X-Com Enemy Unknown Gets a Facelift

[Manwell Pablo]

Started a 2nd game and realised that the tutorial sets you up terribly for the start of the game! The first mission teaches you all kinds of bad moves (dashing every move - I don't think so!) leaving you with one agent alive from your first mission and then it won't let you build uplinks until about the 24-25th of the month, so you won't get them operational until the next!

Anyone starting new, play the tutorial and then start again without it!

I did think the Tutorial had lef tme in a rather wanky position .

[MC Prussian]

Started playing this game again after a lenghty absence. I felt I didn't get that far and was frustrated by the lack of progress.

Turns out it was all my fault: I should've planned better beforehand and put more importance on specific research and building the right underground sites for my base.

It took me a while, but now I've almost researched everything, got a couple of Firestorms with plasma and EMP cannons attached (which help shooting down UFOs with ease), cleared a few of the large cargo UFOs and already have a few PSI-specialists in my team.

I think I'm not too far off from finishing this.

I heard the currently available Slingshot-DLC is not worth the price. I was hoping they'd add more new maps and missions, as the regular game world gets a bit tedious with time (once you've seen them all).

[Manwell Pablo]

Started playing this game again after a lenghty absence. I felt I didn't get that far and was frustrated by the lack of progress.

Turns out it was all my fault: I should've planned better beforehand and put more importance on specific research and building the right underground sites for my base.

It took me a while, but now I've almost researched everything, got a couple of Firestorms with plasma and EMP cannons attached (which help shooting down UFOs with ease), cleared a few of the large cargo UFOs and already have a few PSI-specialists in my team.

I think I'm not too far off from finishing this.

I heard the currently available Slingshot-DLC is not worth the price. I was hoping they'd add more new maps and missions, as the regular game world gets a bit tedious with time (once you've seen them all).

What you on Classic or Normal?

[Trav Le Bleu]

I've played it through a few times now and I've come to realise is that classic should be the minimum that anyone should consider once you've got to grips with it. As I said earlier, the tutorial gives you a terrible start to the game (though it teaches you very early on - EXPECT TO DIE! - which is important) and in my first game I did that on classic setting and thought, "WHOA! This is a tough game!" and immediately restarted on normal level. Of course that restarted without the tutorial, so I got off to a good start and was far too easy. Classic mode, minus the awful start the tutorial gives you, is a nice challenge. I'm considering impossible might even be playable - I've seen a wiki that shows the differences and it's not ramped up too much.

I would guess you're near the end game Prus. Have you downed a Battleship yet? Secure one, reap it's bounty and get one of the best weapons in the game! First time round I missed this altogether, so it's not essential.

[Manwell Pablo]

I've played it through a few times now and I've come to realise is that classic should be the minimum that anyone should consider once you've got to grips with it. As I said earlier, the tutorial gives you a terrible start to the game (though it teaches you very early on - EXPECT TO DIE! - which is important) and in my first game I did that on classic setting and thought, "WHOA! This is a tough game!" and immediately restarted on normal level. Of course that restarted without the tutorial, so I got off to a good start and was far too easy. Classic mode, minus the awful start the tutorial gives you, is a nice challenge. I'm considering impossible might even be playable - I've seen a wiki that shows the differences and it's not ramped up too much.

I would guess you're near the end game Prus. Have you downed a Battleship yet? Secure one, reap it's bounty and get one of the best weapons in the game! First time round I missed this altogether, so it's not essential.

I've done it on Normal and have intentions of going through on Classic, the first time I played on Normal I died horribly (with tutorial) to be honest but the second time through as you say, was a lot easier.

No I have no idea how to down a Battleship. My Firestorm got absloutley trounced by the one I approached, to be honest by the time I developed the Pyi ability I was intent on getting the last mission done, I had a crack squad of soilders but no out and out Medic and didn't fancy losing any one on some stupid terror mission.

[MC Prussian]

I've done it on Normal and have intentions of going through on Classic, the first time I played on Normal I died horribly (with tutorial) to be honest but the second time through as you say, was a lot easier.

No I have no idea how to down a Battleship. My Firestorm got absloutley trounced by the one I approached, to be honest by the time I developed the Pyi ability I was intent on getting the last mission done, I had a crack squad of soilders but no out and out Medic and didn't fancy losing any one on some stupid terror mission.

