Re: The X-Com Files - 3.5: Whispers In The Dark

[Vangrimar1]

Will the aliens carry out retaliatory missions after intercepting a UFO, or just send interceptors?

[Solarius Scorch]

Will the aliens carry out retaliatory missions after intercepting a UFO, or just send interceptors?

They should send interceptors.
But base assaults will still happen anyway, just way less often (normal retaliation missions).

[HT]

Now that the Piratez' update is out, X-Files should follow soon, right?

By the way, I have some questions:

Is there some penalty besides losing points if you complete the "sell stuff to MAGMA Corporation" research line? Their Power Armor equivalent doesn't seem that good compared to the ones you can make, especially the Flying Power Suits.

If you DO NOT make the "Share Allow Ammo" deal, will Osiron still end up having Alloy Ammo eventually? Does not taking the deal prevent you from getting Alloy Ammo for Black Ops weapons (if you complete that Syndicate mission)?

Are there fire-type weapons that deal full damage besides the Napalm Grenade? I believe some alien ones do full WP/Burn damage instead of "just" 5-10 as they usually do.

[Solarius Scorch]

Now that the Piratez' update is out, X-Files should follow soon, right?

These aren't really related, but yeah, should be soon.

Is there some penalty besides losing points if you complete the "sell stuff to MAGMA Corporation" research line? Their Power Armor equivalent doesn't seem that good compared to the ones you can make, especially the Flying Power Suits.

Any such penalties are explained in plain text, though usually after the fact.
As for Power Armour's quality, it is indeed of lower tech level than the Power Suit, and especially the Flying Suit. But also it is geared against Earth weapons, while the PS/FS is profiled more against alien energy weapons, and since those weapons are genrally stronger, these suits seem overall better. At least I think it works like this.

If you DO NOT make the "Share Allow Ammo" deal, will Osiron still end up having Alloy Ammo eventually? Does not taking the deal prevent you from getting Alloy Ammo for Black Ops weapons (if you complete that Syndicate mission)?

Osiron won't have alloy ammo, but you will.

Are there fire-type weapons that deal full damage besides the Napalm Grenade? I believe some alien ones do full WP/Burn damage instead of "just" 5-10 as they usually do.

I can't give you a full list off the top of my head, but yes, some alien weapons are like this.

[Alex_D]

Osiron won't have alloy ammo, but you will.

In m current campaign, I'm avoiding researching the Sharing the Elerium and Alloy techs. However, there were some missions where I had to raid some warehouse of sorts, and among the captured loot were weapons with Tritanium ammo.

[Solarius Scorch]

In m current campaign, I'm avoiding researching the Sharing the Elerium and Alloy techs. However, there were some missions where I had to raid some warehouse of sorts, and among the captured loot were weapons with Tritanium ammo.

I think it's still possible in very rare cases. In these cases, probably someone else broke the secrecy and left some AA ammo for Osiron to steal, but they don't have the blueprints, just the items for sale.

Hmmm... Would be cool if you could buy random items from Osiron, lol.

[Alex_D]

I think it's still possible in very rare cases. In these cases, probably someone else broke the secrecy and left some AA ammo for Osiron to steal, but they don't have the blueprints, just the items for sale.

The funny thing is I don't use the weapons whose alloy ammo I found, nor I never produced the ammo for any reason. *cue X-Files TV series music*

Hmmm... Would be cool if you could buy random items from Osiron, lol.

Are you given yourself some ideas?  (I totally support it BTW)

[Finnik]

In m current campaign, I'm avoiding researching the Sharing the Elerium and Alloy techs. However, there were some missions where I had to raid some warehouse of sorts, and among the captured loot were weapons with Tritanium ammo.

I think I forgot some requirements for warehouse 

[Alex_D]

Maybe I missed it. If a UFO is attacking one unarmed craft, the minimize screen icon (top left) has a red square. What is it for?

[BlackStaff]

Maybe I missed it. If a UFO is attacking one unarmed craft, the minimize screen icon (top left) has a red square. What is it for?

Auto destruct ?

[Alex_D]

Auto destruct ?

Hmmm. And why I'd like to use in my fully loaded troop transport (SkyMarshall) ? (Luckily it was escorted).
I'd be more inclined to use it if it was some sort of ejection seat for the pilots, so the craft is lost but the pilot get to survive (say with a high % and/or wounded) to return to the base to fight another day.

[Solarius Scorch]

Hmmm. And why I'd like to use in my fully loaded troop transport (SkyMarshall) ? (Luckily it was escorted).
I'd be more inclined to use it if it was some sort of ejection seat for the pilots, so the craft is lost but the pilot get to survive (say with a high % and/or wounded) to return to the base to fight another day.

Pilots (and any other personnel onboard) get a 97% chance to survive a crash. Their equipment is lost, though.

[Alex_D]

Pilots (and any other personnel onboard) get a 97% chance to survive a crash. Their equipment is lost, though.

I have to try that next time (maybe on a save copy).
But I don't see this option enabled on a regular fighter craft, or is it?
(looks at a newbie in the mirror)

[Solarius Scorch]

It's a global option, in vars_XCOMFILES.rul. It's called crewEmergencyEvacuationSurvivalChance.

[Covenant]

Does that apply on purely passenger craft like the Skyranger? My first real campaign just came to an end because an alien intercepted my course and blew it out of the sky, killing everyone on board. I'm assuming I wasn't just ridiculously unlucky and failed the 97% chance test 12 times?

Also, is there any kind of warning within the mod for the fact that this can occur? It was a nasty shock, and I'm a little surprised given the Piratez influence that more of the ingame mechanics and threats aren't elaborated on through the research. It's cool that a couple of the dossiers unlock missions, but most of them seem largely useless, and the explanation of things like Camo, Stun recovery, etc, that Piratez offered would probably be more help to people who are going in unspoiled. Particularly with stuff added just in this mod, like the interceptions.