TFTD Strategy Guide - Revision history

Magic9mushroom: Apparently I missed a few pages when removing "USO" a few years ago. Also did some clarifying edits and a typo fix.

2016-01-10T06:24:44Z

Apparently I missed a few pages when removing "USO" a few years ago. Also did some clarifying edits and a typo fix.

Magic9mushroom: /* Setting the Difficulty level */ UFO's difficulty bug doesn't affect TFTD, otherwise just some clarification

2015-04-28T05:37:03Z

Setting the Difficulty level: UFO's difficulty bug doesn't affect TFTD, otherwise just some clarification

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:37, 28 April 2015
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	=== Setting the Difficulty level ===		=== Setting the Difficulty level ===

	TFTD offers five difficulty levels, ~~which in early versions all defaulted back to the easiest without reporting the fact to the player (this bug is patched in Steam releases~~, and ~~by Xcomutil)~~.		TFTD offers five difficulty levels: Beginner, Experienced, Veteran, Genius and Superhuman.

	The differences between the levels consist of three ~~variables~~. First, the number of aliens that emerge from downed or touched-down USOs is generally greater ~~at higher~~ levels ~~of difficulty~~. An intact Dreadnought will never contain more than 15 aliens on Beginner level, or fewer than 22 aliens on Superhuman level.		The differences between the levels consist of three factors. First, the number of aliens that emerge from downed or touched-down USOs is generally greater on harder difficulty levels. An intact Dreadnought will never contain more than 15 aliens on Beginner level, or fewer than 22 aliens on Superhuman level.

	Second, aliens ~~are markedly tougher at~~ higher difficulty levels, ~~so that an opponent you can kill~~ with ~~two rounds from a given weapon~~ on ~~the easier levels may require three or~~ more on the ~~higher levels~~.		Second, aliens have much higher statistics on the harder difficulty levels. Aliens' health does not increase, but most of their other stats do; aliens on harder difficulties will move faster, react more easily, shoot more accurately, use Molecular Control more effectively, and deal more damage with melee attacks. Perhaps most crucially, aliens' armour increases drastically with difficulty level, which alters the relative effectiveness of weaponry; on higher difficulties it becomes far more important to use combined arms and target aliens' [[Damage_Modifiers_(TFTD)\|weaknesses]] rather than simply handing out the same guns to everyone and shooting aliens until they die.

	Third, political support (and hence funding) is harder to maintain on higher levels than easier ones, so you can lose either funding or indeed the whole game much more easily if you suffer tactical defeats.		Third, political support (and hence funding) is harder to maintain on higher levels than easier ones, so you can lose either funding or indeed the whole game much more easily if you suffer tactical defeats.

Winterheart: /* Strategies when replaying the game */

2013-05-05T14:35:46Z

Strategies when replaying the game

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:35, 5 May 2013
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	The most immediately challenging voluntary handicap you can introduce is probably to limit or not use saved games at all. Doing this means that, in the battlescape, you will need to grenade every possible area of dead ground where an alien might be before moving through it, or take many casualties from snipers. You would also be well advised to deploy troops from the landing ship in pairs, threes or fours so they can fan well out and not all be taken out by one grenade, stun bomb or DPL round.		The most immediately challenging voluntary handicap you can introduce is probably to limit or not use saved games at all. Doing this means that, in the battlescape, you will need to grenade every possible area of dead ground where an alien might be before moving through it, or take many casualties from snipers. You would also be well advised to deploy troops from the landing ship in pairs, threes or fours so they can fan well out and not all be taken out by one grenade, stun bomb or DPL round.

			[[Category:TFTD]]

Spike: /* Aquanauts */ retain Large Torp for ranged breaching

2012-10-21T21:40:28Z

Aquanauts: retain Large Torp for ranged breaching

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:40, 21 October 2012
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	This initial sale yields about $18,600. Selling the final Jet Harpoons and ammo nets a further $12.75K, making about $31K in total.		This initial sale yields about $18,600. Selling the final Jet Harpoons and ammo nets a further $12.75K, making about $31K in total.

