[fluoridation]

The minicrossbow is even harder than the prod, especially at lower skill levels and with no weapon mods. The prod at least stuns enemies momentarily. With the darts they still stand around shooting at you and set off alarms, and that's if you manage to hit them at all. You can run up to a guy and get a guaranteed stun in the time it takes him to spin around like a dumbass to look at the source of the footsteps.

[LarsDu88]

My first playthrough, when I was 12, I opted for the GEP gun, but had to go to the minicrossbow after running out of ammo, thereby leaving me with no pistol skill. The worst of both worlds on the very first mission. Ended up climing up the back of the statue of liberty and throwing gas grenades. Good times.

[neckro23]

The GEP gun is ironically the pro choice to make if you know what you’re doing. All of the other weapons on offer can be found in the first level, and the GEP works as a fantastic “lockpick” even if you never fire it in anger.

[fluoridation]

It's so bulky, though. I'd rather carry an auto shotgun and four other situational items. As for lockpicks:

* Lockpicks: single inventory slot, stacking; plentiful; silent

* LAMs: single inventory slot, stacking; loud

* Dragon Tooth: infinite uses; can't break down every door; silent?

* Sniper rifle: optionally silent; semi-common ammo; can't break down every door

* GEP gun: loud; bulky; semi-common ammo

[user____name]

It is also the pro choice for taking out your former boss.

[user____name]

This is true, but the upside of the crossbow is that for most soldiers it only takes a single shot to take them out, even if it takes a while, and you can do it from a safe spot, this can be beneficial if your JC sucks at combat or is low on ammo.