Survival Guide (EU2012)

2012-10-25T19:40:03Z

Nite: /* 1st month on Impossible: Build Order */

=== Promoting Soldiers ===
Rotate lower ranked soldiers to use as "cannon fodder" while leveling up your higher ranks. Once your higher rank has reached the highest, leave him in base and continue to level up more promising ones. Don't bother hiring new soldiers unless they're needed.

This all changes after you research Iron Will and New Guy in Foundry research. At this point, you should have enough credits to hire soldiers by the bundle, and throw out the low Will ones. Your core team of high ranking officers are now your "cannon fodder" while you level up the new squaddies. You may also consider Psi screening them before choosing which new recruits to keep and promote.

=== Simplified and Granulized Encounter System ===
Aliens now come in groups of around 2-4. Although they wander around, these groups tend to remain dormant until you "wake them up". Similar to massive-multiplayer online game instances, "waking-up" multiple groups of enemies is just plain stupid. The best strategy is to wake-up and deal with one group at a time.

For behind the door situations, gather your soldiers in front of the door (or around the corner), have one soldier (preferably your assult with Run&Gun) move in. After the aliens run for cover, charge in and open fire at optimum ranges.

For other situations, set up your snipers in the right place before waking up the aliens with one soldier. Use only one action point to wake them up, kill most/all the aliens with your snipers, and use one action point to pull back to completely avoid retaliation fire.

=== To be (an Angel) or not to be ===
That is the question. The answer may lie in your playing style but it may also lie in a game bug. Ghost Armour is the obvious choice for all classes (maybe Psi Armour for Psi), but for snipers you may want to equip with Angel Armor. Because of a bug in the game, Angel Armour grants you Height bonus and Damn Good Ground bonus even though the Angel Armor strictly says it shouldn't. With these bonuses plus a scope, your chance to hit jumps to near certainty even for aliens with full cover.

=== Satellite is Key ===
Plan ahead and cover the entire world with satellites ASAP. This is the only undisputed rule in playing this game. Some players prefer to launch satellites at the end of the month to lower panic levels when they're highest.

=== Missions Choices ===
You will be considering several things when deciding on which mission to choose. However your considerations should come in these orders:
1. Panic level
Your choice vastly differs on difficulty level. For example, on easier difficulty settings, ignoring some missions can lead to increased panic for one country - but for higher difficulty settings, this could lead to increased panic in the whole continent. Thus, consider panic level on the whole rather than individual countries. In some cases continents with more countries should be taken care of first.
2. Rewards
Before you have full satellite coverage, credits and engineers should be your preference. After full coverage, you probably would prefer more engineers until you no longer need more. Scientists and soldiers aren't that important comparatively speaking.

=== Scientists and Laboratories and Research ===
Consider not building any laboratories, mostly because they aren't needed even on higher difficulty settings. You should be finishing research very fast, if you first research arc throwers, and then research all autopsies and live aliens ASAP.

=== Africa may be Key ===
As strange as this sounds, because of game mechanics and because you need full satellite coverage as fast as possible, the African bonus in credits is probably your most important reward. Consider this as your first base location.

Alternatively you may consider North America as your first and cover Africa afterwards, but this strategy may not be viable since choice of country is dependent on panic level.

=== Don't sell like 1994 X-Com ===
AFTER full satellite coverage, consider keeping junk instead of selling them. For veteran X-Com players, take heed that all those corpses and miscellaneous junk are no longer junk. Most have a use, for council requests, research, or manufacturing (yes even corpses can become manufacturing components).

=== Optimal strategic development ===
This is my strategy for developing the base and satellite coverage on Classic. Tips and comments appreciated.
''' The goal is to have as much money as possible, since money is a huge factor in the game. '''

Starting in NA, we get 180 extra funding from the beginning, and a bonus that is most beneficial at the beginning. Restart game until you get steam on 3rd level and not in columns 2, 3 or 6 (2 and 3 is where statellite facilities are going to be located, 6 makes it impossible to place workshops in a square). Optimal location for steam is adjacent to the access lift, to the right (5 column). I dont like steam at higher levels because its a very big investment of money to build a thermo gen right away.

