Let's Talk About: Squad Formation

[Emperor_Zoron]

Yeah, I add a vehicle when I get the Shrike (generally a Scimitar as I have those researched by then).

And then I spent the next couple of missions giggling whenever I fire the Pulse Laser. I always forget how fun that gun is.

Oh yeah, my jaw dropped the first time I fired that thing. I had not expected it to be that... effective. >_>

Edited May 9, 2014 by Emperor_Zoron

[Commissar Pancakes]

I pretty much never deploy with the Ferret (its just way too squishy). Even if I have to just to add a force multiplier, it will only ever be sent out with a laser cannon.

Otherwise, I my first vehicle will generally be the Scimitar.

[spacebug]

tested on insane difficulty, with ballistic weapons and laser weapon:

Chinook:

2 LMG with medipacks - i always make sure they don't need to reload in the same turn, so i always have at least one reliable source of long-range supression. low priority for armor, until you get the LMG-only-armor. they do not use the medipacks

2 shotgun with C4 - great to finnish of supressed aliens, C4 is mostly for opening UFO doors, but can also be usefull for emergency situations. (throwing C4 into an ufo destroys a ton of loot, but it can save your squad.)

2 sniper, with a rocket launcher and spare rockets in backpack - the rocket launcher is only used for removing cover, or in emergency situations (reaper!). as both weapons are long-range, they don't need armor if you are carefull (although flying armor is usefull once you get it).

2 shield + pistol with stun baton, smoke and flashbang grenades - for scouting, short range supression, and throwing smoke

Shrike:

the same + the following:

1 vehicle

2 assault rifle with medipacks and flying armor - the more mobile scout (compared to shield units with wolf armor as the more durable scout), and my medics. the rifle is a good all-round weapon, i just don't use it on the Chinook because i don't want to remove one of the more specialised troops

every soilder (except the rocket-snipers) carries as many smoke and flashbang grenades as possible without reducing tu, shield+pistol might carry a few more depending on soilder strength/tu (they need at least 2 of both).

If my shield+pistol guys have realy good strength/tu (carrying 3 smoke/flashbang and still having room), i add explosive grenades.

The LMG units are the most important part of my strategy, doing a ton of supression and often enough destroying cover or the alien aimed at. they usually do not use the medipacks, if i need to heal someone they drop it and someone else does the healing.