How do you protect the Firebird?

[Robbos]

Yeah. once your radars cover every large body of land, you will be able to spot anything that gets close. Generally i found that every once in a while a stupid UFO will get close to a base and you can damage it enough to kill it or allow your fighters to finish the job.

My problem is that if so many aliens can survive getting shot down why can't PHALANX soldiers survive? Its kinda weird

[shevegen]

Yeah. once your radars cover every large body of land, you will be able to spot anything that gets close. Generally i found that every once in a while a stupid UFO will get close to a base and you can damage it enough to kill it or allow your fighters to finish the job.

I wait until the UFO is near my base, then I launch multiple interceptors with long range weapons. That normally brings down even the biggest alien UFO, and it can be done on any difficulty level (cuz planes are cheaper lateron)

I am not happy with the helicopters, I think they arent as good as the planes...

My problem is that if so many aliens can survive getting shot down why can't PHALANX soldiers survive? Its kinda weird

Maybe cuz the UFOs are better structure and stuff, and can survive a crash impact more readily. But I agree insofar, that I think a 100% kill rate when a PHALANX plane crashes is a bit too much. A slight luck factor could be involved too to rescue a few soldiers maybe. After all they are supposed to have great equip, great stamina etc... and ... well 100% just seems too much

[Robbos]

Still, Taman are susposed to be these weak critters. you would think a few would get killamafied when crashing (unbuckeled) in any type of vehicle.

[Chriswriter90]

Still, Taman are susposed to be these weak critters. you would think a few would get killamafied when crashing (unbuckeled) in any type of vehicle.

But how would the game work then,

Crash survivors could be wounded, or they could panic if your ground troops get there soon enough

[Doctor J]

There is already a proposal to this effect, though it has not yet made it to the "To Do" list.  See: http://ufoai.ninex.info/wiki/index.php/Gameplay_Proposals/Hurt_Crashed_Aliens

[odysseus]

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?

Until you've get better world coverage with bases, try running away . The UFO will lose interest and you carry on with the mission. Also fitting the dropship with ecm pod and armour can help.

[Negator_UK]

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

I did some building like that, off the great barrier reef, it seemed like a good laugh building a TFTD earth protection grid - until I got all the "alien lost at sea" messages LOL...

[Garg]

Dunno how u manage it to loose ur Firebird , maybe u should keep it unarmed?
i played on very hard and the alien ships was never intrested in attacking my firebird.
even if the aliens came near to my ship but still not in weaponrange , it wasnt chasing it.

[Doctor J]

i played on very hard and the alien ships was never intrested in attacking my firebird.
even if the aliens came near to my ship but still not in weaponrange , it wasnt chasing it.

I think you've been lucky so far.  Harvesters tend to obliterate everything within their range, though they don't actively hunt down your craft.  I think future versions will have an alien Fighter that might do such.

[Robbos]

fighters already do basicly hunt your ships down.

[Doctor J]

<Shrug>  The only Fighters i've seen yet have been landed.  As far as actual interceptions go, i get 99% Harvesters and 1% Supply ships.

[Robbos]

They are kinda rare, but i have seen 2 or 3 and they did a good job of sending my guys down

[Sticky Mcbud]

lol i can't even get to the second terror site... lol my firebird gets shot down right off my base everytime i launch it ... will try it with out weapons and see it that helps

[Sticky Mcbud]

ok still a no go.... i loose my firebird 7 out 10 times i launch it.... i think its a little unbalanced... I mean to have to go through the trouble of waiting on another firebird to be produced getting more soldiers and then having to reequip them all... too much trouble to even try and keep playing... and i am on the easy mode... is there a way to possibly modify the ai attacking the firebird.

[Sticky Mcbud]

lol ok so what i started doing is outfitting two firebirds one for back up and then i send a empty firebird first.  Then if it gets attacked no worries send in my fighters to take it down then send my real firebird.  If it does not get attacked then i call it back and let the real firebird do the work.