The strategic map will move slowly even on FX5950 & P4@3.4 GHz at the end of the game. So, it's a game problem. Not much to do. Note: It moves a little better on R9800XT & XP2600+ OC @ 3500+.
NOCD crack is good. Made one it myself. It's a bug & I encountered it when I wasn't using NOCD Crack (Almost at the end, when all reserach was completed).
Smoke grenades are not helping the human player in any game but they are helping the AI a lot. Ususally it still can "see" everything while human player has "smoke problems". (In 98% of games that contain SG's). I never used them and never will (unless gamescript requires it).
The Pilot Rescue missions are not essential in the game, so you can let the other troops resolve them. (Unless you really need XP, but many fighters will be shut down anyway).
I encountered this "bug". Don't know if it's really a bug because I could finally get to the waypoint after killing all Aliens and moving in different positions of the map.
<<<Here's what could be a big bug>>> Status: 1) Worldmap shows me new mission saying that new Alien base (Eg. Base X)was discovered, etc. 2) I Get to the Base. 3) I kick Alien ass. 4) I win the mission/take control of Alien base and exit to worldmap. 5) The second the base is in my control and the transport gets there, I get that ugly message that sounds like "We have suffered a major setback...... base X was lost" or something like that. So what's there to be done ? How can I control those areas ? I control all the globe except 2 small areas where this thing happens. Note: I didn't use any cheats/trainers/editors/hexhacks or stuff like that so far. Another (probably secondary) bug: could'nt find the Dreamworld Files in Area51 that the game is talking about, & I can't do important research withought those.