X-Com: UFO Defense Walkthrough

XCOM: UFO Defense
Unofficial Strategy Guide and FAQ
by Kasey Chang (ksc1@aol.com)
released January 17, 2002
0    Introduction
0.1   A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR
Thanks for the tremendous response all over the net!  The guide
was uploaded to practically to wherever XCOM and UFO are sold
(and probably far beyond), and many people have provided helpful
feedback that were incorporated into this and previous revisions.
This is a FAQ, NOT a manual. You won't learn how to play the game
with this document, and I'm NOT about to add it to ease the life
of software pirates.
This USG only covers the PC version since that's the only version
that I have. Other versions should be SIMILAR but may not be
identical.
This version replaces any earlier versions previously released.
0.2   TERMS OF DISTRIBUTION
This document is copyrighted by Kuo-Sheng “Kasey” Chang (c) 1994-
2002, all rights reserved excepted as noted above in the
disclaimer section.
This document is available FREE of charge subjected to the
following conditions:
1) This notice and author's name must accompany all copies of
this document: "XCOM:UFO Defense Unofficial Strategy Guide and
FAQ" is copyrighted (c) 1994-2002 by Kasey K.S. Chang, all rights
reserved except as noted in the disclaimer.”
2) This document must NOT be modified in any form or manner
without prior permission of the author with the following
exception: if you wish to convert this document to a different
file format or archive format, with no change to the content,
then no permission is needed.
2a) In case you can’t read, that means TXT only. No banners, no
HTML borders, no cutting up into multiple pages to get you more
banner hits, and esp. no adding your site name to the site list.
3) No charge other than "reasonable" compensation should charged
for its distribution.  (Free is preferred) Sale of this
information is expressly prohibited. If you see any one selling
this guide, drop me a line.
4) If you used material from this, PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE the source,
else it is plagiarism.
5) The author hereby grants all games-related web sites the right
to archive and link to this document to share among the game
fandom, provided that all above restrictions are followed.
Sidenote: The above conditions are known as a statutory contract.
If you meet them, then you are entitled to the rights I give you
in 5), i.e. archive and display this document on your website. If
you don’t follow them, you did not meet the statutory contract
conditions, you have no right to display this document. If you
still do so, then you are infringing upon my copyright. This
section was added for any websites who don’t seem to understand
this.
For the gamers: You are under NO obligation to send me ANY
compensation.  However, I do ask for a VOLUNTARY contribution of
one (1) US Dollar if you live in the United States, and if you
believe this guide helped your game. If you choose to do so,
please make your US$1.00 check or $1.00 worth of stamp to "Kuo-
Sheng Chang", and send it to "2220 Turk Blvd. #6, San Francisco,
CA 94118 USA".
If you don't live in the US, please send me some local stamps. I
collect stamps too.
0.3    DISTRIBUTION
This USG is only released to Gamefaqs (http://www.gamefaqs.com)
though it should also be available from other major PC game
websites (such as gamesdomain.com, gamespot.com, etc.).
To webmasters who wish to archive this FAQ on their website,
please read the terms of distribution in section 0.2. It is quite
clear. In case you can’t understand it, it says “no
modifications”. This means you may NOT modify any bits of it!
Modifications include (but not limited to):
*    Cutting up the FAQ into pages (so you get more banner hits)
*    Adding your site's name to the list above
0.4    OTHER NOTES
There is no warranty for this unofficial strategy guide. After
all, it depends on YOU the player.  All I can do is offer some
advice.
PLEASE let me know if there's a confusing or missing remark... If
you find a question about this game that is not covered in the
USG, e-mail it to me at ksc1@aol.com.  I'll try to answer it and
include it in the next update.
UFO: Enemy Unknown users should be able to use this supplement
with minimum changes. Most tips will apply to both versions, esp.
the tactical tips.  The charts on the other hand may have
different numbers, so compare it carefully please.
XCOM was ported to many platforms including the Sony Playstation.
Other versions of XCOM can probably use this guide without
modification, but that cannot be guaranteed.
0.5    THE AUTHOR
I am just a game player who decided to write my own FAQs when the
ones I find don’t cover what I want to see.  Lots of people like
what I did, so I kept doing it.
