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XCOM2: Terror from the Deep

The UN-official Strategy Guide

and

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Updated June 1, 1995

Maintained by Kuo-Sheng (Kasey) Chang

0.0 INTRODUCTION

0.1 Introduction

Thanks for the tremendous response for XCOM:USG and XCOM2:USG! I've
received feedback all over the world and I thank you all. This is the
second rev of the XCOM2:USG. Undoubtably lots of things are missing
despite plenty of feedback since the first version, but with your help
details will be filled...

Many of you may have read my bad preview of XCOM2. XCOM2 is a nice
game, but I cannot realistically call it a good simulation of
underwater combat. My rating for it is 4.5 out of 5... But it is STILL
a must-buy. :-) And it is HARD!

This version has a new chapter organization scheme since the original,
based on XCOM: Official Strategy Guide, has simply too much stuff
under combat and not much about other things. Thanks to Jeff James,
since I borrowed his chapter scheme (slightly modified) from his
upcoming "TFTD: Totally Unauthorized Guide"! :-) It's from ////Brady
Books, and should appear some time in June, along with the Official
Strategy Guide by Dave Ellis of MicroProse, from Prima Books. If you
want to know more about these books, they are listed in Appendix C.

Jeff's probably have a few sections that I don't have, like detailed
maps of every thing which are too big to include here (like the
complete maps of three levels of T'Leth...) So don't think that this
guide is every thing there is to know about TFTD!

I am still taking your suggestions for XCOM3. I have indirect contact
with Mr.Gollop and I can REALLY pass on your suggestions, no kidding.
I already have most of the common ones like robot units, construction
kits for weapons and tanks, and so on, reorder troops, fix the 80-item
limit, etc. etc. Think of some UNIQUE ones and send them to me!

XCOM: The UN-official Strategy Guide Kuo-Sheng "Kasey" Chang

0.2 Credits where credits are due

Thanks to MicroProse and Mythos Games for bringing us such a nice
game... I can't wait to see XCOM3!

Thanks to all the people who have contributed to the previous edition
of XCOM2:USG, which includes but is not limited to: Donny Chan, LT;
Robert Bellflower, xenologist; "FractalLaw", Researcher; Kenneth Tan
(Automan), CMDR; and many others.

Thanks to all the people who have contributed to previous editions of
the XCOM:USG, whom include but are not limited to: William Kang, CMDR;
Tim Chown, CMDR; Doug Osborne, SG; Stuart Lamble, SG; Seth Cohn, SG;
Bill Soo, SG; Jeff Shaffer, Economist; Rob Eiben, SG; Jim Muchow, SG;
Menachem Pasteich, architect; Paul Close, publicist and simulation
expert; JGrif36366, Researcher, and fellow XCOM players all over the
world discussing the game on USENET, America On-line and elsewhere.

Lots of thanks goes to Jeff James (CGW columnist), who shared his
knowledge of the game (and the chapter scheme!) with me and provided a
lot of exclusive information (non-MicroProse), including the Julian
Gollop interview. We honor you as XCOM Admiral. :-)

0.3 Notes on the USG

XCOM: UFO Defense and XCOM2: Terror From the Deep are trademarks of
MicroProse software.

This document's organization is mostly based on Jeff James's book,
_Terror From the Deep : Totally Unauthorized Guide_, and is used with
permission.

This document is available FREE of charge. You are under NO
obligation to send me ANY compensation. However, since I collect
stamps, feel free to mail me a nice postcard of your region, country,
state, etc., preferably with a nice stamp too. :-) This is sometimes
called "postcardware", as opposed to shareware. :-D And I wouldn't
mind if you throw in some dollar bills or a check... ;-)

All readers, PLEASE let me know if there's a confusing or missing
remark... If you find an question about the game that is not covered
in the USG, e-mail it to me. I'll try to answer it and include it in
the next update.

The USG should be available at the Game Domain WWW

WWW : http://wcl-rs.bham.ac.uk/GamesDomain

FTP : ftp://wcl-l.bham.ac.uk/pub/~djh/faqs/xcom2-guide.faq

Also check out the Alasdair Allan's Un-official XCOM/UFO Homepage

http://www-star.st-and.ac.uk/~aa1/XCOM/xcom.html

2

XCOM: The UN-official Strategy Guide Kuo-Sheng "Kasey" Chang

Any quick updates can be found on my own homepage

http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~kschang

Which is up "most of the time". If it cannot be found, try at a
different time of the day...

If you are on America On-Line, look in the PC Games Forum (keyword:
PCGAMES). Go into the file library, and search under XCOM or XCOM2.

If you REALLY can't find it, don't have FTP or WWW, not on AOL, can't
read news, etc., (i.e. there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY you can get to it)
(how did you know about this in the first place? ) then send me e-mail
(see below) and I'll try to get back to you.

Please don't just mail me and ask "it's nice and do you have an update
and if so please send it to me". If I have an update I can release I
would have released it already.

