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[10ebbor10]

It works very well. It's just that "not dying" isn't that spectacular a thing.

[piratejoe]

It is when you aren't dying to slugs of metal about the size of a small brick being fired at you at least five times the speed of sound... Note, Im not sure how large their Gauss rifles shots are, but I'm just going off of Xcom 2

[VoidSlayer]

Why not give them multiple redundant organs and combat chemicals that ignore pain and let them carry on until dead?  So cybernetic armor plus even if you hit them it doesn't stop them.

[~Neri]

No point in giving chems that cause pain ignorance when one can just not have pain receptors.

[NUKE9.13]

I mean, if you roll a two, 'not dying' is pretty spectacular (see original Lesser Muton results for the alternative). Combined with super endurance, we'd have something we could actually deploy.

But if folks want to gamble on us getting >2 (which might be sensible), I could also go with endurance and tactics.

I already mentioned redundant organs. As for advanced armour, I figure it'd be better to get the basic creature done first, and then later design/revise improvements to them. Like, we don't have the luxury of being able to gamble on a Hard design rolling well- we need to more or less guarantee we get something we can deploy without being embarrassed about it. 

[10ebbor10]

Muton: Taking what we learnt from the Lesser Muton debacle, and combining it with a choice selection of high-quality Earth DNA, we have managed to create Mutons capable of operating in Earth's biosphere. We could try to do something 'original', but why bother when we have something so suited to the task at hand already?
Mutons are big, beefy warriors. Everything about them is designed for combat. Redundant organs, a high pain threshold, and their integrated combat armour gives them unparalleled endurance, whilst their strength and innate combat skills make them a deadly threat. Their weaknesses are a low intellect for non-combat matters, virtually no capacity for the gift whatsoever, and an inability to blend in- on infiltration missions, they should definitely stick with the lander.
(Recommend spending 2 DNA tokens to reduce difficulty)

Hard : 3 + 3 -1 = 5 (2 Tokens used) [Average]

Well over two meters tall, the Muton is a terrifying combat unit. Their genetically and surgically altered physiology features multiple redundant organs, a tremendous pain threshold and even integrated armor plating. They're capable of surviving injuries that on many other species would be lethal, and even keep on fighting until they're on the brink of death.  Integration of Earth DNA has allowed us to extend this endurance outside of combat. Mutons are fully capable of surviving in most of Earther's biosphere without any support, even over prolonged periods of time. However, using that capability for Earth infiltration would be a mistake. Muton minds are imprinted with tactics and weapon knowledge, and are uniquely mono focused on combat. To them, the world is a series of nails and them the hammer.

Spoiler: Equipment (click to show/hide)

Vehicles

Small scout : One of the tiniest vessels at your disposal, the Small scout is both cheap and reliable. Powered by a single Elerium core, the vessel makes decent speed, while carrying up to 2 units to their destination. It's equipped with a plasma turret for self defense . Cost : 1 VP  | 1 Free

Light fighter : Roughly half the size of a Small Scout, the Light fighter is a small craft that can be slaved to a nearby UFO to defend it. It's armed with 3 forward firing plasma guns, giving it a decent amount of firepower. Like the small scout, it is powered by a single Elerium core that gives it decent speed. Cost : 1 VP

Medium fighter Roughly 3 quarters the size of a small scout, the medium fighter is a small automated craft capable of independent operation. It's armed with 3 forward firing plasma guns, giving it a decent amount of firepower. Powered by an enlarged Elerium reactor, it's small size gives it greatly superior speed and maneuverability. Cost : 2 VP

Medium Scout : Roughly twice the size of it's smaller cousin, the medium scout is medium sized craft powered by a single large elerium reactor. It's armed with 3 plasma turrets around of the rim of the hull, and a mortar for ground use. It's armor is no stronger than that on the light scout, but an extra layer around the core provides extra protection to critical systems/ It's powerful engines give it's decent speed while carrying 4 units.
Cost: 3 VP

Equipment

Plasma Pistols : A basic simple sidearm that has been used in many pacification operations. The plasma pistol is a dependable bit of equipment that is light but not particularly powerful.

