Cydonia - Revision history

Magic9mushroom: /* Tips */ made a mistake when writing this

2022-11-06T15:22:34Z

Tips: made a mistake when writing this

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:22, 6 November 2022
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	*Once through the door of the module, you'll find a long corridor terminating in a pair of one-square lifts into the Brain Room proper. Unfortunately, there are between three and five (depending on difficulty) Ethereal Commanders guarding the upper level, and they will not hesitate to mind-control your soldiers as they walk directly underneath them, or mow them down with [[Heavy Plasma]] reaction fire as they ascend the lifts. There are several ways to overcome this deathtrap:		*Once through the door of the module, you'll find a long corridor terminating in a pair of one-square lifts into the Brain Room proper. Unfortunately, there are between three and five (depending on difficulty) Ethereal Commanders guarding the upper level, and they will not hesitate to mind-control your soldiers as they walk directly underneath them, or mow them down with [[Heavy Plasma]] reaction fire as they ascend the lifts. There are several ways to overcome this deathtrap:
	**Most obviously, you can simply send a large (8+) group of heavily-armed, ''very'' psi-resistant soldiers in and make them all go up the lifts in a single turn. The Ethereals will run out of Time Units eventually, and then you can slaughter them or shoot the Brain directly.		**Most obviously, you can simply send a large (8+) group of heavily-armed, ''very'' psi-resistant soldiers in and make them all go up the lifts in a single turn. The Ethereals will run out of Time Units eventually, and then you can slaughter them or shoot the Brain directly.
	**You can use the [[Blaster Launcher]] to dig a new tunnel through the wall of the upper level. The best spot is ~~directly above~~ the module~~'s door~~, as this opens up directly behind the Brain with a ~~clear~~ shot for either another Blaster Bomb or ~~a soldier in a~~ [[~~Flying Suit~~]].		**You can use the [[Blaster Launcher]] to dig a new tunnel through the wall of the upper level (you need a full-strength Blaster Bomb to remove the dirt wall, and before that you need to remove the metal covering with either massed Heavy Plasma fire or another Blaster Bomb). The best spot is in the NE corner of the module to the WSW, as this opens up directly behind the Brain with the Brain itself providing cover from the Ethereals and a relatively-easy shot for either a soldier in a Flying Suit or another Blaster Bomb/HWP Fusion Bomb. You could also send a Blaster Bomb or HWP Fusion Bomb up the lift, [[Known_Bugs#Collectors_Edition_Blaster_Bomb_Bug\|as long as you're playing the DOS version]] (it may hit an Ethereal, but the splash damage will probably write off the Brain anyway, and in any case the Ethereals being killed lets you send soldiers up the lifts to finish the job).
	**If you have ''highly'' skilled psionic soldiers of your own, then once you spot one of the Ethereals (even by looking up the lift, which usually won't give you a line of fire), you can mind-control them into shooting each other or the Brain.		**If you have ''highly'' skilled psionic soldiers of your own, then once you spot one of the Ethereals (even by looking up the lift, which usually won't give you a line of fire), you can mind-control them into shooting each other or the Brain.
	**Or you could cut through the floor under the Brain with [[Heavy Plasma]] fire and destroy it from underneath. More dubiously, a [[Exploiting_Collision_Detection#Explosions.2FIncendiaries_Through_A_Ceiling\|collision detection exploit]] allows explosive weapons fired into the ceiling to phase through it and hit the Brain directly.		**Or you could cut through the floor under the Brain with [[Heavy Plasma]] fire and destroy it from underneath (it's directly above the first 4 squares inside the module door). More dubiously, a [[Exploiting_Collision_Detection#Explosions.2FIncendiaries_Through_A_Ceiling\|collision detection exploit]] allows explosive weapons fired into the ceiling to phase through it and hit the Brain directly.
	*The [[Alien Brain]] is an object with 40 armour. Most weapons deal 25%-75% of their listed damage to terrain, while explosives deal a fixed 50%. Thus, any impact-damage weapon with 54 or more listed damage ([[Heavy Cannon]] AP rounds, and all the two-handed energy weapons) has at least ''some'' chance of destroying the Brain, but only the Heavy Plasma Gun will do it reliably (i.e. if you're not using Heavy Plasma, kill the Ethereals first and ''then'' start blasting the Brain). Any explosive with 80 or more listed damage ([[Tank/Rocket Launcher]], Large [[Rocket Launcher\|Rockets]], [[High Explosive]], as well as any alien-derived explosive) is guaranteed to destroy the Brain on a direct hit.		*The [[Alien Brain]] is an object with 40 armour. Most weapons deal 25%-75% of their listed damage to terrain, while explosives deal a fixed 50%. Thus, any impact-damage weapon with 54 or more listed damage ([[Heavy Cannon]] AP rounds, and all the two-handed energy weapons) has at least ''some'' chance of destroying the Brain, but only the Heavy Plasma Gun will do it reliably (i.e. if you're not using Heavy Plasma, kill the Ethereals first and ''then'' start blasting the Brain). Any explosive with 80 or more listed damage ([[Tank/Rocket Launcher]], Large [[Rocket Launcher\|Rockets]], [[High Explosive]], as well as any alien-derived explosive) is guaranteed to destroy the Brain on a direct hit.
	**Note that the "has the brain been damaged" flag (which causes you to win at the end of the turn) is '''not''' saved in a savegame. So if you obliterate the Brain and then save and reload, you are doomed.		**Note that the "has the brain been damaged" flag (which causes you to win at the end of the turn) is '''not''' saved in a savegame. So if you obliterate the Brain and then save and reload, you are doomed.

