dave
Class: Sniper
Kills: 1
Rank: Squaddie
Equipment: Body armour, sniper rifle, pistol, grenade.
Missions: 3

Name: Venser - VensersRevenge
Class: Assault
Kills: 0
Rank: Squaddie
Equipment: Body armour, shotgun, pistol, grenade.
Missions: 2

Name: Edoardo - Soladrin
Class: New Guy
Kills: 0
Rank: Rookie
Equipment: Body armour, assault rifle, pistol, grenade.
Missions: 1

Waiting list: Scott (Preferred class is Sniper but will also be Heavy/Assault)

I think it was my idea originally. I named a bunch of characters from a forum i used to go to. They did mention you could name them after friends after all. Sadly all the people i named on the forum and gave funny (though fitting) nicknames to managed to die in classic ironman difficulty. I play on impossible now but it just got depressing. I might do this again some time though. It definitely adds a bit more replayability.

Since you all know her i will mention 'melissia' was pretty much my #1 soldier and she had a rocket launcher. I gave her the most p*ssed off expression i could find and the manliest girl voice there was and then nicknamed her 'tsundere. She kill over 80 aliens if i remember though i think i could handle that better next time. I think i gave her white armor of a certain type like a sister of battle. My other bad *ss was a friend i had on the forum named 'dave'. Oddly enough i got him to look like him too in one of his pictures. I think he was a heavy too. Gotta say though i picked on melissia pretending she was saying "It's not like i killed a bajillion aliens to save you, idiot!" she kind of weirded me out though i managed to enjoy her bad*ssery.

------------------

If you do my character just throw me in as FKM or Freddie 'Krueger' Mercury as that one is also awesome an funny and has my name in it. Krueger will be the nickname. Basically imagine freddie krueger doing the freddie mercury meme pose.

Huh you're right.
I'm not playing on Ironman because I'm fairly new at this game and even on normal the game doesn't like me...

 purplefood wrote:
Huh you're right.
I'm not playing on Ironman because I'm fairly new at this game and even on normal the game doesn't like me...

Just takes practice. When you get used to it it'll be like brushing your teeth or riding a bike. I could maybe give some hints. People often don't realize a couple of the best things to do in later games is that accuracy usually declines with distance except with sniper rifles, most cover can be blown away or explodes, most cover on roof-tops is partial cover and therefore still best for snipers esp. with 'squad sight' so that you can stay out of harm's way or with 'low profile' to make partial cover count as full and if you face too many enemies at once you may want to stay out of most of their lines of sight completely so they couldn't have a shot on you if they tried (and no i don't mean go behind cover i mean out of line of sight completely so they can't see you). It's also worth noting, sectoid commanders, mutons, muton elites and armored floaters have all the alien grenades so most 'area of effect' weapons belong to all of them. It's also the most dangerous when trying to avoid having your cover destroyed. So yeah don't waste your time trying to get a better shot by flanking or going on high ground at times. Bring a few grenades and destroy cover before you light the enemy up. You'll notice your 'hit %' will go way, way up.

------------

Btw i edited my last post in case you don't mind adding me in there. I have brown hair and blue eyes not that they allow you to customize eye color to my knowledge. Yes i'm also caucasian. My voice is at times deep but not gravelly.

------------

All this talk of xcom has me curious. I think i'll fire the game up again. Can't play very long though. I'm still sort of getting over a cold and i have work tomorrow.

Yeah a lot of the time when i'm outnumbered things just get worse and worse...
I'll add you to the list, I'll try and rotate people in and out so that plenty of people get a go.

Ooh, if you need another red shirt, I'm happy to die pointlessly and violently for the cause.

At the rate this is going I may need more names :S