Start by getting extra engineers ASAP and excavating left and right on 1st level. You need 10 engineers to build Satellite Uplink, so you must get 4 engineers and build a workshop. On first level, in first month, you are going to build a Power gen, Workshop and OTS, leaving space for the Satellite Uplink. Your power gen goes over the tile with the steam on the third level. Reserve space for Satellite Uplink next to the existing one. Workshop goes in 5 or 6 column (to the right of the access lift), space must be left to build 4 of them in a square. OTS goes either to column 1, 5 or 7, whichever is free and doenst disrupt workshop's square formation.

At first month, you need to build 1 satellite. Always build satellite uplinks (14 days) and satellites (20 days) so that they are completed before council report (so you get extra money immediately). You can build more than one satellite at once.

On later aductions, first chose the minimum panic hit, then try to get 4 extra scientists, but that's not as important. After you have >5 scientists, go for money rewards if it wouldnt be a huge panic hit.

Send your first satellite preferably to a country that gives big income (Russia or some $ 100 country), but you may want to prioritise a country that has maximum panic to prevent it from leaving the project. As soon as you send your first statellite, order at least 2 interceptors to that country.

Second month, you will be building a second Power Gen, Satellite Uplink and 3 satellites. By the end of the month, try to get a full country covered, preferably Europe (purely for money) or South Africa (again, for money). Also, by the end of the month, try to have access lift built to lvl 3, and room for thermo gen excavated.

Third month, you will be building a thermo gen, third Satellite Uplink and another 3 satellites. You may want to go for Nexus here, but it will require you to build extra workshop, and probably even more power, which you may not have money for. Make sure to upgrade to 4 interceptors right at the beginning of month 3, as big UFO's are going to show up. You may also want to have some phoenix canons built (2 interceptors with phoenix will usually take down a big UFO, in case of unluck 3rd one will finish it off with avalanchem but it takes all 4 of them to take down a big UFO with avalanches, and i believe if you get unlucky you're screwed).

If at any point you have no money, you should sell stuff on the grey market. You can afford selling items even if you didnt research them yet, since you will get them again. I had to sell every ufo component and lots of alien bodies to get me through the second month, but it was worth it - jumped from 250 to 550 income! Also, I am building alien containtment on the end of second month to save money, and i am not researching beam weapons until month 3, and foregoing manufacturing carpace armor (manufacturing only skeleton suit), also to save money. I have not built foundry yet (maybe i'm wrong on this) but i havent had any spare money or base space for it. I only got squad size upgrades at OTS.

By the end of third month, you have 2 countries fully covered, one of which should be Africa, and you should have a very nice paycheck. This will allow you to start getting all the nice stuff :)

=== 1st month on Impossible: Build Order ===
Build-order for 1st month (march) on Impossible difficulty - "Fast Satellite Uplink". No research/hire soldiers/production included.

*1d - excavate (5d, space for Workshop);
*4-7d - Abduction Site (+4 engineer, for Workshop);
*7d - Workshop (10d, +5 engineers for Satellite Uplink), excavate (5d, space for Power Generator) ;
*7d-10d - UFO (small scout, 1 interceptor needed), UFO Crash Site (sell as much as possible);
*11d - 3x-4x satellites (20d) not in pack (1 by 1), will cost 77$ each with 9 engineers;
*12d - Power Generator (5d, power for Satellite Uplink);
*17d - Satellite Uplink (14d);
*...
*32d - Council Report

2nd Abduction Site and Council Mission will be this month, but it usualy goes after 17d.

[[Category: Enemy Unknown (2012)]]

Survival Guide (EU2012)

2012-10-25T19:39:21Z

Nite: /* Optimal strategic development */

=== Promoting Soldiers ===
Rotate lower ranked soldiers to use as "cannon fodder" while leveling up your higher ranks. Once your higher rank has reached the highest, leave him in base and continue to level up more promising ones. Don't bother hiring new soldiers unless they're needed.

