Let's Play X-COM: UFO Defense!

[Peptuck]

For those of you who have never played it, X-COM: UFO Defense (aka UFO: Enemy Unknown) was a strategy game released way the fuck back in the last millenium. Probably one of the best games ever made. Wiki here.

The fundamental premise is pretty simple: Aliens are invading. The world's most powerful governments (plus Nigeria ) have chosen to establish an international covert operations unit known as the EXtraterrestrial Combat Unit to fight them. Unfortunately, they pay you chump change, arm you with crappy weaponry, and are most quick to pull both of those if you screw up.

Fortunately, the aliens are just as incompetent, though vastly more technologically advanced. You shoot down their UFOs, kick them in the balls, take their stuff, and kill them better. Eventually you figure out what they want, where they're coming from, and how to crotchstomp ther invasion FOR THE IMPERI- er, for the sake of humanity.

Currently taking suggestions for the name of our first base. Also, in lieu of specfic weaponry, please choose one of the following specializations for your soldier:

-Assault: Soldiers who will be using automatic weaponry, grenades, and stun prods for room clearing. Have dibs on all the sweet armor. Totally not cannon fodder. >.>
-Weapons: Soldiers with high Strength. Will carry heavy weapons (rocket launcher, autocannon, etc.) Likely to blow themselves up.
-Sniper: Soldiers with very high accuracy. Will carry rifles and provide long-ranged fire. Probably going to be totally misused and die horribly in a fire, the way I play.

So, who wants to join up and die- er, fight for mankind?

[weemadando]

I demand the Autocannon loaded with HE or Incendiary rounds. I also humbly request that I do not get raped (literally) by a Chrysalid, blasted by a Mutoid or be psychically comandeered by a Ethereal.

I know those are long odds, but it would be greatly appreciated.

And remember - the only defence against the invaders is scorched earth. If there is a single tile left at the end of an enounter which isn't burnt/rubble, then you haven't done the job properly.

[Zablorg]

I wanna be a Heavy Weapons Guy, by the name of Heavy.


The base will be called... Skynerfed!

[Peptuck]

And remember - the only defence against the invaders is scorched earth. If there is a single tile left at the end of an enounter which isn't burnt/rubble, then you haven't done the job properly.

A man after my own heart.

Addendum: Also taking applications for whatever lucky sumbitch who wants to drive the HWP tanks from the safety of home base.

[Hawkwings]

Addendum: Also taking applications for whatever lucky sumbitch who wants to drive the HWP tanks from the safety of home base.

That'll be me

[eyexist]

I totally wanna be an Assault Weapons guy. Watch me get assimilated by a Chryssalid and take out half my squad before I give birth to a new one

[MJ12 Commando]

Oh-ho. One of THESE! It is spreading!

I call Private Expendable, the one guy with a stun rod in one hand and a smoke grenade in the other!

And his five billion clones. Because we unearthed the Project Perseus cloning center but we can't get it to produce soldiers of DECENT quality anymore after 40 years of disuse.

[rhoenix]

Special Delivery! High-velocity lead from 100+ meters away!

(Here's my vote for a Sniper-ish sort of character.)

[MJ12 Commando]

Special Delivery! High-velocity lead from 100+ meters away!

(Here's my vote for a Sniper-ish sort of character.)

You might be disappointed. Sniper-spotter tactics are great once you get enough accuracy but until then you'll miss a lot and aimed shots take so many TUs they're not worth it in the early day.

[Peptuck]

Special Delivery! High-velocity lead from 100+ meters away!

(Here's my vote for a Sniper-ish sort of character.)

You might be disappointed. Sniper-spotter tactics are great once you get enough accuracy but until then you'll miss a lot and aimed shots take so many TUs they're not worth it in the early day.

At least until you get laser rifles.

Prior to that, we do things Stalingrad style.

[rhoenix]

You might be disappointed. Sniper-spotter tactics are great once you get enough accuracy but until then you'll miss a lot and aimed shots take so many TUs they're not worth it in the early day.

While true that the early game is more difficult for such types, the patience required is well-rewarded. When I used to play XCOM, I normally trained 4 of my 8 soldiers to be snipers in preparation for later, and worked on shooting skills for all 8.

[MJ12 Commando]

While true that the early game is more difficult for such types, the patience required is well-rewarded. When I used to play XCOM, I normally trained 4 of my 8 soldiers to be snipers in preparation for later, and worked on shooting skills for all 8.

As long as you shoot people at all you gain shooting accuracy, so unless you're going all-grenades you'll gain other stats.

Someone should LP TFTD on Superhu-AAAAARGH MY BRAIN IS STRANGLING ME

[rhoenix]

As long as you shoot people at all you gain shooting accuracy, so unless you're going all-grenades you'll gain other stats.

Well, of course - someone has to properly shoot the Blaster Launcher.

Someone should LP TFTD on Superhu-AAAAARGH MY BRAIN IS STRANGLING ME

You really must be a masochist for even thinking that.

[GuppyShark]

Please throw Private GuppyShark into the thick of danger. Assault.

