Difference between revisions of "User talk:Hobbes"

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==The Mysteries of X-COM==
 
==The Mysteries of X-COM==
  
'''How fast can alien craft travel in space?'''
+
This section is getting very big - I'm gonna create a draft page and move it there. [[The Mysteries of X-COM]]
 
 
Some alien missions (repeated attacks on X-COM bases, for instance) come daily. This seems to imply that alien craft are able to travel the distance from Mars to Earth in a matter of hours.
 
 
 
: Or maybe, as you suggest in your novels, they have a staging area near Earth, such as the dark side of the Moon. [[User:Spike|Spike]] 15:36, 25 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
::Really fast.  Consider that they don't need to push aside atmosphere, as well as the fact that momentum is conserved in space, so they can achieve very high speeds with gravity slingshots.  (Mars DOES have 2 moons, recall.)  Also note that they may be operating a bit closer to home(the far side of the moon, perhaps?) it's simply that the command staff are at Cydonia.  [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 00:19, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
'''What happens to crashed UFO craft and its crew?'''
 
 
 
Downed alien craft disappear after a few days have passed. No explanation is given to this whatsoever, so what really happens to them?
 
 
 
Possible answers:
 
* The UFO and its occupants are recovered by other humans.
 
* The Aliens manage to repair the craft and fly back to space. (unlikely, in the event that the power plant blew up and they have no Elerium)
 
* The Aliens self-destruct the craft and kill themselves in the process to ensure that they won't be recovered by humans.
 
* The UFO Powerplant eventually suffers a meltdown and explodes, eliminating any vestiges of alien presence.
 
* The aliens destroy the UFO and disappear into the countryside.
 
* Most likely answer, IMHO: The local government/ funding nations give X-com a limited time window to launch any operation, similiar to what you see in covert ops movies: "Complete the mission within 36 hours, or we initiate Carpet Bombing of the area". This is very likely considering that each nation actually has jurisdiction, and X-com is operating each military op with permission and cooperation by local authorities. [[User:Jasonred|Jasonred]] 13:42, 25 February 2009 (CST)
 
*Similiarly, I assume that nations which have signed a pact with the aliens launch a rescue operation and assist their alien friends. [[User:Jasonred|Jasonred]] 13:42, 25 February 2009 (CST)
 
: In the UFO TV show, it's stated that alien craft and bodies degrade quickly in Earth's atmosphere, disappearing completely in hours or a few days. [[User:Spike|Spike]] 15:36, 25 February 2009 (CST)
 
:: If that was the case, then one of the gases present in the atmosphere would be very toxic to the aliens. They would be restricted on their activities outside their craft, not to mention they would have to terraform the planet to be able to live here. [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 20:32, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
::Those are excellent suggestions.  One of the X-COM books detailed that aliens throw up a force field around crashed UFOs to give them time to repair the craft.  This would also explain the limited size of the Battlescape (the area of the force field...the field was thrown up before the crash, thus why the craft wasn't always centered in it) as well as why the Battlescape is devoid of human life(the aliens took care of that up front.)  Similarly, large scale bombing works as well, as does the local government going in to clean it up themselves. [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 00:19, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
:::If there's a force field around the craft what is it supposed to repel? The atmosphere? Because humans have no problem entering the field and operating inside it. [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 20:32, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
'''Why isn't Earth overrun by Snakeman/Chryssalids?'''
 
 
 
According to the UFOPaedia, Snakemen's "Reproduction is asexual, with each snakeman carrying up to fifty eggs inside its body at any one time" adding the ominious conclusion: "Left to its own devices this species would be a severe threat to life on earth."
 
Moreover, this species is usually accompanied by the Chryssalids, which have a capacity to reproduce themselves very quickly using humans. So, any survivors of crash sites or terror attacks could start reproducing themselves hidden, resulting in large areas being overrun by those aliens later on.
 
 
 
Possible answers:
 
* Both races have a self-destruct mechanism incorporated into their psysiology to prevent this.
 