This all changes after you research Iron Will and New Guy in Foundry research. At this point, you should have enough credits to hire soldiers by the bundle, and throw out the low Will ones. Your core team of high ranking officers are now your "cannon fodder" while you level up the new squaddies. You may also consider Psi screening them before choosing which new recruits to keep and promote.

=== Simplified and Granulized Encounter System ===
Aliens now come in groups of around 2-4. Although they wander around, these groups tend to remain dormant until you "wake them up". Similar to massive-multiplayer online game instances, "waking-up" multiple groups of enemies is just plain stupid. The best strategy is to wake-up and deal with one group at a time.

For behind the door situations, gather your soldiers in front of the door (or around the corner), have one soldier (preferably your assult with Run&Gun) move in. After the aliens run for cover, charge in and open fire at optimum ranges.

For other situations, set up your snipers in the right place before waking up the aliens with one soldier. Use only one action point to wake them up, kill most/all the aliens with your snipers, and use one action point to pull back to completely avoid retaliation fire.

=== To be (an Angel) or not to be ===
That is the question. The answer may lie in your playing style but it may also lie in a game bug. Ghost Armour is the obvious choice for all classes (maybe Psi Armour for Psi), but for snipers you may want to equip with Angel Armor. Because of a bug in the game, Angel Armour grants you Height bonus and Damn Good Ground bonus even though the Angel Armor strictly says it shouldn't. With these bonuses plus a scope, your chance to hit jumps to near certainty even for aliens with full cover.

=== Satellite is Key ===
Plan ahead and cover the entire world with satellites ASAP. This is the only undisputed rule in playing this game. Some players prefer to launch satellites at the end of the month to lower panic levels when they're highest.

=== Missions Choices ===
You will be considering several things when deciding on which mission to choose. However your considerations should come in these orders:
1. Panic level
Your choice vastly differs on difficulty level. For example, on easier difficulty settings, ignoring some missions can lead to increased panic for one country - but for higher difficulty settings, this could lead to increased panic in the whole continent. Thus, consider panic level on the whole rather than individual countries. In some cases continents with more countries should be taken care of first.
2. Rewards
Before you have full satellite coverage, credits and engineers should be your preference. After full coverage, you probably would prefer more engineers until you no longer need more. Scientists and soldiers aren't that important comparatively speaking.

=== Scientists and Laboratories and Research ===
Consider not building any laboratories, mostly because they aren't needed even on higher difficulty settings. You should be finishing research very fast, if you first research arc throwers, and then research all autopsies and live aliens ASAP.

=== Africa may be Key ===
As strange as this sounds, because of game mechanics and because you need full satellite coverage as fast as possible, the African bonus in credits is probably your most important reward. Consider this as your first base location.

Alternatively you may consider North America as your first and cover Africa afterwards, but this strategy may not be viable since choice of country is dependent on panic level.

=== Don't sell like 1994 X-Com ===
AFTER full satellite coverage, consider keeping junk instead of selling them. For veteran X-Com players, take heed that all those corpses and miscellaneous junk are no longer junk. Most have a use, for council requests, research, or manufacturing (yes even corpses can become manufacturing components).

=== Optimal strategic development ===
This is my strategy for developing the base and satellite coverage on Classic. Tips and comments appreciated.
''' The goal is to have as much money as possible, since money is a huge factor in the game. '''

Starting in NA, we get 180 extra funding from the beginning, and a bonus that is most beneficial at the beginning. Restart game until you get steam on 3rd level and not in columns 2, 3 or 6 (2 and 3 is where statellite facilities are going to be located, 6 makes it impossible to place workshops in a square). Optimal location for steam is adjacent to the access lift, to the right (5 column). I dont like steam at higher levels because its a very big investment of money to build a thermo gen right away.

Start by getting extra engineers ASAP and excavating left and right on 1st level. You need 10 engineers to build Satellite Uplink, so you must get 4 engineers and build a workshop. On first level, in first month, you are going to build a Power gen, Workshop and OTS, leaving space for the Satellite Uplink. Your power gen goes over the tile with the steam on the third level. Reserve space for Satellite Uplink next to the existing one. Workshop goes in 5 or 6 column (to the right of the access lift), space must be left to build 4 of them in a square. OTS goes either to column 1, 5 or 7, whichever is free and doenst disrupt workshop's square formation.