	You will be using GC-HE in place of Torpedoes. You might want to hang on to the Torpedo Launcher and torpedoes until the extra GCs and GC-HE clips arrive.		You will be using GC-HE in place of Torpedoes for combat purposes. You might want to hang on to the Torpedo Launcher and torpedoes until the extra GCs and GC-HE clips arrive. And consider keeping the Torpedo Launcher, and buying Large Torpedoes, for use as a ranged terrain-breaching device to complement Magna-pack Explosives.

	Buy:		Buy:
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	The above strategy makes the Gas Cannon your standard weapon in the early game, because it is powerful, effective, and works in all environments (surface and sub-sea). If you prefer, you can go for a more even mix of Gas Cannon and Hydrojet Cannon, though this makes squad logistics more complicated, especially for land based missions (when Hydrojet Cannons won't work). You can even go for all Hydrojet Cannons on sub-sea missions. But you '''must''' still buy sufficient Gas Cannon to outfit your squad for a surface mission. Therefore even if you want to use Hydrojet Cannon, it is recommended that you buy Gas Cannon first, and purchase Hydrojet Cannon later, once you have raised some additional funds (and created additional base storage space).		The above strategy makes the Gas Cannon your standard weapon in the early game, because it is powerful, effective, and works in all environments (surface and sub-sea). If you prefer, you can go for a more even mix of Gas Cannon and Hydrojet Cannon, though this makes squad logistics more complicated, especially for land based missions (when Hydrojet Cannons won't work). You can even go for all Hydrojet Cannons on sub-sea missions. But you '''must''' still buy sufficient Gas Cannon to outfit your squad for a surface mission. Therefore even if you want to use Hydrojet Cannon, it is recommended that you buy Gas Cannon first, and purchase Hydrojet Cannon later, once you have raised some additional funds (and created additional base storage space).

	(There is a school of thought that you might want to hold on to some Jet Harpoons to use their Auto fire capability in surface mission close quarters assault until you have a better weapon, such as at least Gauss Pistols. Jet Harpoons would be used in the range band below 6 squares (when GC-HE is dangerous to an unarmoured firer) and above 2 squares (where charging with a Thermal Tazer is more effective). However, underwater, HjC-AP would fulfill this role better, and is more versatile. And in all environments, GC-AP snap fire is more effective, more lethal per TU, than Jet Harpoon snap or auto fire. Particularly when you consider that in close quarters assault you are more likely to be facing front armour.)		(There is a school of thought that you might want to hold on to some Jet Harpoons to use their Auto fire capability in surface mission close quarters assault until you have a better weapon, such as at least Gauss Pistols. Jet Harpoons would be used in the range band below 6 squares (when GC-HE is dangerous to an unarmoured firer) and above 2 squares (where charging with a Thermal Tazer is more effective). However, underwater, HjC-AP would fulfill this role better, and is more versatile. And in all environments, GC-AP snap fire is more effective, more lethal per TU, than Jet Harpoon snap or auto fire. Particularly when you consider that in close quarters assault you are more likely to be facing front armour.)