Plasma Rifle : An effective weapon that can project jets of plasma over significant ranges with great effect. Comes with modular attachment points. Cost: 1 EP [1 Free]

Elerium Grenade : The elerium grenade is powerful handheld explosive. Cost : 1 EP

Meld Container : A container filled with the precious Meld, a substance that consists out of billions of cybernetic nanomachines that automatically capture, catalogue and analyse any foreign DNA they find. Greatly increases the effectiveness of recovery operations. If capture threatens, the container will perform an auto-sterilization cycle.  Cost : 1 EP

ECM equipped flight computer : A modified flight computer that can mimic a larger ship or deceive missiles.
Cost: 0 EP

Defensive Plasma Wave : A modification of our current generation plasma weaponry, that allows our vessels to engulf themselves in a bath of plasma to stop missiles at close range.
Cost :0EP

AAA missile battery : A missile launcher that replaces a normal plasma cannon. Launches advanced, intelligent and high yield Alien anti air missiles. Each launcher contains 2 missiles. (Cost 1 EP).

Elder's Scorn : A modified Elerium power core that destroy a ship when it sustains damage, or it's crew is killed/incapacitated.
Cost: 0.25  EP

Aliens
Sectoid : A formerly weak species with a limited capability for the gift. Nonetheless, their simple biology allows to easily clone these creatures and deploy them in great numbers. Integration of human DNA has brought their strength up to par with human baseline.
    - Reversable Mind Merge: Merge minds with an organic, intelligent friendly or enemy, giving or drawing upon them for strength
Cost 1 UP   ( 1 Free available)

Scout drone : A small but fast scout drone armed with powerfull short range non-lethal weaponry and powerfull sensors. Effective at hunting down humans as well as spotting threats, but lightly armored.
Cost 1 UP or 1 EP

Skin Crawler : An infiltrator unit capable of mimicking human form (more or less). Has 8 claw equipped tentacles and is capable of using most handheld technologies.
Cost 2 UP (+1 UP if infiltrated [Infiltrated units require no transportation, but can not use equipment]) [3 UP worth free] 

Muton : A mainline combat unit, with tremendous endurance and imprinted knowledge of combat. Physically powerfull, agressive and as subtle as a medium-sized rock. Can survive on Earth for prolonged periods.  Cost: 2 UP

Mission Profiles

Harvest: A simple mission profile that involves a UFO landed in a secluded area to capture humans other lifeforms for analysis in the main base.

Recruit Collaborators : A more complex mission profile that relies on the insertion of infiltrating units to make contact and recruit potential collaborators.

Alien Resources

5+1 VP
6 UP
4 EP

2 DNA token, 1 Exalt Token, Psionic Prisoner Token

Dark side of the Moon base [Hidden, Industrious]

Asteroid Belt Base
        - Asteroid mining systems (+1 EP, + 1 VP)
        - Weak defenses (Max 2 units in garrison)

Spoiler: PANIC METER (click to show/hide)

Africa
---> Egypt
---> South Africa
---> Nigeria

Asia
--->Australia  Light infiltration
--->China
--->India
--->Japan

Europe
--->France
--->Germany
--->Russia
--->United Kingdom

North America
--->Canada
--->Mexico Light infiltration
--->United States

South America
--->Argentina
--->Brazil   X

Design

Turn 9

AABBCCDD
[/quote]

[Shadowclaw777]

Operation Advancement

Mission 1
Crafts: 1 Medium Scout (3 VP)
Units: 1 Muton, 1 Sectoid, 1 Drone (3 UP)
Equipment: Medium Scout (AAA Missiles), Muton (Free Plasma Rifle), (1 EP)
Destination: Brazil
Objective: Harvest + Investigate Signal

