Games PC X-COM-APOCALYPSE User Manual

™

THE RIDGE CHIPPING SODBURY SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE BS17 6BN

MicroProse Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders. MADE IN THE UK.

MICROPROSE

and

X-COM

are registered trademarks and

X-COM APOCALYPSE

is a trademark of

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

X-COM®

Background 2 Game Overview 6 Special Note to Finding Out Where Everything Is 8 Installation And Loading 8 This Manual 9 The Point And Click Interface 9 Game Screens 10

THE GAMEPLAY TUTORIALS 13

Starting A New Game 14

Tutorial One: Using the Cityscape 16

Exploring The City 17 The Central Information Panel 18 Game Time Controls 19 The Alert Screen 20 Tracking

Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat 25

Saving Your Game 26 The Tactical Screen 28 Exploring The Tactical Display 29 Selecting Squads 30 Moving Squads 31 Using Split Level Views 34 Selecting Individual Agents 36 Moving Individual Agents 37 The Overhead Map View 37 Searching For Aliens 39 Engaging The Aliens 40 Completing A Tactical Mission 41

Tutorial Three: Tactical Combat

(Advanced Movement) 42

X-COM

Veterans 7

X-COM

Vehicles 23

Running 43 Crawling 44 Kneeling 44

Tutorial Four: Tactical Combat

(Attacking The Enemy) 46

Attack Modes 46 Shot-Types 47 Using Cover And Targeting The Aliens 48 Firing in the Turn-Based Game 50 Using Equipment 52 Retrieving Equipment From The Tactical Area 54 Opportunity Fire (Turn-Based Only) 55 Completing Tactical Combat Missions 56 Debriefing 57

Tutorial Five: Returning To The Cityscape 58

Returning To Base 58 The Bases Screen 59 Buying Equipment 60 Hiring Agents 63 Assigning Research 65 Build New Base Facilities 68 What Happens Next? 71 The End Of The Tutorial 71 Playing Tips 72

REFERENCE GUIDE 75

Main Menu 76 Starting A New Game 77 Loading A Saved Game 78

Cityscape Screen 79

Exploring Mega-Primus 80 Buildings Screen 81 Messages 84

Cityscape Options 87 The UFOpaedia 91 Game Time Display 98 Central Information Panel 99

Bases Tab 101

The Bases Screen 102 Hire/Fire Screen 107 Buying and Selling Items 110 Transfers 112 Alien Containment Screen 115 Buy New Base 115

X-COM

Vehicles Tab 117

Equipping Vehicles 119 Vehicle Location Screen 121

Vehicle Orders 122

Intercepting Hostile Vehicles 125 Vehicle Combat and Tactics 128 Shooting Down UFOs and UFO Missions 129 Some Things to Remember 131

Agent Tab 132

Equip Agent Screen 133 Agent Location Screen 137 Deploying Agents in Mega-Primus 137 Training 142

Biochemistry, Engineering and

Quantum Physics Tabs 144

Research and Manufacture 145

Hostile Vehicles Tab 150 Organisations Tab 151

The Tactical Game 152

Equipping Agents Before a Tactical Mission 153 Briefing Screen 153 Squad Assignment Screen 155 The Tactical Screen 157 Exploring The Tactical Display 158 The Control Panel 160 Selecting Squads 166 Moving Squads 167 Selecting Individual Agents 168 Moving Individual Agents 169 Moving Agents And Setting Waypoints In The Overhead Map View 170 Making An Agent Jump 172 Flying 172 Engaging The Enemy And Winning Tactical Combat Missions 173 Enemy Sighted! 174 Shooting 175 Using Grenades 180 Using Psionic Weapons 182 Encumbrance 185 Exhaustion 185 Morale 185 Wounding 187 Completing Tactical Combat Missions 189 Debriefing 190

Information Screens 193

Weekly Funding Assessment 193 Diplomatic Rift Screen 193 Alien Take-Over Screen 193

APPENDIX A - Keyboard and Mouse Controls 196 CREDITS 198

p.ii

p.iii

Introduction

p.iv

p.1

Introduction

X-COM®

Dear Section Commander

Welcome to tradition that spans back to the late 1990’s. Let me appraise you of activities to date and, more importantly, the activities of the Aliens we have encountered.

Back in the mid 1990s it became evident that “we were not alone”. By 1998, UFOs began to land openly in rural areas; the aim of these early missions was the abduction of local inhabitants and animals. Our first military contact with the Aliens led to the massacre of an entire squad. In November of that year, an emergency meeting was convened at the United Nations. As a result of that meeting, against the Alien menace. Most of this activity occurred in the cities and rural areas of Earth, but eventually it took us to the Aliens’ main Base on Mars (Cydonia).

Our victory at Cydonia saw the defeat of the immediate Alien threat, but, in its turn reawakened a second wave of destruction that counter.

Alien activity began once more in 2039. this time; most of our Bases were decommissioned or converted into Theme

BACKGROUND

X-COM

(Extraterrestrial Combat unit). You are now part of a

X-COM

was established. In the following years,

X-COM

were later enlisted to

X-COM

had only a nominal existence at

X-COM’s

waged war

Parks. The call for the re-institution of numerous ship and aircraft losses at sea. Years of recession and political feuding meant that funding from the world’s governments was not forthcoming; we had to raise the money by alternative corporate means.

From 2041, after the initial recruitment in 2040, the second Alien war was waged under the seas and oceans of the world. The war came to its climax in the battle at the Alien city of T’leth. Buried underwater for 65 million years, the city had the ability to destroy the Earth. Fortunately, we discovered that Alien society was constructed like that of the bees and after killing the Alien ‘Queen’, everything else disintegrated.

