Basilisk

I haven't noticed it getting easier, indeed, the reverse seems to be true. However, I would say that I am getting far better tactically, as I'm being forced ap a very steep learning gradient. Don't expect to complete this game without saving and reloading (LOTS AND LOTS), I just don't think it can be done... though the star wars reference is quite appropriate, a small force of desperate and under equipped rebels trying to take on a far superior force.

As has been mentioned elsewhere... These weapons require heavy armour. They can't be placed into backpacks- they must go into the troops hands, and the double barrelled machine gun is awesome (but not quite as good as the gatling gun...). Collapsable weapons are of limited use anywhere, as they cannot be deployed until you see an enemy, take several seconds to deploy, and must redeploy for each target. Not good...

Certain missions become incredibly frustrating. I suddenly found myself avoiding downed UFOs and alien bases because I was getting consistently creamed. The few times I have HAD to take these missions I wind up loading up to a dozen times as i die AGAIN! UFO's: I can normally get to the entry square easily enough, but I rarely have enough ammo left to mount a concerted defense once inside, and the way the greys ALL set up right next to the 'airlock' takes the mickey, especially when my own troops appear scattered all over the base when they attack me. In fact, base defense missions are what's upsetting me most at the moment. I am having to fend off wave after wave of base attacks, but find that only about one in three are even remotely possible, simply due to where my troops start off. A single trooper having to fend off the entire attacking force dies horribly quickly, and I find myself being whittled away before my troops can rendezvous with each other, allowing me to mount an effective counterattack. Psionic contol + loads of other weapons = dead men. The missions vs transgenics are about right, they get better weapons, they're still a threat if you treat the missions too lightly (I've seen what a firetick can do to my squad if it gets too close, and as for deathbellows...) but each has a weakness that can be exploited. The same is not true of the greys, who have superior tech, speed and greater numbers. Add to this the cramped conditions of the UFO's/alien bases, and the fact the greys seem to be stationed in larger rooms that these narrow corridors open into, and you have a killing ground with all the advantages in the aliens favour. I wouldn't mind quite so much if there was some parity with my own base defence missions, but there simply isn't. Anyway, I still think it's a great game, and although some missions are horrifically difficult, you only have to do a few of these, and there is normally some way to counter the advantages of the enemy. It just get's a little frustrating when you're re-loading a mission for the umpteenth time...

I have finally completed this mission. Getting inside was a real bitch, simply because you have to survive the first 30 seconds. I found that 2 gatling guns, and three double barreled machine guns with 2 warp medpack medics (equip the medpacks before the battle, run them away from the site that's going to get toasted with misiles and start healing immediately. Just keep healing the guys with gatling guns as they should be killing a grey with every shot. Target the missile launchers first, then the psionics, then the collapsible plasma users. Once the initial area is cleared, heal everyone (I managed to avoid losing anyone) and progress slowly using the gatling guns/machine guns to annihilate any greys at long range. Inside the UFO. I'm not sure if this changes for every ufo, but my target area was very close to the starting point. Again, I used the gatling guns to provide covering fire whilst my fastest guy (heroic speed) dropped everything, ran in, grabbed the equipment and bugged out.Killed another four reticulans before ending the mission. Only major problem I encountered was a psionic guy, but he targetted my runner (who, if you remember, was unarmed ), allowing the chain gun to shred him... Good luck if the goods you need to capture are further away though, as then I think I'd need to go and cry...

Gatling cannons all the way. These beauties have saved my butt from being roasted SOOO many times. Range that is on a par with a sniper rifle, and a burst that will kill virtually ANYTHING in any armour in a single shot (so long as your guy has a damnably high marksmanship ability)... I LOVE this gun. OK, so you have to wear heavy armour, it weighs a ton and your troops move like their walking through very thick treacle but... :devil: I tend to find that the sniper rifles are good, but not as good as this weapon. Sniper rifles take too long to kill aliens when your going against bases/ufo's, where the corridors are narrow, with lots of twists and turns. You tend to find the little swines are already within their weapons range by the time you spot them, and I don't care what type of armour your wearing, in the later stages, you'll be taken apart before you kill one of them... at least, that's what I've found.