	=== Submersibles ===		=== Submersibles ===

Spike: /* Intercept Tactics */

2012-10-21T21:13:23Z

Intercept Tactics

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:13, 21 October 2012
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	*Its very important not to get into long chases or especially tail chases with Barracudas, as they are too slow compared to USOs. Ideally attack a USO when it is approaching your sub, and quite close. You want to always pack a full load of the most powerful torpedoes because you will probably get at most one chance to succeed in sub vs USO combat.		*Its very important not to get into long chases or especially tail chases with Barracudas, as they are too slow compared to USOs. Ideally attack a USO when it is approaching your sub, and quite close. You want to always pack a full load of the most powerful torpedoes because you will probably get at most one chance to succeed in sub vs USO combat.
	*Watch the Graphs for clues as to alien activity. Check them every 24 hours, just after midnight (when you also check your Research progress). Check the Totals first, for USO Activity by Seas and by Zones. Only if the Totals have changed from the previous day do you need to drill down into the individual graphs for each Sea and/or Zone. And if your memory is not great you might want to record the Totals, as well as the values in each Sea and Zone, each time they change.		*Watch the Graphs for clues as to alien activity. Check them every 24 hours, just after midnight (when you also check your Research progress). Check the Totals first, for USO Activity by Seas and by Zones. Only if the Totals have changed from the previous day do you need to drill down into the individual graphs for each Sea and/or Zone. And if your memory is not great you might want to record the Totals, as well as the values in each Sea and Zone, each time they change.
	*While you only have Standard Sonar, send out a Barracuda, at least 600nm outside your base's detection radius, as a picket ship. If the graphs show any alien activity, send ~~it that direction~~. Keep one Barracuda on picket duty, but ensure you have the other available for intercepts. Check the Interception window every hour on the hour, and as soon as both craft show Ready, re-launch one as a picket. Every extra intercept is a huge bonus, especially early in the game.		*While you only have Standard Sonar, send out a Barracuda, at least 600nm outside your base's detection radius, as a picket ship. If the graphs show any alien activity, send to the affected Sea or Zone. Keep one Barracuda on picket duty, but ensure you have the other available for intercepts. Check the Interception window every hour on the hour, and as soon as both craft show Ready, re-launch one as a picket. Every extra intercept is a huge bonus, especially early in the game.
	*Keep your torpedo inventory light, but re-order torpedoes immediately after every engagement, success or failure.		*Keep your torpedo inventory light, but re-order torpedoes immediately after every engagement, success or failure.
	*Similarly, replace Battlescape ammunition, grenades, lost weapons, destroyed SWSs, dead Aquanauts, etc immediately after every mission. Try to keep a small surplus stock on hand.		*Similarly, replace Battlescape ammunition, grenades, lost weapons, destroyed SWSs, dead Aquanauts, etc immediately after every mission. Try to keep a small surplus stock on hand.

Spike: formatting and links

2012-09-21T12:25:50Z

formatting and links

Show changes

Spike: Update reflecting most of the Discussion. More neutral PoV

2012-09-21T12:01:37Z

Update reflecting most of the Discussion. More neutral PoV

Show changes

4th Cuirassier at 17:06, 26 January 2011

2011-01-26T17:06:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:06, 26 January 2011
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	Develop new bases using the Sonar Base - Intercept Base - Strike Base - Major Base pattern. Don't bother with Workshops or Labs in new bases, unless you are strong enough to build a specialised Factory Base.		Develop new bases using the Sonar Base - Intercept Base - Strike Base - Major Base pattern. Don't bother with Workshops or Labs in new bases, unless you are strong enough to build a specialised Factory Base.

	==~~= Alternative strategies =~~==		== Strategies when replaying the game ==

	Once you have played through the game one or more times in the conventional way, you can play it again but with either specific objectives or handicaps.		Once you have played through the game one or more times in the conventional way, you can play it again but with either specific objectives or under interesting handicaps.

	For example, you can try to win the game with only limited saves allowed (such as one per month at month-end); using only one base; in the shortest possible time (this is a function of what you retrieve from crash sites and how fast you research it, so there is a minimum feasible time); using the least amount of money; using only one aquanaut per raid (or at all); and using terrestrial equipment only, except where required to complete the game (eg you would research alien submarines, but would build and use - once - only the one required to undertake the T'leth mission).		For example, you can try to win the game with only limited saves allowed (such as one per month at month-end); using only one base; in the shortest possible time (this is a function of what you retrieve from crash sites and how fast you research it, so there is a minimum feasible time); using the least amount of money; using only one aquanaut per raid (or at all); and using terrestrial equipment only, except where required to complete the game (eg you would research alien submarines, but would build and use - once - only the one required to undertake the T'leth mission).

