ExploitsA - Revision history

Magic9mushroom: /* Robotic Factories */ 256 is one byte, not two, and the Craft Weapons for Free exploit confirms that only one byte is used.

2025-03-18T11:48:53Z

Robotic Factories: 256 is one byte, not two, and the Craft Weapons for Free exploit confirms that only one byte is used.

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:48, 18 March 2025
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	===Robotic Factories===		===Robotic Factories===

	If you get exactly 256 Engineers at a base, the count of Engineers rolls over to zero (due to being stored in ~~two bytes~~). You pay no further salaries for these Engineers and they cease to use up Living Quarters (they can all be dismantled if desired). Once you have done this, manufacturing at the base is limited only by workshop capacity (beyond even what 256 Engineers can produce, so there is no need to hire any more Engineers - just build Workshops).		If you get exactly 256 Engineers at a base, the count of Engineers rolls over to zero (due to being stored in one byte). You pay no further salaries for these Engineers and they cease to use up Living Quarters (they can all be dismantled if desired). Once you have done this, manufacturing at the base is limited only by workshop capacity (beyond even what 256 Engineers can produce, so there is no need to hire any more Engineers - just build Workshops).

	In effect for an investment of about $14.5 million, you turn a base into a robotic factory in which every Workshop works at full capacity round the clock, with no accommodation or wages needed for any human Engineers.		In effect for an investment of about $14.5 million, you turn a base into a robotic factory in which every Workshop works at full capacity round the clock, with no accommodation or wages needed for any human Engineers.

	This Exploit is extremely unbalancing to the strategic/resource aspect of the game. Really, you might as well just use a game editor to give yourself infinite money. Information on how to work this Exploit is [[Manufacturing Profitability#Bugs\|here]] (there are some fine points of detail needed to make it work correctly - mainly just make sure you have some manufacturing underway when the 256th Engineer arrives). This Exploit also works in TFTD.		This Exploit is extremely unbalancing to the strategic/resource aspect of the game. Really, you might as well just use a game editor to give yourself infinite money. Information on how to work this Exploit is [[Manufacturing Profitability#Bugs\|here]] (there are some fine points of detail needed to make it work correctly - mainly just make sure you have some manufacturing underway when the 256th Engineer arrives). This Exploit also works in TFTD.

	===Cybernetic Laboratories===		===Cybernetic Laboratories===

Magic9mushroom: /* Craft Weapons For Free/Infinite Money */ formatting mistake

2018-07-05T15:47:10Z

Craft Weapons For Free/Infinite Money: formatting mistake

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:47, 5 July 2018
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	===Craft Weapons For Free/Infinite Money===		===Craft Weapons For Free/Infinite Money===
	Remember the "[[~~https://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php/~~Known_Bugs#Hangar_Split_in_Half\|hangar split in half]]" bug, wherein you build a hangar hanging off the right edge of the map and it wraps around to the left side, one row down? This is because the game actually stores the base squares as a linear array, with the first row being 1-6, the second being 7-12, and so on; when you place the top-left quarter of a hangar on square N, the other three quarters are placed on square N+1 (one square to the right), N+6 (one square down) and N+7 (one square down AND one square to the right). If you put that top-left quarter of the hangar on square 6 (first row, sixth column), this will place the other three quarters on squares 7 (second row, first column), 12 (second row, sixth column), and 13 (third row, first column), splitting the hangar in half.		Remember the "[[Known_Bugs#Hangar_Split_in_Half\|hangar split in half]]" bug, wherein you build a hangar hanging off the right edge of the map and it wraps around to the left side, one row down? This is because the game actually stores the base squares as a linear array, with the first row being 1-6, the second being 7-12, and so on; when you place the top-left quarter of a hangar on square N, the other three quarters are placed on square N+1 (one square to the right), N+6 (one square down) and N+7 (one square down AND one square to the right). If you put that top-left quarter of the hangar on square 6 (first row, sixth column), this will place the other three quarters on squares 7 (second row, first column), 12 (second row, sixth column), and 13 (third row, first column), splitting the hangar in half.

