Interceptor help?

[Flyboy]

When trying to intercept UFOs, I noticed I now fail nearly everytime. I might have just started too late with improving the weapons and such, but I still feel like I'm missing something. What could I do to improve my chances, what should I focus on the improve my Interceptors?

[Temper]

I skip the pheonix cannon and research lasers asap for the main reason they're so much more effeicient at taking down UFOs,while laser tech also benefits the squad tremendously by the time heavy lasers are researched they make a huge difference.

Get firestorms out the door when you can,they are a huge jump in tech and on normal difficulty just one can take out a battleship without modules being used and only having lasers fitted.The higher the difficulty however you'll find two firestorms and better weaponry invaluable and maybe still want to use the modules.

Consider also using modules like the aim,dodge and persuit boosters.They make a big difference in your interceptors performance and the higher the difficulty setting the more valuable they become.

=)

[Oodlemeister]

The biggest issue with interceptors is they die too easily. I usually try to add aim boosts and things until I can afford Firestorms.

Firestorms can take A LOT of damage before being shot down. As for weapons, I like to equip my firestorms with EMP cannons. Your Firestorm needs to get closer for a hit, but the strong health of the craft makes this a non- issue. Two shots from an EMP will bring down most UFOs and it also minimises damage to the UFO recoverable systems (flight computers etc). Plasma cannons will bring down a UFO quicker than anything, but result in more damage to the recoverable items.

[Flyboy]

Okay thanks guys ^^. I built some Firestorms in the meanwhile, but I'm still out of luck. I'll start on the EMP cannons then!

[New Moon On Monday]

Never sell a Floater corpse. Defense Matrices can help your Interceptors handle tougher UFOs while you are waiting for your Firestorms to be ready. Until I have Firestorms, I always try to keep a couple of Defense Matrices in reserve.

For weapons, I go for Laser Cannons ASAP (right after researching Beam Weapons, I go for Heavy Lasers next). An Intercepter with a Laser Cannon and help from Targeting Uplink and Defense Matrix can handle most UFOs in the phase of the game prior to the Alien Base Assault (at least on Classic difficulty).

[Narrowmind]

Has the air combat been tweaked with the expansion? I've had almost no respect for the interceptor game. It's almost always the last thing on my list to research. The ONLY time I've needed two firestorms was once on impossible, but I'm pretty sure we're not talking about that.

I've found, for the most part, an intercepter with phoenix can take down everything until the 3rd type of UFO, and except for impossible, I've never depended on any of the tech for the bonuses. It seems to me that the whole thing was created like an afterthought, and I treat it like it. The only thing I've rushed is plasma/emp, just as a catch all. Never had a problem with interceptors being shot down either. Obviously, this means sometimes I have to let the battleships shoot down my satellites in Cassic or Impossible, but I often have another in reserve I can throw up without any trouble.

Has something changed with the release of the expansion?

[AlexMBrennan]

EMP cannons are nice if you can realiably shoot down UFOs because you get better loot, but if you're struggling with the shooting down part I'd suggest not wasting resources on EMPs; buy more firestorms or research plasma instead. .

[Flyboy]

Originally posted by AlexMBrennan:

EMP cannons are nice if you can realiably shoot down UFOs because you get better loot, but if you're struggling with the shooting down part I'd suggest not wasting resources on EMPs; buy more firestorms or research plasma instead. .

Already got some more Firestorms, so I guess plasma research shall be next then, thanks for the tip!

[Flyboy]

Originally posted by New Moon On Monday:

Never sell a Floater corpse. Defense Matrices can help your Interceptors handle tougher UFOs while you are waiting for your Firestorms to be ready. Until I have Firestorms, I always try to keep a couple of Defense Matrices in reserve.

For weapons, I go for Laser Cannons ASAP (right after researching Beam Weapons, I go for Heavy Lasers next). An Intercepter with a Laser Cannon and help from Targeting Uplink and Defense Matrix can handle most UFOs in the phase of the game prior to the Alien Base Assault (at least on Classic difficulty).

Okay, I'll keep Floater corpses then, thanks for the tip. One other question though, how much better are Beam weapons compared to plasma weapons?

[New Moon On Monday]

Plasma weapons are superior to beam weapons. However, at least on Classic difficulty, I find that Laser Cannons (with the help of Targeting Uplink and Defense Matrix for bigger UFOs) are sufficient, such that I do not build plasma weapons for ships. After Laser Cannons, I do not build anything else until I have EMP Cannons available.

In my games, it seems that researching Plasma weapons and researching New Fighter Craft come near enough to each other that I am not waiting that much longer for EMP Cannons as opposed to Plasma Cannons. If your research path turns out differently, maybe you do need to consider Plasma Cannons if you are waiting a while for researching New Fighter Craft.

[Temper]

Originally posted by Ratlegion:

Has the air combat been tweaked with the expansion? I've had almost no respect for the interceptor game. It's almost always the last thing on my list to research. The ONLY time I've needed two firestorms was once on impossible, but I'm pretty sure we're not talking about that.

I've found, for the most part, an intercepter with phoenix can take down everything until the 3rd type of UFO, and except for impossible, I've never depended on any of the tech for the bonuses. It seems to me that the whole thing was created like an afterthought, and I treat it like it. The only thing I've rushed is plasma/emp, just as a catch all. Never had a problem with interceptors being shot down either. Obviously, this means sometimes I have to let the battleships shoot down my satellites in Cassic or Impossible, but I often have another in reserve I can throw up without any trouble.

Has something changed with the release of the expansion?

Don't believe there's been any changes to air combat.Air combat difficulty rises with game difficulty as you've described and as you know impossible difficulty doesn't suffer too many failures overall,so for me it's just best to use the modules and double up fighter craft to be prepared for if/when that bad hair day in air combat comes.

I've lost fighters and also just plain failed to shoot down UFOs on impossible in early game and that can be devastating financially to the campaign not to mention panic and likely the loss of a satellite which I may not be able to replace asap (circumstances pending),so I'm a lot more cautious in playing the air combat.

I prefer laser research because as I mentioned it gives great boost to the squad as well.Pheonix cannons are more than adequate early and for sure an option if your going the foundry build route,but I often don't.

Different strokes for different folks and the more options/opinions the OP gets the better.

=)

[Narrowmind]

Yeah, I litterally just subbed because I was curious what help could be offered. There are always ways we as players could be more efficient.

[Graye]

oodle has an interesting strat.. though is there more to it?

Straight EMP would mean more downtime for firestoms, which means more firestorms needed ("countered by EMP getting you more, intact ship parts).

I would keep at least one Fusion Lance Firestorm aat each location... for the really big guys.

Mine generally goes:

Interceptor (rockets)
Interceptor (lasers)
Interceptor (plasma)
Firestorm (plasma)
Firestorm (Fusion Lance)

I use EMP if/when I need some parts (or maybe money). Since I've gotten Slingshot down almost blindfolded.. I've moved away from dependancy on EMP tech.