Previously, I've written Unofficial Strategy Guides (USGs) for
XCOM, XCOM2:TFTD, Wing Commander 3, Wing Commander 4, Fade to
Black, Spycraft, 688(I) Hunter/Killer. Mechwarrior 3, MW3
Expansion Pack, Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed, and many more.
Most of them should be on gamefaqs.com, the biggest FAQ site
around.
If you need to write me, send e-mail to ksc1@aol.com. (Any spam
will be reported to respective authorities). You better specify
what game you wish to talk about though. With over 20 FAQs
archived I don't want to spend the brain cells to guess what
you're talking about...
0.6   DISCLAIMER AND CREDITS
XCOM is a trademark of MicroProse. XCOM was developed by Mythos
Games, UK.
This USG is not endorsed or authorized by MicroProse, Hasbro
Interactive, Infogrames, or Mythos Games.
Thanks to MicroProse and Mythos Games for bringing us such a nice
game. It surely deserved all those "Game of the Year" award and
all those "Best Games Ever" awards!
Thanks to all the people who have contributed to previous
releases of the XCOM:USG, whom include but are not limited to:
William Kang, CMDR; Tim Chawn, CMDR; Doug Osborne, SG; Stuart
Lamble, SG; Seth Cohn, SG; Bill Soo, SG; Jeff Shaffer, Economist;
Rob Eiben, SG; Jim Muchow, SG; Menachem Pasteich, architect; Paul
Close, publicist and simulation expert; and fellow XCOM players
all over the world discussing the game on USENET, America On-line
and elsewhere.
Some strategies and tactics here first appeared in Computer
Gaming World and Computer Game Review magazines' strategy
articles on XCOM. Thanks to Jeff James (CGW) and Kevin Perry
(CGR), we honor you as XCOM Strategists.
0.7   REVISION HISTORY
??-???-1994         Initial Release
01-MAY-1995         Last tracked update, revised to match
official strategy guide chapters
17-JAN-2002         Fully revised edition
0.8   THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Can you send me XCOM: UFO Defense (or portions thereof)?
A: No.
Q: But you can't buy it any more!
A: Not my problem.
Q: But it was given away with magazine _______!
A: So order the back issue. Or go buy the Collector's Edition.
Q: Can you send me the manual (or portions thereof)?
A: No.
Q: My manual was ________. Can you tell me the codes in the
manual?
A: No. Apply patch V1.4 should remove it.
Q: Can you tell me how to play the game?
A: Read the manual.
Q: How do I launch the "final mission"? I got everything built
and equipped!
A: Select the craft you got for intercept... See the extra button
next to CANCEL?
Q: What do you know about the non-PC version of XCOM?
A: Absolutely nothing, other than they exist.
Q: What’s the latest version?
A: V1.4 for the PC version. This fixes some sound issues.
Q: Where are the cheat codes?
A: XCOM is a STRATEGY game.
Q: I have Collectors Edition, but I can't run it in Windows!
A: Try reducing or eliminating "video acceleration" in your
systems applet, control panel. If that does not help, go into
DirectX and turnoff video acceleration there as well.
Q: Why is your FAQ shorter than other similar FAQs?
A: I don’t repeat the stuff that’s already in the manual. You can
read that yourself. I also will NOT EVER include the information
from the Official Strategy Guide unless the information can be
gleamed from the game itself.
0.9   ABOUT THE OFFICIAL STRATEGY GUIDE
Now that the official strategy guide is out in stores (XCOM : the
Official Strategy Guide, by David Ellis, Prima Publishing, ISBN
1-55958-764-4, US$19.95, hereby known as OSG), this Unofficial
Strategy guide (USG) is now patterned after the official one,
with similar table of contents. You can use this guide along with
the official strategy guide (OSG), or you can use this by itself.
While OSG has all the neat charts and tables and stuff only
available from the source, I've found its tactics and strategy
section sorely lacking.  In fact, all the the strategy and
tactics are condensed into ONE chapter, with the rest of the book
as simply a reprint of the manual and UFOpedia and the underlying
mechanics.
That's where USG come in.  USG will help you make informed
choices. Instead of showing you a table of numbers, I'll actually
show you what had been recommended by fellow XCOM players.  After
you read each chapter in the OSG, read that chapter's supplement
here.  You will understand more about how the game runs and the
tactics to beat it.