[Ohma]

I call a slot in the squaddie (more probably rookie -kia- ) expendables lineup.

I hope my death is better than your average "rookie rounds corner/exits skyranger/enters room/stands still/shoots and misses enemy and gets shot by an unseen alien" death.

[Peptuck]

Alright, got seven soldiers plus a tank driver, and a (suggested) base name. I'll probably get this one started tommorrow, once we pad out - er, finish recruiting additional troops. Standard Skyranger capacity is ten troops plus a tank, or fourteen troops without a tank. (and if we need backup cannon fodder, MJ12 has been kind enough to volunteer his genetic code.)

Also, forgot to mention this, but we're also accepting applications for Interceptor pilots, and if anyone wants a cameo role as the Skyranger pilot, that's cool. I've already figured out who's likely going to be our base commander, head scientist, and head engineer.

Also, uh, this is somewhat embarassing, but I'm not that brilliant when it comes to computers, so....

How do I take screencaps? I'm not sure how I do that. Otherwise this is going to be a pretty dull LP.

[MJ12 Commando]

If you're using Dosbox I believe it has an inbuilt screenshot ability somewhere (check the readme). If you're not, you can use one of the free screen capture programs you can find on the internet (I used Screenhunter 5.0 Pro I believe), as those work just fine in my experience.

[weemadando]

Alright, got seven soldiers plus a tank driver, and a (suggested) base name. I'll probably get this one started tommorrow, once we pad out - er, finish recruiting additional troops. Standard Skyranger capacity is ten troops plus a tank, or fourteen troops without a tank. (and if we need backup cannon fodder, MJ12 has been kind enough to volunteer his genetic code.)

Also, forgot to mention this, but we're also accepting applications for Interceptor pilots, and if anyone wants a cameo role as the Skyranger pilot, that's cool. I've already figured out who's likely going to be our base commander, head scientist, and head engineer.

Also, uh, this is somewhat embarassing, but I'm not that brilliant when it comes to computers, so....

How do I take screencaps? I'm not sure how I do that. Otherwise this is going to be a pretty dull LP.

You can just PrtScn (Print Screen) and paste into the image editor of your choice if X-Com is happy with alt-tabbing.

[MJ12 Commando]

You can just PrtScn (Print Screen) and paste into the image editor of your choice if X-Com is happy with alt-tabbing.

Not going to work at all. I've done a couple of LPs and believe me, you'll be taking dozens to hundreds of screenshots in shortish periods of time. You'll shoot yourself in the head after the first ten minutes of gameplay if you don't use a screen-capture program, so do yourself a favor and use the latter.

[eyexist]

Not going to work at all. I've done a couple of LPs and believe me, you'll be taking dozens to hundreds of screenshots in shortish periods of time. You'll shoot yourself in the head after the first ten minutes of gameplay if you don't use a screen-capture program, so do yourself a favor and use the latter.

Preferably this one.

[Peptuck]

Picked up Screenhunter 5.0. Looks like it works pretty well. PrntScrn wasn't working well with X-COM anyway, kept giving me empty pictures.

[Argosh]

So, who wants to join up and die- er, fight for mankind?

Volunteering, I want a stun-rod and flares.

Also, some versions of UFO/X-Com have a built-in screenshot capability. For the CE version, use F12. It will make a .TGA file in your game directory.

[Coalition]

I'll take the Interceptor pilot. Though once the battle starts, my name here will likely be reduced to "Coal" or similar.


And once you develop Alien Alloys, I will demand they be fitted to the Interceptors (and SkyRanger) to improve survivability.

Of course, the decent thing for a game editor would be redesigning the Blaster Launcher Tank to use the same ammo as the regular Blaster Launcher.

Hmm, other options - redesign the Plasma Defenses so they use the weaponry from Battleships (so you have to build the Plasma Defenses first, then as you capture alien Battleships, you add the actual weapons).

Another person recommended that the Firestorms be modified to carry 3 weapons, that Lightnings are actually the fastest craft, while the Avenger is the ultimate long-range transport (with two guns on it).

[White Haven]

Alright, I'll jump in this, provided I'm rocking some seriously high explosives. Aiming is optional.

Code: Select all

By careful statistical analysis, X-COM Tacnet has determined that the top killer of X-COM operatives is the common doorway, with a slightly less lethal variant to be found in a Form B-2 Window. Accordingly, all units are hereby directed to employ High Explosive bombardment of structures suspected of housing XT infiltrators. This list including, but not limited to: farmhouses, townhouses, opera houses, mansions, retail and wholesale distribution outlets, outhouses, dog houses, movie theaters, warehouses, Tommy Lee Jones's house, and other such edifices. Specifically excluded from this tactical directive is the use of saturation-bombardment on alien craft, both due to the fact that their hulls are remarkably resilient to human-produced explosives, and the fact that the insides are worth more than few expendable rookies anyway.

By a quirk of the engine, HE stops at walls. It'll destroy the wall, but not anything on the other side, so that even works on terror sites. Just...don't try THAT part with blaster launchers. They pass walls. >.<

[Vendetta]

I volunteer to meet the alien menace head on, face to ugly face.