T’leth rose from the water only to self-destruct; a sight I don’t think any present at that time will forget. Since then we have had few recorded encounters. and Marsec however, were enlisted in the late 2060’s to fight a territorial war against Aliens in the newly established deep space mining colonies. This conflict

left Earth uncontaminated....that was until a short while ago, when the first

Dimension-Gate appeared; right here in Mega-Primus.

The last war has indeed proven to be an expensive victory. The contamination of Earth’s atmosphere and the devastating climatic changes that ensued, have affected everyone. Whilst many sought to leave Earth and colonise other planets, a self-sufficient, self-contained city was successfully constructed here on Earth and thrived under the hazardous toxic atmosphere that surrounded our home world. Mega-Primus has already become an important historical achievement.

X-COM

was led by the media after

X-COM

p.2

p.3

Introduction

Unfortunately, the last four years have seen this comfortable, low-cost lifestyle rapidly deteriorate. The social and physical fabric of our society has decayed at an alarming rate; sociologists have been, as yet, unable to explain the cause of decay. Statistics clearly demonstrate increases in physical and cyberspace violence, family breakdowns, crime, ethnic unrest and strange cult group involvement.

The frequency and pace at which incidents are occurring, is even more disturbing. The concern of the citizens is evident. Many have already fled the city. The ongoing mass migration increases the concern of all remaining citizens as each day passes. Losses in tax revenue are restricting the city’s ability to deal with incidents and the emergency services are unable to do any more than firefight existing problems.

Unless we deal with the source of the problem, social collapse appears to be a very real possibility! Whilst the Senate remains unconvinced that Alien interference is the source of the problems, they have secretly agreed to fund a

X-COM

covert investigation by

Due to your recent promotion, we have decided that you shall be responsible for this investigation. We will forward existing information to you shortly.

X-COM

Supreme Commander

To: Section Commander From: Tactical Office

X-COM

Subject: Date: March 2084

Congratulations on your recent promotion and good luck in the upcoming battle. We don’t have much to go on but this information should prove useful.

The Aliens are not acting as openly as before. UFOs have been appearing intermittently but no attacks have been made; these appearances have been sporadic and short-lived. In the past we were invaded from other worlds but now, in 2084, the Aliens are travelling from another dimension. The means by which they achieve trans-dimensional travel is unclear, but it is apparent that the UFOs use some form of Dimensional Gateway. The gateways can appear anywhere in Mega-Primus. We would advise beginning the research of Dimension Gates immediately.

You have at your disposal the finest technology Mega-Primus has to offer, to combat the Alien menace. Your Agents will be responsible for investigating any strange events that might reveal Alien activity.

INTELLIGENCE REPORT AND OBJECTIVES SUMMARY

Yours faithfully

J.G Steinbach

p.4

The objective of these investigations is to gather as much information about the Aliens and their technology as possible. To defend Mega-Primus effectively, you will be responsible for research and development based on the results of these investigations.

p.5

Introduction

X-COM

must recover all Alien artefacts and technology from Alien encounters, in order to research and develop new weapons and craft. The results of your investigations will be published in the UFOpaedia, so that both you and your Agents have the most up-to-date information. Without this information we will not know of the Aliens’ intent or, more importantly, a means by which we can defeat them.

X-COM

should retain a covert status as it monitors the situation in the city. Our investigation is secretly funded by the Senate and without this funding, the effectiveness and scope of operations will be severely diminished.

The success of our operation depends on your efforts. The safety of MegaPrimus is in your hands; your task is to command Alien incursion!

X-COM’s

forces to defeat the

GAME OVERVIEW

X-COM ® Apocalypse™

different key elements: Tactical Combat Missions and the Cityscape. In order to protect Mega-Primus successfully from the Alien menace, you must master both of these elements.

Tactical Combat Missions provide the challenge of exploration and tense combat against the Aliens. Missions can take place anywhere in Mega-Primus; your squads of Agents could do battle with the Alien menace in factories, multi-level

is an absorbing strategy game featuring two very

corporate buildings and many other city locations. The Tactical section of

X-COM Apocalypse

strategies and tactics as you hunt down the Aliens. Whatever you do - “Don’t Get Hurt”.

When your Agents are not engaged in close combat you will be in charge of

wider operations in the Cityscape. Here you must develop adept

COM’s

management skills in order to maximise the potential of and the many resources at your disposal. In order to advance in the game, you must recover as many Alien artefacts as you can from your Tactical Combat Missions so that your scientists can carry out research about the Aliens and the Alien threat.

is no arcade blast; you will need to apply a wide range of

X-COM

, its personnel

X-

SPECIAL NOTE TO

X-COM

Although elements of

UFO: ENEMY UNKNOWN

game’s content is new, as is the interface, which has been totally redesigned to incorporate many new functions. It is recommended that participate in the Tutorial Section of the manual to familiarise themselves with the new features available.

Players are also advised to read the

X-COM Apocalypse

understanding of the

VETERANS

X-COM Apocalypse

package, in order to increase your enjoyment and

X-COM

will be familiar to players of

and

X-COM: TERROR FROM THE DEEP

X-COM Rookies’ Guide

world.

, much of the

X-COM

veterans

, provided in your

p.6

p.7

Introduction

FINDING OUT WHERE EVERYTHING IS

The Technical Supplement is where you’ll find detailed information about

late

hardware requirements, installation, start-up instructions and any the game. Since it was written later, this information is more up to date than anything in the manual.

