Tactical Exploits - Revision history

SupSuper: Fix red links

2018-10-27T22:04:43Z

Fix red links

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:04, 27 October 2018
Line 50:		Line 50:
	If there are too many soldiers and/or aliens in too small a base, their initial spawning is unusual. Soldiers can spawn in the [[Access Lift]] and [[Hangar]]s. Aliens can spawn outside the Access Lift and Hangars. Some lifeforms may not spawn at all.		If there are too many soldiers and/or aliens in too small a base, their initial spawning is unusual. Soldiers can spawn in the [[Access Lift]] and [[Hangar]]s. Aliens can spawn outside the Access Lift and Hangars. Some lifeforms may not spawn at all.

	Why does this happen? Each base facility has certain hardcoded spawn tiles. The [[Living ~~Quarter~~]]s, for example, have 8 spawn tiles, 7 on the lower level in an "H" pattern, and 1 on the upper level. Soldiers usually spawn at these spawn tiles, semi-randomly outside the Access Lift and Hangars. Aliens are assigned the spawn tiles within the Lift and Hangars.		Why does this happen? Each base facility has certain hardcoded spawn tiles. The [[Living Quarters]], for example, have 8 spawn tiles, 7 on the lower level in an "H" pattern, and 1 on the upper level. Soldiers usually spawn at these spawn tiles, semi-randomly outside the Access Lift and Hangars. Aliens are assigned the spawn tiles within the Lift and Hangars.

	But, if the number of soldiers exceeds the number of "friendly" spawn tiles, the excess soldiers will spawn at the "alien" spawn tiles inside the Access Lift and Hangars. Similarly, if the number of aliens exceeds the number of "alien" spawn tiles, the excess aliens will spawn at the "friendly" spawn tiles in the rest of the base. If there are not enough spawn tiles for the sum of soldiers and aliens, then some lifeforms will not spawn at all. Soldiers have higher spawning priority than aliens, so aliens will be the first to go (fail to spawn). All weapons and items will still be generated, though.		But, if the number of soldiers exceeds the number of "friendly" spawn tiles, the excess soldiers will spawn at the "alien" spawn tiles inside the Access Lift and Hangars. Similarly, if the number of aliens exceeds the number of "alien" spawn tiles, the excess aliens will spawn at the "friendly" spawn tiles in the rest of the base. If there are not enough spawn tiles for the sum of soldiers and aliens, then some lifeforms will not spawn at all. Soldiers have higher spawning priority than aliens, so aliens will be the first to go (fail to spawn). All weapons and items will still be generated, though.
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	===Equipment Use Relay===		===Equipment Use Relay===
	The same technique can also be used with [[Psi-Amp]]s / [[MC Disruptor]]s to allow part or all of the squad to get at least one Psi/MC attempt from just one device. And it can be used with [[Medi-Kit]]s to exceed the normal limit on healing (etc) per turn. It can also be used with [[Motion Scanner]]s / [[Particle Disturbance Sensor]]s to achieve excellent triangulation of signals while only having one such sensing device on the mission.		The same technique can also be used with [[Psi-Amp]]s / [[M.C. Disruptor]]s to allow part or all of the squad to get at least one Psi/MC attempt from just one device. And it can be used with [[Medi-Kit]]s to exceed the normal limit on healing (etc) per turn. It can also be used with [[Motion Scanner]]s / [[Particle Disturbance Sensor]]s to achieve excellent triangulation of signals while only having one such sensing device on the mission.

	===Loot Relay===		===Loot Relay===

Hobbes: categorizing

2013-07-23T04:23:40Z

categorizing

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:23, 23 July 2013
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	[[Category:Oddities and bugs]]		[[Category:Oddities and bugs]]
			[[Category:Enemy Unknown/UFO Defense]]

