Eratosthenes

You can make fluff arguments as to how much things should cost either way. For cheaper, you say that gear and earth-tech are donated by member nations, with the "costs" being retrofitting them for xenonaut use (or transfer costs, paperwork, etc.). For expensive, you argue that they're buying it straight off the market. I prefer the former, over the latter.

I like the idea of a drop tank that can take the place of a weapon. Or perhaps aircraft can have mod points (in addition to hard points), for other such add-ons. Your chinnook could also have these (drop tanks would be invaluable). Drop tanks for longer range. ECM/ECCM/Radiation scanners for searching for UFO's/Bases/Activity. Defensive systems (flares, chaff, alien-tech) for defeating missiles or enemy weaponry. Afterburners for faster aircraft. Deployment packages specifically for transports, such as flare-droppers in night missions, or field scanners that give a 1-turn indicator of likely locations of aliens, etc. Etc. Drop tanks would be invaluable early game, when you can't afford global coverage. Likewise, on a chinook you might have to balance between a drop tank (to get your best guys to further destinations) or a defensive package (so they get there safely).

I re-dl'ed it, using the torrent. That cleared up that specific issue. Then I CTD'd when a soldier decided to shoot through a wall in the first crash landing. Thanks for the suggestions/fixes!

I'll re-dl, see if that makes a difference. As I stated in my post, the graphics drivers are up to date (they're only ~2 weeks old).

Start a new game. Go into base. Access Soldiers tab: CTD Right click a soldier in the Personnel tab: CTD Click "Dropships" on the Aircraft tab: CTD Windows Vista, 8MB RAM NVidia GeForce GTS 250, 5/15/2012 drivers DirectX 11