The ReadMe file, that comes on the CD-ROM, provides details of the very latest changes (due to printing and binding time, the manual has to be completed way before the playtesters recommend their final tweaks). This information supersedes even the Technical Supplement.

changes to

INSTALLATION AND LOADING

Install and Load

X-COM Apocalypse

by referring to your Technical Supplement.

THIS MANUAL

This Manual is split into two main sections:-

SECTION 1: THE GAMEPLAY TUTORIALS

Designed to get you playing recommend that those new to on a new campaign.

SECTION 2: THE REFERENCE GUIDE

The

X-COM

veteran may choose to start with the Reference Guide. This section

contains details of the updated interface and additional features in

Apocalypse

X-COM Apocalypse

X-COM

complete each Tutorial before embarking

as quickly as possible. We

X-COM

THE POINT AND CLICK INTERFACE

X-COM Apocalypse

MOUSE CONTROL - ‘CLICKING’

You will often be asked to ‘click’ on a particular area of the screen. Depending on the screen you may be asked to ‘click’ on buttons, icons or text. To do this,

is played using the mouse.

p.8

p.9

Introduction

simply move the cursor over the item and press the Left-Mouse-Button (LMB), unless otherwise stated.

MOUSE CONTROL - ‘DOUBLE CLICKING’

Move the cursor over the item and ‘click’ the LMB twice in quick succession.

MOUSE CONTROL - ‘DRAG AND DROP’

A ‘Drag and Drop’ system is also used in many parts of the game.

• To ‘Drag’ - click and hold the LMB over an item. This item will become

attached to the cursor. You can now move that item around the screen.

• To ‘Drop’ an item - after you have ‘Dragged’ it, simply release the LMB when

the item is over your intended destination.

TOOL TIPS

We have worked very hard to make the interface as ‘user friendly’ as possible. If you are unsure as to the function of any button or icon, just leave the cursor over the option for a second and some help text will appear.

GAME SCREENS

There are two Control Panels that you will use most. These are the:

• Cityscape Control Panel

• Tactical Control Panel

Note: we will cover these in more detail later.

X-COM

Funds

Menu Bar

All other screens in the game are based around a common layout.

• The Menu Bar will always appear down the right-hand edge of any screen.

• The OK button will always appear at the bottom of the Menu Bar. This button will always accept what you have done and close the screen.

•

X-COM’s

funds will always be displayed at the top-right of the screen.

p.10

p.11

THE GAMEPLAY

TUTORIALS

p.12

p.13

The Gameplay Tutorials

Welcome to get into the game with the minimum of fuss. The two main sections of the game are covered here: the Cityscape, where you deploy your Agents to investigate Alien activity; Tactical Combat, where your Agents combat the Alien menace face to face. In the final Tutorial, we will return to the Cityscape to buy equipment, Recruit and Equip Agents.

For extra information on particular game features, please see the Reference Guide later in this manual.

First of all, we will begin a new game.

X-COM Apocalypse

. The following section is designed to help you

STARTING A NEW GAME

After watching the introduction, you will be taken to the Main Menu.

• Move the cursor over the Start Campaign Game button and click the LeftMouse-Button (LMB) to select. You will now be taken to the Select Difficulty Screen.

All of the Tutorials are written assuming that you are playing at Novice level.

• Move the cursor over the Novice button and click the LMB to select. Once you have mastered Novice level, you should choose a harder level for a tougher challenge.

p.14

You will now be taken to the Cityscape Screen.

p.15

TUTORIAL ONE: USING THE CITYSCAPE

In this first Tutorial we will take a look around Mega-Primus, introduce the basic controls of the Cityscape, focus on Alerts and deploying your Agents on Tactical Missions.

Cityscape Display

Control Panel

The Cityscape allows you to manage

X-COM’s

resources and develop your long term strategy. It is split into two areas: the Cityscape Display and the Control Panel. At the beginning of the game the Cityscape Display will be centred on your current Base. Your Base contains the vehicles, equipment and Agents with which you will begin your new campaign.

Central Information Panel

Message Bar

In the Control Panel you will see the Message Bar, a group of Cityscape Options, a display of the Game Time, the Time Controls and the Central Information Panel (more on the use of this later).

EXPLORING THE CITY

Let’s begin by taking a look around Mega-Primus using the Cityscape Display. At the beginning of the game, the Cityscape Display will be an Isometric Map View of the city.

• Move the mouse cursor to the left edge of the screen. The screen will scroll revealing more of the city. Move the cursor to the other edges of the screen and explore more of the city. You will see many of the city’s futuristic buildings, including Corporate HQs, The Astrodome, Police Stations and even the City Slums.

Note: to find out more about each building, simply click on one to open the Buildings Screen. The Buildings Screen provides you with useful information about who owns the building, its function and what Agents and vehicles are at the building.

You can also use the cursor keys on the keyboard to scroll around the Cityscape

Display.

Cityscape Options

p.16

Game Time and

Time Controls

p.17

Tutorial One: Using The Cityscape

THE CENTRAL INFORMATION PANEL

The Central Information Panel is ver y important in the game and it is this that we will look at next.

X-COM

Vehicles Tab

Biochemistry

Engineering TabAgent TabBases Tab

Tab

Hostile Vehicles Tab

Quantum

Physics Tab

Organisations

Tab

The Central Information Panel is split into eight ‘Tabs’. Each ‘Tab’ provides access to further options allowing you to manage all of

X-COM’s

resources

effectively.