Winterheart at 08:37, 9 May 2013

2013-05-09T08:37:03Z

Show changes

Spike: /* Risk Free Milking of Alien Bases */ Grouping

2012-10-24T10:08:41Z

Risk Free Milking of Alien Bases: Grouping

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:08, 24 October 2012
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	Due to questionable AI, aliens will not fire at you through an elevator (either up or down), even though they can see you and you can see them. When approaching elevators, have a soldier stand on it at the end of the turn, even if this leaves them with no TU. The aliens will not be able to come up/down through the elevator, keeping you safely shielded while you bring up rear troops and prepare for a floor breach. Additionally, soldiers may be able to see aliens standing at/near the elevator above or below them and can fire on them from the safety of their "elevator shield".		Due to questionable AI, aliens will not fire at you through an elevator (either up or down), even though they can see you and you can see them. When approaching elevators, have a soldier stand on it at the end of the turn, even if this leaves them with no TU. The aliens will not be able to come up/down through the elevator, keeping you safely shielded while you bring up rear troops and prepare for a floor breach. Additionally, soldiers may be able to see aliens standing at/near the elevator above or below them and can fire on them from the safety of their "elevator shield".

	==Risk Free Milking of Alien Bases==		===Risk Free Milking of Alien Bases===
	This experience training and (optionally) booty-gathering exploit relies on the "Elevator Shielding" exploit. When assaulting an alien base, your soldiers will be deployed at two staging areas with a 2x2 elevator in each one. Block all eight elevator squares with a soldier and wait for the fun to begin. Just keep skipping your turn and eventually, the aliens will find your soldiers and begin to congregate under the elevator. You can now shoot at them with complete impunity and can even pick out specific soldiers who need Accuracy training. When you see that no more aliens are appearing after a few turns, get your solders onto the evacuation area and leave. The alien base is intact for you to return for additional practice later. If you happened to kill everyone the base will be destroyed, so watch the timing of the alien movement phase and take care not to kill everyone (in practice this means 'save regularly', since there is no in-game way to determine ''exactly'' how many enemy units are left alive). However, the alien leader or commander will almost always stay in the command center, so this is usually not a problem. For best results, arm your soldiers with pistols to maximize the number of shots they can take on each alien. Also, it is not recommended to attempt this tactic on a Sectoid or Ethereal base unless you are very confident of your soldiers' psi strength. As an extra bonus, you can collect alien weapons and equipment before evacuating. It is worth noting that this "shield" does not prevent aliens firing a Blaster Bomb up the lift shaft. However, unless you are running a version of the game that fixes the [[Known_Bugs#Collectors_Edition_Blaster_Bomb_Bug\|Vertical Waypoint Blaster Bomb bug]], such attacks will rarely succeed - mostly they will explode on the level below, with no harm to your troops. So unless you have fixed the Vertical Waypoint bug, there is minimal risk with this exploit. But as it is a cowardly and egregious Exploit, fix the Waypoint bug, or better yet, just don't do it.		This experience training and (optionally) booty-gathering exploit relies on the "Elevator Shielding" exploit. When assaulting an alien base, your soldiers will be deployed at two staging areas with a 2x2 elevator in each one. Block all eight elevator squares with a soldier and wait for the fun to begin. Just keep skipping your turn and eventually, the aliens will find your soldiers and begin to congregate under the elevator. You can now shoot at them with complete impunity and can even pick out specific soldiers who need Accuracy training. When you see that no more aliens are appearing after a few turns, get your solders onto the evacuation area and leave. The alien base is intact for you to return for additional practice later. If you happened to kill everyone the base will be destroyed, so watch the timing of the alien movement phase and take care not to kill everyone (in practice this means 'save regularly', since there is no in-game way to determine ''exactly'' how many enemy units are left alive). However, the alien leader or commander will almost always stay in the command center, so this is usually not a problem. For best results, arm your soldiers with pistols to maximize the number of shots they can take on each alien. Also, it is not recommended to attempt this tactic on a Sectoid or Ethereal base unless you are very confident of your soldiers' psi strength. As an extra bonus, you can collect alien weapons and equipment before evacuating. It is worth noting that this "shield" does not prevent aliens firing a Blaster Bomb up the lift shaft. However, unless you are running a version of the game that fixes the [[Known_Bugs#Collectors_Edition_Blaster_Bomb_Bug\|Vertical Waypoint Blaster Bomb bug]], such attacks will rarely succeed - mostly they will explode on the level below, with no harm to your troops. So unless you have fixed the Vertical Waypoint bug, there is minimal risk with this exploit. But as it is a cowardly and egregious Exploit, fix the Waypoint bug, or better yet, just don't do it.