You do NOT have to have the OSG to use this supplement, but you
will get more out of both if you do.
According to Prima, the OSG is currently out of print.
0.10  ORGANIZATION
About organization of the guide... The sections are patterned
after the official strategy guide. However, as all parts of XCOM
are interlinked, it is best to read through the entire guide to
see how all the sections relate. When you see the part about air
combat, you should read the part about XCOM crafts and Alien
UFOs, for example.
1    Game Information
1.1   WHAT IS XCOM: UFO DEFENSE?
[Excerpt from XCOM manual page 6]
It is the year 1999.  Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) have
started appearing with disturbing regularity in the night skies.
Reports of violent human abductions and horrific experimentation
had struck terror into the hearts of millions. Mass public
hysteria has only served to expose Earth's impotence against a
vastly superior technology.
[...]
On December 11, 1998, representatives from the world's most
economically powerful counties gathered secretly in Geneva. After
much debate, they decision was made to establish a covert
independent body to combat, investigate, and defeat the alien
threat.  The organization would be equipped with the world's
finest pilots, soldiers, scientists, and engineers, working
together as one multi-national force.
This organization was named the Extraterrestrial Combat Unit.
[end excerpt]
You are in overall command of XCOM.  You will perform the
following tasks:
*    detect and track marauding UFOs
*    launch and control interceptors to attack marauding UFOs in
the air
*    send soldiers (in transports) to attack crashed or landed
UFOs
*    raid alien bases on Earth (if you can find them)
*    keep the sponsor nations happy and UFOs out of their skies
and aliens out of their land
*    buy the ammo and weapons you need in the war
*    research weapons and ammo as your troops bring in captured
alien artifacts for analysis
*    build the alien weapons and ammo, as well as advanced crafts
*    build defenses for your base(s)
*    research the aliens themselves
*    pay for everything by contributions from sponsor countries
and selling stuff
Eventually... figure out the alien threat's origin and end the
threat once and for all.
1.2   HOW DOES XCOM PLAY?
The game is divided into two main segments: GeoScape and
BattleScape.
GeoScape is a 3-D view of the globe, rotate-able and zoom-able.
This is where you control your various bases around the world
(with radars), your fighters and transports (carrying your
soldiers), your inventory at each base, the UFOs and alien bases
currently in sight, and so on.  Once ground contact is made
(transport landed next to UFO, you attack alien base, aliens
attack your base, etc.), the game switches to Battlescape.
Battlescape is an isometric tile-based 3-D combat with viewpoint
similar to SimCity 2000 and Transport Tycoon.  The combat is turn-
based with opportunity fire on the opponent's round (provided you
have enough TimeUnits [TUs] and reaction), with plenty of weapons
and terrain to choose from.  When the battle concludes (either
side is annihilated or retreated) you go back to GeoScape.
Everything is mouse-driven so game is very easy to learn yet hard
to master.
1.3   WHAT IS UFO: ENEMY UNKNOWN?
UFO: Enemy Unknown is the European version of XCOM.  The game was
designed by Mythos Games, and was distributed by MicroProse UK.
It was imported into the US later as XCOM.  XCOM is equivalent to
UFO V1.2.
In fact, XCOM installs into \MPS\UFO directory.  :-)
1.3.1     Why the name change?
The official strategy guide (OSG) has no explanation, but I
believe that SubLOGIC (the       original Flight Simulator
people) had a game called UFO, and MicroProse couldn't register
the same name, so they picked XCOM.
XCOM is the official name of the series.  XCOM2 will be sold as
XCOM2 in Europe.
1.3.2     What is the difference besides the title?
Quite small, mainly price changes for items, and some spelling
(esp. "armour").
1.4   WHAT TYPE OF PC DO I NEED? IS A DEMO AVAILABLE?
Requirements listed on XCOM is: 386/486 (Pentium?), 4 MB RAM,
VGA, Mouse, MS/PC-DOS 5.0 (or higher?).
(There are Amiga and CD32 version, PlayStation version, and many
other ports.)
One person reported that he was able to run XCOM with 2 MB RAM,
though it is SLOW.  Your mileage may vary.