At the moment the Bases Tab is selected. Notice that it is coloured Green. Also note that any icon that takes you to a Base related screen, will also be Green. Throughout

X-COM Apocalypse

a colour-coding system is used to help you learn

the interface.

• Click on the

Blue. All functions that relate to

X-COM

Vehicles Tab (to the right of the Bases Tab), it will turn

X-COM

Vehicles are coloured Blue.

• Click on the other Tabs and you will see that they are also colour-coded as

follows:-

X-COM

Agents - Light Green Biochemistry - Purple Engineering - Purple Quantum Physics - Purple Hostile Vehicles - Red Organisations - Orange

Now that you are familiar with the Central Information Panel, we will look at another important feature of the game, the Time Controls.

Note: if you wish to pause time at any stage during the game, simply click

GAME TIME CONTROLS

Game Time

Slow Speed

Double Speed

Normal Speed

Quad Speed

Pause

p.18

Ultra Fast

p.19

Tutorial One: Using The Cityscape

Look at the Game Time. You will see that it is passing at a very slow rate, allowing you time to plan your strategy and look around the city. To control the rate at which time passes, you can click any of the Time Controls.

• Click . Time will pass at an increased rate (as time passes, you will eventually see day change to night).

You can use the Time Controls to speed up the pace of the action.

Note: clicking will advance the time much faster than any of the other Time Controls. Because time passes so fast in this mode, it is easy to miss events in the city; with this in mind, the game will automatically slow to Normal Speed, whenever a key event occurs. The Ultra Fast time option cannot be activated until this event is over (ie Ultra Fast will be disabled whilst a UFO is in the city).

Agent Icons

Investigate

Incident

Equip Agent

Equip

Vehicle

Icons

THE ALERT SCREEN

We will now advance time to the point where you will receive your first Alert (if this has not happened already).

• Click in the Time Controls. Time will pass at the maximum rate. Shortly, the Alert Screen will appear (whilst you are in this screen, time will be suspended until you return to the Cityscape).

p.20

Whenever there is Alien activity in Mega-Primus,

X-COM

will be informed via the

Alert Screen.

To send a squad to the Alert Site, you must first assign them to an

X-COM

vehicle. All unassigned Agents are listed on the left-hand side of the screen; all

X-COM

assigned Agents and

vehicles are listed on the right-hand side.

We will now assign four Agents to Valkyrie Interceptor 1.

p.21

Tutorial One: Using The Cityscape

• Highlight an Agent’s name (from the left-hand list).

• Click and hold the Left-Mouse Button with the cursor over the Agent Icon. ‘Drag’ that Agent (from the left-hand list) to the Valkyrie Interceptor icon and release the LMB. The Agent should now appear underneath it.

The number ‘1’ should appear in the corner of the Valkyrie icon showing that one Agent is now assigned to that vehicle. As you assign more Agents to the Valkyrie Interceptor, this number will increase to indicate the total number of Agents assigned.

We will now assign three more Agents. When assigning multiple Agents there is a short-cut that you can use, instead of dragging them all individually.

• Click on the names

of three more Agents, so that they are highlighted.

• Drag and drop one of these Agents to the Valkyrie Interceptor. You will notice that all of the selected Agents will now be transferred from the left-side of the screen to the Valkyrie Interceptor.

Note: if you click the Agent or Vehicle Icons, you will be taken to the Equip Agent Screen or the Equip Vehicle Screen.

Now that your Agents are assigned, we can deploy them to the Alert Site.

The text

, “Valkyrie Interceptor 1” and the name of the Agents assigned to it, will

now be highlighted.

• Click from the Menu Bar, to send the Valkyrie to the Alert Site.

Note: you can also send Agents without vehicles. Simply select Agents from the left-hand list; these are unassigned Agents. All your Agents are automatically armed at the beginning of each new campaign.

TRACKING

X-COM

VEHICLES

It is often useful (and fun) to follow Vehicles as they move to their destinations. In this example we will follow Valkyrie Interceptor 1 as it proceeds to the Alert Site.

Valkyrie Interceptor

Vehicle List

p.22

p.23

Tutorial One: Using The Cityscape

TUTORIAL TWO: TACTICAL COMBAT

• Click the

X-COM

Vehicles Tab and then select the Valkyrie Interceptor from

the Vehicle List. The icon will highlight and the display will centre on the Interceptor. The display will automatically scroll with the Vehicle as it heads towards the Alert Site.

When your Agents have arrived at the Alert Site, the Commence Investigation ‘window’ will open. This prompts you to confirm whether you wish to investigate or not.

• Click Yes to begin your first Tactical Combat Mission.

You have now learned how to deploy vehicles and Agents to Alert Sites. The next section will guide you through Tactical Combat Missions.

This, the second Tutorial, guides you through Tactical Combat; the section of the game where you fight hostile units face-to-face. You will learn how to save your game, move the Tactical Display, select squads/Agents and issue basic movement orders.

You can play the Tactical Game in two different modes: Real-Time or Turn- Based. In Real-Time you move your Agents around whilst the Aliens move playing in this way requires a greater strategic approach. Players of previous

X-COM

games will be familiar with the Turn-Based game, where

X-COM

and the

Aliens take Turns to move, just like a game of chess.

The Tutorials assume that you are playing the Real-Time game; you can follow the Tutorial playing the Turn-Based game, as the basic functions and controls are the same. Look for the notes explaining where the Turn-Based game differs.