At first month, you need to build 1 satellite. Always build satellite uplinks (14 days) and satellites (20 days) so that they are completed before council report (so you get extra money immediately). You can build more than one satellite at once.

On later aductions, first chose the minimum panic hit, then try to get 4 extra scientists, but that's not as important. After you have >5 scientists, go for money rewards if it wouldnt be a huge panic hit.

Send your first satellite preferably to a country that gives big income (Russia or some $ 100 country), but you may want to prioritise a country that has maximum panic to prevent it from leaving the project. As soon as you send your first statellite, order at least 2 interceptors to that country.

Second month, you will be building a second Power Gen, Satellite Uplink and 3 satellites. By the end of the month, try to get a full country covered, preferably Europe (purely for money) or South Africa (again, for money). Also, by the end of the month, try to have access lift built to lvl 3, and room for thermo gen excavated.

Third month, you will be building a thermo gen, third Satellite Uplink and another 3 satellites. You may want to go for Nexus here, but it will require you to build extra workshop, and probably even more power, which you may not have money for. Make sure to upgrade to 4 interceptors right at the beginning of month 3, as big UFO's are going to show up. You may also want to have some phoenix canons built (2 interceptors with phoenix will usually take down a big UFO, in case of unluck 3rd one will finish it off with avalanchem but it takes all 4 of them to take down a big UFO with avalanches, and i believe if you get unlucky you're screwed).

If at any point you have no money, you should sell stuff on the grey market. You can afford selling items even if you didnt research them yet, since you will get them again. I had to sell every ufo component and lots of alien bodies to get me through the second month, but it was worth it - jumped from 250 to 550 income! Also, I am building alien containtment on the end of second month to save money, and i am not researching beam weapons until month 3, and foregoing manufacturing carpace armor (manufacturing only skeleton suit), also to save money. I have not built foundry yet (maybe i'm wrong on this) but i havent had any spare money or base space for it. I only got squad size upgrades at OTS.

By the end of third month, you have 2 countries fully covered, one of which should be Africa, and you should have a very nice paycheck. This will allow you to start getting all the nice stuff :)

=== 1st month on Impossible: Build Order ===
Build-order for 1st month (march) on Impossible difficulty - "Fast Satellite Uplink". No research/hire soldiers/production included.

1d - excavate (5d, space for Workshop);
4-7d - Abduction Site (+4 engineer, for Workshop);
7d - Workshop (10d, +5 engineers for Satellite Uplink), excavate (5d, space for Power Generator) ;
7d-10d - UFO (small scout, 1 interceptor needed), UFO Crash Site (sell as much as possible);
11d - 3x-4x satellites (20d) not in pack (1 by 1), will cost 77$ each with 9 engineers;
12d - Power Generator (5d, power for Satellite Uplink);
17d - Satellite Uplink (14d);
...
32d - Council Report

2nd Abduction Site and Council Mission will be this month, but it usualy goes after 17d.

[[Category: Enemy Unknown (2012)]]

Talk:Missions (EU2012)

2012-10-23T05:52:46Z

Nite:

Fleshed out the remaining battle types with similar information to the missions that were already described. There are two listed as "Spoiler". I'm not sure if these are placeholders for actual missions or just in case more space was needed. --[[User:PixelOrange|PixelOrange]] 08:03, 14 October 2012 (EDT)
:It's for the special missions like assaultin the alien base. But we're still deciding on how to manage the spoilers [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 08:38, 14 October 2012 (EDT)
::Perhaps a separate page titled "Special Missions", with a spoiler warning next to the link? [[User:COL Tatticky|COL Tatticky]] 03:40, 15 October 2012 (EDT)
:::That works, it's really a matter of restricting all content about the game end on those pages. [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 16:32, 15 October 2012 (EDT)

Are missions going the same timing any time? For example on Impossible: Abduction on 5th day, UFO on 12th day, Abduction on 17th and Council on 25th... Some sort of. Or timings and/or order of them is randomized for every game?
I think events have some x-z days to trigger and the order they come is constant. As the complex of missions for every month is also static: 2 abductions, 1 council mission and 1 small ufo for 1st month every time (or not?).
It needs prooves, that's very important for i/i games (to plan is it possible to get +satellite uplink and launch +3/4 satellites in 1st month). Nite, 22 october 2012

Also, how about to find some information about successful and failed mission's results: panic increase/decrease in target and nearby countries (important) and average salvage?