Magic9mushroom: /* Alien deployment (underground base) */ fixing loadout based on code dig

2020-01-24T08:26:33Z

Alien deployment (underground base): fixing loadout based on code dig

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:26, 24 January 2020
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	<tr><td align="left">Silacoids</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>5</td></tr>		<tr><td align="left">Silacoids</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>5</td></tr>
	<tr><td align="left">Celatids</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>5</td></tr>		<tr><td align="left">Celatids</td><td>3</td><td>4</td><td>5</td></tr>
	<tr><td align="left">Sectopods</td><td>2</td><td>3</td><td>4</td></tr>		<tr><td align="left">Sectopods</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>4</td></tr>
	<tr><th>Totals</th><td>17</td><td>24</td><td>31</td></tr>		<tr><th>Totals</th><td>16</td><td>23</td><td>31</td></tr>
	</table><br />		</table><br />

Magic9mushroom: /* Tips */ edited to match recent discoveries about alien appearance ratios

2019-11-06T02:41:38Z

Tips: edited to match recent discoveries about alien appearance ratios

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:41, 6 November 2019
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	==Tips==		==Tips==
	*As [[Ethereal]]s don't appear on Earth very often (never before ~~June, and even then only as a possibility on certain [[Alien Missions]]~~), the battle at Cydonia may be the first (and only) time you encounter them. The short version is that they're midway between [[Snakemen]] and [[Muton]]s in durability, but have exceptionally-high [[Reactions]], [[Firing Accuracy]] and [[Time Units]]; assume that any soldier performing a reaction-fire trigger '''will''' get shot. Worse, '''every''' Ethereal is capable of using [[Psionics]] to panic or mind-control your soldiers.		*As [[Ethereal]]s don't appear on Earth very often (almost never before July), the battle at Cydonia may be the first (and only) time you encounter them. The short version is that they're midway between [[Snakemen]] and [[Muton]]s in durability, but have exceptionally-high [[Reactions]], [[Firing Accuracy]] and [[Time Units]]; assume that any soldier performing a reaction-fire trigger '''will''' get shot. Worse, '''every''' Ethereal is capable of using [[Psionics]] to panic or mind-control your soldiers.
	*The Ethereal terror unit, the [[Sectopod]], is equally terrifying. Like [[Cyberdisc]]s, Sectopods are large, robotic units with built-in energy weaponry. While they cannot fly like Cyberdiscs, Sectopods more than make up for it with their '''extreme''' durability on difficulties above Beginner; the otherwise-superlative [[Heavy Plasma]] Gun, for instance, only has a 20% chance to inflict any damage whatsoever to a Sectopod's front armour, and will usually take over a dozen hits to destroy a Sectopod outright. The only weapons that can be considered truly effective against Sectopods are the man-portable [[Blaster Launcher]] and [[Small Launcher]] and the [[Hovertank/Launcher]] heavy weapons platform; the [[Heavy Laser]] is of some use due to Sectopods' weakness to Laser damage but is rather inaccurate and slow.		*The Ethereal terror unit, the [[Sectopod]], is equally terrifying. Like [[Cyberdisc]]s, Sectopods are large, robotic units with built-in energy weaponry. While they cannot fly like Cyberdiscs, Sectopods more than make up for it with their '''extreme''' durability on difficulties above Beginner; the otherwise-superlative [[Heavy Plasma]] Gun, for instance, only has a 20% chance to inflict any damage whatsoever to a Sectopod's front armour, and will usually take over a dozen hits to destroy a Sectopod outright. The only weapons that can be considered truly effective against Sectopods are the man-portable [[Blaster Launcher]] and [[Small Launcher]] and the [[Hovertank/Launcher]] heavy weapons platform; the [[Heavy Laser]] is of some use due to Sectopods' weakness to Laser damage but is rather inaccurate and slow.
	*Between mind-controlling Ethereals equipped with Blaster Launchers, nigh-indestructible Sectopods, and deadly [[Chryssalid]]s, the odds are heavily stacked against X-Com's squad. Forget about killing all the aliens (on Superhuman, there are over ''thirty''); your objective is to find and destroy the Brain before your soldiers are wiped out.		*Between mind-controlling Ethereals equipped with Blaster Launchers, nigh-indestructible Sectopods, and deadly [[Chryssalid]]s, the odds are heavily stacked against X-Com's squad. Forget about killing all the aliens (on Superhuman, there are over ''thirty''); your objective is to find and destroy the Brain before your soldiers are wiped out.

