Just rely on your radar. Long-range radar to be precise. And it wouldn't hurt to build more than one, as your chances for detecting a fast-moving UFO increase with each station.
(You're going to want your Interceptors and Skyrangers to be at full fuel in case of a poorly timed terror strike or whatever)
yeah there's some math behind it but I think it's useful to build radars up to 4, and ditch the short-range when you get the long range capped so you're not paying maintenance on a redundancy.
Patrolling is kind of useless, I think that in order to see an alien base, you need to be within range of it (which isn't large) for 3 hours. You aren't really going to find too much, but I guess it's just something to do to pass the time.
Early on, days or even a week can pass between missions.
Don't worry about using the day button, really. Anytime something happens it will stop time for you, although since it doesn't always revert back to 5seconds after the interruption I typically use the 1-hour to get through the long stretches.
Use the graphs to chart alien activity and then patrol near what you think are the hot sections. If there's a lot of alien activity in an area the aliens are likely trying to establish a base. Watch the headings of the UFO's and if you want to constructively patrol, tail them without engaging and see if you can find other alien activity.
Up to several times a month you'll usually get a burst of activity when 4-8 ufo's will all descend on one area at once. Patrolling those locations is probably a good idea if they are outside of your radar just because even if you prevent them from setting up a base the aliens like to return to the scene. For instance if you see a ufo landed somewhere and it takes off before you catch it, another ufo will probably land around that spot later on.
This doesn't really apply to terror sites though. Those are usually one and done.
The big problem with patrolling is it takes quite a while to refuel your ships. In the early stages of the game it's probably better to have both of your ships ready to intercept so you can hit a burst of activity. Once you get a lot of ships it's way more feasible, especially when you outfit them with weapons that have more ammo capacity.
The Interceptor's not really a bad starting ship as it has great fuel range for a strike ship, but the armor is weak. If you get too close to a large or very large ship in an interceptor you're likely going to get smoked.
Establishing a second base with nothing but radar outposts is a quick way to extend your range, though at 750k a pop it is costly.
And yeah, napalm. The basic idea is to play it like a swat team, especially when trying to breach. It's too bad there is no flashbang equivalent, though you can still toss HE's and alien grenades, rockets and stun bombs through the door.
TNL Mission 2 is over. It was an interesting battle.
Is there any way to safely breach an alien ship? (without a flying suit) When I'm opening the door, I always make sure i have guys posted up outside the door to fire inside, but the soldier I select to open the door is always open to whomever wants to shoot him or her. Is there any way to open the door without going in?
Also, I stunned 2 aliens in a mission, only to discover I forgot to build an alien containment facility :(
I don't think so. Unless there is an alien actually standing on the other side of the door, you must go through it.Quote:
Originally Posted by napalm
Build Alien Containment day one.
Yeah, get blaster bombs and blow holes in the walls.
Of course you will have flying suits before blaster bombs. Just send rookies in first. Carry a rookie around.
Heavy plasma works as well, but it's not as reliable.
I'm uploading the mission to youtubes now. Had some problems doing that as they were a bit long. I also gimped the recording of it using CamStudio (audio out of sync a bit, hourglass in the middle...). I'll correct these problems before doing the 3rd mission.
Someone in this thread had an awesome kill.