	The game is reportedly winnable in any of these ways, although the one-aquanaut option is probably challenging. The most immediately challenging voluntary handicap you can introduce is probably to limit or not use saved games at all. Doing this means that, in the battlescape, you will ~~often~~ need to grenade every possible area of dead ground where an alien might be before moving through it. You would also be well advised to deploy troops from the landing ship in pairs, threes or fours so they can fan well out and not all be taken out by one grenade, stun bomb or DPL round.		The game is reportedly winnable in any of these ways, although the one-aquanaut option is probably challenging. On downed USO interception and ship attack rescue missions, your one soldier would have to kill every last alien. On base attacks or synomium device missions, you can, of course, simply destroy the device, and then get him / her to the escape area.

			The most immediately challenging voluntary handicap you can introduce is probably to limit or not use saved games at all. Doing this means that, in the battlescape, you will need to grenade every possible area of dead ground where an alien might be before moving through it, or take many casualties from snipers. You would also be well advised to deploy troops from the landing ship in pairs, threes or fours so they can fan well out and not all be taken out by one grenade, stun bomb or DPL round.

4th Cuirassier at 17:02, 26 January 2011

2011-01-26T17:02:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:02, 26 January 2011
Line 201:		Line 201:

	Develop new bases using the Sonar Base - Intercept Base - Strike Base - Major Base pattern. Don't bother with Workshops or Labs in new bases, unless you are strong enough to build a specialised Factory Base.		Develop new bases using the Sonar Base - Intercept Base - Strike Base - Major Base pattern. Don't bother with Workshops or Labs in new bases, unless you are strong enough to build a specialised Factory Base.

			=== Alternative strategies ===

			Once you have played through the game one or more times in the conventional way, you can play it again but with either specific objectives or handicaps.

			For example, you can try to win the game with only limited saves allowed (such as one per month at month-end); using only one base; in the shortest possible time (this is a function of what you retrieve from crash sites and how fast you research it, so there is a minimum feasible time); using the least amount of money; using only one aquanaut per raid (or at all); and using terrestrial equipment only, except where required to complete the game (eg you would research alien submarines, but would build and use - once - only the one required to undertake the T'leth mission).

			The game is reportedly winnable in any of these ways, although the one-aquanaut option is probably challenging. The most immediately challenging voluntary handicap you can introduce is probably to limit or not use saved games at all. Doing this means that, in the battlescape, you will often need to grenade every possible area of dead ground where an alien might be before moving through it. You would also be well advised to deploy troops from the landing ship in pairs, threes or fours so they can fan well out and not all be taken out by one grenade, stun bomb or DPL round.

4th Cuirassier: /* Intercept Tactics */

2011-01-25T17:24:46Z

Intercept Tactics

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:24, 25 January 2011
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	*Watch the Graphs for clues as to alien activity. Check them every 24 hours, just after midnight (when you also check your Research progress). Check the Totals first, for USO Activity by Seas and by Zones. Only if the Totals have changed from the previous day do you need to drill down into the individual graphs for each Sea and/or Zone. And if your memory is not great you might want to record the Totals, as well as the values in each Sea and Zone, each time they change.		*Watch the Graphs for clues as to alien activity. Check them every 24 hours, just after midnight (when you also check your Research progress). Check the Totals first, for USO Activity by Seas and by Zones. Only if the Totals have changed from the previous day do you need to drill down into the individual graphs for each Sea and/or Zone. And if your memory is not great you might want to record the Totals, as well as the values in each Sea and Zone, each time they change.
	*While you only have Standard Sonar, send out a Barracuda, at least 600nm outside your base's detection radius, as a picket ship. If the graphs show any alien activity, send it that direction. Keep one Barracuda on picket duty, but ensure you have the other available for intercepts. Check the Interception window every hour on the hour, and as soon as both craft show Ready, re-launch one as a picket. Every extra intercept is a huge bonus, especially early in the game.		*While you only have Standard Sonar, send out a Barracuda, at least 600nm outside your base's detection radius, as a picket ship. If the graphs show any alien activity, send it that direction. Keep one Barracuda on picket duty, but ensure you have the other available for intercepts. Check the Interception window every hour on the hour, and as soon as both craft show Ready, re-launch one as a picket. Every extra intercept is a huge bonus, especially early in the game.
	*Keep your torpedo inventory light, but re-order ~~torpedos~~ immediately after every engagement, success or failure.		*Keep your torpedo inventory light, but re-order torpedoes immediately after every engagement, success or failure.
	*Similarly, replace Battlescape ammunition, grenades, lost weapons, destroyed SWSs, dead Aquanauts, etc immediately after every mission. Try to keep a small surplus stock on hand.		*Similarly, replace Battlescape ammunition, grenades, lost weapons, destroyed SWSs, dead Aquanauts, etc immediately after every mission. Try to keep a small surplus stock on hand.