	However, what if you put that top-left quarter on square 30 or later (fifth row, sixth column, or sixth row)? Now, your fourth quarter (and possibly the second or third) are at square '''37''' or more - beyond the end of the map! This is a buffer overflow, and will overwrite whatever happens to be next in memory with the values it's trying to write for hangar construction. In this case, the time to completion - 25, as the Hangar takes 25 days to build - overwrites values for the '''base stores'''. What, exactly, this does depends on exactly which "squares" you're attempting to build on, as follows:		However, what if you put that top-left quarter on square 30 or later (fifth row, sixth column, or sixth row)? Now, your fourth quarter (and possibly the second or third) are at square '''37''' or more - beyond the end of the map! This is a buffer overflow, and will overwrite whatever happens to be next in memory with the values it's trying to write for hangar construction. In this case, the time to completion - 25, as the Hangar takes 25 days to build - overwrites values for the '''base stores'''. What, exactly, this does depends on exactly which "squares" you're attempting to build on, as follows:

Magic9mushroom: one of the most ridiculously-powerful exploits ever

2018-07-05T15:45:19Z

one of the most ridiculously-powerful exploits ever

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:45, 5 July 2018
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	Using this exploit requires a bit of work on the ground, as you need to execute a secure withdrawal to your transport, whilst carrying off all the alien bodies/captives and alien equipment. It can also be hard to safely and reliably leave a single alien alive and conscious (unless your troops are proficient in [[psionics]]). This exploit is best used opportunistically, such as when facing a [[Large Scout]] with a "[[Alien_movement_patterns#Guards\|stuck]]" alien inside.		Using this exploit requires a bit of work on the ground, as you need to execute a secure withdrawal to your transport, whilst carrying off all the alien bodies/captives and alien equipment. It can also be hard to safely and reliably leave a single alien alive and conscious (unless your troops are proficient in [[psionics]]). This exploit is best used opportunistically, such as when facing a [[Large Scout]] with a "[[Alien_movement_patterns#Guards\|stuck]]" alien inside.

			===Craft Weapons For Free/Infinite Money===
			Remember the "[[https://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php/Known_Bugs#Hangar_Split_in_Half\|hangar split in half]]" bug, wherein you build a hangar hanging off the right edge of the map and it wraps around to the left side, one row down? This is because the game actually stores the base squares as a linear array, with the first row being 1-6, the second being 7-12, and so on; when you place the top-left quarter of a hangar on square N, the other three quarters are placed on square N+1 (one square to the right), N+6 (one square down) and N+7 (one square down AND one square to the right). If you put that top-left quarter of the hangar on square 6 (first row, sixth column), this will place the other three quarters on squares 7 (second row, first column), 12 (second row, sixth column), and 13 (third row, first column), splitting the hangar in half.

			However, what if you put that top-left quarter on square 30 or later (fifth row, sixth column, or sixth row)? Now, your fourth quarter (and possibly the second or third) are at square '''37''' or more - beyond the end of the map! This is a buffer overflow, and will overwrite whatever happens to be next in memory with the values it's trying to write for hangar construction. In this case, the time to completion - 25, as the Hangar takes 25 days to build - overwrites values for the '''base stores'''. What, exactly, this does depends on exactly which "squares" you're attempting to build on, as follows:

			"Square 37" is Engineers (you get 25 Engineers).

			"Square 38" is Scientists (you get 25 Scientists).

			"Square 39" is Stingray Launchers, low byte (you get 25 Stingray Launchers).

			"Square 40" is Stingray Launchers, high byte (you get '''6400''' Stingray Launchers - 25 * 256).

			"Square 41" is Avalanche Launchers, low byte (you get 25 Avalanche Launchers).

