The Definitive X-Com Commanders Guide

The Definitive X-Com Commander's Guide is a VLP of X-Com: Enemy Within by JadeStar and GuavaMoment, originally published on Something Awful's LP Forum; it is one of the most widely-followed LPs on the forums.

Details
The goal of the LP is show players how to improve their game, to learn and become better at it, and hopefully to teach viewers how to tackle the higher difficulty parts of the game. According to JadeStar

"I have played the game inside and out and I want to bring a quality LP to you that isn't just fun to watch, I want you to learn from it. I have several friends who play the game and either stick to Normal difficulty or get wiped out on Classic. These are the kinds of people I want to get the most from this LP. Anyone who struggles or thinks the game is too hard in places, I am here to help. That is my goal. On top of this I of course want this to be an entertaining and enjoyable experience for everyone else, including people who do not own the game or those that have no problem beating the game on Classic.

Joining me through the LP will be GuavaMoment. I would like to think between the two of us no-one knows more about playing X-Com than we do. Between us we have beaten the game countless times. With normal settings or extreme second wave handicaps. Guava is of course a good friend and whom I mostly owe my entry in LPing to.

Departing from our previous X-Com LPs this LP will not be narrative driven. I will not be making up my own story to put on top of the game. X-Com Enemy Within actually comes with its own plot. The three main exposition characters will try to narrate the over arching story of the war and its effects. The story is there, it's nice, but it is not the strong point of the game. However I will not be trying to circumnavigate it to try and place this game within the story of the narrative Guava and I have built upon the previous entries. "

Episode Links

 * Original Something Awful thread -- note eventually will become unviewable to non-subscribers until archived at LP Archive.

Video 1 -  Operation Blinding Shroud  Polsy  Full Post Video 2 -  Operation Rotting Shroud  Polsy  Full Post Supplemental 1 -  Base Management Video 3 -  Operation Shattered Empire  Polsy  Full Post Video 4 -  Operation Glass Summer  Polsy  Full Post Video 5 -  Operation Soaring Thorn  Polsy  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">March Monthly Review -  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 6 -  Operation Final Grave<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 7 -  Operation Secret Bell<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Supplemental Video -  Talking about The Bureau<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 8 -  Operation Crimson Savior<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 9 -  Operation Sacred Prophet<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 10 -  Operation Falling Thorn<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 11 -  Operation Vengeful Sleep<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 12 -  Operation Soaring Pyre<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">April Monthly Review -  In Video<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 13 -  Operation Spectral Giant<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 14 -  Operation Fallen Pipe<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 15 -  Operation Blind Justice<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 16 -  Operation The Incredible Sodium<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 17 -  Operation Panicked Drink<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 18 -  Operation Final Illbleed<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 19 -  Operation Burning Pain<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">May Monthly Review -  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 20 -  Operation Operation Fortune<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 21 -  Operation Bloody Bookend<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 22 -  Operation Pretentious Trick<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 23 -  Operation Adamant Chemical<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 24 -  Operation Disappointing Prince<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Without Commentary<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 25 -  Operation Holla Holla Get Tears<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 26 -  Operation Insolent Barricade<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 27 -  Operation Forgotten Ring<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 28 -  Operation Blinded Me With Noun<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 29 -  Operation Drowned Buenos Aires<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 30 -  Operation Virtuous Apocalypse<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 31 -  Ashes and Temples<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Discussion post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 32 -  Operation Deadly Canadian<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 33 -  Operation Noble Huscarl<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post <span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">Video 34 -  Operation Agonizing Sand<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Polsy<span style="color:rgb(17,17,17);font-family:Verdana,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.7272720336914px;line-height:19px;">  Full Post
 * YouTube Playlist Link