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soooo, whats a good mod to apply to this game as its getting a bit stale to me :(

This looks awesome - reporting for duty to the Dakka Corps, Sir!

AdeptSister reporting for duty! I would love to be a field medic.

KamikazeCanuck wrote:Does Long War have Slingshot and the other expansion missions in it?

It has basically any expansion you have - so I have operation progeny and stuff, but I don't have the slingshot expansion

Formosa wrote:soooo, whats a good mod to apply to this game as its getting a bit stale to me :(

XCOM: Long War is a mod... or did you mean a mod for Long War?

eddieazrael wrote:This looks awesome - reporting for duty to the Dakka Corps, Sir!

Eddieazrael welcome. You are elevated to the Dakka Corps out of the legion and will be falling in with the illustrious first squad, first platoon.

AdeptSister wrote:AdeptSister reporting for duty! I would love to be a field medic.

AdeptSister, welcome to XCOM! You'll be falling in with 4th squad, 1st platoon. They need a medic.

the long war is a mod?

Ok I will now google it and find it

thanks guys

"Ready… target left!!" The members of the Legion snapped to the left in unison and fired. The alien silhouettes snapped back down - most with laser burns bored through them.
"Cease fire, Cease fire. Okay, people, check your airspace. Some aliens can fly and no one shot the Floater that popped down on top of you. That floater was your biggest threat - not those 3 sections and that thin man way in the back. 360 degree security now applies in all axes of the battle-space. Additonally, these are coherent light weapons, there is no recoil and there is no bullet arc. Aim where you intend to hit - your 'ammo' is traveling at close to the sped of light…."

--CPL Stream Dragon drill new members of XCOM direct action platoon

The Commander turned away from the view screen as XCOM continued their CQB drills. "I'm impressed Major Bradford. The force is coming along nicely, but I need your men to wound those aliens so stop having them shoot them all in the head."
"Sir?"
"Soon enough we'll have to capture these aliens, and Dr. Vahlen says that these new 'arc throwers' will never be reliable. I need your direct action platoon to get me options. The science team says a wounded alien is more likely to succumb to the electrical field. I'll be counting on your soldiers to provide me with live aliens in the coming weeks."
"Sir, we're barely surviving out there as it is. The new lasers are a god-send, but we're still way out-matched!"
"We're working on it Bradford. I need those aliens alive."
"You're going to get men killed, sir."
"I know. You have your orders."
"…..Yes, Sir."

The exploits of XCOM will return later today as 3rd Squad takes the field!

OPERATION PATIENT GAZE: Fortaleza, Brazil 9 May 2015.

May's accelerated pace of missions keeps up - this time third squad heads into battle to stop a light abduction mission in Brazil.


I've decided to try a few things here. First off, I'm testing the marksman rifle for Carlos13th, my sniper. The marksman rifle is a medium ranged sniper rifle. It will mean Carlos will have to move with the squad as the sniper rifle does not have the infinite squadsight range of a true sniper rifle. However, he can move and shoot - perfect for the urban conflict to come.


In addition, you'll note that Talizvar is taking a ballistic shotgun as his primary weapon. This is mostly due to a shortage of the (expensive) laser rifles. He does take XCOM's sole heater - a small laser personal defense weapon in ordor to augment the squad's firepower somewhat at greater than shotgun ranges.


The squad as a whole.


As you can see, Stream Dragon will be bringing a rookie along with a rocketeer from the legion to assist his core squad. If there is one thing 3rd squad lacks, it is explosive support.

It is a beautiful day in the shopping district. Stream Dragon's squad advances slowly in order to not walk into ambushes - Meld has been detecting by the orbiting skyranger to the North (our left).


A pod of Sectoids blunders into 3rd squad. Bullockist makes them pay immediately.


"I just feel most comfortable on point for the squad so it's only natural that I lead an attack. I know StreamDragon is right behind me, so we make a great team. It helps that I can run a sub-5 second 40 yard dash and that aliens can't shoot for $*^*."
-- LCPL Talizvar on why he draws so much enemy fire.


It's tough making out the small aliens behind all the book cases and displays so Stream Dragon lays down a base of fire and prepares to flank.


More Sectoids are activated.


Carlos13th surveys the developing firefight.


Bullockist continues to land blows although the squad leader sectoids are tougher than your average grey.


Stream Dragon decides to limit the fire of the sectoids as his team moves into position and flashbangs all three sectoids.


After the Legion proves singularly incapable of hitting anything, Stream Dragon faces a psychic assault from the entrenched sectoids. Although the wounds hurt, Stream Dragon doesn't panic.