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:24, 10 January 2016
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	TFTD offers five difficulty levels: Beginner, Experienced, Veteran, Genius and Superhuman.		TFTD offers five difficulty levels: Beginner, Experienced, Veteran, Genius and Superhuman.

	The differences between the levels consist of three factors. First, the number of aliens that emerge from downed or touched-down ~~USOs~~ is generally greater on harder difficulty levels. An intact Dreadnought will never contain more than 15 aliens on Beginner level, or fewer than 22 aliens on Superhuman level.		The differences between the levels consist of three factors. First, the number of aliens that emerge from downed or touched-down Alien Subs is generally greater on harder difficulty levels. An intact Dreadnought will never contain more than 15 aliens on Beginner level, or fewer than 22 aliens on Superhuman level.

	Second, aliens have much higher statistics on the harder difficulty levels. Aliens' health does not increase, but most of their other stats do; aliens on harder difficulties will move faster, react more easily, shoot more accurately, use Molecular Control more effectively, and deal more damage with melee attacks. Perhaps most crucially, aliens' armour increases drastically with difficulty level, which alters the relative effectiveness of weaponry; on higher difficulties it becomes far more important to use combined arms and target aliens' [[Damage_Modifiers_(TFTD)\|weaknesses]] rather than simply handing out the same guns to everyone and shooting aliens until they die.		Second, aliens have much higher statistics on the harder difficulty levels. Aliens' health does not increase, but most of their other stats do; aliens on harder difficulties will move faster, react more easily, shoot more accurately, use Molecular Control more effectively, and deal more damage with melee attacks. Perhaps most crucially, aliens' armour increases drastically with difficulty level, which alters the relative effectiveness of weaponry; on higher difficulties it becomes far more important to use combined arms and target aliens' [[Damage_Modifiers_(TFTD)\|weaknesses]] rather than simply handing out the same guns to everyone and shooting aliens until they die.
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	The general approach recommended here is perhaps the opposite of the intuitive, instinctive approach. The instinctive approach is to research tactical equalisers such as more powerful personal weapons and armour for your Aquanauts. The smarter approach is to research more strategic equalisers - sub weapons, ~~USO~~ detection, and MC defences. It's hard to win battles with basic weapons, but it's impossible to win battles without successful interceptions.		The general approach recommended here is perhaps the opposite of the intuitive, instinctive approach. The instinctive approach is to research tactical equalisers such as more powerful personal weapons and armour for your Aquanauts. The smarter approach is to research more strategic equalisers - sub weapons, alien sub detection, and MC defences. It's hard to win battles with basic weapons, but it's impossible to win battles without successful interceptions.

	Obviously if you get a really bad progress value when starting a particular Research topic, you might want to change to a different topic.		Obviously if you get a really bad progress value when starting a particular Research topic, you might want to change to a different topic.
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	== Intercept Tactics ==		== Intercept Tactics ==