* The entire area is purged by large scale bombing. [[User:Jasonred|Jasonred]] 13:42, 25 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
::One thing suggested in fan data was that Snakemen have air tablets in their stomach...which may be different from earth's atmosphere, which would limit their lifespan in earth's atmosphere, also making egg-laying pointless, since the offspring wouldn't be able to breathe or survive.  It has also been suggested that Chryssalids have a very rapid metabolism.  Though Chryssalids are likely just as, if not more useful, as a threat or a bargaining tool.  When attempting to get a nation to capitulate to their demands, the aliens could threaten to employ Chryssalids en masse, or offer to remove a mass infestation in exchange for the government's cooperation.  Or even further, it's possible that Chryssalids are under Ethereal control and maintaining the control link at that distance is taxing, thus eliminating mass use of the creatures. [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 00:19, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
Two words: [[Alien Containment]]. That answers everything except for the UFOPaedia articles for the aliens themselves which contradict it. --[[User:Zombie|Zombie]] 00:42, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
: For captured aliens, yes. But what survivors of uninvestigated crash sites? [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]]
 
 
 
'''How do the aliens carry their equipment?'''
 
Like human soldiers, aliens can carry weapons and equipment in locations like legs, belt, shoulders and backpack, regardless of the fact that some of their races even lack those anatomical features.
 
 
 
:Potentially a sticky gel-like area on the limb.  Though really, since we were never intended to access alien inventories and the AI does all inventory management internally, this may simply be something that was never considered.  Speaking from a slightly different standard, most aliens do not carry excessive amounts of gear; often their equipment would be able to fit in both hands.  Also recall that Floaters and Ethereals have capes and robes(which may have inside pockets, or the Floaters could store them in the anti-grav/life support unit or inside surgically created body cavities during the installation, while Ethereals could support their excess gear with telekinesis), Mutons have armor(which may have external straps or adhesive areas), and Snakemen have an armor plate(which could have straps, adhesive, inside pockets, or even a backpack.)  [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 00:19, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
 
 
'''What is the propose of the 'disco balls' found inside some UFOs?'''
 
 
 
:Given that they explode, they could be storage reservoirs for coolant for the computers or other systems.  They could also be circuit breakers or electrical junction boxes, or even a component of the UFO's particle beam they use to fry X-COM Interception craft.  [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 00:19, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
Here again, two words: [[Alien Entertainment]]. Even though the spheres are not set to Alien Entertainment in the MCD files, they are almost certainly related to the process somehow. --[[User:Zombie|Zombie]] 00:42, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
'''Are X-COM transport craft piloted?'''
 
 
 
:Almost certainly, since a remotely-piloted craft could be returned to base when the mission was aborted or failed.  It's entirely possible that all X-COM soldiers are qualified pilots of the appropriate craft, since it would make no sense for X-COM to waste space on the plane for a noncombatant, or to have a single-point of failure on the mission like that.  (The aliens could screw over the entire op by killing the pilot).  It also explains why the craft is lost when the mission fails or is aborted with no one inside(lacking a pilot, the aliens are able to easily destroy it.) [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 00:19, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
'''Who buys those alien bodies/equipment from X-COM?'''
 
 
 
:Equipment likely goes to the funding nations or the international black market.  No rebel group is going to ask too many questions about being offered guns that can [[Heavy Plasma|slice through the hull of an MBT]] or [[Alien Grenade|grenades that can level a building]] or [[Blaster Launcher|man-portable guided missiles]]; it'd just be cash-and-carry.  Similarly, scientists would likely be interested in looking at much of this stuff for their own research.  This would also explain the lack of market forces; the funding nations could have a set price for each item, or if X-COM is selling them under the table to rebels and rogue scientists, they can set the price and refuse to budge.  The money on corpses could also be an "Alien Bounty" paid by the Funding Nations, as a reward for each alien that X-COM can prove they killed.  Or it could be bought by other groups...rumor has it that some fast food restaurants have processes that can make ANY meat, no matter the source, look and taste the same, and a Muton would make a LOT of McBurgers.  [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 00:19, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
From the USO: XARQUID SUSHI!
 
 
 
'''What sort of physical process is used to increase human stats over time?'''
 