			"Square 42" is Avalanche Launchers, high byte (you get '''6400''' Avalanche Launchers).

			"Square 43" is Cannons, low byte (you get 25 craft Cannons).

			...and that's as far as you can go, because the top-left quarter has to be inside the base map. Note in all cases that this overwrites the value currently there, rather than adding it, so if you have 5 Cannons and perform the exploit for Cannons, you'll still only have 25 Cannons.

			By selling the craft weapons, you can get '''much''' more money than you used to build the Hangar. And since you can immediately demolish the partially-built Hangar and start it building again, you can get as much money as you want as long as you sell the craft weapons in between each time you knock down and restart the Hangar. Do beware of the [[Known_Bugs#Cash_Rollover_Bug\|Cash Rollover]] bug.

			Obviously, use of this exploit ''greatly'' unbalances the game.

			In TFTD, and also in UFO Collector's Edition, a sanity-check was put in place to prevent the "hangar split in half" bug, which also prevents this exploit. Thus, this only works in UFO DOS.

	==Score Points For Free==		==Score Points For Free==

Magic9mushroom: /* Free Manufacturing */ ran the numbers

2015-05-21T09:26:09Z

Free Manufacturing: ran the numbers

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:26, 21 May 2015
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	<br>'''WARNING''' There is a minor bug which is connected to this exploit. Read about it here: [[Known_Bugs#Cancel_Manufacturing_Bug\|Cancel Manufacturing Bug]]		<br>'''WARNING''' There is a minor bug which is connected to this exploit. Read about it here: [[Known_Bugs#Cancel_Manufacturing_Bug\|Cancel Manufacturing Bug]]

	<br>Tanks and craft weapons ~~seem to~~ have the ~~[[Manufacturing_Profitability#Profit_tables\|~~biggest profit margins]]* if you want to make big dollars from sales. But you can apply this exploit to any item which you can build, including craft if you have a free ~~hanger~~. <br>NOTE: to start manufacture of any items that require raw materials (such as Elerium/Zrbite, Alien Alloys etc.), you must have the required resources at the base to actually begin production regardless if you plan in using this exploit, or not.		<br>Tanks and craft weapons have the biggest profit margins if you want to make big dollars from sales, with the Hovertank/Plasma the single most profitable. But you can apply this exploit to any item which you can build, including craft if you have a free hangar. <br>NOTE: to start manufacture of any items that require raw materials (such as Elerium/Zrbite, Alien Alloys etc.), you must have the required resources at the base to actually begin production regardless if you plan in using this exploit, or not.

	<nowiki>*</nowiki> <small>Actually the Manufacturing Profitability tables don't explicitly consider the scenario where you didn't actually pay any cash to manufacture the item. That would be a different analysis and might have different results. Though, eyeballing it, probably it doesn't change much, the top three most profitable items would still be the same. [[User:Spike\|Spike]] 16:21, 10 September 2012 (EDT)</small>

	===Free Wages===		===Free Wages===

Hobbes: categorizing

2013-07-23T03:22:51Z

categorizing

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:22, 23 July 2013
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	Due to such drastic methods to cheat, the game may behave strangly (resurrected soldiers, wrong calculations of experience, invunerable crash sites etc.) and it may corrupt files. If you choose to use this exploit, then save your game before you use it, then save your game again IN A DIFFERENT SPOT after you have used it. No one is forcing you to use this cheat, so you decide if you want to risk it.		Due to such drastic methods to cheat, the game may behave strangly (resurrected soldiers, wrong calculations of experience, invunerable crash sites etc.) and it may corrupt files. If you choose to use this exploit, then save your game before you use it, then save your game again IN A DIFFERENT SPOT after you have used it. No one is forcing you to use this cheat, so you decide if you want to risk it.

			[[Category:Enemy Unknown/UFO Defense]]

Spike: /* Free Manufacturing */ Best profit when cheating?