If you followed Tutorial One, you will have already successfully deployed your Agents to an Alert Site. You should now be faced with the Mission Briefing giving you information about your mission objectives. On this screen, you can also select the way in which you will play the Tactical Mission: Turn-Based or Real-Time.

p.24

Start Real-Time Game

Turn-Based Game

Start

p.25

Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat

• Click to go straight into the Real-Time game.

• Or, click to start a Turn-Based game.

The Squad Assignment Screen will now open. From here you can assign your Agents into different squads. It is possible to have up to six squads each containing up to six Agents (for full details, see Squad Assignment Screen in the Tactical Game section of the Reference Guide).

Note: as the cursor is moved over the Agents, their statistics and the weapons they are carrying, will be displayed in the Information Panel (on the left-side of the screen).

At the moment we will leave your four Agents assigned to Squad One.

• Click OK to start the Tactical Game.

SAVING YOUR GAME

The Tactical Screen will now appear. Whilst the game is paused you should take the opportunity to save your current game. You can reload this saved game to replay the Tactical Mission at a later date; we will also use this saved game for Tutorials Three and Four.

Save Game

• Click the Save Game button.

• Click on any of the 10 empty slots to save your game.

When the cursor appears, type in a name for your saved game using the keyboard and press Return.

You should receive the message “Saving Game” followed by “Save Successful”.

• Click OK to close this screen.

• Click .

p.26

p.27

Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat

THE TACTICAL SCREEN

Note : if you are playing the Turn-Based game the Time Controls will be replaced by four new buttons. These are used to reserve Time Units for shooting and kneeling (more on this later). There is also an End Turn button.

The Tactical Screen is split into two sections, the Tactical Display and the Control Panel.

The Tactical Display always defaults to the Isometric Map View, this will be centred on your Agents that have been deployed in the Tactical Area.

Isometric Map View

Hands Area

Control Panel

Message Bar

Time Controls

Reserve Aimed-Shot

Reserve Snap-Shot

Reserve Auto-Shot

Reserve Kneel

End Turn

EXPLORING THE TACTICAL DISPLAY

Move the cursor to the edges of the screen. The display will scroll revealing more of the Tactical Combat Area. At the start of each Tactical Mission, time is automatically paused so that you are able to look around and plan your initial moves.

You can also use the cursor keys on the keyboard to scroll the Tactical Display.

p.28

p.29

Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat

SELECTING SQUADS

Squad Icons

X-COM Apocalypse

, you can control Agents individually or collectively as

Agent Icons

squads. Although we have only one squad at the moment, you may have up to six squads in the Tactical Area at any one time.

The Squad Icons indicate the number of Agents in each squad; in this case we only have one squad and therefore only the first icon is displayed. We have four Agents in our squad so the number four is displayed in the Squad Icon.

the centre of the markers. The Agent’s present state of health is shown by the health bar positioned along the top of the marker. In the lower half of the marker, the Agent’s Attack Mode is indicated by a coloured bar. Blue represents Safe Mode, Green is Cautious Mode and Red indicates Aggressive Mode.

One of the Agent markers will be yellow; this is the Agent whose equipment will appear centrally in the Control Panel. The current Attack Mode, Shot-Type and movement orders, displayed in the Control Panel, also refer to this Agent only.

Note: in the Turn-Based Game, the Agent’s remaining Time Units will be displayed above their marker.

MOVING SQUADS

• Double click on the Squad Icon to select your squad. If you have scrolled the display so that your Agents are ‘Off Screen’, this will re-centre the display on your Agents.

When you select a squad, the Agents will have an orange marker displayed above their heads in the Isometric Map View. The squad number is displayed in

p.30

Group Formation

Single File

p.31

Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat

After selecting a squad, you can move it in single file, or in a ‘Group’-Formation. Group-Formation is selected as the default movement mode because it allows your Agents to cover a wider area and explore more in a shorter space of time.

In the Tactical Game, the cursor is accompanied by a green box as you move it around the Tactical Display. You may notice that the box turns yellow if you move it over a square occupied by one of your Agents. This box is used to set the destinations for your Agents.

• Move the cursor to a position a short way in front of the squad and click. Four

yellow arrows will appear to mark the destination of your Agents.

In order for your Agents to move, we must set time running.

• Click from the Time Controls. Your Agents will now move to their new

positions. Beware! In the Real-Time game, the Aliens can also move and your Agents may be attacked

The objective of the current Tactical Mission is to find the Aliens and either stun or kill them. Practice moving your squad around the building. Experiment with both types of squad formation.

You will notice as you move around, more of the Tactical Area becomes visible. This is because your Agents can only see what is in their Line Of Sight.

at any time!

Mouse Button (RMB). Your Agents will turn to face the direction of the cursor. This feature is very useful when exploring the Tactical Area.

Note: in the Turn-Based game, if the Agent hasn’t enough Time-Units, or if Time-Units are reser ved for other actions, the Agent will not be able to complete the move until X-COM’s next Turn. If the destination is a long distance away, it may take the Agent several Turns to complete.

Whenever your Agents have run out of Time Units, simply click . After the Aliens have taken their Turn, your Agents will have all of their Time Units returned to them, allowing you to play on.

While you are exploring the Tactical Area, you may well come into contact with Aliens. The game will pause and the Message Panel will inform you of the current situation. It is recommended that you take advantage of this to re-order your Agents to cope with the new situation. Giving your Agents regularly updated orders will keep them alive longer!

