XCOM 2 - War of the Chosen

[Fenn]

Phew, that was a close shave At least I made it back in one piece.

For all that the game is hyping up these Chosen, they could stand to work on their trash talk a little...

[yuris125]

Hunter's trash talk is top notch. The other two... they would do well to learn from him. If XCOM allows them to teach each other of course

Glad everyone's alive despite the scares

[haphazard1]

And everyone survives the cliffhanger, if only just barely. But what will be the fallout from the knowledge gained by the assassin?

I got a promotion, and get to do helpful medic things.

[Khan]

Just downloaded XCOM2 recently (thanks to a huge discount) and really enjoying it. Your reports are top notch. Please sign me up when a position becomes available.

[RefSteel]

[... beep ... beep ... beep ...]

Whaja...buh?

[... beep ... beep ... beep ...]

Is that the alarm clock or ... man, I'm tired ... and ... lightheaded ... sleep...y....

[... beep ... beep ... beep ...]

Had this ... funny dream, zombies in it ... some kinda ... thing....

[... beep ... beep ... beep ...]

Tried to ... uh ... cut some ... alien? Something? In half, but the ... the sword wouldn't go through?

[... beep ... beep ... beep ...]

Crazy dream. Funny ... you know, this alarm clock ... kinda sounds like a ... what do you call it? ... Life-signs monitor? Like in ... in the infirmary? If the ... signs ... the lifesigns ... were stable and ... everything...

[... beep ... beep ... beep ...]

Funny. Can't find ... the snooze button though. Maybe ... just sleep through it maybe....

[... beep ... beep ... beep ...]

Crazy ... dream....

[... beep ... beep ... beep ...]

zzzzzzzzzzz...

[Dreylin]

Thanks all for the kind words - they'll definitely get you the Hotpants or Voodoo hat or headspikes that only the /best/ Agents are equipped with!

On the trash talk, I have to confess that I've got so used to filtering out the XCOM executive team that I really haven't been paying attention - although I do still notice the odd thing...

[Dreylin]

And today's post-mission POI is...


Finally! But first we need to finish this:


And we meet the Templars:



That's an intriguing new Covert Option, but aha! there's the recruit Engineer option! However with the Assassin's recent success against us I very nearly go with this option:


It's a good team - with Fenn in the Infirmary, Dragunova's bond remains unused - however then I remember they've just come back from a mission and it might not be the best idea to send them out again immediately:


So it's back to recruit an Engineer:


Welcome new Squaddies Khan and Kaiser (Ranger & Grenadier, respectively).

Also while I was toying with the Chosen Mission I purchased the Rifle & Blade upgrades (can't upgrade the Shotgun because Engineers).

While we're at it, let's meet the new gal:




I'm not entirely sure what's going on here, but I think it will become clearer once we get her on a mission.

Oh, and with the Templar Base appearing I finally twig:

It's the 3 options from the old Resistance HQ split between the the factions.

While we're waiting for a new mission to appear let's go through the tech progress:






We'll have to build one of those things before we head into another encounter with the Lost.

And the Black Market completes:



The Chosen booster looks like it may be a worthwhile investment when the time comes, but for now I just clear out some $$-boosted corpses. And since Supplies are still plentiful, the next task is to put a relay in:


The Africa bonus is an extra Weapon upgrade slot, which really won't be much use until we pick up more upgrades!

Oh, and before I forget here's the Integrated-DLC pop-up:


So that will be a fun place to visit ... eventually. (It's 3 Regions away!)

End of Month triggers its cascade of info/options:




I've chosen selected the Black Market discount card for this month since I plan to make at least one purchase and the mission timers haven't been bothering me yet.

The Proving Ground completes and I start excavating a second-level space:


Looks like the Lost Towers mission won't be part of the integrated DLC (& I need a second Engineer to build a SPARK). I start the Skulljack for lack of noticably better options.

Finally we get a mission notification and it's from our friends the Skirmishers:


Another Engineer is welcome; there's lots of digging & building to do!

Here's the squad:


Kelly & Mardoc lead the way with the Templar in for testing. Yuris & DP101 have a good potential bond so they round out the squad:


Also don't miss Central's text on this one!

[Dreylin]

We start on the edge of the map with the Engineer not too far away:



Power up by killing, seems straightforward enough I guess.

We advance and get eyes on this pod:


Our first Mech sighting and a Purifier - I hope that doesn't mean there are Lost down here! Both would be nice for opening up new Autopsies ... it's a shame this later turns out to be a no recovery mission.

We creep forward and set up the Overwatch trap:






Clockwork. Although I'd expected that one would survive with low health for me to start Focusing the Templar.

She & Kelly advance to pick up the Loot:


That'll come in useful on the next Lost mission.

We set up on the entranceway, Storm advances and triggers a pod ... who were actually in the same room as the Engineer!


DP101 and Mardoc were on Overwatch and one of them takes out the Trooper, but that leaves the larger threats active and not enough in range to take them out so Kelly sends in the flashbang and we reposition for next turn:


Kelly starts us off on the Viper:


The other 3 only have angles on the Purifier, but only Mardoc lands a hit:


To leave both enemies on just 1 health and just Storm to act.

Well the Viper is the bigger threat, so we'll take her out and worry about the Purifier later:




Sorry DP101, you're only a /little/ on fire...

Storm cleans up:


That appears to be the last regular pod on the map as the turns roll w/o Alien Activity. So we position and advance on the Engineer to trigger the next phase:



3turns to hold out and here come the first Challengers:


The Sectoid dies to Overwatch fire and then we pick them off:



Kelly takes out the last with her blade and then Mardoc uses the extra move to bring her back to cover:



Round 2 it notable for the further example of teamwork displayed by Mardoc & Kelly; he "misses" to take out the pipe that this Trooper was hiding behind to give Kelly the Flanking kill


Storm again takes out the other Trooper & retreats to cover.

2 more Troopers drop for round 3 and the Evac zone appears:


Civvy is out, but Storm is too far away to get back this turn so she takes out one and retreats in range for next turn:


DP101 takes out the other and the rest of the squad overwatch:



One each for Mardoc & Yuris and then we're on the way home:



1day of Tiredness for Kelly & Yuris and 9days in the Infirmary for Mardoc DP101.

Promotions & bonds all round:







Good grief, Mardoc has hair!?!? 

[Dp101]

Firstly, you have a small typo, you accidentally listed Mardoc as the soldier needing 9 days to heal instead of me in the paragraph under the post mission screen. Secondly, now that you have tried all of them a little, what do you think of the balance of the new classes? Personally, I think it goes Reaper > Templar > Skirmisher when not revealed, and afterwards Templar > Skirmisher > Reaper, with skirmisher below templar because of their gun having the same range penalties/bonuses as shotguns, but I'm curious what you think.

[haphazard1]

A good mission. Several promotions and bond improvements, and only one injury. The engineer will certainly be useful.