Mission 2:
Craft: 1 (Free) Small Scout, 1 Light Fighter (1 VP)
Unit: Skin Crawler (Free), 1 Muton (2 UP)
Equipment: Muton (Plasma Rifles), Light Fighter (AAA Missile) (2 EP)
Destination: Russia
Objective: Recruit Collaborators + Investigate Signal

Mission 3:
Crafts: 1 Small Scout, 1 Light Fighter (2 VP)
Units: 1 Skin Crawler (Half Off) (1 UP)
Equipment: Light Fighter (AAA Missiles) 1 EP
Destination: Nigeria
Objective: Recruit Collaborators + Investigate Signal

The missions that are only for harvest don’t have the Skim Crawlers but the muscles of the Mutons, the infiltration missions all have a Skin Crawlers which makes them very useful for infiltration.

Operation-A: (1) SC

[Failbird105]

The good news about our mutons is that, even though they can't stealth, their ability to last long periods in atmosphere means they can be used to protect any future in-atmosphere bases we might create.

[Kashyyk]

I'd prefer to fully infiltrate countries, rather than lightly infiltrate everywhere. Otherwise, I like the set ups.

[Shadowclaw777]

Problem is that Harvests provides the DNA points that we need to create powerful aliens, and the Medium UFO has difficulty between choosing harvesting and infiltration, also Mutons are expensive compared to the sectoid fodder so it’s difficult to combined Mutons and infiltrated Skin crawlers

[sprinkled chariot]

Can we  stop gifting xcom tech by sending lone
Medium scout( like we did last turn )

[Shadowclaw777]

Can we  stop gifting xcom tech by sending lone
Medium scout( like we did last turn )

You don’t understand, they can send three Talons and two skyrangers it seems. The idea is we have three missions so that the Medium UFO doesn’t have to deal with the force that is of two, or even three, talons and we would get absolutely destroyed. We only lost the battle because of lack of plasma rifles or better units, in this case mutons. The medium ufo combined with its mortar and Muton support should be more than enough, me thinks. Also AAA missile support, which we are planning on revising again...

If Mutons and them with plasma rifles can’t save the day for us, I don’t know what will

[sprinkled chariot]

I am pretty sure, that we lost, because our medium scout was pile of flaming debris. There is no point in winning ground harvest mission, if you have no means of getting back.

[NUKE9.13]

I am pretty sure, that we lost, because our medium scout was pile of flaming debris. There is no point in winning ground harvest mission, if you have no means of getting back.

Well, to be fair, if we completely win the ground battle and don't completely lose the air battle, we get to 'repair' our ships and escape anyway. See: two turns ago. Also, our scout wasn't entirely destroyed- the mortar got knocked out, but I think it could've been made spaceworthy if we won on the ground.

That being said, I don't think we should send another unescorted Medium Scout. Bearing in mind that XCOM has had the opportunity to upgrade their airforce with a host of alien tech this turn, I think sending along a Light Fighter makes a lot of sense. I'll have to reread last turn before suggesting a plan, since I can't remember all the details.

[TopHat]

That's a very solid result, and a good price too. My reading of last turn was that whilst we could have won on the ground for mission 1, our yield would have been greatly reduced due to the damage taken, so I agree that we shouldn't send the Medium unescorted again. As such, here is my proposal:

Spoiler: Plan B (click to show/hide)

Mission 1:
Craft: Large Scout (3 VP), Medium Fighter (2 VP)
Units: Skin Crawlers (free), Sectoids (free), Mutons (2 UP), Mutons (2 UP)
Equipment: AAA Missile x 2 (Large Scout x1, Medium Fighter x1), Plasma Rifle (Mutons 1) (free)
Destination: Canada
Mission Type: Harvest + Investigate Signal

Mission 2:
Craft: Small Scout (free), Light Fighter (1 VP)
Units: Skin Crawlers (1 UP), Sectoids (1 UP)
Equipment: AAA Missile (Light Fighter) (1 EP), Plasma Rifle (Sectoids) (1 EP)
Destination: Australia
Mission Type: Recruit Collaborators