• Click to resume the action. Your Agents should open fire. The first Aliens you encounter will be quite easy and your Agents should be able to pick them off with ease. Leaving Agents without cover is not advised though as direct Alien hits can cause serious injuries.

Note: shooting Aliens is covered in more detail in Tutorial Four.

• Move the cursor to a position away from your Agents and press the Right-

p.32

• Click , so that we can look at some other controls without being attacked.

p.33

Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat

USING SPLIT LEVEL VIEWS

The Tactical Area is built-up of several levels. These may be viewed individually or assembled into a complete 3-D picture. Splitting the Tactical Area into levels allows you to see behind walls and inside rooms (if you have already explored them).

At the moment, the Tactical Area is set to Level Mode 2 (its default setting). This displays the level you are on and any levels below.

• Click and the display will change to Level Mode 1; notice the button will change. This hides everything above and below the currently selected level, this is why some rooms in the building appear to have no roof.

• Click again and the display will change to Level Mode 3. All levels are now displayed at once producing a complete 3-D picture.

Level

Indicator

• Click the button once more to return the display to the original Level Mode 2 setting.

When you are playing the Tactical Game you may often need to switch to the level above or below the one that is currently displayed.

You can change to any level instantly, using the Level Indicator, positioned in the centre of the Control Panel. To change to Level 5, for example, simply click on the number 5.

Alternatively, you can use the buttons to move the display up or down a single level.

• Click on the different levels using the Level Indicator and notice the display changing. Also try moving the levels up and down, using the buttons.

Note: Page Up and Page Down, on your keyboard, can also be used to move up or down a level.

Toggle Map Level Display

p.34

Up/Down

Level

p.35

Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat

SELECTING INDIVIDUAL AGENTS

Squad Icons

Agent Icons

There are two ways to select an Agent from the current squad.

• Click on any of the four Agent Icons on the right of the Control Panel; a yellow marker is now displayed above that Agent in the Isometric Map View. To deselect the other Agents, simply right-click on their Agent icons.

• Move the green cursor box over an unselected Agent in the Isometric Map View, the box should change to yellow. Click on the Agent. The marker should disappear from the first Agent and now appear above the second Agent. Clicking on a single Agent in the Isometric Map View automatically causes all other Agents to be deselected

MOVING INDIVIDUAL AGENTS

After selecting an Agent (see above) you are now ready to move that Agent.

• Click on a destination a short way in front of the Agent.

• A single yellow arrow will appear to mark the Agent’s new destination.

• Click .

• The Agent will now move to the new destination.

Note: Aliens or hostile units may be encountered at any time. Beware! Ensure you keep an eye on your Agents!

• To make the selected Agent turn around, move the cursor to a position within the Tactical Display and click the RMB. The Agent will now turn to face in the direction of the cursor.

THE OVERHEAD MAP VIEW

Now that we have started to move Agents around the Tactical Area, we will need to be aware of their position as they continue to move around. For this, we can use the Overhead Map View.

p.36

p.37

Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat

• Click .

• Click to activate the Overhead Map View.

The Overhead Map View allows you to see more of the Tactical Area on screen. The diamond shape outline, shows the area of the map that will be displayed when you return to the Isometric Map View. As in the Isometric Map View, the

Overhead Map View will only show the areas that your Agents have explored.

Overhead

Map View

Switch Map View

• You can scroll the Overhead Map View in the same way as the Isometric Map View, simply move your cursor to the edge of the screen.

Note: you can also use the cursor keys (on the keyboard) to scroll around the map.

You will see Yellow arrows on the Map; these are

X-COM

Agents. Any Red

arrows are hostile units and any Purple arrows represent neutral personnel.

Solid arrows show units on the present level; large outline arrows show units above the current level; small outline arrows show units below the current level. The direction of the arrow indicates the direction that a unit is facing.

Note: the map will only show the level of the Tactical Area you have currently selected.

• Click on the buttons or the Level Indicator (in the Control Panel) to display other levels.

• Scroll the Overhead Map View until the diamond outline surrounds at least one of your Agents.

• Click again to return to the Isometric Map View.

SEARCHING FOR THE ALIENS

As you continue to move your Agents around the Tactical Area, you will encounter stairs, doors and lifts. To use these, do the following:

• To go through doors, click inside the room.

• To go up stairs, click at the top of the stairs.

• To go down stairs, click at the bottom of the stairs.

p.38

p.39

Tutorial Two: Tactical Combat

Grav Lift

• To use a Grav Lift, move your Agents to the Lift. Select the level you wish to move to and then click on this level. Your Agent will move up or down to the selected level using the Grav Lift.

ENGAGING THE ALIENS

When one of your Agents sees an Alien, a small Alien indicator will appear above the icon of that Agent in the Control Panel. Clicking on the ‘Alien Sighted’ Indicators will cause the display to be centred on the relevant Alien.

Agents will open fire automatically on any Aliens sighted. They will also use any cover available (within a one square radius).

Note: if you are playing the Turn-Based Game, you will have to fire on Aliens manually. See Tutorial Four for full details.

COMPLETING A TACTICAL MISSION

If you successfully manage to kill or stun all Aliens in the Tactical Area, or if all of your Agents are killed or stunned, then the Tactical Mission will end and you will be taken to the Debriefing Screen. Here you will be given a score based on how successfully you completed the mission objectives.

Alien Sighted Indicator

p.40

• Click OK to return to the Cityscape.