Talk:Difficulty (EU2012)

2012-10-22T15:30:26Z

Nite:

Talk:Difficulty (EU2012)

2012-10-22T15:24:32Z

Nite:

Talk:Situation Room (EU2012)

2012-10-22T07:03:38Z

Nite:

Shouldn't we put here council nations funding and part of the world full coverage bonuses? I have data for normal difficulty as well as some notes on multiplayer point costs.
:Yup. Sounds good to me :) [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 21:05, 20 September 2012 (EDT)

I think this page should be changed from "Geoscape UE2012" to "Situation Room". The Geoscape makes me think of the big, blue floating orb in the base and scanning for activity. All the info here is really Situation Room info. Following that, the Situation Room link under Base Facilities needs to point here. 22Sep'12
:Yup. I would like the Geoscape to provide later details like a world map with all the countries and to focus on physical aspects. I've just moved things a bit around. [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 18:31, 22 September 2012 (EDT)
:Oh, and to put your signature and timestamp you can simply put <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> at the end of the line. [[User:Hobbes|Hobbes]] 18:32, 22 September 2012 (EDT)

In the Country and Continent Bonuses per Month section, are the sci/engi bonuses per month additive. ie if you have all of asia is that 10 engineers per month or 4? This chart isn't completely clear on this. [[User:Mavoc|Mavoc]] 22:19, 8 October 2012 (EDT)

Should also add a note as to what happens if your starting country pulls out, even if nothing happens. This is assuming that your starting country can pull out, which would be worth noting if it isn't possible. If I start in Europe and all the European counties pull their funding, do I still get the Expert Knowledge bonus? [[User:Mavoc|Mavoc]] 22:24, 8 October 2012 (EDT)

How many days in month? Is it like real or constant number?

Talk:Missions (EU2012)

2012-10-22T06:58:46Z

Nite:

2012-10-21T15:08:32Z

Nite: /* Normal */

= Starting Funds =

{| class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! align="center" | Difficulty
! align="center" | North America
! align="center" | South America
! align="center" | Europa
! align="center" | Africa
! align="center" | Asia
|-
| align="center" | Easy
| align="center" | §465
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | §315
|-
| align="center" | Normal
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
|-
| width="10%" align="center" | Classic
| width="10%" align="center" | §300
| width="10%" align="center" | 
| width="10%" align="center" | 
| width="10%" align="center" | 
| width="10%" align="center" | 
|-
| align="center" | Impossible
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
|}

= Easy =
* Base global panic starts at 0
* Most alien activity only raises panic by 1 in left unchecked
* 150% of monthly funds income
* Your soldiers have 1 bonus hitpoint
* Aliens are dumber, and there aren't as many of them
* Soldiers cost $10

= Normal =
* Base global panic starts at 0
* Most minor alien activity raises panic by 1 in left unchecked with some events doing up to 3
* 125% of monthly funds income (must be prooved)
* Your soldiers have no bonus hitpoints
* Aliens have their AI mostly unshackled
* Soldiers cost $10

= Classic =
* Base global panic starts at 8 (1 per location)
* If unchecked alien activity causes at least 1 panic, but will often cause 2 or 3
* Your soldiers have -1 hitpoint
* All aliens receive bonuses hit hitpoints, accuracy, critical change and / or damage.
* Alien AI is unshackled
* You receive no officer training school
* There are even more aliens per map
* Soldiers cost $15

= Impossible =
* Base global panic starts at 16 (2 per location)
* If unchecked alien activity causes at least 2 panic, but will often cause even more
* Your soldiers have -2 hitpoints
* All aliens receive bonuses hit hitpoints, accuracy, critical change and / or damage.
* Alien AI is unshackled
* You receive no officer training school
* There are even more aliens per map
* Soldiers cost $15