 
 
The increases in some stats are easy explained by experience gained on missions (firing abiility, reactions, etc.). However, in the cases of physical stats (TUs, stamina, strength) the increase must be augmented by an artificial process, since it isn't easily explainable that humans can significantly increase body mass/speed/endurance just by physical activity/exercise.
 
 
 
:Lifting weights will increase strength.  Running and cardio exercise will increase endurance, and performing the same task multiple times will allow you to perform it faster.  I see no reason natural increase doesn't work.  [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 18:33, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
::I assume that it is possible to a human to use those methods to double its physical condition, but that being the case why are X-COM recruits so... undeveloped? Maybe this is a more intriguing aspect. [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 20:32, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
::: Yes, I've made a point about that, you would think that there would be more meticulous screening of your soldiers, but the council of funding nations seems to toss stinking rookies with no combat experience at you. I feel like I'm paying for Magic and I got Gumpy instead sometimes... (for you Jagged alliance enthusiasts)
 
 
 
 
 
'''How did the aliens got to Mars?'''
 
 
 
There are no indications that UFOs are capable of faster than light speed. So how did they get to Mars in the first place?
 
 
 
:The UFOs are mission craft, used for the legwork.  The fighters; we never see the carriers.  Given the aliens have been proven to be interstellar, they either Clone-A-Crew as needed when coming the long way to keep the UFOs crewed, or its far more likely that the aliens did have or still do have larger "Carrier" ships, which are capable of FTL travel, that were/are further out in the Solar System that store and dispatch UFOs to mission locations.  [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 18:33, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
:: One word: TFTD. The entire city of T'leth was put into cryogenic suspended animation? Or look at X-com Interceptor. X-com and the aliens show the ability to enter hyperspace or whatever it is.
 
::: T'Leth is another mystery of its own. More to that later on :) [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 20:32, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
::... there are no indications that the UFOs are INcapable of FTL... I don't think you would want to perform FTL travel within Earth's planetary atmosphere!
 
::: There are no indications that they are capable as well. And X-COM scientists don't seem to detect any FTL capabilities in UFOs during their research. And after the war the Elerium stocks dwindled, and it would make sense to perform some sort of interstellar missions to detect and harvest Elerium, however none are mentioned. [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 20:32, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
:::: Unless you count the events of X-com Interceptor? [[User:Jasonred]] [[User:Jasonred|Jasonred]] 21:15, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
::Have you noticed that the UFOs fly however their mission parameters tell them to? The UFOs pretty much IGNORE interceptions by X-com craft... if their mission tells them to make 3 passes, speed up, slow down, speed up... they will follow that pattern exactly, whether X-com craft are firing on them or not.
 
 
 
::Question: How long does it take the Avenger to reach Mars from Earth?  [[User:Jasonred]] [[User:Jasonred|Jasonred]] 19:12, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
:::No longer than a week, in my opinion.  Probably less than 2 days.  Since canonically, the design of the Avenger had the Cydonia mission in mind, it would be capable of very high interplanetary speeds.  (You could choose to burn 40% of the Elerium in one blast to get to high speed.  Or you could burn even more and refuel while it's landed...or it could be a mission with no guaranteed escape for the crew.  The lives of the many over those of the few and all that, especially since the war hinges on the mission.)  In addition, you can fit a full complement of soldiers on board with no real excess room for supplies, and the longer it takes to get to Mars, the greater the chance the aliens will spot it coming for them and mount a serious defense.  [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 19:20, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
:::If you'd burn that much fuel to accelerate the craft then you'd have to use as much again to decelerate it and attain a planetary orbit, otherwise you'll simply overshoot the planet and head towards outer space. This is also another aspect to take into account when thinking about the speed of UFOs. [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 20:32, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
'''What happened to Mars the alien civilization?'''
 
 
 
According to the Brain, Mars was blooming with life had a alien civilization millions of years ago. However, Mars nowadays is a barren world and the alien civilization seems reduced to the area on Cydonia.
 
 
 
:That may well have been before Mars lost the majority of its atmosphere due to its weak magnetic field.  As the atmosphere dissipated, the aliens left or died off.  It's also possible that the aliens, shown in the game over to have little respect for planets other than as sites for slaves and resources, they strip-mined the planet dry(and the rust from the machines created the red coloring), and then seeded Earth so that the slave workforce would grow for future extraction of Earth's resources.  [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 18:33, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
'''Where are the human-alien hybrids referred to on the UFOPaedia?'''
 