It comes on 3 3.5" HD disks, and needs about 12MB of hard drive
space to install (double that if using disk compression software
such as Stacker or DoubleSpace).
There's a CD version, which is the same as the floppy version
except only the saved games reside on the hard drive and all of
the data files stays on the CD.
You CAN install the CD version onto the hard drive if you have
enough space.  There may be a HARDDRIVE directory on the CD with
a separate install program. Use that to do the full install.
The original release uses 32-bit protected mode, so it would not
run under Windows.  No compatibility claims was made to any other
versions of DOS such as DR DOS, Novell DOS 7, or even OS/2.
There is a Collector's Edition which includes XCOM, XCOM: Terror
From the Deep (TFTD), and XCOM: Apocalypse (APOC). XCOM and TFTD
have been converted so they are now Windows DirectX friendly.
They will run in Windows.
There is no patch to upgrade the regular install to the "CE"
release. To get CE, you must buy CE.
1.5   WHAT ABOUT ANY BUGS?  ANY PATCHES?
The OSG has no list of bugs, so here is a list of bugs that are
known to exist in XCOM/UFO (PC version, of course).
1.5.1     Green Text Bug
Symptom: Game suddenly displays 40-column Green text [DOS
Extender Error].  Usually happens right after a battle, and after
a bit it takes you back into the battle you just finished
(infinite repeat), and sometimes the computer hangs.
Cause and Solution: This is usually caused by attempting to save
a game while UFO interception is in progress. Another possibility
is you have multiple crafts in the air and one of them is
intercepting while another is landing and attacking a downed UFO
or base.
Unfortunately, the saved game is corrupt.  You must restore from
an earlier saved game.  [OSG only mentions this as "trust me,
don't save when intercept minimized"]
Further info: someone commented on the net that usually there is
this ONE UFO that you did not shoot down before XCOM crashed.  If
you do NOT destroy it after you reload the game, the same thing
will happen again.
Another has reported that by not maximizing (minimizing?) the
GeoScape screen before going into combat cuts down the chances of
Green Text bug, but this is unconfirmed.
1.5.2     16-bit Sound bug
Symptom: Game has compatibility problems with most 16-bit sound
cards such as SoundBlaster 16 and PAS-16 (and Gravis UltraSound
as well).  Music and sounds are often played as static, or no
sound at all.
Cause and solution: remember that the setup asks for the DMA
channel, NOT the interrupt as most setup programs do. If it still
doesn't work, it's a program bug.  You can always play with the
sound off, but it's not as much fun having no alien screams when
they got hit and die... V1.4 patch should fix this.
WARNING: If you have a SoundBlaster 16 and the Waveblaster
daughtercard, do NOT select 16-bit digital sound with General
MIDI.  Select 8-bit sound instead.
1.5.3     One-shot blaster bug
Symptom: Once you fired off a blaster launcher, sometimes there's
still a shell in there so you can't reload it, but you can't fire
it either.
Cause and solution: This is caused by programming only one
waypoint for the blaster bomb.  If you program two or more
waypoints for the bomb this won't happen.
You can also attempt to UNLOAD the "empty" shell.  See manual.
1.5.4     Flying Frozen bug
Symptom: Enemy hit a unit near the edge of the map.  When it is
the unit's turn to move, it is off the edge of the map (totally
outside).  It can move up/down, but not back onto the map.  It
can still shoot, and it will return if you win the battle.
Cause and solution: no idea, this seems to be random. Don't put
your units near the edge.
1.5.5     "SMOKBIT.DAT not found"
Symptom: the game complains that a SMOKBIT.DAT cannot be found in
your saved game directory.
Cause and solution: no idea, since the file is not in all of the
saved games directories that I have (I have it only in 2 of 10
saved games). MicroProse chalked it up to computer
incompatibility and recommends a refund if you run into this
problem. (saved game during combat? Incendiary grenades?)
1.5.6     Stacked Equipment bug
Symptom: When you access the alien's inventory (see exploit)
you found that they have multiple items stacked in one
location (usually one of the legs).  If you do not have enough TU
for that unit and you tried to move one item, you cannot put it
back, and you are TOTALLY STUCK.
Solution: just don't do it, or you'll have to reboot. There is no
other way around it.  Maybe that's why we were not supposed to
access alien inventory?