Be glad you can't get it yet. You get the tech from the aliens, which means they use it on you first. Unlike the original UFO/TFTD, psionic ability doesn't=psionic defense. Most of my troops have either excellent or heroic psi strength, but still get taken over with one shot (yes, it's a proper gun (that uses ammo) now). Believe me, an alien controlled guy with super heroic marksmanship and a gatling cannon is NOT NOT NOT funny! I had my own man kill two of my squad before I took out the reticulan that was controlling him. In UFO:AM I HATE mind control

I've managed it. I ended up taking 2 gatling cannons, 3 double machine guns (I tried lighter battle suits, but I just couldn't move fast enough. The rockets took me apart- with the microslug accellerators, psionics and collapsible plasmas aiding them considerably) and 2 medics with warp med packs. Each of the heavies took out a reticulan (with heroic & super heroic marksmanship they normally scrag an alien with every shot!). They culled the missile launchers, but the rockets stil hit, knocking most of my troops for six, then the medics went to work. As the heavies were healed, they took out the psionics, then the collapsable plasma users, then everything else (there were 17 greys in this area- that I found...). I had obviously been fairly creamed by now, but when I entered the alien ship, my target was but a brief run away. A gatling gun on each corridor, and a medic with bio armour who dropped everything (runs like a weasel on speed!) and I killed four more reticulans, grabbed the gear and ran. 1 man unharmed, 6 in medbay for 4-6 days! By the gods that was a bitch of a mission. This was on Normal difficulty, and I'm not entirely sure if it's possible on hard... someone let me know? Final number of attempts: nine...

Underwater missions: Not that I've seen (and I've gotten pretty far now) More than one squad: Nope, but then again, at the atage I'm at, I'm tending to only do certain missions anyway (as anything involving reticulans generally involves lots of men dying, and as the lowest level member of my team is lvl 18 (the highest is lvl 24)...) Batch items: Certain items are made in batches (eg energy cells do get buuilt in lots of 10) but you can only build one 'lot' of items each time. So you'll get 10 cells, or 1 armour, then you'll have to re-do an order. No, as area effect weapons might then be fired at point blank range, hitting your own troops. Believe me, once you've made that mistake once, the relief that they don't auto fire will be immense...

Just a quick THANKYOU OpTi! I had lost five bases to the biomass, then I read this thread (yesterday- for some reason I couldn't register). I've now got bio repelling bases, and have had 3 destroy node missions, Europe is firmly back under my control. As for the Greys... OMG, they are just kicking my ASS! Base attacks are occuring at a horrendous rate (In my current game there are three needing defeding (and of those I KNOW I can't defend one of them- the set-up of my men is appalling- I'll just have to hope my troops can deal with it). I'm afraid I've simply stopped attacking ufo's or alien bases with my main squad, they just get their asses handed to them on a plate. Once I get inside said UFO/Base, they are consistently right beside the 'airlock', armed with multiple rocket. I die (though the gatling guns take some of them with me :devil: !)

I concur that it's the plasma guns that are creaming you, but they can be tajken down. I admit, I saved the game at the beginning of the base section of A51, and had to take three atempts at it, but I got them all in the end. I used a single man to opn the door ways where I knew they'd be waiting, then ran him out of sight ASAP. Meanwhile, my other troops cuked grenades into the corridor, from just outside the alien PoV. The guy who opened the door was given the most powerful shotgun I had, and when they started coming towards me, he was able to shoot at them, but they didn't seem able to shoot back (he was right on the corner, facing down the corridor and kneeling). I ended up with all the aliens dead, and was abl;e to casually stroll up, grab the info and get out again, with just one man going to med bay...

I know there are some people on this board who eschew the use of grenades, but early on, they are a godsend. They have a similar range to the early guns, yet can be thrown over obsatcles that block line of sight, and can kill any of the early enemies in a single shot. In other words, three men are enough, but kit them up with loads of grenades. Until you get some long range weaponry, avoid open (lowlands, highlands etc) missions and stick to the urban missions, where the enemies long range assault rifles won't be (quite) so much of an advantage. One other thing, I'd suggest saving often. This is a VERY dificult game, and if you don't save, you'll be cursing.

I'm afraid I can't help you , but you may be able to help me . I can't even get to the moon. I've researched the alien queen, I've been given the 'capture the alien ship mission' I start the mission... and die. Every time I've tried this I've had between five and seven alien missile launchers pointed straight at me. I've tried taking bio armour, but I can't then carry weapons that can kill the little buggers fast enough, if I take heavy armour with gatling/double machine guns, I kill them all, but the missiles wipe out my squad. HEEELLPPP!!!!! I've now tried this mission six times, and haven't lasted longer than 30 seconds. How the hell did you complete this mission?