2012-09-10T20:21:08Z

Free Manufacturing: Best profit when cheating?

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:21, 10 September 2012
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	<br>'''WARNING''' There is a minor bug which is connected to this exploit. Read about it here: [[Known_Bugs#Cancel_Manufacturing_Bug\|Cancel Manufacturing Bug]]		<br>'''WARNING''' There is a minor bug which is connected to this exploit. Read about it here: [[Known_Bugs#Cancel_Manufacturing_Bug\|Cancel Manufacturing Bug]]

	<br>Tanks and craft weapons seem to have the [[Manufacturing_Profitability#Profit_tables\|biggest profit margins]] if you want to make big dollars from sales. But you can apply this exploit to any item which you can build, including craft if you have a free hanger. <br>NOTE: to start manufacture of any items that require raw materials (such as Elerium/Zrbite, Alien Alloys etc.), you must have the required resources at the base to actually begin production regardless if you plan in using this exploit, or not.		<br>Tanks and craft weapons seem to have the [[Manufacturing_Profitability#Profit_tables\|biggest profit margins]]* if you want to make big dollars from sales. But you can apply this exploit to any item which you can build, including craft if you have a free hanger. <br>NOTE: to start manufacture of any items that require raw materials (such as Elerium/Zrbite, Alien Alloys etc.), you must have the required resources at the base to actually begin production regardless if you plan in using this exploit, or not.

			<nowiki>*</nowiki> <small>Actually the Manufacturing Profitability tables don't explicitly consider the scenario where you didn't actually pay any cash to manufacture the item. That would be a different analysis and might have different results. Though, eyeballing it, probably it doesn't change much, the top three most profitable items would still be the same. [[User:Spike\|Spike]] 16:21, 10 September 2012 (EDT)</small>

	===Free Wages===		===Free Wages===

Hajo: /* Free Wages */

2009-07-23T09:16:20Z

Free Wages

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:16, 23 July 2009
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	===Free Wages===		===Free Wages===
	At the end of the month, your soldiers, scientists and engineers collect [[Hiring/firing\|their pay]]. If any person is in transit, they will not be paid.		At the end of the month, your soldiers, scientists and engineers collect [[Hiring/firing\|their pay]]. If any person is in transit, they will not be paid.
	<br>Use this exploit save money by transfering your personel just before the end of the month. If you transfer scientists and engineers to bases that have labs and workshops and sufficient living space, they can start working as soon as they arrive and you have assigned them to a task.		<br>Use this exploit to save money by transfering your personel just before the end of the month. If you transfer scientists and engineers to bases that have labs and workshops and sufficient living space, they can start working as soon as they arrive and you have assigned them to a task.
	Leased craft (Interceptor, Skyranger, Barracuda, and Triton) also have expenses which are paid at the end of the month~~, however~~, you will still pay for these since this exploit does not work for craft.		Leased craft (Interceptor, Skyranger, Barracuda, and Triton) also have expenses which are paid at the end of the month. However, you will still pay for these, since this exploit does not work for craft.

	===Robotic Factories===		===Robotic Factories===

Ethereal Cereal: /* UFO Redux */ correcting some inaccurate points/other expansion

2008-12-29T07:22:36Z

UFO Redux: correcting some inaccurate points/other expansion

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:22, 29 December 2008
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	It is possible to collect loot from the same UFO two or even three times (similar to "milking" an [[Alien Base]]). If you perform a [[UFO Ground Assault]] and abort the mission before killing all the aliens, the UFO will have all its aliens and equipment restored, even if you took or destroyed its [[Elerium-115\|Elerium]]. (Bring all captured equipment/corpses back to the transport and unload the alien guns if you wish to recover the clips). It seems the dead alien crewmembers have been quickly cloned, and new equipment has been generated using some form of replicator. :)		It is possible to collect loot from the same UFO two or even three times (similar to "milking" an [[Alien Base]]). If you perform a [[UFO Ground Assault]] and abort the mission before killing all the aliens, the UFO will have all its aliens and equipment restored, even if you took or destroyed its [[Elerium-115\|Elerium]]. (Bring all captured equipment/corpses back to the transport and unload the alien guns if you wish to recover the clips). It seems the dead alien crewmembers have been quickly cloned, and new equipment has been generated using some form of replicator. :)