Magic9mushroom: /* Briefing */ That's what it says.

2018-07-10T02:16:50Z

Briefing: That's what it says.

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:16, 10 July 2018
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	==Briefing==		==Briefing==
	The pyramid lift takes your battle weary soldiers deep below the planet's surface. They arrive in the heart of a large complex of tunnels and chambers. The alien brain is hidden somewhere in the labyrinth. It must be destroyed if the earth is to be saved from alien enslavement.		The pyramid lift takes your battle weary soldiers deep below the planet's surface. They arrive in the heart of a large complex of tunnels and chambers. The alien brain is hidden somewhere in the labyrinth. It must be destroyed if the earth is to be saved from alien enslavement.

			Good Luck!

	==Description==		==Description==

Magic9mushroom: /* Tips */ finishing the rewrite, might add some more later.

2018-07-08T11:56:22Z

Tips: finishing the rewrite, might add some more later.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:56, 8 July 2018
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	==Tips==		==Tips==
	~~Go armed for bear. Bring many troops~~, the ~~best weapons~~ and ~~best armour possible~~. The ~~80 Item Limit~~ is ~~perhaps~~ your ~~worst enemy~~.		*As [[Ethereal]]s don't appear on Earth very often (never before June, and even then only as a possibility on certain [[Alien Missions]]), the battle at Cydonia may be the first (and only) time you encounter them. The short version is that they're midway between [[Snakemen]] and [[Muton]]s in durability, but have exceptionally-high [[Reactions]], [[Firing Accuracy]] and [[Time Units]]; assume that any soldier performing a reaction-fire trigger '''will''' get shot. Worse, '''every''' Ethereal is capable of using [[Psionics]] to panic or mind-control your soldiers.
			*The Ethereal terror unit, the [[Sectopod]], is equally terrifying. Like [[Cyberdisc]]s, Sectopods are large, robotic units with built-in energy weaponry. While they cannot fly like Cyberdiscs, Sectopods more than make up for it with their '''extreme''' durability on difficulties above Beginner; the otherwise-superlative [[Heavy Plasma]] Gun, for instance, only has a 20% chance to inflict any damage whatsoever to a Sectopod's front armour, and will usually take over a dozen hits to destroy a Sectopod outright. The only weapons that can be considered truly effective against Sectopods are the man-portable [[Blaster Launcher]] and [[Small Launcher]] and the [[Hovertank/Launcher]] heavy weapons platform; the [[Heavy Laser]] is of some use due to Sectopods' weakness to Laser damage but is rather inaccurate and slow.
	The ~~surface part of~~ the ~~mission~~ is ~~nothing special~~; ~~you should however have some means of illuminating~~ the ~~battlefield~~. The [[~~Auto~~-~~Cannon~~]] with ~~incendiary rounds~~ (~~14 light sources per clip~~) ~~can come~~ in ~~handy~~. ~~Only equipment carried by your soldiers at~~ the ~~end~~ of ~~that stage will be taken~~ into the ~~base~~ proper, ~~so you maybe want to take it slowly~~ and ~~pick up some ammunition before killing~~ the ~~last alien~~ or ~~activating~~ the ~~lift~~. ~~If your troops~~ are ~~low~~ in ~~energy/stamina~~, ~~it is advisable~~ to ~~rest them~~ a ~~little before continuing on~~ as ~~well~~.		*Between mind-controlling Ethereals equipped with Blaster Launchers, nigh-indestructible Sectopods, and deadly [[Chryssalid]]s, the odds are heavily stacked against X-Com's squad. Forget about killing all the aliens (on Superhuman, there are over ''thirty''); your objective is to find and destroy the Brain before your soldiers are wiped out.
			*The Brain Room is a large (20x20) module walled with ordinary UFO bulkhead material (not the "security walls" with crown molding), with a "security" door (dark grey) on the west side (upper-left in the isometric view). Don't confuse it with a storage compartment, which has "security" walls and has a normal door on the south (lower-left) side.
	~~Underground is like any other base assault~~, ~~only more so~~. ~~More corridors~~ to ~~watch, more opponents hidden~~. Most ~~enemies will take several hits~~ to ~~die~~, ~~so when using conventional weapons you will need~~ a ~~great many seasoned troops~~. ~~Even~~ with the ~~support~~ of ~~two~~ or ~~three Mind Controllers and Blaster Launchers each~~ (~~Hovertanks are great~~ as ~~they carry 8 rounds yet count~~ as ~~only one item~~) you ~~will need~~ at ~~least eight or ten men for~~ the ~~actual killing and may still only advance with utmost care~~. ~~Also, sort out all known PSI weaklings~~ and then ~~some: With so many Ethereal Commanders around~~, you ~~may see~~ soldiers mind controlled ~~who previously appeared~~ to ~~be absolutely safe even~~ from ~~panic~~ attacks.		*Once through the door of the module, you'll find a long corridor terminating in a pair of one-square lifts into the Brain Room proper. Unfortunately, there are between three and five (depending on difficulty) Ethereal Commanders guarding the upper level, and they will not hesitate to mind-control your soldiers as they walk directly underneath them, or mow them down with [[Heavy Plasma]] reaction fire as they ascend the lifts. There are several ways to overcome this deathtrap:
			**Most obviously, you can simply send a large (8+) group of heavily-armed, ''very'' psi-resistant soldiers in and make them all go up the lifts in a single turn. The Ethereals will run out of Time Units eventually, and then you can slaughter them or shoot the Brain directly.
			**You can use the [[Blaster Launcher]] to dig a new tunnel through the wall of the upper level. The best spot is directly above the module's door, as this opens up directly behind the Brain with a clear shot for either another Blaster Bomb or a soldier in a [[Flying Suit]].
			**If you have ''highly'' skilled psionic soldiers of your own, then once you spot one of the Ethereals (even by looking up the lift, which usually won't give you a line of fire), you can mind-control them into shooting each other or the Brain.
			**Or you could cut through the floor under the Brain with [[Heavy Plasma]] fire and destroy it from underneath. More dubiously, a [[Exploiting_Collision_Detection#Explosions.2FIncendiaries_Through_A_Ceiling\|collision detection exploit]] allows explosive weapons fired into the ceiling to phase through it and hit the Brain directly.
			*The [[Alien Brain]] is an object with 40 armour. Most weapons deal 25%-75% of their listed damage to terrain, while explosives deal a fixed 50%. Thus, any impact-damage weapon with 54 or more listed damage ([[Heavy Cannon]] AP rounds, and all the two-handed energy weapons) has at least ''some'' chance of destroying the Brain, but only the Heavy Plasma Gun will do it reliably (i.e. if you're not using Heavy Plasma, kill the Ethereals first and ''then'' start blasting the Brain). Any explosive with 80 or more listed damage ([[Tank/Rocket Launcher]], Large [[Rocket Launcher\|Rockets]], [[High Explosive]], as well as any alien-derived explosive) is guaranteed to destroy the Brain on a direct hit.
			**Note that the "has the brain been damaged" flag (which causes you to win at the end of the turn) is '''not''' saved in a savegame. So if you obliterate the Brain and then save and reload, you are doomed.
			*Do not depend on a few "decoys" (unarmed soldiers with abysmal [[Psionic Strength]], who are prioritised for alien psi-attacks but harmless if mind-controlled) to protect you fully from the Ethereals' psionics. As mentioned above, every single one of the Ethereals (between 6 and 12 depending on difficulty) is psionically active; on Superhuman, you're likely to face about a '''dozen''' psionic attacks per turn, which is enough to mind-control the decoys and ''still'' have plenty left to cause havoc.
			*Besides the Brain Room, there are a couple of other modules in Cydonia which don't appear in Earthly [[Alien Base Assault]]s. The most notable is a module that appears to be a dead end, with the corridors going into it simply terminating at a wall. However, ''there is no roof'' over the "dead end", so any unit capable of flight can navigate through the module by simply flying over the walls.

