Xenonauts: Dili

[Part of the Xenonauts story]

An aerial terror strike at Reykjavik proves to be a good time to unleash the newest marauder aircraft to butt kick the aliens back into space, but a terror mission in Dili introduces a new alien variant - the tough, large headed wraiths who have a knack for teleporting.  Dr. Monique is caught be surprise and wraithed while Megan Allen is mind controlled into a building that the scimitar tank drops down on top of her for an instakill. Worth it as it took three wraiths down too! The large drones that accompany them are also decently annoying and a good match against the scimitar.

Of course, the Xenonauts didn't know these were NOT the Praetors they needed to capture and lost a few soldiers trying to take some in with Straggler Rachel plasma-ed by a lizardman and Ursula getting lizardmelee'd to death, Sera getting sniped by a jetpack boss and Ghorlak Beholder eating a friendly grenade to ensure a clear path to capture a creature they didn't actually need to.

Since the aliens are clearly becoming stronger (like those lizardmen are now regenerating) MAG rail-gun type weapons are produced for all the soldiers as well as three power armors for the LMG carriers which makes it easier to win battles against the alien battleships landing to terrorize Nairobi and Cape Town. Despite this Dr. Isaac is still killed when taking the bridge of one of those multi storied UFOs. 

It's the only way to be sure.

Dili then is the target of another terror attack, and since their previous efforts did not make Indochina return to the council this time they just nuke the entire city, populace and all. If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem! Then for whatever reason, Dili is terrorized and nuked AGAIN. Who were they terrorizing, I'm not sure... the aliens either really want something there or are just kinda stupid.

Decluttering Day 23: Broken Pig charm.

The Cursed: Highest Tier

[Part of the Cursed story line]

Baeloth turns up his cheating ways to 11 in this next tier, and it is only thanks to Ghorlak's advice that the team gets through. The fight against trolls requires fire to win (other wise the trolls get up at full health).

Against the clay golems and shambling mound, crushing weapons are needed or you do no damage. Against the ice salamanders fire really hurts them bad (the easiest fight thanks to fireball). Finally against the fire giant and fire elementals you need...

Turning up the heat!

Health potions. Lots and lots of health potions. Sure, fire resist and ice gear would be handy, but potion spam is the only thing that let the party win this round.

Furious at the outcome, Baeloth declares that he will fight the team next - along with a duergar ally and that smarmy rakshasa...

Insight: You can prepare buffs prior to entering each fight. Haste, bless and protection are almost mandatory in this tier (apart from the ice salamander fight).

The Cursed: Hold the Wands

[Part of the Cursed story line]

After the necromancer is a difficult fight against an ogre mage and his ogre buddies. Catharina's wands of fear and fireball win the round for the team here, and back at the cells she discovers Ghorlak the beholder, trapped by Baeloth's antimagic field, who takes an interest in becoming the teams "coach" for upcoming fights.

Baeloth fields a proper adventuring party in the next round, but being human they are all susceptible to Elisabeth's hold person spell which makes them easy pickings and moves the gladiators up to the next "tier".

Their reward is 25,000 gold which is quickly spent on the new magic items now available from the stores. Party Girl is the MVP in the next two fights with her magic bow, taking down the majority of the rabid ankhegs that burrow into the arena and a spider summoning druid. Catharina still has to fireball (wand) said spiders into ash though.

Area of effect is handy after you get used to the radius!

Insight: Wands are plentiful, cast pretty fast, and don't get interrupted by taking hits (I think). Because of this its almost always better to use a wand of fireball (or any wand spell) than memorizing and casting the spell yourself.