Is UFO Interception necessary?

[silentmeowth_]

Hi, I'm trying to figure out if failing to shoot down a UFO or refusing to engage at all has any negative effects. Does taking it down have any bonuses? I'm trying to prioritize my spending and I don't want to waste money upgrading my aircraft if it doesn't affect the game.

[Scifiwriterguy]

Failing an intercept (or not attempting) is a small ding on the monthly report and, if I remember correctly, a slight increase in that country's panic level. Not anywhere near as bad as, say, blowing a landing or abduction counterattack, but measurable.

However, unless a country has satellite coverage, you're not going to detect the UFO to knock it down anyway, so growing your satellite and interceptor coverage organically in parallel is a good way to go.

[NetPCDoc]

While I believe that a UFO Interception is inevitable, as long as you can manage panic levels so that the XCOM project does not lose support of any countries, it can be postponed.

Then, again, if the XCOM project can manufacture its' own aircraft then you won't need to waste credits on buying obsolete aircraft (to replace those shot down by the aliens); and it is these aircraft, that the XCOM project manufactures, that are needed for the critical interceptions.

[silentmeowth_]

Ok, thanks so much guys

[RJJameson]

I believe you have a chance to lose a satellite if you don't take down the UFO. Might not apply to the little scouts.

[Mhblis]

Yea it impacts.

1. It raises panic in any nation the interceptor flies over.

2. Can lead to larger ships which can shoot down your satellites.

[red255]

yeah

1.) panic spike
2.) loss of satelight.
3.) no alloys/elerium from doing the mission so your income is down for the month.

--

If you just want to justify upgrading your aircraft. the cost of the upgrades can be compared to the cost of the after mission loot.

two planes over a continent usually can manage to take down up to a large scout.

two planes armed with pheonix cannons can take down abductors. armed with laser cannons can take down anything.

I'd sort of have one plane with a laser and one with a phoenix canon over every country. cost is not really that high and its covered by selling the after mission loot at the grey market.

[silentmeowth_]

Wow, some really good incentives. Ok then, time to start building up the air defense.

[red255]

So to math it, assuming 2 UFO per month, one might just land.

assuming a large scout. gets shot down

minimum of 7 aliens (5x7 =35)
2 power sources 4 flight computers. worst case all broken. 120
62 elerium 144 alloys. =474

so a total of 629 minimum for a Shot down large scout. Per month. probably some more for the aliens weapon fragments.

this is the value of selling everything the UFO drops for cash and not counting the value of the items as items.

so 629, would cover

8 Airplanes cost 320, though you start with 2, so 240 +20x8 maintenance each month.

8 laser cannons cost worst cast 35 and 25 alloys or 680.

cost of airplanes is halved with NA continent bonus.
Cost of laser cannons is halved with NA continent bonus and further reduced with engineers greater than 10.

so if you HAVE the NA continent bonus the Air fleet is justified with the loot from a single crashed Large scout. to cover 4 continents at least.

[j.mcleod]

Even missing one crashed UFO can screw your campaign. They are vital, not least of all for the materials you recover that are required for developing advanced weapons and armour.

[NetPCDoc]

Just a btw, while intercepting (and shooting down) UFOs tends to speed the game up, should one have great survellance and a ready-to-go troop transport - one can (eventually) catch a alien ship on the ground - where it is easier to claim undamaged components.

[A Mongoose]

UFO interception not necessary?

Now THAT is a funny joke.

If you don't intercept UFOs, your satellites are gonna get shot down, which raises panic, costs money and costs countries. If you dont assault UFOs, you're not gonna get power sources and flight computers, which means you're not gonna get Firestorms, which means you're not gonna intercept certain UFO types, which means you're not gonna win the game. It'll also cost you money (that you won't be getting) from selling all the loot you get.

Basically, it's an extremely important part of the game.

[red255]

I watch Youtube vidoes like can you beat various mario games without collecting a single coin.

so the question is if you can beat XCOM:EW without shooting down a single UFO. Aside from the overseer, the answer would likely be yes.

but if the question is, is it worth it to shoot down UFO? simply put the resources gained from successfully raiding a crashed large scout makes it worth while to shoot them down, or at least put a moderate investment into doing so.

[Sepherix]

Each UFO has a mission. Some collect ressources for the aliens, some create the missions.
you absolutely dont want enemies to have a advantage over you, the missions will get pretty tough otherwise.

If you shoot down a craft before it does its mission, well, you don't have to do the terror mission.
And the terror mission don't give the additional ressources from the alien craft.

but frankly; you can do with just the base fighters until the larger ships. In normal that is.
in higher difficulties you might have to grade up the weapons.

[Static]

Depends which game you play i forgot about vanilla because i always play longwar mod in this mod not shooting down ufos will give a boost to the research of the aliens which you dont want to happen. Forgot if this is also in the original the case. Your accomplishments in the running month are also of influence to the next month. The higher the threat you pose to them the higher the chance of base assault and more terror missions. At least in Longwar mod

[red255]

its not. both of you, do not bring up long war in a new person thread. what is wrong with you?