Talk:Alien Rank

TODO: Add the research that can be gained from each alien rank to its individual page and expand the articles all in this are generally. Add a category as well I guess. --Sfnhltb 18:29, 7 March 2007 (PST)

Alien Rank Reassignment

When a certain race doesn't have a certain rank of alien, such aliens are assigned an alternate rank. We know that Ethereals only come in three ranks: Soldier, Leader, and Commander, and Leader is the 'catch-all' rank that replaces Ethereal Engineers, Medics, and Navigators. But do we know what rank Snakeman Medics are reassigned to? Or the catch-all rank for Muton Medics, Leaders, and Commanders? Arrow Quivershaft 23:28, 4 October 2007 (PDT)

In one word: Soldiers. Snakemen and Mutons substitute soldiers for the missing ranks. --Zombie 23:51, 4 October 2007 (PDT)

I see that's not addressed specifically, in the number of different types of aliens that might show up in a given UFO. Or is it, and I missed it? Just an overall statement, somewhere where everyone will see it, will do. Related q: Are the numbers of different ranks (and types) based on testing, or from game file data? - MikeTheRed 19:51, 5 October 2007 (PDT)

I'd say it personally goes under the notes for the alien races. I'll add it shortly. Arrow Quivershaft 20:07, 5 October 2007 (PDT)

Sounds good, Arrow. Please do that. But in addition, what I meant was that if a person sees how many aliens, of what rank, are expected on a particular UFO given its Deployment table (cf. e.g. the Abductor), will they know the Alien Deployment table will be off, depending on the alien race? Maybe we should have an asterisk below each of those tables that directs someone to a section (which could be part of a larger page) that says what Zombie just said. There's no reason to say all the caveats on every UFO page - but for completeness, it'd be nice to at least have an asterisk. Also I personally would like to know, where did these Alien Deployment numbers come from... the OSG?, and who knows soldiers are always substituted (did you test it, Z?) - MikeTheRed

Adding asterisks to appropriate UFO pages now. Arrow Quivershaft 20:23, 5 October 2007 (PDT)

MTR - the alien deployment numbers are taken directly from the game executable. Danial and myself noticed the substitutions via looking at the ordering of the units in UNITREF.DAT a while back at the StrategyCore forums. What I'd like to do is create tables for the alien loadout per race just like I did for the USOs recently. Then it isn't necessary to put asterisks in each UFO craft section. In addition, it makes it unambiguous on what to expect on each mission. Will try to get those up tonight or tomorrow. --Zombie 17:02, 7 October 2007 (PDT)

Sounds great, Z! Thanks!! -MikeTheRed 20:57, 7 October 2007 (PDT)

TFTD Ranks?

Would a separate page for TFTD be necessary, or can TFTD ranks be listed here? I ask because they aren't exactly equivalent (e.g. a Squad Leader in TFTD is not an exact equivalent of a Leader in EU. --Darkpast (talk) 04:25, 4 July 2014 (EDT)