In Tutorials Three and Four we will use our Saved Game to replay this Tactical Mission. Tutorial Three will introduce more movement options whilst Tutorial Four focuses on weapons and targeting modes. If you are feeling confident and would like to explore the other controls as you play, then you can jump straight to Tutorial Five which covers resource management within the Cityscape.

p.41

TUTORIAL THREE: TACTICAL COMBAT (ADVANCED MOVEMENT)

In this, the Third Tutorial, we will replay the Tactical Mission we started in Tutorial Two. Here we will learn to use some of the more advanced movement options available to you during Tactical Combat Missions.

RUNNING

Firstly you must load the game you saved in Tutorial Two.

• Click Load Game from either the Main Menu or the Options screen. Select

the saved game from the list and the Tactical Mission will be restored.

We have already learnt how to move our Agents around the map, so lets look at the different movement modes they can use.

Crawl

Kneel

Walk

Run

Agent movement is not restricted to walking. Sometimes your Agents will need to cover ground very quickly, when they are retreating or moving into cover. In this instance, you can order your Agents to run.

• Click to start time moving.

• Double click on the Squad Icon to select all Agents in that Squad.

• Click to order the selected Agents to run.

• Click a destination. All of the Agents should run to that destination. Be careful not to make you Agents run too much; running expends more energy than walking - don’t exhaust your Agents!

Note: Agents will not be able to fire at enemy units whilst they are running.

• Click to return your Agents to walking speed.

When squads or multiple Agents are selected, then any movement orders given, will apply to them all. If you want an order to apply specifically to one Agent, then ensure that only that Agent is selected.

Note: in the Turn-Based game, running will expend less Time Units than walking.

p.42

p.43

Tutorial Three: Tactical Combat (Advanced Movement)

CRAWLING

X-COM Apocalypse

position and move your Agents strategically within the Tactical Area. Agents can use many features of the Tactical Area for cover, by Crawling to positions and Kneeling behind them.

• Select an Agent.

• Click to order your Agent to assume a crawling position. Crawling makes your Agent a harder target for any hostile units to hit.

• Click on a destination. The Agent will now Crawl to that destination.

, it is essential for Agents to use cover. You must learn to

Note: in the Turn-Based game, crawling will expend more Time Units than walking.

Kneeling functions differently to Walking, Running and Crawling as it is a position that your Agents will adopt once they have reached their destination

• Click to return your Agent to a standing position.

Note: in the Turn-Based game, both kneeling and standing will use an Agent’s Time Units; if you intend to kneel at the end of each move then you must

ve enough Time Units to do so.

reser

KNEELING

If there is any cover close to your Agents, move your Agent to that position.

• Click to make the selected Agent kneel. The advantage of kneeling behind cover is that your Agent is less visible to hostile units and can fire more accurately.

p.44

p.45

TUTORIAL FOUR: TACTICAL COMBAT (ATTACKING THE ENEMY)

Tutorial Four continues where Tutorial Three left-off and concentrates on the Attack Modes and Shot-Type controls available to you in Tactical Combat Missions. If you want to reload your Saved Game, you can do so now otherwise you will need to continue walking around the Tactical Area until you encounter some Aliens.

X-COM

In the Real-Time game,

Agents will react automatically when hostile units come into their line of sight; but how they react is dependant on the orders you give them.

ATTACK MODES

Cautious

Safe

Aggressive

Note: in the Turn-Based game, Attack Mode “orders” only have effect in Opportunity Fire (more on this later). If you are playing the Turn-Based game, skip this section and turn to Firing In The Turn-Based Game.

Depending on your objectives or strategy, you may wish to change the Attack Mode that your Agents adopt when exploring the Tactical Area.

• Select an Agent.

• Click . Your Agent will always take the safe option when moving around the Tactical Area (ie the Agent will not be aggressive and will seek cover over confrontation).

• Select a destination for the Agent to move to.

You can order your Agents to be Aggressive or return to Cautious behaviour as, and when, your circumstances change. Experiment with Attack Modes as you move around the Tactical Area.

• Click to return your Agent to a Cautious approach.

SHOT-TYPES

Aimed-Shot

No Shot

Snap-Shot

Auto-Shot

p.46

p.47

Tutorial Four: Tactical Combat (Attacking The Enemy)

In conjunction with Attack Mode, you should also give Agents weapon orders.

• Click to make your Agent favour an Aimed-Shot.

The Aimed-Shot is more accurate than the Snap or Auto-Shots but the rate of fire is slower.

• Now, select and give your other Agents different orders. Experiment with different combinations and see what happens.

• Clicking will prevent your Agents from firing. This can be useful if you haven’t much ammo.

Note: the ammo indicator is the vertical bar down the side of each hand in the Control Panel.

As with Attack Modes, these orders affect all selected Agents. When single Agents are being controlled, the other Agents in the squad retain their previous orders.

USING COVER AND TARGETING THE ALIENS

To play

X-COM Apocalypse

Agents as strategically as possible to get the greatest benefit from cover. You should give them the best opportunity to use cover by placing them near to it;

effectively it is recommended that you place your

Agents can then duck in and out of cover or Kneel behind it. For ambushes, try to use areas where Agents can only be attacked from one direction. Also, where possible, use Agents to cover each other.

The game will pause and show a message whenever a hostile unit is sighted by one of your Agents. It is recommended order your Agents to cope with the new situation. Giving your Agents regularly updated orders will keep them alive longer!

Should multiple hostile units appear, it is possible to direct your Agents’ fire on a particular target.

• Move your cursor over the hostile unit - it will now change to a white target cursor.