 
 
:For the ones on earth, probably in hiding or in laboratories for research.  For the ones the aliens have, potentially improving the Sectoid gene pool or being used as food or menial tasks.  Cloning is alot easier than making genetic hybrids and there's nothing that says their first-generation experiments would be suitable for combat.  [[User:Arrow Quivershaft|Arrow Quivershaft]] 18:33, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 
 
 
: They are babies at the time of X-com, and few in number. Their aren't even that many of them by the time of X-com Apocalypse. [[User:Jasonred]] [[User:Jasonred|Jasonred]] 19:12, 26 February 2009 (CST)
 

Revision as of 03:16, 27 February 2009

Hiya Hobbes. Any chance you could spill some info on the format of the .RMP files used in the routes folder?

ROUTES.DAT uses much the same format, but always has 70 records.

- Bomb Bloke


Hey.

I don't have much information regarding the .RMP files besides what I've learned from Map Editor. I found it surprising that the ROUTES.DAT only has 70 records, because each battlefield should have a maximum of 251 route nodes, depending on map size.

I have made an attempt to clarify the .RMP files. What do you think?

- Hobbes 11:52, 20 June 2006 (PDT)


Very helpful! Using that info it was easy enough to work out how the routes.dat file works.

Turns out it was my mistake about the 70 node limit. I must have just made a lot of saves with that amount of entries, and decided it was always that size.

- Bomb Bloke

Geneva

Hiya Hobbes. Check out my 5th Geneva Convention on Talk:CFN and see what you think.

Some of the points it may need to address are: XCOM exclusive right to deal with Aliens; basing rights; military cooperation: however I see it as an overall document that permits new directives and regulations to be issued by the Council so it doesn't have to cover everything.


feel free to move / copy / edit. Spike 02:22, 12 March 2008 (PDT)

Chucktastic

Heh heh I loved the pic of Chuck. Nice one. :D Spike 16:13, 14 March 2008 (PDT)


X-COM Military Organization

[...] the decision was made to establish a covert independent body to combat, investigate and defeat the alien threat. This organization would be equipped with the world's finest pilots, soldiers, scientists and engineers, working together as one multi-national force.

This page analyzes the inner military organization of X-COM.

Special Forces Unit or Intelligence Agency?

The first question regarding X-COM is as to its nature. Usually the force is considered as 'Special Forces'(SF), which is defined as:

"Special operations are highly-trained military units that conduct specialized operations such as reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and counter-terrorism actions".

However, this definition clearly does not fully correspond to the ingame definition of X-COM's roles, which also include 'investigation' and 'defeat' (giving it a more strategic role than the one played by an SF unit, with a specific objective - defeat the alien threat).

The other possible model to apply to X-COM is the 'Intelligence Agency' (IA), defined as:

"An intelligence agency is a governmental organization that for the purposes of national security is devoted to the gathering of information (known in the context as "intelligence") by means of espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public sources."

But, while an IA is more close to match X-COM's mission, there is a major point that is not covered by this definition, its specific mission, to 'defeat the alien threat'. IAs do not have such specific proposes: they are large bureaucratic institutions made with more generic proposes and with a logic of continued existence.

Thus, the answer to this question is probably more akin to a unit like the UK's Special Operations Executive (SOE), which was created by Churchill to "set Europe ablaze". Amongst its missions:

  • Encourage and facilitate espionage and sabotage behind enemy lines
  • Serve as the core of a resistance movement in Britain in the possible event of an Axis invasion

X-COM thus has a specific mission and uses SF forces and Intelligence processes (scientific research, interrogations, etc.) and also develops its own equipment (like the SOE did).