	=See also=		=See also=

Magic9mushroom: /* Description */ Resuming the rewrite I started years ago.

2018-07-08T09:50:02Z

Description: Resuming the rewrite I started years ago.

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:50, 8 July 2018
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	==Description==		==Description==
	[[Image:Brain.gif\|right\|The Alien Brain]]~~Second part~~ is ~~almost like a~~ [[Alien Base Assault]], ~~except larger; the base has 36 modules (6x6) instead of the normal 25 (5x5). It~~'s ~~filled with all manner of creatures: [[Ethereal]]s, [[Sectopod]]s, [[Silacoid]]s, [[Celatid]]s,~~ and ~~[[Chryssalid]]s. Anyhow, you need~~ to ~~destroy at least one portion of~~ a ~~four-part [[Brain\|Alien Brain]] (40 armor - pictured on the right) to win the mission (and the game). There's a whole bunch of heavily armed Ethereals defending the Brain Room~~. ~~Of course~~, ~~either a [[Blaster Launcher\|Blaster Bomb]]~~, ~~or plain mind controlling one~~ of them ~~to shoot the Brain ends the mission easily... to be true to storyline, kill all opposition, then shoot the Brain pointblank with a Plasma~~-~~based weapon. Afterwards scramble for the lifts before the whole complex blows up (as shown in the PS movies)~~.		[[Image:Brain.gif\|right\|The Alien Brain]]The second half of the mission is very similar to an [[Alien Base Assault]], with X-Com's remaining soldiers and tanks spawning in entry modules and having to navigate through a darkened maze filled with aliens. However, there are several important differences, nearly all of them bad for X-Com.

