Under The Hood

Information in this section cracks open the bonnet and attempts to explain the how and why questions on a variety of aspects of the inner workings of the games, such as formulas and other odds and ends like reproduceable game bugs or useful 'glitches'. (Note this does not include technical bugs)

As we don't have the source code, quite a lot of the information here is derived the traditional way, with paper, pen and lots of free time.

Note: It is hoped that the following articles will be incorporated into their related sections at a later date - where and when ever possible (reactions under stats, phantom radars under general radar information, etc). Also duplicate entries will need to be cleared out.

General

• Radars - how they work, and why only one of each type will ever function. (Plus, the phantom radar "trick")
• How the grenade timer works
• Where do area-effect weapons harm you?
• Damage formula (Weapons vs Armor)
• Calculating recovery time for injured soldiers
• Accuracy formula
• Reaction fire formula
• Motion scanner blip sizes
• Psionics
  • How a psionic attack works
• Throwing distances
• Item weights and how they correlate with Strength
• Why Strength does NOT improve with more weight.
• Weapon comparison tables
• Fire. Just how does it work?
• Unit spawn priorities
• How much does it cost to lose a base - And why you shouldn't put up a fight if there really is no hope of winning. (It's not as bad as it sounds. Really!)
• The dire consequences of picking up unconscious units
• Alien movement patterns

Useful Glitches, Workarounds or Just Plain Odd Stuff

• Free Ammo for tanks on base defence missions
• Phantom Radar - How to get rid of the radar, but keep its abilities
• Straight lines and the equator - getting a little more range from your ships
• Stacking bug (UFO only)
  • Activating Melee Attacks
• The Medikit heal-through-wall trick
• Exploits#Throwing through ceilings - Throwing items through the ceiling trick
• Consequences of firing explosives at the ceiling
• Hitting multiple targets with incendiary effects
• The oddeties of data corruption
• The oddeties of mind control/molecular control
  • Why civilians go rogue
  • Large units
  • Gaining permanent control of a Chryssalid/Tentaculat
• On spawn locations in base defence missions and how to make the ultimate "hand's off" base.

Not so useful Glitches

• Glitches with the Gauss SWS (TFTD only)
• Ufo Names in Tftd (TFTD only)
• Exponential transfer costs
• Vertical waypoint bug (Collectors Edition only)
• Proximity mine bug
• Disappearing ammo bug
• Ctrl+C - why it does what it does and why you shouldn't exploit it. (Dos versions only)