Combat Units and Personnel

Ranks

Ranks in X-COM are very simple when compared to the military of nearly, if not all, countries. While regular militaries have more than 20 ranks (from the lowest private to a 5 star general), X-COM only has 6, Rookie, Squaddie, Sergeant, Captain, Colonel and Commander, each corresponding to the usual classifications of rank (Enlisted (Privates and NCOs); Company Officer; Staff Officer; General). Since such a simpler system was adopted each officer rank (NCO and commissioned) should also correspond to a similar level on X-COM's combat organization. Taking the rate of promotions the most likely organization would be:

  • Level 1 (Combat team) - 4 soldiers + Sergeant = 5 soldiers
  • Level 2 (Combat squad) - 2 Level 1 + Captain = 11 soldiers
  • Level 3 (Combat unit) - 2 Level 2 + Colonel = 23 soldiers
  • HQ - Commander + 6 soldiers = 7 soldiers

Then the force organization of X-COM consists on the HQ plus a number of Level 3 units.

Deployment

Classic deployment modes include:

Skyranger

1 Squad + 1 HWP

1 Squad + 3 soldiers

1 Team + 2 HWP + 1 soldier

Lightning

1 Squad + 1 soldier

Avenger

1 Unit + 3 soldiers

1 Squad + 3 HWP + 3 soldiers

Nature of the beast

Good question. For me, the template and probably the inspiration for the X-COM organisation is S.H.A.D.O., but I know you are sticking to the canon here.

I would compare X-COM to the paramilitary arm of an intelligence agency such as the CIA or the wartime OSS. These organisations have a strategic goal, and include intelligence, scientific, special manufacturing and aircraft-using roles as well as a paramilitary function. X-COM is similar. We can assume that X-COM has personnel other that the scientists, soldiers and engineers in its secret, hardened bases. Apart from the pilots (who seem to sleep in their planes and whose salary is paid by some other organisation, possibly the aerospace forces of the funding nations) there are known to be X-COM "agents" and there are probably administrative, analytic and managerial staff - perhaps tucked away in an HQ facility in a non-descript (but highly secure) building in the UN complex in Geneva.

It is curious that X-COM never fields more than about 250 each of soldiers, scientists or engineers - any many fewer pilots. Possibly this is a constitutional limitation. Concerns about international law, jurisdictional issues with national militaries, a desire to keep X-COM under control, preservation of secrecy, or not provoking the aliens - all are possible reasons for keeping the organisation small. Perhaps the total staff is limited to 1000, with a decision to break this down as 250 each for military/scientific/technical/admin? Speculation.

Still it means the entire military forces of X-COM are only company-strength, and never operationally deployed in more than platoon strength. (Even in an attack on a heavily populated training base, X-COM will put into the field at most a reinforced platoon, under cover of which the remaining personnel will withdraw).

X-COM initially lacks any officers. Possibly in its early stages it is supervised by senior officers of the funding nations, attached to X-COM as advisors but not formally part of the X-COM complement (an old geopolitical trick!). Perhaps the difficulty of establishing precedence of ranks between soldiers of different nations led to this decision not to differentiate between soldiers. A 'team' approach may have prevailed in the early days. However, as in any situation, natural leaders soon emerge and are recognised with ranks. While drawn from existing elite units, humanity's finest soldiers, the capability to cope with the alien threat and handle the exotic technology does not become apparent until after live operations against the aliens. After a short time, X-COM developed a full rank structure appropriate to the small size and specialised nature of its paramilitary group. A good parallel to the X-COM paramilitary group is a Special Forces company, split operationally into small teams, sections, flights, etc. Another (perhaps better) parallel is the paramilitary teams inside agencies such as the CIA, KGB (in 1999), Mossad MI6 or the various French secret services.

The term X-COM, while shrouded in some mystery, is sometimes glossed as "EXtra-Terrestrial COMbat force". Does X-COM then refer only to the paramilitary division, relatively more visible, of an even more shadowy organisation whose very name is unknown? Or is "Combat" to be understood in the strategic sense of combatting the alien threat by all means?

Yeah, I didn't have time to continue my line of thinking but my idea is that X-COM is more akin to the OSS for a number of reasons. The CIA, KGB, etc. are also possibilities although their military component is significantly less than the OSS.

The 255 limit you mention only applies to individual bases IIRC, so the actual limit would be 255*8 (the number of possible bases), which leads into some 2000 and something maximum soldiers. And then there's also the Agents, support staff, etc. More into this article later.