1.5.7     Cyrix incompatibility
Symptom: when starting XCOM/UFO, the program freezes after the
title splash animations finished.
Cause and solution: you probably have a very old Cyrix CPU. The
version of DOS4GW XCOM used (version ends with a 5) is somehow
incompatible with Cyrix CPUs.  The fix is very simple: run DOOM
or another DOS4GW program (Raptor, Heretic, Descent, ROTT, etc.)
before XCOM.
1.5.8     Can't find a leader!?!?
This is also known as the "Alien Containment Bug"
Symptom: when at a crucial phase of the game, when one needs a
captured alien leader, the leader was successfully captured but
never was available for research.  Maybe the alien containment is
full?
Cause and solution: It appears that the alien containment is
limited to ten race/rank combinations of aliens. If you brought
back a eleventh combo, it will be "dumped" and you'll never see
it. Therefore, research each race/rank combo of aliens ASAP.
Note: this is NOT related to "cannot research a captured
commander from UFO".  That is NOT a bug.  You have to research
commander that was nabbed from a BASE.
1.5.9     Unsaved proximity grenades
Symptom: if you save a battle in progress with proximity grenades
on the ground, and later restore the game, the grenades are gone.
Solution: none... (does not happen in all versions)
1.5.10    The 80-item Limit
This is technically not a bug, but a limitation. When fighting a
battle, only the first 80 distinct items (weapons or ammo) are
used in the battle.  If you kept old weapons around this can
seriously affect your combat readiness. So get rid of old useless
stuff ASAP!
1.6   OTHER VERSIONS / SEQUELS
XCOM : Terror From the Deep is the official sequel, built by
MicroProse with the engine licensed from Mythos. Story goes
like this: the destruction of the alien base on Mars has
triggered a last-ditch signal sent to Earth's ocean... Ten years
later, a new threat faces Earth... XCOM was reactivated, and now
you must combat the aliens on land, in the air, and most of all,
underwater...  TFTD is virtually identical to XCOM except for
much higher difficulty.
XCOM: Apocalypse is the third in the series, also created by
Mythos. Fifty years after the last Alien War, civilization on
Earth have retreated to the huge "city-state" known as
Megalopolis, and one day, a strange portal appeared in the sky...
And out came UFOs...  APOC is best known for neo-retro graphics,
and the possibility to select either real-time or turn-based
tactical combat.
XCOM: Interceptor is created by MicroProse. After the second
Alien War (TFTD), mankind spread among the stars, thanks to the
alien technology. However, as human influence spread, the aliens
made themselves known again, and they may be planning
something... The strategic consideration is almost just like
XCOM, but it is fused with a 3D space combat engine.
Em@il XCOM is the last XCOM title from Hasbro (who bought
MicroProse). Email XCOM is a tactical combat game that is not
quite isometric and not quite top-down. You plot your moves on
several battlefields and mail your turn to your opponent, and
when he made the moves he will mail back until the battle is
resolved. The game is supposed to run through Hasbro servers, but
Hasbro has shut down that part of their operation.
Infogrames, who took over Hasbro's Interactive Division (and
MicroProse, by extension) has since released XCOM: Enforcer,
where you play a cyborg shooting at all the different aliens on
Earth. It's a PURELY arcade title complete with powerups and
level bosses.
XCOM: Genesis, supposed to be a "revised XCOM, updated with
latest graphics", was cancelled sometime in 2000.
XCOM: Alliance, supposed to be based on Unreal Tournament engine
and 3 other squaddies following you intelligently, was apparently
cancelled in early 2001, after MicroProse was dissolved.
1.7   FUTURE OF XCOM SERIES
XCOM itself seem to be dead, or in deep hibernation. Infogrames
seem to have no interest in producing another title in the
franchise it inherited from Hasbro/MicroProse.
Mythos Games was trying to develop Freedom Ridge, but they went
bankrupt doing it. However, another company seems to have picked
up the project. Only time will tell if they will succeed. Freedom
Ridge is a full 3D tactical combat, but still turn-based.
Basically, Earth was invaded by aliens and you are the last
freedom fighters remaining.