Spike: /* Weapon Use Relay */ renamed

2012-10-24T10:07:00Z

Weapon Use Relay: renamed

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:07, 24 October 2012
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	Many consider this simply a tactic and don't think of it as an Exploit, but measured against realism, its use anything other than very occasionally is an exploit. Simply, a grenade can be primed by one soldier, then thrown between any number of soldiers before being finally delivered to the target. While it is desirable to be able to throw already-primed grenades, for the well attested (but dangerous) practice of throwing a primed grenade ''away'' from friendly troops, using this to cover the battlefield with leap frogging grenades is an exploit to circumvent the (high) TU costs of priming grenades and the (minimal) encumbrance costs of carrying grenades, and is a way of 'concentrating' TUs from safe rear units toward exposed front line units. A number of self-imposed rulesets require not using this tactic. Or rather, this exploit.		Many consider this simply a tactic and don't think of it as an Exploit, but measured against realism, its use anything other than very occasionally is an exploit. Simply, a grenade can be primed by one soldier, then thrown between any number of soldiers before being finally delivered to the target. While it is desirable to be able to throw already-primed grenades, for the well attested (but dangerous) practice of throwing a primed grenade ''away'' from friendly troops, using this to cover the battlefield with leap frogging grenades is an exploit to circumvent the (high) TU costs of priming grenades and the (minimal) encumbrance costs of carrying grenades, and is a way of 'concentrating' TUs from safe rear units toward exposed front line units. A number of self-imposed rulesets require not using this tactic. Or rather, this exploit.

	===Weapon Relay===		===Weapon Use Relay===

	A less obvious but more obviously bizarre variant of the grenade relay is a weapon relay. A weapon can be fired and then thrown to another soldier who fires it again, then throws it to another soldier, and so on, without limitation. There is no reason why an entire squad could not fire the same weapon in the same round, possibly multiple times each depending on the specific weapon's TU costs. This will then greatly exceed the normal maximum rate of fire of this weapon, as well as being patently ridiculous. Scenarios where this would be advantageous would be any time that effective weapons against the enemy are in short supply in inventory. Particularly effective with weapons that do have unlimited ammo (lasers, stun rods / tazers / drills).		A less obvious but more obviously bizarre variant of the grenade relay is a weapon-use relay. A weapon can be fired and then thrown to another soldier who fires it again, then throws it to another soldier, and so on, without limitation. There is no reason why an entire squad could not fire the same weapon in the same round, possibly multiple times each depending on the specific weapon's TU costs. This will then greatly exceed the normal maximum rate of fire of this weapon, as well as being patently ridiculous. Scenarios where this would be advantageous would be any time that effective weapons against the enemy are in short supply in inventory. Particularly effective with weapons that do have unlimited ammo (lasers, stun rods / tazers / drills).

	===Equipment Use Relay===		===Equipment Use Relay===

Spike: /* Base Defence Mission Spawning Issues */

2012-10-24T09:57:12Z

Base Defence Mission Spawning Issues

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:57, 24 October 2012
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	<tr><td>Small Radar</td><td>0 / 2</td></tr>		<tr><td>Small Radar</td><td>0 / 2</td></tr>
	</table>		</table>


	==Elevator Shielding==		==Elevator Shielding==

Spike: /* Grenades */

2012-10-24T09:47:15Z

Grenades

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:47, 24 October 2012
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	This is a double-edged sword, however, because should a unit fall dead or unconcious the grenade will hit the ground and promptly take out anything in the near vicinity... which may (or may not) work to your advantage. This tactic encourages keeping your troops far apart. If you anticipate the soldier will have a very high chance of being killed, it may be wise to use the "pass the experience" trick as described earlier before handing the soldier an armed grenade. However, it can be exploited against Tentaculats: give a soldier two armed grenades. If he/she is caught by a Tentaculat, the grenades will drop. The first will kill the zombie while the second kills the newly formed creature. Could also be used with proximity/PD grenades. (This will not work against Chryssalids because the second grenade will be destroyed before detonation, whereas in TFTD, explosives cannot be destroyed by other explosions.)		This is a double-edged sword, however, because should a unit fall dead or unconcious the grenade will hit the ground and promptly take out anything in the near vicinity... which may (or may not) work to your advantage. This tactic encourages keeping your troops far apart. If you anticipate the soldier will have a very high chance of being killed, it may be wise to use the "pass the experience" trick as described earlier before handing the soldier an armed grenade. However, it can be exploited against Tentaculats: give a soldier two armed grenades. If he/she is caught by a Tentaculat, the grenades will drop. The first will kill the zombie while the second kills the newly formed creature. Could also be used with proximity/PD grenades. (This will not work against Chryssalids because the second grenade will be destroyed before detonation, whereas in TFTD, explosives cannot be destroyed by other explosions.)