	~~This~~ is ~~UFO's only mixed crew mission. It's an Ethereal crew with~~ a ~~few extras~~, ~~mainly~~ [[~~Terror Units~~]]~~, from the other races~~. ~~This mission~~ only ~~really needs a Blaster Launcher, and with luck, if you locate the command theatre right away~~, ~~will be over in less than a few turns. If you want to bypass the "luck" element, you can take advantage of the fact that you can see unexplored terrain~~ by ~~moving the cursor over it. The brain room is quite recognisable~~, and ~~once you've found it, it'~~s ~~simple enough to send Blaster Bombs there on your first turn~~. ~~(If you choose to find the Command Center the harder way ("Blaster Launchers? Bah! Too impersonal for my taste") be aware that unlike the Alien Bases there can be dead ends).~~		*The map is larger; instead of a 50x50 map, the base in Cydonia is 60x60 (like a [[Base Defence]]).
			*The [[Ethereal]] crew is supported not only by their usual [[Sectopod]]s, but also by [[Silacoid]]s, [[Celatid]]s and the dreaded [[Chryssalid]]s.
	~~An alternate way to do the final assault avoiding the carnage~~ of ~~the lifts or Blaster-bombing blind is to breach through an upper Brain Room wall from an adjacent garden or storage area with 2-3 Blaster Bombs. With~~ a ~~hole in the dirt wall~~, ~~throw smoke in front of~~ the ~~brain and advance an Power Suited agent to kneel in front of~~ the Brain. ~~During their turn one of~~ the ~~Ethereals will open up with an Auto shot~~ - ~~missing~~ the ~~agent~~ - ~~sealing the fate~~ of the ~~Aliens.~~		*Instead of a normal base command centre, the base at Cydonia has a unique module containing the Alien [[Brain]] (pictured at right). To win the mission - and the game - X-Com must destroy at least one segment of the four-tile Brain (which has 40 tile armour). The Brain is guarded by several Ethereal Commanders.

	~~===PSX Cydonian base layout===~~
	~~[[Image:PSX Cydonia Base.png\|right\|thumb\|The underground Cydonia base in the Playstation version of the game.]]Unlike the PC versions of the game~~ which ~~have a randomly generated base, the Playstation version is always the same (see pic to the right~~). ~~This has some important implications, because since you know where the brain room~~ is~~, you can fire a couple Blaster Bombs and the mission will be over~~. ~~<br clear="all">~~

			Note that, regardless of how long the war has gone on, the Ethereals at Cydonia will always be equipped with endgame weaponry - [[Heavy Plasma]] Guns and [[Blaster Launcher]]s.
	===PC version random layout===		===PC version random layout===
	[[File:Cydonia Final Stage.jpg\|right\|thumb\|Cydonia base in PC version]]A random sample of the Cydonia base ~~in Mars~~ from PC version the game. <br clear="all">		[[File:Cydonia Final Stage.jpg\|right\|thumb\|A possible Cydonia base in PC version]]A random sample of the Cydonia base map from the PC version. <br clear="all">
			===PSX version layout===
			[[Image:PSX Cydonia Base.png\|right\|thumb\|The underground Cydonia base in the Playstation version of the game.]]Unlike in the PC versions of the game - which have a randomly generated base - the base in the Playstation version always has the same layout (see pic to the right). This has the important implication that you will always know the location of the Brain Room. <br clear="all">

	==Alien deployment (underground base)==		==Alien deployment (underground base)==

Magic9mushroom: /* Mars: Cydonia Landing */ continuing rewrite

2016-03-28T10:17:24Z

Mars: Cydonia Landing: continuing rewrite

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:17, 28 March 2016
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	==Description==		==Description==
	~~First~~ part ~~is on the surface~~ of ~~Mars. Lots of Pyramid structures with singular windows, some with aliens inside, some empty. Only one has~~ the ~~entrance~~ to the ~~aliens HQ~~, the ~~entrance being an area with glowing green floor~~. ~~Now,~~ this ~~floor has 36 squares~~, ~~or a 6x6 area. Anyhow~~, ~~you can step onto~~ that ~~with as many people as possible, hit abort~~, and ~~it'll bring them and whatever they're carrying to part 2~~. ~~OR, you can just kill everything on the stage and everyone will go to part 2~~.		This first part of the mission is similar to a UFO recovery or terror mission; an outdoor map with your troops starting in the Avenger, and small buildings dotting the map. In this case, however, the terrain is that of Mars' cratered surface, and the buildings are alien pyramids. The map is 50x50.

	~~This is a night mission, so remember that the aliens can see much farther than you.~~		Opposition consists of [[Sectoid]]s and [[Cyberdisc]]s, in numbers similar to those encountered on board a [[Terror ship]]. However, far more of the Sectoids will be psionically active than in such a mission. Note also that it is considered dark on Mars regardless of the time you launched the Avenger (normal rules for [[Night Missions]] apply).

