Liandriel

Ive been reading the forums over at ufo-extraterrestrials and dont QUITE get a grasp on the modding for the game. Ive been successful in UNpacking the files and then using notepad to change items, but havent had any success in getting the files then repacked. Yah, I know I should post over there, but for whatever reason I am having difficulties getting the confirmation email to actually post on their forums. Any suggestions?

ET vs XCOM PROs -=- I think ET's AI is stronger. Enemies in tactical combat seem to use the best attack for the situation and do not always just sit around in their ship watching the Galactic News (though that does occasionally happen). Aliens are not always in the most remote building with a book, either - they are looking for the humans looking for them. -=- I like the real-time of strategic spaceship fights. Always was difficult to get reinforcments for those battleship size UFOs. -=- Not having to buy ammo for your interceptors. You still pay for it, but dont have to have the ammo on hand. -=- Unlimited storage. No storeroom per se, so you just have room. -=- In the short time I have played, difficulty increases constatly. First fight the rookies can hit an alien one time for it to die, by May/June it may take multiple rifle shots. -=- Experience counts. No free rank advances for showing up, and you can pick what skills to specialize in. -=- Aliens can take over areas, but you can take them back. Reportedly you can "free" an area from alien occupation- though I cannot yet confirm that. -=- One barracks is enough for the whole army. -=- Cannot sell laser pistols (or anything for that matter) for a 900% profit - guess you really do have to protect the planet to make money. SIMILARITIES -=- Still have to down ships to do tactical combat. I havent seen any landed ones. -=- Heard rumors of terror missions, but havent experienced one yet. -=- Beginning storyline sounds familliar to XCOM, but only time will tell. -=- Research & Development remains similar - kill mob, dissect him, learn to use plastics (or how to counter his psionics). -=- Bases remain similar. Instead of the ubiquitous elevator, you have energy controls, but its basically the same. -=- Just like in XCOM, a rifle can bring down the whole building if you work at it hard enough. Course I havent tried to see if the 2nd floor will fall down in ET yet - we all know that buildings in XCOM didnt ever actually fall to the ground. CONS -=- If you TORE UP a spaceship in XCOM, there would be dead aliens, doesnt seem to affect it in ET. Guess they all know where their space suits are. -=- Graphics engine could be upgraded. Definately not 4-color or 8-bit graphics, but nowhere near Doom3 either. Mulitipositional changes should be shown (ie if someone is kneeling have dont have them go from standing to kneeling immediately). -=- Same goes for sound. Music and sound effects could be better and original. -=- Many people complain of lack of hotkeys, I dont see it as an issue personally. -=- Inability to hire new staff. Soldiers will just show up. -=- Inability to have workshops /labs in other bases. Reportedly advanced workshops can be built, but I havent gotten that far. -=- Use one shot from a magazine, you throw out the other 19 rounds when you get to base. MAN I miss that from AL. -=- No overhead map of the tactical arena. Doesnt affect me much really, but some complaints about it. Hmmm... Thats all I can think of right off hand. ET is VERY similar to XCOM, even moreso than the AS/AL series. However, I feel it is a good game in its own right. If you are a fan of the series, you should give it a shot.

MOST of the issues from the above poster are not really issues, more like annoyances at worst in my opinion. I played X-COM I dunno how many times and this experience is VERY similar in all the right ways. I did notice that someone earlier mentioned it was confusing to know what you were shooting at. Granted X-COM used BIG targetting symbols that changed color and UFO-ET does not. Instead, if you target over a baddie, the center target part turns GOLD. Hope this helps someone down some aliens.

Solid game, very similar to X-Com - but there is nothing wrong with that, why mess with perfection. Decent amount of startup gear, soldiers, and the like in primary base. Mission terrain seems to be somewhat varied, and also seem dependant on crash zone as well. Looking forward to base-assault missions and terror missions, but havent seen any in ~ 3mos of game play. I would like a few more tweeks such as - ammo count by bullet instead of magazine to prevent a whole magazine dumped after firing once, input as to why I cannot add certain buildings to secondary bases (allowed only to have hangar, radar and missile defenses), and a button that lets me save AP for a shot because I hate doing the math in my head. All in all, it is a very nice game as long as you enjoyed X-Com: EU and are not offended by a new version of the old game. Now if someone would take the best parts of UFO: AL and the best parts of UFO: ET I would never have to leave home again.

One thing I am really missing right now is ammo - I hate it that I use one round out of a magazine and the whole thing is wasted - especially when Im running low on the ammo in the first place . At least, for the most part, it has not been too much of an issue.

1-I do miss the kill counter, just kind of nice to reflect back on. I love the experience part, its nice to be able to choose where to specialize. Im trying to figure out how other skills go up as I level though (the ones I do not put points in). That way I can find out if its worth it to max out AP or accuracy in the beginning, or will just shooting a lot do it. Any suggestions from anyone. 2-- Ive had multi-level buildings but not houses. Also have had nasties hiding in them, but they do not seem to use them a whole lot. Havent seen any terror missions, but have fought some nasties that look like they should be in some. Actually, according to the manual you can assault bases and defend them. Each territory can only have one base (human or alien), so if you find their base you can fight over it. Also you have 10 days to retake your base should it fall or the aliens will have gutted it. However, I havent had any experience with it yet. ALSO = anyone able to build things like living quarters, labs, or workshops in your bases? My new base is just a hangar and radar station with some missile defenses. Granted I dont need a ton of bases, but I like to keep a backup base somewhere usually.

Ive been a long time lurker here and check up on a few threads just about every day but did want to see how people felt about this game. I remeber when I FIRST loaded up X-Com, and from the first mission I have been hooked. Ive played nearly every similar game on the market and none have captured that feel for me (though I think Apocalypse or Afterlight were the closest). UFO:ET is extremely close to the original X-COM in set up and feel with a few interface changes and rules changes as well. Although the graphics are not cutting-edge, they are an improvement over X-COM. I know a lot of people are complaining that it is another X-COM, and I feel I am too far into the game to argue against that. At first glance, it is very similar to X-COM or all of these types of games in the genre and I am hoping that it is something that matures into its own. So far I am very happy with the game and look forward to delving into its story line even further.

I downloaded via cable and it only took about an hour. It was the first time I used Matrix and so far I am very pleased with them.

Personally when I restarted recently, my number one goal was Gatling Technology. In my previous game, I just found them to be so useful since they seemed to have little "aiming" time, and those 10 shots they cranked out in very short order. I would use a squad of men in middleweight armor with 2 snipers, 2 gatling guns, 2 pistols and one EM gun with most everyone having one kind of anatomy or another. Other tech I try to get soon is the upgraded engines - those trucks just seem to CREEP across the landscape! Also, give some thought on who you want your allies (if any) to be. If you plan on killing off the expeditionary force (like I plan on this restart), I dont use the reticulans in my team since they would eat up experience a human would be getting. This does short me on Psi Power, but I didnt seem to have a big problem with it last game. Also give some thought to which mods, if any, you want to use. I used a few this last go round and it sure has changed things as far as feel of the game goes. Best of luck on your restart.

Not that Im aware of, but there are commands to give your men another gun or magazine of ammo and you just reload or change guns.

In Dr. No he was forced to turn in his Beretta for the PPK, a more reliable weapon.

What all can your mod do? I've used VFStool to do several savegame editor things, such as healing my troops, getting more resources and ammo, and shortening training times all to make sure my men can show up to the fight.

Bald