[[Category: Enemy Unknown (2012)]]

Difficulty (EU2012)

2012-10-21T15:08:17Z

Nite: /* Normal */

= Starting Funds =

{| class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! align="center" | Difficulty
! align="center" | North America
! align="center" | South America
! align="center" | Europa
! align="center" | Africa
! align="center" | Asia
|-
| align="center" | Easy
| align="center" | §465
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | §315
|-
| align="center" | Normal
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
|-
| width="10%" align="center" | Classic
| width="10%" align="center" | §300
| width="10%" align="center" | 
| width="10%" align="center" | 
| width="10%" align="center" | 
| width="10%" align="center" | 
|-
| align="center" | Impossible
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
|}

= Easy =
* Base global panic starts at 0
* Most alien activity only raises panic by 1 in left unchecked
* 150% of monthly funds income
* Your soldiers have 1 bonus hitpoint
* Aliens are dumber, and there aren't as many of them
* Soldiers cost $10

= Normal =
* Base global panic starts at 0
* Most minor alien activity raises panic by 1 in left unchecked with some events doing up to 3
* 125% of monthly funds income
* Your soldiers have no bonus hitpoints
* Aliens have their AI mostly unshackled
* Soldiers cost $10

= Classic =
* Base global panic starts at 8 (1 per location)
* If unchecked alien activity causes at least 1 panic, but will often cause 2 or 3
* Your soldiers have -1 hitpoint
* All aliens receive bonuses hit hitpoints, accuracy, critical change and / or damage.
* Alien AI is unshackled
* You receive no officer training school
* There are even more aliens per map
* Soldiers cost $15

= Impossible =
* Base global panic starts at 16 (2 per location)
* If unchecked alien activity causes at least 2 panic, but will often cause even more
* Your soldiers have -2 hitpoints
* All aliens receive bonuses hit hitpoints, accuracy, critical change and / or damage.
* Alien AI is unshackled
* You receive no officer training school
* There are even more aliens per map
* Soldiers cost $15

[[Category: Enemy Unknown (2012)]]

Difficulty (EU2012)

2012-10-21T15:07:50Z

Nite: /* Easy */

= Starting Funds =

{| class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! align="center" | Difficulty
! align="center" | North America
! align="center" | South America
! align="center" | Europa
! align="center" | Africa
! align="center" | Asia
|-
| align="center" | Easy
| align="center" | §465
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | §315
|-
| align="center" | Normal
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
|-
| width="10%" align="center" | Classic
| width="10%" align="center" | §300
| width="10%" align="center" | 
| width="10%" align="center" | 
| width="10%" align="center" | 
| width="10%" align="center" | 
|-
| align="center" | Impossible
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
| align="center" | 
|}

= Easy =
* Base global panic starts at 0
* Most alien activity only raises panic by 1 in left unchecked
* 150% of monthly funds income
* Your soldiers have 1 bonus hitpoint
* Aliens are dumber, and there aren't as many of them
* Soldiers cost $10

= Normal =
* Base global panic starts at 0
* Most minor alien activity raises panic by 1 in left unchecked with some events doing up to 3
* Your soldiers have no bonus hitpoints
* Aliens have their AI mostly unshackled
* Soldiers cost $10

= Classic =
* Base global panic starts at 8 (1 per location)
* If unchecked alien activity causes at least 1 panic, but will often cause 2 or 3
* Your soldiers have -1 hitpoint
* All aliens receive bonuses hit hitpoints, accuracy, critical change and / or damage.
* Alien AI is unshackled
* You receive no officer training school
* There are even more aliens per map
* Soldiers cost $15

= Impossible =
* Base global panic starts at 16 (2 per location)
* If unchecked alien activity causes at least 2 panic, but will often cause even more
* Your soldiers have -2 hitpoints
* All aliens receive bonuses hit hitpoints, accuracy, critical change and / or damage.
* Alien AI is unshackled
* You receive no officer training school
* There are even more aliens per map
* Soldiers cost $15

[[Category: Enemy Unknown (2012)]]