	Proximity mines can be defused by saving, quitting the game, restarting it then reloading the game. You can still drop on top of them with a flying suit, or by dropping from a hole in the roof in order to safely pick them up.		As it is possible in reality to carry two grenades with the pins removed, on a very short fuse setting, holding them by the spoons (with the fuse not starting until the spoons are released), this is really only an Exploit if used with grenades other than those held in the hands, or large explosive packs. (Alien grenades could feasibly have a similar mechanism - it's actually a good safety feature.) Even then, for small numbers of grenades (4?) it's probably doable, if one were suicidal enough.

			==Defusing Proximity Mines==

			If your proximity grenades' locations have become inconvenient, all proximity mines on the Battlescape can be defused by saving, quitting the game, restarting it then reloading the game. You can still drop on top of them with a flying suit, or by dropping from a hole in the roof in order to safely pick them up.

			Fixes are available for the underlying bug, which can also be fatal in a situation where you are relying on proximity grenades to work correctly.

	==Base Defence Mission Spawning Issues==		==Base Defence Mission Spawning Issues==

Spike: /* Loot Relay */ Grouping

2012-10-24T09:37:27Z

Loot Relay: Grouping

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:37, 24 October 2012
Line 101:		Line 101:
	The same technique can also be used with Psi Amps / MC Disruptors to allow part or all of the squad to get at least one Psi/MC attempt from just one device. And it can be used with Medi-Kits to exceed the normal limit on healing (etc) per turn. It can also be used with Motion Scanners / Particle Disturbance Sensors to achieve excellent triangulation of signals while only having one such sensing device on the mission.		The same technique can also be used with Psi Amps / MC Disruptors to allow part or all of the squad to get at least one Psi/MC attempt from just one device. And it can be used with Medi-Kits to exceed the normal limit on healing (etc) per turn. It can also be used with Motion Scanners / Particle Disturbance Sensors to achieve excellent triangulation of signals while only having one such sensing device on the mission.

	==Loot Relay==		===Loot Relay===

	A variant of this technique can be used when ferrying loot, corpses, casualties or equipment back to the transport / exit area during a planned (or unplanned) abort, for example during alien base/colony raiding operations. One unit picks up some heavy objects, and moves with them (some times it is more TU-efficient to throw some objects, depending on the unit's strength and object's weight). Before the end of the unit's turn it throws the object forward, or drops it and moves off the square, so that another unit can continue the Loot Relay during the current turn.		A variant of this technique can be used when ferrying loot, corpses, casualties or equipment back to the transport / exit area during a planned (or unplanned) abort, for example during alien base/colony raiding operations. One unit picks up some heavy objects, and moves with them (some times it is more TU-efficient to throw some objects, depending on the unit's strength and object's weight). Before the end of the unit's turn it throws the object forward, or drops it and moves off the square, so that another unit can continue the Loot Relay during the current turn.

