Verly early UFO's?

[Suraisaa]

Hello!
I recently found out about this TC and I started a play through and as far as I'm aware aliens should be a very rare thing before the year 1999 (I think) but I'm on January 17th 1997 and I already spoted 6 UFO's.
Is something wrong with my game or did I misunderstand the rarity of aliens?

[Doc]

There tends to be an early spike of UFO activity in the first month of the game that tapers off with the occasional early fly by before 1999. Presumably they're traipsing about setting up all the nonsense you'll be spending the first years cleaning up.

It's possible to reach them at times early on, but I wouldn't recommend it. Very little chance of success with two rookie agents in a rental car. Waste of good suits that.

[krautbernd]

I am honestly not sure if the early waves are scripted or hard-coded to appear in OXC/OXCE. During your first play-through you probably won't be able to recover anything since you're busy figuring out research priorities and combat. During later playthoruhgs you might actualkly be able to take on those sectiods. Early game ufo landing sites can be a game changer financially (which translates to faster research) and might enable you to branch out sooner and with more agants.

[Meridian]

I am honestly not sure if the early waves are scripted or hard-coded to appear in OXC/OXCE.

They are scripted, not hardcoded.

[Solarius Scorch]

Right, I kept them in the script to show the player a few UFOs before the campaign gains momentum.

[Suraisaa]

There tends to be an early spike of UFO activity in the first month of the game that tapers off with the occasional early fly by before 1999. Presumably they're traipsing about setting up all the nonsense you'll be spending the first years cleaning up.

It's possible to reach them at times early on, but I wouldn't recommend it. Very little chance of success with two rookie agents in a rental car. Waste of good suits that.

I am honestly not sure if the early waves are scripted or hard-coded to appear in OXC/OXCE. During your first play-through you probably won't be able to recover anything since you're busy figuring out research priorities and combat. During later playthoruhgs you might actualkly be able to take on those sectiods. Early game ufo landing sites can be a game changer financially (which translates to faster research) and might enable you to branch out sooner and with more agants.

Understood. Thank you for your help and advice

[HT]

If you feel brave, you can test your luck with shotguns, melee weapons such as knives, and ambushes to kill these "early UFOs". If you succeed, the gains will be enormous! Most importantly, since it's unlikely you'll get to capture any Sectoid alive, you can shoot to kill with little issue. Melee and shotguns work better in said early raids.

[Suraisaa]

If you feel brave, you can test your luck with shotguns, melee weapons such as knives, and ambushes to kill these "early UFOs". If you succeed, the gains will be enormous! Most importantly, since it's unlikely you'll get to capture any Sectoid alive, you can shoot to kill with little issue. Melee and shotguns work better in said early raids.

I actually did succeed and captured 2 of them but they "died" because I have no alien containment yet.
I'm guessing that by gains you don't mean selling what I found 

[HT]

Yep, without alien containment you won't capture any of them alive, and you can't do that without researching a dead alien first, which will take ages with 5 scientists or less. If you manage to interrogate one early though, you have a chance to unlock very powerful techs. However, the main prize is being able to research Alien Alloys early, which are key to unlock powerful armors, ammo and even a  source of outcome that will let you dominate cults once you unlock the right technologies.

[Marrik]

If you decide to attack them, you need to get into close quarters with them. If you don't have buildings and/or cover of darkness, you probably won't be able to do it. Shotguns at very close range and melee weapons are your best bet to avoid getting slaughtered by reaction fire.

[TheCurse]

you sure darkness is a good idea for that? You can't see shit, but the aliens see just fine...