The difficulty curve is more like a 90 degree cliff!

[MLGertzert]

So I don't really know if I was having any glitches, but the first light scout had crew on it, and all light scouts following that had no crew. I only was able to bring down one regular scout, so by the time the first (well, second, but first one was across the world) terror mission showed up, I had a very untrained crew. I went in with 6 soldiers. 2 had jackal armor. I can't remember their exact loadout, but I think it was 3 m16s, 2 shotguns, and an RL. I also had an MG Ferret. I was excited after the 14 un-manned UFO missions I did. Only 3 soldiers came out. Those fucking disc things, whatever the hell they are, might be the scariest thing ever. They are like Bio-Drones from TFTD. All the douchiness of cyberdisks except 1x1. Also, I might add, I had to abort after only scoring a few Xeno kills, and that was mostly from the rocket launcher, and one badass on those douchediscs.

TL;DR: Terror missions suck

Edit: Game crashed on the terror mission. Re-did versus Sebillians, brought in 8 soldiers instead. Aborted after 4 guys were left.

Edited March 30, 2013 by MLGertzert

[crusherven]

That's a bug caused by some faulty xml files. Here's a fix that should help a lot: http://www.goldhawkinteractive.com/forums/showthread.php/4278-Fix-For-Empty-UFOs

Game is a lot harder without all that money and exp.

[Max_Caine]

If you try this fix for empty UFOs, you'll be able to get cash and experience for your squaddies from downed light scouts, which should fund base expansion, manufacture of aircraft, manufacture of armour etc. etc. making things a little easier.

EDIT: Ninja'd by crusherven!

Another suggestion: try taking out normal scouts with your Condors if possible. You really need a downed scout with minor damage so you can get the alien power source which will otherwise block your research.

EDIT 2: As I understand it, those drones also come in 2x2 medium and 3x3 heavy variants!

Edited March 29, 2013 by Max_Caine

[erutan]

the moment has come

douchediscs laugh at our bullets

but rockets go boom

[Sathra]

Only been able to fight light drones once so far. Those are fun. I had lasers and Wolf on everyone at the time though. The plasma spray looks awesome.

[MLGertzert]

If you try this fix for empty UFOs, you'll be able to get cash and experience for your squaddies from downed light scouts, which should fund base expansion, manufacture of aircraft, manufacture of armour etc. etc. making things a little easier.

EDIT: Ninja'd by crusherven!

Another suggestion: try taking out normal scouts with your Condors if possible. You really need a downed scout with minor damage so you can get the alien power source which will otherwise block your research.

EDIT 2: As I understand it, those drones also come in 2x2 medium and 3x3 heavy variants!

Thanks, I had tried starting a second base early on but eventually my research stagnated because I couldn't catch regular scouts and the crew-less UFO bug.

[Chris]

You're meant to use the Foxtrot against the Scouts, it's faster than them.

[Max_Caine]

While this is true, I have found that if I shoot down a Scout with 2 Condors using a mix of missiles and cannon fire I usually get a minor damaged Scout. If I use a Foxtrot, I have always gotten a major damaged Scout. One game session I went until December without once getting an intact power source.

[erutan]

@max - this is from a much earlier playthrough, but can you set up the foxtrot to have 4 sidewinders and take down a scout with them? I think I remember doing that, instead of relying on the heavy missiles.

[Max_Caine]

Oh, I always set Foxtrots to either carry all sidewinders or all avalanches depending on the role I want them for - there's little point mixing and matching, you get the worst of both worlds.

[GizmoGomez]

I've actually prefer to use F-17s for the scouts. Ever since I got a MiG in a past version, and it and all it's MiG buddies got shot down, I've stuck with F-17s for the scouts. (I've never lost a plane since I started doing Condor-only runs, so I must be doing something right.)

[svidangel]

Reminds me of