EM@IL X-COM Hasbro Interactive - 1999

Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) have started appearing with disturbing regularity in the night skies. Reports of violent human abductions and horrific experimentation have struck terror into the hearts of millions. Mass public hysteria has only served to expose Earth’s impotence against a vastly superior technology. Some countries attempted to deal independently with the aliens, but after five months of fruitless and expensive operations, they had yet to intercept their first UFO. The lesson was clear; this was a worldwide problem that could not be dealt with by individual nations. Representatives from the world’s most economically powerful countries gathered secretly in Geneva. After many discussions, the decision was made to establish a covert, independent body to combat, investigate, and defeat the alien threat. This organisation would be equipped with the world’s finest pilots, soldiers, scientists and engineers, working together as one multi-national force. This organisation was called the Extraterrestrial Combat Unit. X-COM was born!

The Strategy of attack...

Obviously, the lower amount of complexity of First Alien Invasion makes many of the usual X-Com strategy obselete. So, here is a list of the most common First Alien Invasion (Email X-Com) strategies:

1. Charge!
 
By moving most or all of your units into an area with the move and fire order, there is a possibilty your units will fire off enough shots to kill the enemy. Not the wisest thing to do, as your grouped units can be targeted by other units easily and proximity damages from blaster/rocket launchers can be painful.
2. Duck and Cover
 
Often there will be small spaces surrounded by three walls (most likely in the X-Com or Alien Bases). By using the move and fire command and moving out then back in, your unit can jump out, take a pot shot or two then return to safety.
3. Bait
 
Using one of your faster units, you can try to lure enemy units to follow you to a location where you can have your slower but more powerful units ready for the kill.

 

Alien Units

Visual	Name	Weaponry	Notes:
	Sectoids	Plasma Pistol	The basic alien form.
	Chryssalids	H to H (Claw Attack)	Vulnerable to explosive ammunition.
	SnakeMen	Plasma Rifle  Helium Thrower	Tough.
	Mutons	Plasma Rifle	Has very tough armor.
	Etereal	Psionic	Kill ASAP to prevent mind control of X-Com Units
	Sectopods	Blaster Launcher	Powerful but slow. Can not shoot and move in same turn.

X-Com Units

Visual	Rank	Weaponry	Notes:
	Rookies	Pistol	Basic X-Com Unit. Varies in skill.
	Squaddies	Rifle	Slower than Rookies
	Sergeants	Auto-Cannon
	Captains	Rocket Launcher	Slowest Unit, but most powerful. Can not shoot and move in same turn.
	Colonels	Flame Thrower
	Commanders	Sniper Rifle	Very Rare.

 

Alien Equipment

Visual	Name	Range	Power	Shots
	Plasma Pistol	4	2	1
	Plasma Rifle	5	1	3
	Blaster Launcher	6	4	1
	Helium Thrower	3	4	1
	Claw Attack	1	3	1
	Psonics	6	2	1

X-Com Equipment

Visual	Name	Range	Power	Shots
	Pistol	4	2	1
	Rifle	5	3	1
	Auto Cannon	5	1	3
	Rocket Launcher	6	4	1
	Flame Thrower	3	4	1
	Sniper's Rifle	6	3	1

Power Up Items

Visual	Name	Type	Effect
	Double Damage	Positive	Allows weapon to do twice as much damage until end of current turn
	Spy Satellite	Positive	Shows entire map and units in outdoor areas
	Adrenaline	Positive	Gives unit double Action Points for current turn
	Medi-Kit	Positive	Completely heals unit
	Mine (unarmed)	Positive	Placed on ground, it will explode when a unit steps on it
	Shield	Positive	Makes unit invincible for one turn
	Double Range	Positive	Doubles unit's range of weapon until end of turn
	Grenade	Positive	One use weapon, damages units in blast radius
	Mine (armed)	Negative	Explodes and damages unit that steps on it
	Mega-Mine	Negative	Kills any unit that steps on it. Also causes proximity damgages to surrounding squares
	Main-Trap	Negative	Damages unit and traps it there for two turns
	Instant Teleport	Teleport	Teleports unit to random area
	Activated Teleport	Teleport	Teleports unit to random area.(Saved and used)