The 255-per-base limit applies to Engineers and Scientists, but SOLDIER.DAT, which stores troop stats, has only 250 entries in it. This limits X-COM to only possessing 250 standing ground forces at any one time(which is probably a constitutional restriction, since given the equipment X-COM has access to, they could make a viable world domination bid with more. One soldier in a Flying Suit with Heavy Plasma would be practically invulnerable to most military forces in 1999.) Arrow Quivershaft 11:14, 17 March 2008 (PDT)
Thanks for the clearup regarding the 250 soldiers issue. And yes, 1 such soldier equipped would be invulnerable to most military forces, but eventually exhaustion would take its toll against thousands of opponents with bullets. Hobbes 11:29, 17 March 2008 (PDT)
Er... no. Such soldiers would be impervious to small arms fire, but I think they could eventually be brought down by Anti-Vehicle class weapons, anti-tank missiles, and a Fuel Air Bomb would probably be able to take down an entire division in one shot. An Avalanche missile seems to be more powerful than a Blaster Bomb. And those craft mounted cannons are strong enough to penetrate UFO exterior hulls. ... The real threat is probably those Avengers armed with Plasma Cannons, I think one of those would be unstoppable unless you managed to take out it's resupply and repair base. Jasonred Jasonred 13:20, 25 February 2009 (CST)

Force limit

I just checked and there is a hard global limit in the game of 250 X-COM soldiers in total across all bases.

The error message is

"NO MORE SOLDIERS ALLOWED You have already recruited the maximum number of soldiers."

So I think what you are saying about 255*8 limit may apply to scientists and engineers, but not soldiers. Probably due to the size of SOLDIER.DAT. Or something.


Also there are 3 bugs: you still get charged for Soldiers you purchase above this limit, or above the transfer limit, and the error message for hiring too many soldiers loops once for each soldier over the limit, ie up to 250 times. Spike 11:38, 17 March 2008 (PDT)

It is exactly because of the size of SOLDIER.DAT. And I know you can hire a large number of engineers and scientists at different bases, because once I get well into the game, every base has at least 40 engineers on staff, and many have 90 or 140. Or possibly even more. Arrow Quivershaft 12:53, 17 March 2008 (PDT)

XCU

Hiya Hobbes! Good edits there on XComUtil. The only option I accepted after "prompt before each ship" was "use new Farm and Desert terrain". Is just selecting this enough to spoil the "prompt before ship" option?

Cheers, Spike 17:58, 8 September 2008 (PDT)

Hey there. Yeah, that should be it. I never use that option because you can get some really strange effects like Skyrangers on the middle of pyramids. Hobbes 18:01, 8 September 2008 (PDT)

Funny you should say that, I just had that situation as soon as I applied the patch. Skyranger smack in the middle of a pyramid. Kind of hard to drive my tank out through the walls! I guess I'll turn that Desert terrain option off, as I would like to play with the "select-a-ship" feature, it sounds fun. Spike
It's different alright. Have you ever tried any of my terrain mods? There are some challenging ones, but you'll need to use XComUtil Hobbes

Unknown Menace

I've just started reading your first XCom novel and I'm hooked! But I'm going somewhere with only patchy internet. Is there a way I can download the whole novel as a zip file? Spike 16:30, 9 September 2008 (PDT)

Here's the full book in a pdf file (3.4 mb). Have fun :) Hobbes 17:23, 9 September 2008 (PDT)
Thanks. I had a bit of a struggle to convert the RAR to .zip - RAR's not so common on some types of computer. And I've just this morning finished reading the whole thing. I'm very impressed, it's a big work. Must've taken you a long time to write it. I really like your take on a lot of the back story behind XCom, CFN, etc. It's an exciting plot, a "page turner" as they say. Spike 13:44, 13 September 2008 (PDT)
Thanks. Took me over 2 years to finish it, and I about figured the time required for me to write it after 3 months! I didn't simply want to give the 'ingame' perspective of endless battles. :) Hobbes 14:12, 13 September 2008 (PDT)

The Mysteries of X-COM

This section is getting very big - I'm gonna create a draft page and move it there. The Mysteries of X-COM