	If the UFO has another landing scheduled, it will meander around until it reaches its second landing point, at which point you can perform another ground assault. Once a UFO has no further landings scheduled, it will head off at top speed. If you have ~~a fast enough craft, or~~ an armed craft ~~hovering over~~ the ~~last landing site~~, you can shoot it down and perform an additional [[UFO Recovery]] on it.		If the UFO has another landing scheduled, it will meander around until it reaches its second landing point, at which point you can perform another ground assault. Once a UFO has no further landings scheduled, it will head off at top speed. If you have an armed craft patrolling near the landed UFO, you can shoot it down and perform an additional [[UFO Recovery]] on it. (The patrolling craft must be faster than the UFO, which rules out using Interceptors, which cannot even catch Small Scouts at top speed.)

	Using this ~~method~~ you can ~~more than double~~ the amount of valuables recovered ~~per UFO,~~ and ~~significantly increase your~~ score per UFO. ~~You~~ need ~~to have one or more spare fueled-up~~ transport ~~aircraft~~ available, as the ~~UFOs~~ will ~~not hang around at the landing site(s) while you~~ refuel. ~~You also have~~ a bit ~~more~~ work ~~to do~~ on the ground, as you need to execute a secure withdrawal to your transport, whilst carrying off all the alien bodies/captives and alien equipment.		Using this exploit you can greatly increase the amount of valuables recovered and score earned per UFO. If the landing site is distant from where your transport is based, you may need an additional transport and squad available to perform the second assault, as the UFO will probably take off before a single transport can refuel and return. Crash sites remain accessible for several days.

			Using this exploit requires a bit of work on the ground, as you need to execute a secure withdrawal to your transport, whilst carrying off all the alien bodies/captives and alien equipment. It can also be hard to safely and reliably leave a single alien alive and conscious (unless your troops are proficient in [[psionics]]). This exploit is best used opportunistically, such as when facing a [[Large Scout]] with a "[[Alien_movement_patterns#Guards\|stuck]]" alien inside.

	==Score Points For Free==		==Score Points For Free==

Spike: Split into Economic vs Score freebies. Seb76 plug.

2008-12-11T01:53:01Z

Split into Economic vs Score freebies. Seb76 plug.

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:53, 11 December 2008
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	~~'''THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION'''~~		==Freeconomics - Stuff For Free==

			''"Get your money for nothing, and your kit for free..."''

	~~== For Free ==~~


	~~===Extra Ammo Collection===~~
	'''NOT FINALISED - WHAT IS THE VERDICT??''' <br>Any partly-used clips will be discarded at the end of combat. However, in DOS versions of X-COM, partly-used clips (in X-COM or alien weapons) will be kept as full clips if they are unloaded from the weapon before the end of combat. [[XcomUtil]] also has an option to let you bring back to base any partly-used clips in weapons.
	* Full ammo clips (loaded and unloaded) are always kept
	* Partial ammo clips loaded in a weapon are never kept (except in XComUtil?)
	* Partial ammo clips unloaded are kept ONLY in the DOS version or XComUtil

	===Free Ammo for Tanks===		===Free Ammo for Tanks===
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	NOTE: You '''must''' have at least one unwounded soldier at your base to start a base defense mission. You cannot defend a base that contains only HWPs and no active soldiers.		NOTE: You '''must''' have at least one unwounded soldier at your base to start a base defense mission. You cannot defend a base that contains only HWPs and no active soldiers.

