Talk:Alien Overview (Apocalypse)

Brainsucker Attacks

Doesn't the Brainsucker stick it's proboscis down the victims throat, as the official entry says instead of the neck?

--Karp 05:32, 22 August 2008 (PDT)

It's hard to say exactly what they do. The problem with getting infected through the mouth is that the helmets aren't exposed around the mouth - although with the X-Com Disrupter helmet, we can always assume it can break through the glass. The neck on the other hand seems more likely because it's basically resting along the seam between the helmet and the torso and is much less protected. Perhaps all it needs to do is rip enough of the protection off to get the proboscis close enough to the nasal and mouth passages. At close proximity, the micronoids can then be sprayed into the host. I'm just making this up as I'm reminded of the micronoid rain, which is air dropped onto a building. - NKF 12:40, 22 August 2008 (PDT)

Looking at the in-game pictures, I can see the brainsucker either ripping the face-plate open or getting through the under-chin layer, which isn't actually plated. Also a prime place for infected agents to lift the pistol to while their friends try to help, not yet knowing that it's too late. I just didn't notice any way for the proboscis to penetrate bone or anything, unlike with Chryssalids.

Could the micronoid slip through cracks in the plating and the lower layer ( fabric, synthetic materials or whatnot holding the plates in place ) of the armor? No need to rip the armor open.

--Karp 22:53, 24 August 2008 (PDT)

Ooze through, eh? Could work, could work. Reaching down and slipping under the less protected under-chin of the helmet actually makes more sense. At least it sounds much better and much more plausible than biting through armour and bone, etc, so let's go with that. With the exception of the Marsec suit, I don't think any of the suits are meant to be air tight either, so there wouldn't be much stopping it. -NKF 23:58, 24 August 2008 (PDT)

I also think that the brainsucker hangs "upside down" on the victims face, as the proboscis doesn't then have to bend as much and many times compared to being the "right side up" and would slip far easier and deeper into the mouth.

--Karp 00:19, 25 August 2008 (PDT)

Micronoids are psionic, and they're inside the Brainsucker, and it's in direct contact with the victim. All it has to do is compel you to take off the mask. EZPZ. -Bobucles, 8/31/2013

Human enemies?

I'd like to add human enemies to this section, but the problem is the page is called Alien Overview. Should I make a new page, or perhaps add some text to the introductory paragraph to explain the list also includes the humans you face? --Darkpast 15:40, 30 August 2013 (EDT)

Might as well add them. Technically not alien, but they are potential enemies. There wouldn't be much value creating a whole new page just for them, but they could use a new section in this article. -NKF 23:33, 31 August 2013 (EDT)

Should we sort this page differently?

I feel like priority is more useful to an overview of aliens in Apocalypse than overall threat. Yes, a Multiworm is more dangerous than a Brainsucker (in real-time mode), but in just about every case where you can see both you should shoot the Brainsucker first because the Brainsucker is a glass cannon and the Multiworm is a damage sponge. (This is less relevant to UFO/TFTD because you rarely encounter large numbers of different alien types at once.)

Moreover, simply classifying Anthropods and Skeletoids as "High Threat" isn't all that precise. If they're only toting Brainsucker Launchers or Disruptor Guns, they're not particularly dangerous. On the other hand, a shielded, cloaked Skeletoid wielding a missile launcher is probably the most terrifying thing in the game (exactly which missile launcher depends on your own loadout).

My guess at the priority goes something like this:

Low Priority: Multiworm Egg, Chrysalis (can't move and don't need to be subdued), Spitter, Multiworm (high health compared to their damage output)

High Priority: Brainsucker, Popper, Hyperworm (low-health units that pack a punch), Megaspawn (missile launcher)

Variable Priority: Anthropod, Skeletoid, Human (variable loadout; Devastator Cannons and the various missile launchers are far more dangerous than anything else), Psimorph, Micronoid (because their only attack is psi, their danger level depends entirely on what you're fighting them with)

Thoughts? Magic9mushroom (talk) 10:58, 20 August 2018 (CEST)

I must confess that over the years I have become less and less comfortable with ranking the aliens in the overview pages. I have wondered if we should phase this out entirely and leave the pages as simple digests of each alien to sum up what they are and what they do that makes them dangerous. The reader should be able to make their own judgement based off the descriptions. NKF (talk) 11:55, 20 August 2018 (CEST)

Order of appearance, then? That's Brainsucker/Anthropod (initial random aliens), Egg/Multiworm/Hyperworm/Spitter (Scout Ship drop), Popper/Chrysalis (Transporter/Fast Attack Ship in week 2), Skeletoid (Assault Ship in week 3), Micronoid Aggregate (Bomber in week 5), Megaspawn (Battleship/Escort in week 7), Psimorph (Mothership in week 8), Queenspawn. Magic9mushroom (talk) 16:38, 20 August 2018 (CEST)