	~~The surface is filled with many many~~ [[Sectoid]]s and [[Cyberdisc]]s~~. Much Commanders and leaders methinks~~, ~~as there's Psi all around~~. ~~I find this mission hilarious when I shoot a Cyberdisc~~, ~~it blows up, and~~ the ~~chain reaction kills over 5 other Cyberdiscs. Plus many many~~ Sectoids. ~~It then turns into Pyramid hunting.~~

	~~Despite urban legends, and common sense, your soldiers do not need power armor or whatever to breathe on the surface of Mars, feel free to send them up wearing coveralls.~~

	~~The easiest way to look at this mission is~~ that it is ~~basically a Sectoid Battleship/Base crew in a one-~~of~~-a-kind map with a choice of two different winning conditions except that~~ the ~~navigators, engineers, and medics are substituted with leaders and commanders~~.

			There are two ways to clear this map; you must either find the unique pyramid with a lift down to the base proper (green floor tiles in the interior), climb inside and abort the mission (transferring all soldiers, tanks and equipment on said lift to the second part), or simply kill all the aliens (transferring all soldiers, tanks and held equipment to the second part wherever they are).

	===PC version sample Cydonia Landing Layout===		===PC version sample Cydonia Landing Layout===
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	==Tips==		==Tips==
	[[Heavy Weapons Platforms~~\|HWP~~]]~~s can follow~~ you ~~onto~~ the ~~lift and~~ the ~~next level if~~ you ~~use~~ the [[Blaster Launcher~~\|tools at your disposal~~]] ~~to widen~~ the ~~doorway for them~~.		*The doors of the pyramid containing the lift are only 1 tile wide, so [[Heavy Weapons Platforms]] will not fit. If you wish to take HWPs into the second half of the mission, you must either widen the door with a [[Heavy Plasma]] Gun or [[Blaster Launcher]], or complete the map by killing all the aliens.
			*In defiance of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_limit currently-understood biology], your soldiers will '''not''' suffocate on Mars; while [[Power Suit]]s or [[Flying Suit]]s are recommended, your troops can survive without helmeted attire. Likewise, throwing distances are unaffected by Mars' lower gravity.
	~~Plasma weapons~~ can ~~do the job~~, ~~too~~.		*While only one pyramid contains the lift to the base, all the pyramids can be entered, and many will contain aliens. Craters can also conceal aliens.
			*Loot dead Sectoids for spare clips as you pass by them; the hardest battle still lies ahead.
	~~Try~~ to ~~blast away~~ the ~~top of~~ the ~~pyramid with~~ the ~~lift with a rocket, so every alien up there is killed~~.

	=Mars: The Final Assault=		=Mars: The Final Assault=

Magic9mushroom: /* Getting to Cydonia */ blueifying links

2016-03-28T05:59:26Z

Getting to Cydonia: blueifying links

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:59, 28 March 2016
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	==The Ultimate Craft==		==The Ultimate Craft==
	One cannot simply fly a Skyranger to Mars. To reach Cydonia, X-Com must design a space-capable troop transporter. X-Com must first research the four key components of any UFO - [[Alien Alloys]], [[Elerium-115]], [[UFO Power Source\|UFO Power Sources]] and [[UFO Navigation]], unlocking the topic [[UFO ~~construction~~]] which leads to a series of craft. The last of the series, the Avenger, is capable of flying to Cydonia, and (provided Cydonia or Bust has been researched), a button labelled "Cydonia" will appear when choosing an Avenger's destination.		One cannot simply fly a Skyranger to Mars. To reach Cydonia, X-Com must design a space-capable troop transporter. X-Com must first research the four key components of any UFO - [[Alien Alloys]], [[Elerium-115]], [[UFO Power Source\|UFO Power Sources]] and [[UFO Navigation]], unlocking the topic [[UFO Construction]] which leads to a series of craft. The last of the series, the Avenger, is capable of flying to Cydonia, and (provided Cydonia or Bust has been researched), a button labelled "Cydonia" will appear when choosing an Avenger's destination.

