Pavonis Interactive Forums

Hi all,

Just curious how we all like to rank up early roster. Do you mass rookies for the first few missions for a wider roster at the cost of random/subpar classes for unit stats? Or do you carefully control the odds of getting a class suited to your first Unit's stats and only rank up rookies from gts with as few random class selections as possible?

I personally always did the later on all my legendary runs. But I'm curious if other players (especially legendary) prefer the former

Ever since I started going Scientists first and maximizing the number of early missions I stopped caring about what stat distribution I get for each soldier and I deploy 2 squaddies/lcpls with 3 smg 2xfrag rookies. Still, I do try to save a couple rookies with extreme stats that only work for some specific class. Like the 13 mobility and/or super negative defense rookie with +70aim: I think that mostly only works as Sharpshooter, maybe Ranger depending how low def goes. Or the low mobility low aim high def/hp rookies, which I like as Assaults (AFTER speed PCS).

I think the only rookie I'm not willing to give a random class, is ones with 13 mobility. Those have to become sharpshooters or suicide rookies.

Low aim rangers, snipers, and gunners are bad, but every campaign needs some haven advisors. So my strategy is to random level most rookies, and gts the very high aim ones.

If I see really high hacking score i'll save them to become specialists.

With a scientist-first opener, saving amazing rookies for later means less missions in the earlygame. Looking back at my Veteran non-Ironman campaign, I'd have preferred weird-statted random classes that still get earlygame missions done over tailoring classes for 6 starter rookies.

You can "cheat" using some Commander's Choice mod or reload until you get the chosen or at least an acceptable class. Which I consider perfectly valid - why should class choice be random?

In the last case, keep in mind that class distribution isn't entirely random. Seems to me they build a pool of one class each and take each random class out once it's been picked. Rinse and repeat.

Icarus wrote:You can "cheat" using some Commander's Choice mod or reload until you get the chosen or at least an acceptable class. Which I consider perfectly valid - why should class choice be random?

I like this mod a lot. It makes sense to me, too, that a commander should be able to promote a rookie into their best niche.

Icarus wrote:You can "cheat" using some Commander's Choice mod or reload until you get the chosen or at least an acceptable class. Which I consider perfectly valid - why should class choice be random?

I used to, and now I consider it a fully fledged cheat. Not having to hold back with amazing rookies because you know exactly what class they'll turn into is huge for the earlygame and still big later on as rookies can be smoke mules without being at risk. It also lets you build very lopsided barracks compositions near-instantly in the earlygame.

I like the randomness of sending the early rookies to learn the hard way. I'll use the gts to pick once it's up and running, but by that time I'm out of rookies until recruitment gets going.