Week four

Because only a few in-game days passed between this update and the last, our scientists are still trying to unlock the motion scanner's mysteries -- they describe the progress as average. We can continue researching motion scanners or move on to something else. Again, please vote for two research options, which I'll need by Wednesday night.

With our new February funding, I've initiated the final phase of our base restructuring. Once the two hangers on the north side and the single living quarters on the south side are complete, I'll dismantle the two southbound hangers and the living quarters next to the access lift. This set up should provide most advantageous defensive position by forcing all aliens south through a narrow passage way.

I've also reordered the cannon-based HWP and recruited the rest of you who signed up for combat last week. Once again I ordered one too many soldiers, so I had to draft another Bitmob staffer. Demian -- lock 'n' load! For anyone who still hasn't enlisted, you can do so at any time in the comments.

Our doctors released Kenn from the medical bay -- he's ready for action! On the next mission will be myself, James DeRosa, Jay Henningsen, Lilly Palmer, Thomas Billings, Kevin Spillman, Michael Pangelina, Aaron Wegner, Edgar Mena, and Rob Koulakjian.

Mission five

Updated: May 12, 7:12 p.m. PST

Combat roster

1. Rob Savillo
2. James DeRosa
3. Jay Henningsen
4. Lilly Palmer
5. Thomas Billings
6. Kevin Spillman
7. Michael Pangelina
8. Aaron Wegner
9. Edgar Mena
10. Rob Koulakjian
11. Jason Wilson
12. Dan Hsu
13. Adam Bloom
14. Nicholas Feinig
15. Michael Rousseau
16. Guillaume Favreau
17. Brett Bates
18. Juan Moreno
19. Mark T. Whitney
20. Jason Honaker
21. Kenn Quist
22. Demian Linn

Medical bay

1. Lester Valdez (34 days)

Fallen soldiers

1. Jeremy LaMont
2. Daniel Fecteau
3. Alex Gagne
4. Tyler Doan
5. Nathan Vig
6. Frank Anderson
7. Alejandro Moreno
8. Chris Davidson
9. Adam Doan
10. John Michael
11. Guillermo Guitterrez

Research votes

1. Alien alloys - 5
2. Alien grenade
3. Elerium-115
4. Floater corpse
5. Heavy laser - 1
6. Heavy plasma (and clip) - 2
7. Mind probe
8. Motion scanner - 6
9. Plasma gun (and clip)
10. Plasma pistol (and clip)
11. Sectoid corpse
12. Sectoid navigator
13. Small launcher
14. Stun bomb
15. UFO navigation
16. UFO power source

A few side notes -- we’re playing a modified version of the collector’s edition.

I’m using both XcomUtil and UFO Extender for bug fixes (like the difficulty and blaster-bomb glitches), UI improvements (like hotkeys, stat descriptors, and auto-reequip), and minor gameplay enhancements (like the new, useful heavy laser and Terror-from-the-Deep doors).

In addition to a few tweaks which make the game more difficult, such as range-based accuracy, we’re also playing on superhuman, the most challenging difficulty setting available. Furthermore, we're playing ironman, which means no reloads or retries. Whatever happens cannot be undone, and we live with the consequences.