How do you protect the Firebird?

[Sarkus]

Just downloaded 2.2 and am getting annoyed at the frequency with which I'm losing my Firebird.  I don't see how you are supposed to escort it with the fighters, so how do you keep it from being shot down by alien craft?

[SpaceWombat]

Only thing I see so far is equiping it with a weapon. that might give you an extremely low propability to survive a confrontation. Though it has never worked for me. I just use a "save-cheat" (save and try again to get the firebird through a more convenient time window) and more bases with hangar to avoid air battles until this problem is somehow fixed. 

[tobbe]

Just downloaded 2.2 and am getting annoyed at the frequency with which I'm losing my Firebird.  I don't see how you are supposed to escort it with the fighters, so how do you keep it from being shot down by alien craft?

I never even ry to protect my firebird, as it was never attacked...when and how did this happen?

[SpaceWombat]

After a while the first ufos appear on my radar and there are quite many of them. From then on they will always attack my firebird when it comes in close range. The probability of course is higher on long flights.

I have attached fuel pods but no weapons or armor using 2.2 release.

[Sarkus]

I never even ry to protect my firebird, as it was never attacked...when and how did this happen?

It happens a lot on long distance missions for me.  I've seperately sent interceptors on a parallel route, and it seems to reduce the likliehood my Firebird will get attacked, but since the interceptors are much faster it's not really an escort, just more of a scouting mission.

I don't mind this addition to the game, I just wish there was a way to deal with it.  The obvious thing would to be some sort of escort assignment to interceptors so they protect the Firebird.

[SpaceWombat]

Don't let the dropship be attacked at least for a certain time (Aliens not aware of the danger). It is knock out if money flow is fixed and simply a reload order. 

[kracken]

You may also use base defense system to destroy some UFO : build a base defense system, then equip it with a missile battery.

When installation is over, wait that a UFO fly close to the base (range of the missile is quite short: about 1/4 of base radar range), then click on the UFO and select the base.
The base should fire at the UFO (and in most case the UFO will start fleeing, so don't fire the first missile too early).

[btfx]

That base defense tip is GREAT.

Also, perhaps in the future versions this would still happen, but your veterans would paradrop or something. As I understand, losing the firebird is ok, but the soldiers equipment and artifacts (your first sunned alien) are a different matter.

[eleazar]

It happens a lot on long distance missions for me.  I've seperately sent interceptors on a parallel route, and it seems to reduce the likliehood my Firebird will get attacked, but since the interceptors are much faster it's not really an escort, just more of a scouting mission.

The simplest way to implement that would be to allow multiple craft to be sent at once to a given location... craft leaving from the same base to the same place would automatically fly in formation.

[Ogmios]

The best way is to never send the firebird at combat with te UFOs and it will not put weapons in your firebird only armour and oil

[Psawhn]

I disagree with aliens starting an engagement with PHALANX. Personally, I think the aliens should not shoot at any PHALANX craft unless under attack by them. There is no conceivable way that the aliens can distinguish a Firebird from the thousands of other airliners in the air at any given moment, unless they had spies on the ground supplying transponder data. (Perhaps that's another consequence of losing regions to XVI - overflying aircraft have a chance to be engaged or shot down).

(Edit: Of course, this is the tactics forum, so maybe this post has no place here)

[Sarkus]

I disagree with aliens starting an engagement with PHALANX. Personally, I think the aliens should not shoot at any PHALANX craft unless under attack by them. There is no conceivable way that the aliens can distinguish a Firebird from the thousands of other airliners in the air at any given moment, unless they had spies on the ground supplying transponder data. (Perhaps that's another consequence of losing regions to XVI - overflying aircraft have a chance to be engaged or shot down).

(Edit: Of course, this is the tactics forum, so maybe this post has no place here)

Given the story set-up, I would assume that there isn't much civilian traffic.  Since the aliens will shoot interceptors that come near, I don't see why they wouldn't try to shoot down any other craft.

I've found that the problem of Firebird's being shot down goes way down once you start covering the planet with bases.

[SpartanMarine88]

i find if a alien ship targets my fire bird i keep a interceptor in my base ready at all times as soon as you send it out the ufo will either run, or will engage with the interceptor instead of the fire bird

[blondandy]

I try to have good radar coverage of the world (hard to avoid a blackspot over the pacific - shame I can't build a base on Midway or Pearl Harbour).

Then I try to make sure my dropship avoids the UFOs.

(I will be sure to try shooting them from my bases now, too)

[Doctor J]

shame I can't build a base on Midway or Pearl Harbour

!?!  I do build a base in Hawaii.  You just have to zoom all the way in before clicking on "Create Base".