X-COM Preorders

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

What kind of tactics are you guys using?  I've got a squad of colonels and I've only lost two soldiers (besides those that get dropped in the tutorial) so far.  I lost one on my very first mission from a Sectoid's lucky headshot and one assault troop a few missions back when he got bum rushed by two cybersiscs.

The only things I keep losing right now are my interceptors.  I am obviously at the stage where I need to design new aircraft but I don't have the raw materials to start research.

[CptHowdy]

What kind of tactics are you guys using?  I've got a squad of colonels and I've only lost two soldiers (besides those that get dropped in the tutorial) so far.  I lost one on my very first mission from a Sectoid's lucky headshot and one assault troop a few missions back when he got bum rushed by two cybersiscs.

The only things I keep losing right now are my interceptors.  I am obviously at the stage where I need to design new aircraft but I don't have the raw materials to start research.

playing normal mode. second game. chose africa as starting continent this time. i am much more careful with my troops. i have concentrated on satellites to keep panic down. only lost 4 countries so far. i havent found a need to upgrade interceptors yet, still have the two i started with. just built a plasma sniper rifle and have one piece of titan armor. money isnt an issue at the moment just need raw materials to build stuff. havent cleared the alien base yet but did run some rookies through the first couple of rooms. tough with those insects running around! finding it odd i can have up to 99 soldiers in my barracks but only one skyranger, seems silly. should be able to send out 3 teams if i want even if two of em would be poorly geared and inexperienced!

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Yeah, I'd like to have more than one Ranger as well.  I find that I've leveled up most of the troops as the rookies get to go out when one of the vets is injured or off in psionics testing.  I wish I could pick their specialization when they do level up.  I've got way too many heavies and only 2 snipers.

[CptHowdy]

Yeah, I'd like to have more than one Ranger as well.  I find that I've leveled up most of the troops as the rookies get to go out when one of the vets is injured or off in psionics testing.  I wish I could pick their specialization when they do level up.  I've got way too many heavies and only 2 snipers.

hehe i have like 6 snipers and two heavies!! and i havent gotten to psionics yet.

[Tpek]

Yeah, I'd like to have more than one Ranger as well.  I find that I've leveled up most of the troops as the rookies get to go out when one of the vets is injured or off in psionics testing.  I wish I could pick their specialization when they do level up.  I've got way too many heavies and only 2 snipers.

hehe i have like 6 snipers and two heavies!! and i havent gotten to psionics yet.

Psionics aren't a class.
Instead, they are additional abilities that you can get by first finding psionic-capable soldiers (they'll need high willpower).

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Toughest fight I've had so far was taking a downed alien supply ship.  My 6 guys vs. 2 sectoid commanders, 4 mutons, 2 muton berserkers, 6 heavy floaters, and 3 chrysalids.

I managed to get a berserker down to 3 health and stun it, but then his little muton buddy lobbed a grenade into my mob, wounding 3 of my guys and killing off the stunned berserker.  Oh well, I was able to capture a sectoid commander but 5 out of my 6 were heavily wounded and I'd burned through both my 3x medkits by the end of it all.

[JudgeDredd]

I decided to start again - too much went into that squad to carry on with Rookies. I wouldn't have started afresh if it was one or two - but my whole squad??

I've used that game as a learner.

On the plus side - having started a new campaign it started with a mission location I had never seen before - randomised = welcome replayability!

[tgb]

I don't use the "V" key - I just click on the door with my mouse.  Fortunately opening doors doesn't take up a movement pip.  Firing a weapon ends the turn for that unit.  Period.  However, the Assault class gets a perk that allows it to move after firing.

[JudgeDredd]

Yeah - I saw the perk. I just don't understand why an alien fighting warrior needs to stay still because he fired - when he can move and then fire. Can his modern wee mind not work it out the other way?

[W8taminute]

^Maybe the game designers wanted to avoid the 'shoot and scoot' tactic?  Yeah it's a little annoying not to be able to at least 'overwatch' after you fire but neither can the aliens.  Whenever I see an alien has fired I immediately bum rush him because he then can't opportunity fire me.  Unless of course he's got a buddy that I can't see until the last minute who is covering him.

[JudgeDredd]

^That's all it is - annoying.

I'm guessing it's for balance or playability - but I just don't like the mechanic being omitted.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

^Maybe the game designers wanted to avoid the 'shoot and scoot' tactic?  Yeah it's a little annoying not to be able to at least 'overwatch' after you fire but neither can the aliens.  Whenever I see an alien has fired I immediately bum rush him because he then can't opportunity fire me.  Unless of course he's got a buddy that I can't see until the last minute who is covering him.

You can go into overwatch after firing if you have the perk.

Now that I'm fighting inside tighter confines, overwatch doesn't work so well.  The first alien comes around a corner and everyone opens up on it at once.  Then they get bum rushed by the other aliens that were stacked up right behind the first.

[Capn Darwin]

I'm pretty sure heavies have a perk that allows a shoot then move.

[Kushan]

Assault has Run and Gun which allows you to dash and still fire.
Heavies have Bullet Swarm which allows them to shoot then move
Snipers have Snap Shot which allows them to fire or overwatch after moving but has a -20 aim penalty

Edit 1: Started a new game with some data changes made to panic reduction. If they work and if there is interest I will upload the file.

[Arctic Blast]

Worst month ever in this game.

I had to flee from a mission when 3 of my 4 troops bought it. Two were shot, one was next to a truck that I hadn't noticed was smoking...soon it was exploding.

Then, I died on a mission. That always annoys me.

Finally, we successfully stopped abductions in Rio. Unfortunately, France decided to freak out. And then the UK. And then Russia. And then Mexico. Nigeria had already done so when I chose to go to Quebec over them.

This has disaster written all over it.