	*~~Its~~ very important not to get into long chases or especially tail chases with Barracudas, as they are too slow compared to ~~USOs~~. Ideally attack ~~a USO~~ when it is approaching your sub, and quite close. You want to always pack a full load of the most powerful torpedoes because you will probably get at most one chance to succeed in ~~sub vs USO~~ combat.		*It's very important not to get into long chases or especially tail chases with Barracudas, as they are too slow compared to alien submarines. Ideally attack an Alien Sub when it is approaching your sub, and quite close. You want to always pack a full load of the most powerful torpedoes because you will probably get at most one chance to succeed in submarine combat.
	*Watch the Graphs for clues as to alien activity. Check them every 24 hours, just after midnight (when you also check your Research progress). Check the Totals first, for ~~USO~~ Activity by Seas and by Zones. Only if the Totals have changed from the previous day do you need to drill down into the individual graphs for each Sea and/or Zone. And if your memory is not great you might want to record the Totals, as well as the values in each Sea and Zone, each time they change.		*Watch the Graphs for clues as to alien activity. Check them every 24 hours, just after midnight (when you also check your Research progress). Check the Totals first, for Alien Sub Activity by Seas and by Zones. Only if the Totals have changed from the previous day do you need to drill down into the individual graphs for each Sea and/or Zone. And if your memory is not great you might want to record the Totals, as well as the values in each Sea and Zone, each time they change.
	*While you only have Standard Sonar, send out a Barracuda, at least 600nm outside your base's detection radius, as a picket ship. If the graphs show any alien activity, send to the affected Sea or Zone. Keep one Barracuda on picket duty, but ensure you have the other available for intercepts. Check the Interception window every hour on the hour, and as soon as both craft show Ready, re-launch one as a picket. Every extra intercept is a huge bonus, especially early in the game.		*While you only have Standard Sonar, send out a Barracuda, at least 600nm outside your base's detection radius, as a picket ship. If the graphs show any alien activity, send to the affected Sea or Zone. Keep one Barracuda on picket duty, but ensure you have the other available for intercepts. Check the Interception window every hour on the hour, and as soon as both craft show Ready, re-launch one as a picket. Every extra intercept is a huge bonus, especially early in the game.
	*Keep your torpedo inventory light, but re-order torpedoes immediately after every engagement, success or failure.		*Keep your torpedo inventory light, but re-order torpedoes immediately after every engagement, success or failure.
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	For example, you can try to win the game with only limited saves allowed (such as one per month at month-end); using only one base; in the shortest possible time (this is a function of what you retrieve from crash sites and how fast you research it, so there is a minimum feasible time); using the least amount of money; using only one aquanaut per raid (or at all); and using terrestrial equipment only, except where required to complete the game (eg you would research alien submarines, but would build and use - once - only the one required to undertake the T'leth mission).		For example, you can try to win the game with only limited saves allowed (such as one per month at month-end); using only one base; in the shortest possible time (this is a function of what you retrieve from crash sites and how fast you research it, so there is a minimum feasible time); using the least amount of money; using only one aquanaut per raid (or at all); and using terrestrial equipment only, except where required to complete the game (eg you would research alien submarines, but would build and use - once - only the one required to undertake the T'leth mission).

	The game is reportedly winnable in any of these ways, although the one-aquanaut option is probably challenging. On ~~downed USO interception~~ and ~~ship~~ attack ~~rescue~~ missions, your one soldier would have to kill every last alien. On ~~base attacks~~ or ~~synomium device~~ missions, you can, of course, simply destroy the device, and then get him / her to the escape area.		The game is reportedly winnable in any of these ways, although the one-aquanaut option is probably challenging. On alien sub, base defense and surface attack missions, your one soldier would have to kill every last alien. On alien colony or artefact site missions, you can, of course, simply destroy the device, and then get him / her to the escape area.

	The most immediately challenging voluntary handicap you can introduce is probably to limit or not use saved games at all. Doing this means that, in the battlescape, you will need to grenade every possible area of dead ground where an alien might be before moving through it, or take many casualties from snipers. You would also be well advised to deploy troops from the landing ship in pairs, threes or fours so they can fan well out and not all be taken out by one grenade, stun bomb or DPL round.		The most immediately challenging voluntary handicap you can introduce is probably to limit or not use saved games at all. Doing this means that, in the battlescape, you will need to grenade every possible area of dead ground where an alien might be before moving through it, or take many casualties from snipers. You would also be well advised to deploy troops from the landing ship in pairs, threes or fours so they can fan well out and not all be taken out by one grenade, stun bomb or DPL round.

	[[Category:TFTD]]		[[Category:TFTD]]