I maintain this at home on my PC and I only have a UNIX shell account
which this won't fit with other stuff I need. So don't expect too fast
of an answer if you request this by e-mail.

0.4 The author

I? I am just a game player who didn't like the existing FAQ's and
strategy tactics collection available out there, and decided to write
my own. Lots of people like what I did, so I kept doing it.

You can contact me at:

Internet1 kschang@sfsu.edu (preferred)

WWW Homepage http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~kschang

Internet2 ksc1@aol.com (only if you must, see below)

America On-Line Ksc1 (that's a "one", not "ell")

US Mail Kasey Chang, 2220 Turk Blvd. Apt. 6
San Francisco, CA 94118, USA

If you contact me via Internet e-mail I usually reply within two
working days. Please use the preferred e-mail address if possible, not
BOTH. I only sign onto America On-Line (second address) twice a week
so you won't get a prompt reply if you contact me there.

3

XCOM: The UN-official Strategy Guide Kuo-Sheng "Kasey" Chang

TABLE OF CONTENTS

0.0 INTRODUCTION.....................................................1
0.1 Introduction ...................................................1
0.2 Credits where credits are due ..................................2
0.3 Notes on the USG ...............................................2
0.4 The author .....................................................3
1.0 WHAT IS XCOM AND OTHER THINGS................................... 5
1.1 So what is XCOM2: Terror From the Deep? ........................6
1.2 What do I need to run XCOM2:TFTD? ..............................7
1.3 What's the difference between XCOM1 and XCOM2? .................9
1.4 Gameplay bugs/gripes ...........................................9
1.5 Future of XCOM, and related things ............................10
1.6 Where can I find XCOM related stuff? ..........................11
2.0 BASES AND GEOSCAPE..............................................11
2.1 Bases .........................................................12
2.2 Sub Intercepts ................................................16
2.3 Finding Alien Colonies ........................................16
2.4 GeoScape Tricks and Tips ......................................16
2.5 How do I win? How do I lose? ..................................17
2.6 How is scoring calculated? ....................................18
3.0 INTERCEPTING USOS...............................................18
3.1 Tracking USOs .................................................18
3.2 Target Selection ..............................................18
3.3 USO Attack methods ............................................20
3.4 Weapons .......................................................21
3.5 Go Home Early .................................................21
3.6 Keep Landed USOs covered ......................................21
3.7 Weapon vs subs analysis .......................................21
4.0 FINANCE.........................................................22
4.1 What really eats up money at XCOM? ............................22
4.2 How do I earn more money? .....................................22
4.3 How do I cut expenses? ........................................22
4.4 What do I manufacture to make more money? .....................23
4.5 The "Transfer Salary Savings" trick ...........................24
4.6 Aliens signed pact with XXX! ..................................25
5.0 RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURING......................................25
5.1 What should I start researching first? ........................25
5.2 Overall strategy ..............................................25
5.3 Research Tree [probably incomplete] ...........................26
5.4 Any hints on manufacturing? ...................................28
6.0 THE ALIENS......................................................28
6.1 Average Alien Stats on easiest level ..........................28
6.2 Alien attack/defense summary ..................................29
6.3 Alien specialties .............................................30
6.4 Alien Missions ................................................30
6.5 Battle Notes on individual aliens .............................30
7.0 SOLDIERS, EQUIPMENT, AND LIMITS.................................31
7.1 Soldiers ......................................................31
7.2 Packing Advice ................................................33

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XCOM: The UN-official Strategy Guide Kuo-Sheng "Kasey" Chang

8.3 Specific Weapon Notes..........................................35
9.0 MOLECULAR CONTROL COMBAT........................................38
9.1 Offensive tips:................................................38
9.2 Defensive tips:................................................38
10.0 GROUND ASSAULTS................................................39
10.1 General Combat Notes..........................................39
10.2 Capturing Aliens..............................................39
10.3 General Combat Tactics........................................41
10.4 Movement .....................................................43
11.0 SPECIFIC MISSION TACTICS.......................................46
11.1 USO Recoveries and Assaults...................................46
11.2 Colony assaults...............................................47
11.4 Anti-Terror Mission in general................................48
11.5 XCOM Base Defense.............................................49
11.5 Mastering T'leth--The Final Assault...........................49
12.0 MISC QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS...............................50
Equipment..........................................................50
Movement...........................................................51
Molecular Control Combat...........................................52
Soliders...........................................................53
Miscellaneous......................................................53
How do I use.......................................................54
APPENDIX A: SOME TROUBLESHOOTING....................................55
APPENDIX B: TABLES..................................................55
Base modules.......................................................55
XCOM Crafts........................................................56
Craft Weapons......................................................57
XCOM Ground Weapons................................................57
SWS Types..........................................................58
Armor..............................................................58
Equipment list.....................................................59
Stuff that can be bought, hire, or leased .........................59
Stuff that must be researched and manufacturered...................60
USO speed, range, etc..............................................61
USO floorplans.....................................................62
APPENDIX C: TFTD BOOKS..............................................62