1.8   XCOM-LIKE GAMES
Jagged Alliance Series (Sir-Tech) -- similar combat engine, with
realistic weapons, but more about mercenaries and a bit of role-
playing and adventure than pure combat. The battles are randomly
generated based on the conditions.
Commandos / Commandos 2 (Eidos) -- more of a puzzle game, it lets
you control several commandos with different specialties and
undertake operations in WW2 behind Axis lines.
S.W.A.T. 2 (Sierra) -- Terrorists vs. Counter-terrorist units in
isometric format. Very old game, currently only available as
budget title.
Fallout Tactics (Interplay) -- the combat in Fallout (post-
nuclear RPG) universe made into a full game by itself. Building
the characters is as important as the fights.
Star Trek: Away Team (Activision) -- this game is more "Commandos
Does Star Trek" than XCOM. You control a special away team and
perform special missions in isometric view. Most missions are
stealth-based, very little combat.
MechCommander / MechCommander 2 (Microsoft) -- in a distant sort
of way... MechCommander series is related to XCOM. MechCommander
let you take the battlemechs (tm) of BattleTech (tm) universe in
a campaign. The missions in MC are fixed, not randomly generated
like XCOM. They are more related to RTS than a turn-based title
like XCOM, but it is tactical combat.
1.9    HOW DO I WIN?  HOW DO I LOSE?
You win by finding the source of the alien threat and "deal with
it" once and for all on a "final mission".
You can lose by several ways:
1) You were in debt for over $1,000,000 for two months.  Your
sponsors had had enough of your mismanagement and terminated the
XCOM project.  Earth was conquered by aliens not long after.
2) You had two consecutive "badly losing" months (big negative
score, see next section), and your sponsors had had enough and
terminated XCOM project.  Just how bad is a "badly losing" month
depends on your score and difficulty level (Scoring is explained
in OSG Chapter 1 and next section).
3) You lost all of your bases to the aliens.
4) You failed to complete the "final mission" (see above).
1.10  HOW IS SCORING CALCULATED?
Score is kept for both sides.
You get positive score for
*    conducting successful research
*    capturing and/or killing aliens
*    grounding and/or destroying UFOs
*    destroying alien bases
*    grabbing alien equipment
*    etc.
You get negative score for
*    losing XCOM soldiers, crafts, HWPs, and civilians
*    ignore terror raids
Aliens score points by:
*    overflying Earth
*    lands on Earth (whatever purpose)
*    build and keep bases on Earth
*    conduct terror raids and hoping that you ignore it (so NEVER
do so since this REALLY scores big for them!)
*    sign pact with funding countries (which means those
countries don't pay you any longer!)
*    conduct harvest and/or abduction mission on Earth. (for
exact numbers, see OSG)
Your net score is (your_score - alien_score), which is the score
you see on the monthly performance report (and the graph).
The funding changes are affected by your total score, and are
explained in OSG:Chapter 5.
For exact numbers on how much you can win or lose, see OSG
To summarize, the aliens score by performing their "missions".
Your job is to prevent them from accomplishing their missions.
2    The Geoscape Screen
The GeoScape screen is where you will control the interceptions
and provides access to the BattleScape and the base controls.
2.1   AIR INTERCEPTS
Always attack UFO over land.  If you shoot it down over water no
one can get to it.  Therefore, when you are over water, minimize
the window, and select 1-minute step until you get back over
land, then switch back to 5-second steps and start attack.
[Whether you want to attack smaller UFOs is up to you]
If you send multiple crafts after one UFO and the UFO gets shot
down or destroyed, the shooter will go home, but other crafts
will continue onto the crash site, THEN return to their base. So
make them return to base manually.  They will return faster, and
thus be refueled/rearmed/repaired for next sortie faster.  Click
on its icon on GeoScape and select "return to base".
If UFO has landed, keep a fighter on top of it.  That way, if it
takes off before your transport get there, you still have a
chance of taking it down.
Since the best weapons have a chance of blowing a smaller UFO
totally to pieces, you may want to keep one fighter armed weaker
than the rest for intercepting smaller UFOs, if you even WANT to
go after small UFOs.
See also the XCOM Crafts section and the UFO section for more
details.
2.2   FINDING ALIEN BASES
Watch for high alien activity (check the graphs) in an area of
the world yet no interception: there's probably a base in the
area.
Send s