So did the crystal thing, got the key, And I know if I go I will likely get wrecked because.... XCOM My question is if I do normal missions while this base is there, will countries freak the fuck out? I did one to pass time while my main dudes were getting not dead, but I don't want to press my luck.

The alien base is the end of the first of three acts.

Clearing it just means you get a 2 point global panic reduction. Quite useful if you're coming up on a council meeting and everybody's freaking the fuck out and you have no satellites to launch. You can storm that thing and be totally cool.

@Iodine: Yeah, the tutorial kind of rushes you through the first act that Terramagi refers to. There's no penalty for not doing the base assault, and I would actually recommend you don't do it right away. Spend a month or two doing some research, getting some money, and getting a little bit stronger before you assault the base.

But yeah, if your panic levels are rising, clearing out the base does wonders for that.

No, I actually took that time to build my squad up, gain the best weapons and the best armor possible and get all the satellites and planes needed to keep the countries in the blue... took me about 2 game years before I actually played the rest of the story missions but it was worth it since I had an unstoppable squad.

God damn I love you internet, X-COM fucked me up when I was in high school, and I was all alone in my pain.

I can't answer your question, I won't touch the new x-com with a 10' pole.

@frenchdork said:

No, I actually took that time to build my squad up, gain the best weapons and the best armor possible and get all the satellites and planes needed to keep the countries in the blue... took me about 2 game years before I actually played the rest of the story missions but it was worth it since I had an unstoppable squad.

Wow. I did the first base assault about a month after I had access to it and was nervous the entire time that a delay would cause some other catastrophe to happen. I did have three African countries in the red at the time though, so probably was good timing anyway. Nigeria and Egypt were pissed off at me for passing over South Africa in its dire time of need to do some piddly mission in the UK just to get some free engineers. After all was said and done, Egypt and Nigeria backed out and South Africa stayed in. :D

... it occurs to me that I have been running my X-COM like a mercenary squad. Help goes to the highest bidder. Ha!

I lost Nigeria and South Africa shortly before I assaulted the first alien base. It was a pain in the ass! I recommend taking a couple rookies for fodder.

I just finished it not an hour ago. I tired, and lost 3 times before I decided to wait, build up my team and get some research and armaments When I went in I had all of my guys equipped with plasma guns, still using laser pistols. Most in skeleton armor. 6 med kits on 2 supports. A scope on my sniper. I think armor on my heavy, and Grenadines on 2 assaults. I also lost one guy, and the other made it out with one health.

I just tried it, after finally getting enough engineers to build the key and got destroyed.

I just quit out and decided I'm going to do some more missions before I go in... Ugh.

This game is so stressful, but I can't really stop playing it.

The alien base is the end of the first of three acts.

Clearing it just means you get a 2 point global panic reduction. Quite useful if you're coming up on a council meeting and everybody's freaking the fuck out and you have no satellites to launch. You can storm that thing and be totally cool.

@SotoSaki said:

I just tried it, after finally getting enough engineers to build the key and got destroyed.

I just quit out and decided I'm going to do some more missions before I go in... Ugh.

This game is so stressful, but I can't really stop playing it.

It is stressful but also very fun at the same time. I like the fact that it is turn based without any time limit on decision making. This game has fantastic tension when you're out in the middle of the map, you know there are aliens around somewhere, inching forward, hope you don't overextend your guys and put them in harm's way, wondering what's out there. It's good stuff. Love it.

If it's the chrysalids giving you trouble, just make sure to move forward slowly and put most of the team into overwatch on each turn. Chrysalids don't do so well against a firing squad, especially if you have elevation on them.

First time I tried it I lost all my good soldiers right at the end from all crits. Not going again till all my guys are kitted with titan armour.

Back when I tried it, it was going really well for me apart from wasting all my health kits early on. Then after killing my 3rd or 4th Cyberdisc, it exploded beside the power source 2 of my guys were using for cover. Went downhill from there. Chryssalids popped a 3rd guy, then my mind controlled sniper ventilated a 4th and he bled out with no med kits. The showdown was a super tense sneak-n-shoot between the sectoid commander and my Support and Sniper, neither of whom were great in close quarters. Still can't quite remember how I won, think I was tripping balls on adrenaline by then.

@hawkinson76 said:

God damn I love you internet, X-COM fucked me up when I was in high school, and I was all alone in my pain.

I can't answer your question, I won't touch the new x-com with a 10' pole.

Um, alright? Your loss, I'm afraid.

Ok, I'm having the same issue here. I actually don't have the alloy yet to build the key I need. But I can defer going on this Hidden Alien Base mission and it won't completely just disappear or anything though? I was just worried that I would somehow just miss doing it completely if a certain amount of time elapsed.

I just finished the alien base. I took awhile building things up before going in because I only had 2 satellites which also meant I had a huge lack of funds. I'm playing normal and there have been very few close encounters for my squad, but I knew I need to slow down the story and play catch-up and get some satellites in the air first. It did mean that the alien base was filled with mutons and advanced mutons, and while it was tense there wasn't any real concern that someone would die. When it came time for the showdown with the sectoid, I tried to get my assault down there to bring home a live specimen. Unfortunately for him, he panicked my other assault who responded by giving him a face full of laser.