	==Shopping list==		==Shopping list==
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	*[[Heavy Plasma]]. Cydonia contains many heavily armoured aliens, so you'll want the biggest guns available. Some prefer to bring [[Laser Rifle]]s with the squad (to save [[Managing the Item Limit\|items]]) and take Heavy Plasma Guns from the dead fingers of the Sectoids in the first half of the mission, but you will at least need to have researched the weapon to use it. Bringing reloads is usually superfluous due to the aforementioned ability to loot aliens' corpses.		*[[Heavy Plasma]]. Cydonia contains many heavily armoured aliens, so you'll want the biggest guns available. Some prefer to bring [[Laser Rifle]]s with the squad (to save [[Managing the Item Limit\|items]]) and take Heavy Plasma Guns from the dead fingers of the Sectoids in the first half of the mission, but you will at least need to have researched the weapon to use it. Bringing reloads is usually superfluous due to the aforementioned ability to loot aliens' corpses.
	*Hovertanks, especially [[Hovertank/Launcher\|Hovertanks/Launcher]]. Hovertanks are fast and well-armoured, and the Hovertank/Launcher's ability to defeat a Sectopod toe-to-toe is not to be underestimated. The more powerful man-portable [[Blaster Launcher]] is also an option, but it strains your item limit, requires reloading after every shot, and may end up being [[Psionics\|used against you]].		*Hovertanks, especially [[Hovertank/Launcher\|Hovertanks/Launcher]]. Hovertanks are fast and well-armoured, and the Hovertank/Launcher's ability to defeat a Sectopod toe-to-toe is not to be underestimated. The more powerful man-portable [[Blaster Launcher]] is also an option, but it strains your item limit, requires reloading after every shot, and may end up being [[Psionics\|used against you]].
	*[[Electro-~~flares~~]] or an [[Auto-Cannon]] loaded with Incendiary rounds. It's dark on Mars, so illumination is helpful. Incendiaries use less of your precious 80 items, but fire doesn't last very long.		*[[Electro-flare]]s or an [[Auto-Cannon]] loaded with Incendiary rounds. It's dark on Mars, so illumination is helpful. Incendiaries use less of your precious 80 items, but fire doesn't last very long.
	*And last, but certainly not least: [[Psionic Laboratory\|Psionics]]. There are many, many psionic aliens in Cydonia, and as such soldiers with low Psi-Strength will spend nearly all of their time under alien mind control. Offensive psionics (soldiers with high Psi-Skill armed with Psi-Amps) help a lot but aren't essential; winnowing your troops by Psi-Strength, however, is all-but-required to reduce the number of successful psi attacks to something manageable.		*And last, but certainly not least: [[Psionic Laboratory\|Psionics]]. There are many, many psionic aliens in Cydonia, and as such soldiers with low Psi-Strength will spend nearly all of their time under alien mind control. Offensive psionics (soldiers with high Psi-Skill armed with Psi-Amps) help a lot but aren't essential; winnowing your troops by Psi-Strength, however, is all-but-required to reduce the number of successful psi attacks to something manageable.

Magic9mushroom: /* Shopping list */

2016-03-25T12:17:20Z

Shopping list

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:17, 25 March 2016
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	*Hovertanks, especially [[Hovertank/Launcher\|Hovertanks/Launcher]]. Hovertanks are fast and well-armoured, and the Hovertank/Launcher's ability to defeat a Sectopod toe-to-toe is not to be underestimated. The more powerful man-portable [[Blaster Launcher]] is also an option, but it strains your item limit, requires reloading after every shot, and may end up being [[Psionics\|used against you]].		*Hovertanks, especially [[Hovertank/Launcher\|Hovertanks/Launcher]]. Hovertanks are fast and well-armoured, and the Hovertank/Launcher's ability to defeat a Sectopod toe-to-toe is not to be underestimated. The more powerful man-portable [[Blaster Launcher]] is also an option, but it strains your item limit, requires reloading after every shot, and may end up being [[Psionics\|used against you]].
	*[[Electro-flares]] or an [[Auto-Cannon]] loaded with Incendiary rounds. It's dark on Mars, so illumination is helpful. Incendiaries use less of your precious 80 items, but fire doesn't last very long.		*[[Electro-flares]] or an [[Auto-Cannon]] loaded with Incendiary rounds. It's dark on Mars, so illumination is helpful. Incendiaries use less of your precious 80 items, but fire doesn't last very long.
	*And last, but certainly not least: [[Psionics]]. There are many, many psionic aliens in Cydonia, and as such soldiers with low Psi-Strength will spend nearly all of their time under alien mind control. Offensive psionics (soldiers with high Psi-Skill armed with Psi-Amps) help a lot but aren't essential; ~~psi-screening~~ your troops, however, ~~borders on essential. Some~~ psi attacks ~~will likely still get through, but every bit helps~~.		*And last, but certainly not least: [[Psionic Laboratory\|Psionics]]. There are many, many psionic aliens in Cydonia, and as such soldiers with low Psi-Strength will spend nearly all of their time under alien mind control. Offensive psionics (soldiers with high Psi-Skill armed with Psi-Amps) help a lot but aren't essential; winnowing your troops by Psi-Strength, however, is all-but-required to reduce the number of successful psi attacks to something manageable.

	=Mars: Cydonia Landing=		=Mars: Cydonia Landing=

Magic9mushroom: Still going. Removed outdated info (one of the patches, I forget which one, capped TU at 80; ergo, it's impossible to have a soldier with 200+ TU in 1.4/CE.