The flashbangs do limit the sectoid's movement options. Marine_With_Heart takes advantage of this fact and spears a sectoid.


Talizvar uses his Heater to good effect and kills a sectoid who had mindmerged with a particularly injured sectoid - scoring a rare two for one kill.


Carlos13th lines up a shot on the one of the last two sectoids.


The Legion finally contributes in the closing stages of the firefight.


With the office supply store finally secured, XCOM moves in. Surveillance indicated Floaters moving around the periphery of the business district, but precise coordinates were not received.
The squad prepares to exit the store and secure meld.


The Floaters stumble into 3rd Squads ambush.

Stream Dragon claims a kill as the Floaters realize they are actually in a fight.

Bullockist wounds another Floater as he passes through the ambush.

Carlos 13th takes down one of the wounded floaters

The rookie is allowed to kill the all-but-crippled Floater to end the mission.


3rd Squad proves solid again. They captured some meld, and -more importantly - escaped without any sick time.


Marine_with_Heart makes LCPL.


Countries are asking for sectoid corpses - this is good because they are offering scientists in return. The more weapons, materials, and corpses you supply the more resistant countries become to panic spikes from alien missions. You'll see this in a slowly filling shield icon on the situation room screen next to each country name. This is France's first request from me.


Our scientists have finally perfected advanced beam lasers and the first production run is ordered. XCOM will be getting some scatter lasers for their assaults, a laser sniper rifle, and a laser cannon for the air force.


Speaking of the air wing, it's a shambles - UFOs rule the skies and will until at least late May.


This is what happens when you don't have an air force.


Luckily, XCOM foresaw the need and a replacement satellite was launched as soon as the air wing was back in action.

So there you have it. Another day, another successful mission means 4th squad is next in the chute. 3rd Squad may not have anyone who 'stands' out, but I like their all around toughness (3rd squad has some of the highest HP soldiers in the force. They also consistently close with and destroy the enemy at extremely close range - perhaps we have our capture and subdue squad in the making?

Haha... another chance at the enemy and hopefully not just perform guard duty.
Let us hope the Arc throwers are not ready or you-know-who will be elected to jump into the breach.
I certain leader I will have to depend on to flash-bang the heck out of them.
The softening them up however will be tricky, sure I could not try with a shotgun at close range first?
I promise a groin region shot, nothing vital.
Looks like we will need more warm bodies on-line so it is time to fire up the elevator:
<edit> Was writing this and left it a while before I submitted and the battle-report came down.

Hazzah! All working like a well oiled machine and the red shirts did alright!
Stream was holding it together as always and I was able to draw some fire so others didn't.
That heater is a fine toy, I will not grumble so much about the LAZERS!! others get to use as a primary weapon, the shotgun up close is still impressive to behold.
I kept worrying about us grunts on the ground but the flyboys are taking a pounding, hope they sort-out their issues soon, the new tech may be just what the doctor ordered.
Yay team, hope the other squads have similar luck and not face anything uglier than normal.

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:

After the Legion proves singularly incapable of hitting anything, Stream Dragon faces a psychic assault from the entrenched sectoids. Although the wounds hurt, Stream Dragon doesn't panic.

Pft. Panic? That sectoid probably saw something far worse when he looked into my mind, than whatever he did to me.

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:

So there you have it. Another day, another successful mission means 4th squad is next in the chute. 3rd Squad may not have anyone who 'stands' out, but I like their all around toughness (3rd squad has some of the highest HP soldiers in the force. They also consistently close with and destroy the enemy at extremely close range - perhaps we have our capture and subdue squad in the making?

We volunteer commander!

Excellent work 3rd squad. Really looking forwards to deploying some arks and getting some captives. Not to mention getting a laser shotgun

 streamdragon wrote:

Sgt_Scruffy wrote:
So there you have it. Another day, another successful mission means 4th squad is next in the chute. 3rd Squad may not have anyone who 'stands' out, but I like their all around toughness (3rd squad has some of the highest HP soldiers in the force. They also consistently close with and destroy the enemy at extremely close range - perhaps we have our capture and subdue squad in the making?

We volunteer commander!

<squeak> We do???? <ahem> Oh yeah! They will not know what hit em! (More body armor... more obstacle course training... hoooboy!) Respectfully request we carry TWO bug zappers Sir (for when the first guy is bleeding-out)! I excel at guard duty and can give the cover fire you need...

Welcome SPEC Adept Sister and SPEC Eddie Azrael to the ranks, people. They'll be going through XCOM training and doctrine orientation then deploying with the squad sometime after May 25th. That is all.
Eddie Azrael - 1st Squad's new (permanent) rocketeer.


Adept Sister - 4th Squad's new (permanent) medic.