How do you get to do all the research and engineering then if you can't capture psionic aliens from downed battleships?

Technology knowledge evolves the more specimen you gather and also by interrogating captured live aliens.

With time, you get to develop more powerful guns for the battleships - the plasma one needs two, maybe three shots.

Firestorms are by far the best airplanes available. The fighter jets do their job at the beginning, but are helpless against UFOs that show up later in the game.

[Manwell Pablo]

How do you get to do all the research and engineering then if you can't capture psionic aliens from downed battleships?

Technology knowledge evolves the more specimen you gather and also by interrogating captured live aliens.

With time, you get to develop more powerful guns for the battleships - the plasma one needs two, maybe three shots.

Firestorms are by far the best airplanes available. The fighter jets do their job at the beginning, but are helpless against UFOs that show up later in the game.

We may be mixing our terminologys up here. The Flag ship with the Psys on, no problem.

The Huge, massive, Battlestar galatica, Star Destroyer, type ship, no chance, their a random ecounter ship. It's not a nescc to shoot one down but obviously you can. Dunno if you've seen one, your intercepter literraly looks like a Pea as it's trying to take it down and it'll wipe a firestorm out in about 3 shots. It's huge.

[Charl91]

Really enjoy playing head to head. Especially with Muton Bezerkers!

[MC Prussian]

We may be mixing our terminologys up here. The Flag ship with the Psys on, no problem.

The Huge, massive, Battlestar galatica, Star Destroyer, type ship, no chance, their a random ecounter ship. It's not a nescc to shoot one down but obviously you can. Dunno if you've seen one, your intercepter literraly looks like a Pea as it's trying to take it down and it'll wipe a firestorm out in about 3 shots. It's huge.

I guess I haven't encountered any of those yet. Biggest ones I fought were the cargo ones with 20+ aliens on it. I usually down them with about three plasma gun shots.

[Trav Le Bleu]

I've never lost a Firestorm taking down anything - you just need the better weapon equipped so that you can take it down faster than it can hit you.

[Manwell Pablo]

I've never lost a Firestorm taking down anything - you just need the better weapon equipped so that you can take it down faster than it can hit you.

Well it's more than possible Mr Xcom Expert

It were one of these things

http://xcom.wikia.com/wiki/Battleship

As stated in the description it can take off more than 50% off a Firestorm with EMP on Easy so not hard to see how it took out mine with Plasmas on Normal, plus my shitty intercepton missed with every shot I took. I've only ever seen one so maybe I was just unlucky.

[Carl the Llama]

You guys have convinced me to download the demo of this - after somehow losing 4 pre-season friendlies on the trot, including 2-0 at Colchester and 1-4 at home against Coventry I've decided to throw my toys out the pram and stop playing stupid FM 2013.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Well it's more than possible Mr Xcom Expert

It were one of these things

http://xcom.wikia.com/wiki/Battleship

As stated in the description it can take off more than 50% off a Firestorm with EMP on Easy so not hard to see how it took out mine with Plasmas on Normal, plus my shitty intercepton missed with every shot I took. I've only ever seen one so maybe I was just unlucky.

Now that I think about it, I might have had to use two Firestorms, recalling the first one just before it took another hit that would have finished it. Obviously, you need two Firestorms at one base to do this. It happens in relay - you can't despatch more than one at a time, unlike the original series.

[Manwell Pablo]

Now that I think about it, I might have had to use two Firestorms, recalling the first one just before it took another hit that would have finished it. Obviously, you need two Firestorms at one base to do this. It happens in relay - you can't despatch more than one at a time, unlike the original series.

I forking know!

Sadly, I didn't have enough mular to have two Firestorms in every single contienant! I did most just not that one. Sent an interceptor after it but needless to say it couldn't finish the job .

[Carl the Llama]

Oh my goodness. Just got entirely raped despite sending out my best recruits to deal with a terror attack. Those zombie making things drastically turned the tide on me. Worst bit is I haven't got any rolling saves so it looks I'm going back to square one. Frustration abounds.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Oh my goodness. Just got entirely raped despite sending out my best recruits to deal with a terror attack. Those zombie making things drastically turned the tide on me. Worst bit is I haven't got any rolling saves so it looks I'm going back to square one. Frustration abounds.

Know your enemy.