Spike: /* Equipment Use Relay */ Grouping

2012-10-24T09:36:50Z

Equipment Use Relay: Grouping

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:36, 24 October 2012
Line 98:		Line 98:
	A less obvious but more obviously bizarre variant of the grenade relay is a weapon relay. A weapon can be fired and then thrown to another soldier who fires it again, then throws it to another soldier, and so on, without limitation. There is no reason why an entire squad could not fire the same weapon in the same round, possibly multiple times each depending on the specific weapon's TU costs. This will then greatly exceed the normal maximum rate of fire of this weapon, as well as being patently ridiculous. Scenarios where this would be advantageous would be any time that effective weapons against the enemy are in short supply in inventory. Particularly effective with weapons that do have unlimited ammo (lasers, stun rods / tazers / drills).		A less obvious but more obviously bizarre variant of the grenade relay is a weapon relay. A weapon can be fired and then thrown to another soldier who fires it again, then throws it to another soldier, and so on, without limitation. There is no reason why an entire squad could not fire the same weapon in the same round, possibly multiple times each depending on the specific weapon's TU costs. This will then greatly exceed the normal maximum rate of fire of this weapon, as well as being patently ridiculous. Scenarios where this would be advantageous would be any time that effective weapons against the enemy are in short supply in inventory. Particularly effective with weapons that do have unlimited ammo (lasers, stun rods / tazers / drills).

	==Equipment Use Relay==		===Equipment Use Relay===
	The same technique can also be used with Psi Amps / MC Disruptors to allow part or all of the squad to get at least one Psi/MC attempt from just one device. And it can be used with Medi-Kits to exceed the normal limit on healing (etc) per turn. It can also be used with Motion Scanners / Particle Disturbance Sensors to achieve excellent triangulation of signals while only having one such sensing device on the mission.		The same technique can also be used with Psi Amps / MC Disruptors to allow part or all of the squad to get at least one Psi/MC attempt from just one device. And it can be used with Medi-Kits to exceed the normal limit on healing (etc) per turn. It can also be used with Motion Scanners / Particle Disturbance Sensors to achieve excellent triangulation of signals while only having one such sensing device on the mission.

Spike: /* Weapon Relay */ Grouping

2012-10-24T09:36:18Z

Weapon Relay: Grouping

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:36, 24 October 2012
Line 94:		Line 94:
	Many consider this simply a tactic and don't think of it as an Exploit, but measured against realism, its use anything other than very occasionally is an exploit. Simply, a grenade can be primed by one soldier, then thrown between any number of soldiers before being finally delivered to the target. While it is desirable to be able to throw already-primed grenades, for the well attested (but dangerous) practice of throwing a primed grenade ''away'' from friendly troops, using this to cover the battlefield with leap frogging grenades is an exploit to circumvent the (high) TU costs of priming grenades and the (minimal) encumbrance costs of carrying grenades, and is a way of 'concentrating' TUs from safe rear units toward exposed front line units. A number of self-imposed rulesets require not using this tactic. Or rather, this exploit.		Many consider this simply a tactic and don't think of it as an Exploit, but measured against realism, its use anything other than very occasionally is an exploit. Simply, a grenade can be primed by one soldier, then thrown between any number of soldiers before being finally delivered to the target. While it is desirable to be able to throw already-primed grenades, for the well attested (but dangerous) practice of throwing a primed grenade ''away'' from friendly troops, using this to cover the battlefield with leap frogging grenades is an exploit to circumvent the (high) TU costs of priming grenades and the (minimal) encumbrance costs of carrying grenades, and is a way of 'concentrating' TUs from safe rear units toward exposed front line units. A number of self-imposed rulesets require not using this tactic. Or rather, this exploit.

	==Weapon Relay==		===Weapon Relay===

	A less obvious but more obviously bizarre variant of the grenade relay is a weapon relay. A weapon can be fired and then thrown to another soldier who fires it again, then throws it to another soldier, and so on, without limitation. There is no reason why an entire squad could not fire the same weapon in the same round, possibly multiple times each depending on the specific weapon's TU costs. This will then greatly exceed the normal maximum rate of fire of this weapon, as well as being patently ridiculous. Scenarios where this would be advantageous would be any time that effective weapons against the enemy are in short supply in inventory. Particularly effective with weapons that do have unlimited ammo (lasers, stun rods / tazers / drills).		A less obvious but more obviously bizarre variant of the grenade relay is a weapon relay. A weapon can be fired and then thrown to another soldier who fires it again, then throws it to another soldier, and so on, without limitation. There is no reason why an entire squad could not fire the same weapon in the same round, possibly multiple times each depending on the specific weapon's TU costs. This will then greatly exceed the normal maximum rate of fire of this weapon, as well as being patently ridiculous. Scenarios where this would be advantageous would be any time that effective weapons against the enemy are in short supply in inventory. Particularly effective with weapons that do have unlimited ammo (lasers, stun rods / tazers / drills).