Ohh... May 25th - some new people just in time for Silvermk2's birthday!

Welcome to the fold of the just few!

Glad to be aboard Sir! And that avatar looks just like me (apart from not having a beard, and not being Chinese?!) :-)

I'll have a lot to live up too - I must have excelled in Basic to be allowed to join the Best of The Best - First Squad!

eddieazrael wrote:
Glad to be aboard Sir! And that avatar looks just like me (apart from not having a beard, and not being Chinese?!) :-)

I'll have a lot to live up too - I must have excelled in Basic to be allowed to join the Best of The Best - First Squad!

Good to have you on the team! Ready to explode some alien butt?

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the crazy new "Muton" thing yet from a couple missions back. I'd rather not run into one of those guys up close. And now I want some Lamb Chops... mmmm, Mutton.

"Claymore"? What sort of silly name is that for a sniper? I circle patiently, you can't exactly do that with a bleedin' sword.

Maybe as in the anti-personnel mine? Waiting in a trap, target dead before they know what happened?

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
"Claymore"? What sort of silly name is that for a sniper? I circle patiently, you can't exactly do that with a bleedin' sword.

The rookie who suggested it was viciously swirlied until he recanted. 'Vulture' is your nickname.

 dementedwombat wrote:
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the crazy new "Muton" thing yet from a couple missions back. I'd rather not run into one of those guys up close. And now I want some Lamb Chops... mmmm, Mutton.

We are hoping by not drawing attention they will go away.
Works for me.
Guess who is most likely to get close and possibly be asked to apply electrodes to it...

Interlude: Scranton, Pennsylvania USA.

"Scott, did you get the memo? We're doing a cover sheet for the TPS reports now, and Mr. Felton mentioned it in the morning meeting about how...."
"Darlene, I'm sorry, I know - I forgot. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Okay, it's just that we decided..."

Scott Rasmussen hated his job. He hated his dead-end job and his plain wife and he was disappointed in his pot-head son. Nothing ever exciting happened in his life. Maybe he would go home and stick that gun he had right in his... or maybe he'd go home and grab his G36 and come back here....

The phone rang almost as accussingly. Scott, startled out of his downward spiral, almost didn't answer - but something made him pick up the phone.

"Scott Rasmussen, Global Solutions Inc. How may I help you?"
"May wisdom shine down on you. May you be exalted among men."

Scott's heart almost leaped out of his chest. Was it real? After all these years? What would he tell Jolene... wait... feth Jolene. Almost too late, Scott remembered his response - buried years prior in the deep subconscious.

"May all men exalt us, brother."
*click.* The phone went dead.

Finally. Finally after all these year he would be part of something. Something important. Something that would make Darlene and Phil-fething-Felton and his condescending wife respect and fear him. He would have power and he would be something more than all of them....

Lol, love that interlude.

Oh hell no! We did not need those bags of crazies too! Well at least we know the name of one of those guys, time to prepare for a new foe it seems then

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
"Claymore"? What sort of silly name is that for a sniper? I circle patiently, you can't exactly do that with a bleedin' sword.

I always thought it referred to the mine.
Turns out a directed explosive is a good deterrent against people trying to sneak up on you when you are lining up your shot.

 AlmightyWalrus wrote:
"Claymore"? What sort of silly name is that for a sniper? I circle patiently, you can't exactly do that with a bleedin' sword.

Maybe its a reference to your bloody handed work? And the amount of dead aliens you leave behind?

Or all that pottery working equipment cluttering up the armory

Not sure if bodies are still needed, but count me in.

"My family, my whole family lived in Samara, sir. You give me a chance and I'll burn every last one of these bastards."

(Class doesn't really matter, gunner would be nice but whatever you need. Barring that, a white guy would be an ideal avatar.)
(Edit: read the whole thing, start to finish and am completely drawn in. This is awesome.)

 Frankenberry wrote:
Not sure if bodies are still needed, but count me in.

"My family, my whole family lived in Samara, sir. You give me a chance and I'll burn every last one of these bastards."

(Class doesn't really matter, gunner would be nice but whatever you need. Barring that, a white guy would be an ideal avatar.)
(Edit: read the whole thing, start to finish and am completely drawn in. This is awesome.)

LCPL Frankenberry made quite a name for himself in the Legion before being elevated to the Dakka Corps. Welcome to 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon. We've taken the liberty of forwarding your blood type to the ICU and making arrangements for organ donation in the event of your demise. I would suggest updating your will and living will as well as buying most of the medical command a few beers.

ROFLMAO, welcome to 2nd squad Frankenberry, thr name is going to be quite fitting soon enough ;P