			===Extra Ammo Collection===
			'''NOT FINALISED - WHAT IS THE VERDICT??''' <br>Any partly-used clips will be discarded at the end of combat. However, in DOS versions of X-COM, partly-used clips (in X-COM or alien weapons) will be kept as full clips if they are unloaded from the weapon before the end of combat. [[XcomUtil]] also has an option to let you bring back to base any partly-used clips in weapons. [[User:Seb76\|Seb76]]'s UFOExtender also has this feature.
			* Full ammo clips (loaded and unloaded) are always kept
			* Partial ammo clips loaded in a weapon are never kept (except in XComUtil?)
			* Partial ammo clips unloaded are kept ONLY in the DOS version or XComUtil

	===Free Manufacturing===		===Free Manufacturing===
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	Using this method you can more than double the amount of valuables recovered per UFO, and significantly increase your score per UFO. You need to have one or more spare fueled-up transport aircraft available, as the UFOs will not hang around at the landing site(s) while you refuel. You also have a bit more work to do on the ground, as you need to execute a secure withdrawal to your transport, whilst carrying off all the alien bodies/captives and alien equipment.		Using this method you can more than double the amount of valuables recovered per UFO, and significantly increase your score per UFO. You need to have one or more spare fueled-up transport aircraft available, as the UFOs will not hang around at the landing site(s) while you refuel. You also have a bit more work to do on the ground, as you need to execute a secure withdrawal to your transport, whilst carrying off all the alien bodies/captives and alien equipment.

	===Score Points For Free===		==Score Points For Free==

	'''Warning: You are crashing the game on purpose to make this exploit work. Read this [[Exploits\|WARNING]]'''		'''Warning: You are crashing the game on purpose to make this exploit work. Read this [[Exploits\|WARNING]]'''

Spike: The 256=0 Scientists/Engineers major exploit also works in TFTD

2008-11-18T23:21:18Z

The 256=0 Scientists/Engineers major exploit also works in TFTD

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:21, 18 November 2008
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	In effect for an investment of about $14.5 million, you turn a base into a robotic factory in which every Workshop works at full capacity round the clock, with no accommodation or wages needed for any human Engineers.		In effect for an investment of about $14.5 million, you turn a base into a robotic factory in which every Workshop works at full capacity round the clock, with no accommodation or wages needed for any human Engineers.

	This Exploit is extremely unbalancing to the strategic/resource aspect of the game. Really, you might as well just use a game editor to give yourself infinite money. Information on how to work this Exploit is [[Manufacturing Profitability#Bugs\|here]] (there are some fine points of detail needed to make it work correctly - mainly just make sure you have some manufacturing underway when the 256th Engineer arrives).		This Exploit is extremely unbalancing to the strategic/resource aspect of the game. Really, you might as well just use a game editor to give yourself infinite money. Information on how to work this Exploit is [[Manufacturing Profitability#Bugs\|here]] (there are some fine points of detail needed to make it work correctly - mainly just make sure you have some manufacturing underway when the 256th Engineer arrives). This Exploit also works in TFTD.

	===Cybernetic Laboratories===		===Cybernetic Laboratories===

	A similar trick to Robotic Factories also works for Scientists. Once you have 256 Scientists, research is free of wage and accommodation costs, and limited only by Lab space. Be sure to have at least one Research program underway before the 256th Scientist arrives on the base. The setup cost for this is around $17 million.		A similar trick to Robotic Factories also works for Scientists. Once you have 256 Scientists, research is free of wage and accommodation costs, and limited only by Lab space. Be sure to have at least one Research program underway before the 256th Scientist arrives on the base. You also need to make sure you always have a long-running Research project underway with 1 or more Scientist, otherwise once the last project stops, you can't start any new ones. If you are running short on topics, you need to unassign Scientists to slow down progress, until you have some other projects. The setup cost for this is around $17 million. This Exploit also works in TFTD.

	===Infinite Fuel===		===Infinite Fuel===