[MC Prussian]

Oh my goodness. Just got entirely raped despite sending out my best recruits to deal with a terror attack. Those zombie making things drastically turned the tide on me. Worst bit is I haven't got any rolling saves so it looks I'm going back to square one. Frustration abounds.

a) Move with caution

b) Use buildings/cars as cover

c) Use "Oversight" as often as you can

d) Develop your weapons and armour

e) Know your enemy

f) Kill, kill, kill!!!

[Trav Le Bleu]

If I can say ONE thing, sniper, squad sight, always.

Which is kind of 3 things, but one point. Actually, once you get the squad size to 6 - 2 snipers!

[MC Prussian]

If I can say ONE thing, sniper, squad sight, always.

Which is kind of 3 things, but one point. Actually, once you get the squad size to 6 - 2 snipers!

A squad full of snipers = epic awesomeness.

Actually, I've never tried that one before.

[Trav Le Bleu]

A squad full of snipers = epic awesomeness.

Actually, I've never tried that one before.

You need at least one person to flush the aliens out though - that's what assaults are for. HOO RAH!

[Carl the Llama]

Which upgrades should I give my snipers? I like the sound of squadsight but is it really as useful as it sounds? How is its accuracy determined? Am I asking too many questions?

Edit: Ignore the first and second questions, I see all the love on this board is for squadsight. I'd still like to know what the accuracy of it's like before I commit my first upgraded sniper and forgo his ability to move and shoot - bastards keep dying because they can't defend themselves after moving into position.

Second Edit: I'm really annoyed that I had to start again, I had a Belgian assaulter who'd been nick-named Hazard. Loved that little coincidence.

[MC Prussian]

Which upgrades should I give my snipers? I like the sound of squadsight but is it really as useful as it sounds? How is its accuracy determined? Am I asking too many questions?

Edit: Ignore the first and second questions, I see all the love on this board is for squadsight. I'd still like to know what the accuracy of it's like before I commit my first upgraded sniper and forgo his ability to move and shoot - bastards keep dying because they can't defend themselves after moving into position.

Second Edit: I'm really annoyed that I had to start again, I had a Belgian assaulter who'd been nick-named Hazard. Loved that little coincidence.

"Overwatch" is really, really handy in most cases. Just move to a safe place without dashing and press Y (on XBOX) and your squad member will be on alert mode, firing at anything that comes in its sight.

If you really want to play it safe, use "Hunker Down". Alternatively, when facing strong enemies with too much HP, you can rely on the "Flush" ability to force enemies to leave the immediate battle area.

Accuracy is basically a game of sheer coincidence. If you don't have a straight 100% accuracy, shots can still go wide. You can usually balance that out by using the "Headshot" ability (once you have access to it).

Sometimes, I do get the opposite case with high-end weapons that you can get towards the end of the game. Shotguns like the alloy cannon that usually do 40 to 50% damage seem to hit almost every time I use them at long range. It's a bit odd, but good to know. Also keep in mind that snipers are pretty much useless in close combat, the accuracy goes down to 20 to 30%.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Find the nearest high ground with cover for your snipers and keep them there. Don't worry about armour too much - sniper guns outrange anything the aliens have and can target anywhere on all but the largest maps. With squadsight all you need is a sniper with line of sight and he can pick off any enemy any other of your squad can see. This has no effect on accuracy, it's the same as if they could see them themselves. Don't worry about additional armour in the equipment slot (such as the nano-fiber vest or chitin plating), if your sniper is under fire you haven't positioned him/her well. Equip them with a scope and your accuracy will rarely fall below 80% (unless something sneaks past and gets close.)

For the record my usual squad build late in the game is 2 snipers, 1 support, 1 heavy and 2 assault. Sometimes I swap that for 2 heavies and 1 assault.

[MC Prussian]

Phew, finally completed it on Normal.

I dread to think how hard it's going to be on Classic, nevermind Impossible.

@Manwell, I've figured out that I downed quite a few battleships in my first playthrough, it's a piece of cake on Normal. Only need two shots with the Alloy Cannon.

Looking back, it's a nice throwback to the days of the original X-Com, but I'd like to see more maps and additional alien types in a sequel or proper DLC.

It becomes too repetitious too quickly.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Randomised maps would be nice. Not only are there a limited number of maps (about 30) but the alien spawn sites many of them are the same, so once you know where they spawn you can go through missions triggering them one at a time with little worry.