2016-03-25T12:08:42Z

Still going. Removed outdated info (one of the patches, I forget which one, capped TU at 80; ergo, it's impossible to have a soldier with 200+ TU in 1.4/CE.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:08, 25 March 2016
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	==The Ultimate Craft==		==The Ultimate Craft==
	One cannot simply fly a Skyranger to Mars. To reach Cydonia, X-Com must design a space-capable troop transporter. X-Com must first research the four key components of any UFO - [[Alien Alloys]], [[Elerium-115]], [[UFO Power Source\|UFO Power Sources]] and [[UFO Navigation]], unlocking the topic [[UFO construction]] which leads to a series of craft. The last of the series, the Avenger, is capable of flying to Cydonia, and (~~probided~~ Cydonia or Bust has been researched), a button labelled "Cydonia" will appear when choosing an Avenger's destination..		One cannot simply fly a Skyranger to Mars. To reach Cydonia, X-Com must design a space-capable troop transporter. X-Com must first research the four key components of any UFO - [[Alien Alloys]], [[Elerium-115]], [[UFO Power Source\|UFO Power Sources]] and [[UFO Navigation]], unlocking the topic [[UFO construction]] which leads to a series of craft. The last of the series, the Avenger, is capable of flying to Cydonia, and (provided Cydonia or Bust has been researched), a button labelled "Cydonia" will appear when choosing an Avenger's destination.

			==Shopping list==
			The above two items - an Avenger and researching Cydonia or Bust - are technically the only requirements to assault Cydonia. However, as the mission is far harder than any other in UFO: Enemy Unknown, and a failed Cydonia assault results in losing the game, it is wise to prepare rather more extensively. Below is a list of things you may wish to acquire before making the attempt.
			*Armour, preferably [[Flying Suit]]s. By the time you get to Cydonia the aliens will largely be using Heavy Plasma, but any chance of avoiding death is better than none. Flying Suits are the best protection available, although their flight capability isn't as useful in the second half (due to the enclosed space).
			**Medi-Kits. The mission can be very long, and as such wounded soldiers will often die of their wounds if not treated.
			*[[Heavy Plasma]]. Cydonia contains many heavily armoured aliens, so you'll want the biggest guns available. Some prefer to bring [[Laser Rifle]]s with the squad (to save [[Managing the Item Limit\|items]]) and take Heavy Plasma Guns from the dead fingers of the Sectoids in the first half of the mission, but you will at least need to have researched the weapon to use it. Bringing reloads is usually superfluous due to the aforementioned ability to loot aliens' corpses.
			*Hovertanks, especially [[Hovertank/Launcher\|Hovertanks/Launcher]]. Hovertanks are fast and well-armoured, and the Hovertank/Launcher's ability to defeat a Sectopod toe-to-toe is not to be underestimated. The more powerful man-portable [[Blaster Launcher]] is also an option, but it strains your item limit, requires reloading after every shot, and may end up being [[Psionics\|used against you]].
			*[[Electro-flares]] or an [[Auto-Cannon]] loaded with Incendiary rounds. It's dark on Mars, so illumination is helpful. Incendiaries use less of your precious 80 items, but fire doesn't last very long.
			*And last, but certainly not least: [[Psionics]]. There are many, many psionic aliens in Cydonia, and as such soldiers with low Psi-Strength will spend nearly all of their time under alien mind control. Offensive psionics (soldiers with high Psi-Skill armed with Psi-Amps) help a lot but aren't essential; psi-screening your troops, however, borders on essential. Some psi attacks will likely still get through, but every bit helps.

	=Mars: Cydonia Landing=		=Mars: Cydonia Landing=
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	Underground is like any other base assault, only more so. More corridors to watch, more opponents hidden. Most enemies will take several hits to die, so when using conventional weapons you will need a great many seasoned troops. Even with the support of two or three Mind Controllers and Blaster Launchers each (Hovertanks are great as they carry 8 rounds yet count as only one item) you will need at least eight or ten men for the actual killing and may still only advance with utmost care. Also, sort out all known PSI weaklings and then some: With so many Ethereal Commanders around, you may see soldiers mind controlled who previously appeared to be absolutely safe even from panic attacks.		Underground is like any other base assault, only more so. More corridors to watch, more opponents hidden. Most enemies will take several hits to die, so when using conventional weapons you will need a great many seasoned troops. Even with the support of two or three Mind Controllers and Blaster Launchers each (Hovertanks are great as they carry 8 rounds yet count as only one item) you will need at least eight or ten men for the actual killing and may still only advance with utmost care. Also, sort out all known PSI weaklings and then some: With so many Ethereal Commanders around, you may see soldiers mind controlled who previously appeared to be absolutely safe even from panic attacks.

	~~... and for the masochist (cough cough try this) Total loadout.... 1 [[Psi-Amp]] & 1 Soldier with no armour.~~
	This works in every difficulty and the only way you can lose is if you get shot from an alien in its reaction, but with a soldier having 200+ time units you have plenty of time to find the first alien, control it (25 TU not a percentage!!) and find the way to the elevator or the brain.

	=See also=		=See also=