• Right-click on the hostile unit. A red target cross-hair will now remain on the targeted unit.

that you take advantage of this to re-

Note: you can prevent the game from pausing by switching the Messages Panel off. You can turn messages on or off from the Options Screen. Active Messages are accompanied by a Tick. To switch a message off, click on the Tick, a Cross will appear in its place indicating that the message is now disabled. All messages will still appear in the Message Bar but will not cause the game to pause when they appear.

p.48

p.49

Tutorial Four: Tactical Combat (Attacking The Enemy)

FIRING IN THE TURN-BASED GAME

If you encounter a hostile unit, you should use a weapon against it before it gets a chance to fire.

First, select the Shot-Type you wish to use from the three options.

• Click for an Aimed-Shot in the target’s general direction.

Now that we have chosen the Shot-Type, we can fire at the enemy (as long as the Agent is carrying a loaded gun).

• Move the cursor over the hostile unit, a target crosshair will appear.

• Click the RMB to fire.

If you are carrying two weapons and only wish to fire one, you must first select that weapon before firing.

Left Hand

Ammo Type Remaining

Ammo

Right Hand

Accuracy Display

• To select a weapon, click on one of the Agent’s ‘hands’. The cursor will change to a white Target Cursor. Move the Target Cursor over the hostile unit

- it will turn red indicating that it is positioned over a potential target.

Targeted Alien

• Click on the target using the LMB. Your Agent will now fire the weapon at the target.

Now one of three things will happen:

1) The Agent fires a shot and misses. This is unfortunate but is expected initially all of your Agents are Rookies. You will find that your Agents will become more accurate as they fight more battles.

p.50

p.51

Tutorial Four: Tactical Combat (Attacking The Enemy)

2) The Agent hits the hostile unit with the shot. Aliens can be very tough, so don’t be surprised if they don’t die from the first hit.

3) The hostile unit fires back. If this happens, pray that it does not hit your Agent and that your next shot kills it.

• You can continue to fire by clicking the Left-Mouse-Button, or cancel firing by clicking the Right-Mouse-Button.

Note: firing in the Turn-Based Game causes Agents to use Time Units.

USING EQUIPMENT

Agents can be equipped with weapons other than guns. You may prefer to attack with a grenade, or use a grenade to clear an area of cover.

• Click from the Control Panel to take you to the Equip Agent Screen.

• Click on a grenade to ‘pick it up’. Keep the Left-Mouse-Button depressed and drag and drop the Megapol AP Grenade to an empty ‘hand’.

• Click OK again to return you to the Isometric Map View.

Note: Turn-Based players! Check your Time Units before you use the grenade, you may not have enough left! If you have run-out, click . When it is your Turn again, all of your Agent’s Time Units will be replenished.

• Click on the grenade to bring up the Prime Grenade ‘window’.

Slider Bar

Cancel Priming The Grenade

• Click and drag the Slider Bar, in the Prime Grenade ‘window’, to the left/right to set the grenade to detonate in “3 secs”.

Note: in the Turn-Based game, slide the Bar left/right until it reads “End of Turn”. This means the grenade will detonate at the end of the X-COM Turn.

• Click the Tick icon to accept the grenade settings.

Note: you can click the Cross icon to cancel priming the grenade.

Each hand is accompanied by two buttons, (throw) and (drop). Because of the three second detonation time (in the Real-Time game), it is better to throw the grenade. You don’t want to blow-up one of your own Agents!

p.52

p.53

Tutorial Four: Tactical Combat (Attacking The Enemy)

• Click next to the hand containing the grenade.

• Click a target in the Isometric Map View. The grenade will now be thrown there. After three seconds (or at the end of the Turn, in the Turn-Based Game) it will detonate, clearing whatever is in that area.

If an Agent already has a grenade in his/her hand and you need him/her to throw it quickly, simply select the grenade with the RMB in the Hands Area. Click a target in the Isometric Map View. The grenade will now be thrown at its intended target and explode on contact with the floor.

RETRIEVING EQUIPMENT FROM THE TACTICAL AREA

If you complete a Tactical Combat Mission successfully and kill, or stun, all of the Aliens, then you will automatically retrieve all of the items left by the Aliens.

If, however, you decide to evacuate the Tactical Area before you have killed all of the Aliens, then you will have to pick up Alien Artefacts manually.

• After you have successfully killed an Alien, position an Agent over the equipment dropped near the corpse.

• Click to open the Equip Agent Screen. Any objects that are on the floor will be displayed in the Item Menu at the bottom of the screen. Use the drag and drop method to collect these items. Drop them into any spare carrying space your Agent may have.

It is important to retrieve Alien technology so that you can research it when you return to Base.

OPPORTUNITY FIRE (TURN-BASED GAME ONLY)

Opportunity Fire is a slight exception to the Turn-Based rule. It allows you to end your Turn leaving Agent’s with enough Time Units to fire a shot. Your Agents can automatically fire during the Alien’s turn at any hostile unit who strays into their line of sight.

The way an Agent behaves during Opportunity Fire depends on the Attack Mode you select. You can make the Agent more likely to fire or hide depending on these Attack Modes.

• Click to order your Agents to proceed aggressively. Agents are more confrontational using this Attack Mode and more likely to shoot in

Opportunity Fire.

RESERVING TIME UNITS You must reserve enough Time Units for your Agents, to take full advantage of Opportunity Fire. In this case we will reserve enough for an Aimed-Shot.

• Click Now this is selected, the Agent will always retain enough Time Units to per form an Aimed-Shot in the event of Opportunity Fire.

p.54

p.55

+ 74 hidden pages