Research is vital to Earth's hopes to survive the Alien invasion! Further details can be found in the INFO section. Players who have a scientist or engineer PC can take these folk on missions, however, getting such a valuable person killed would be a terrible waste! Researching items takes time, noted in research days, multiple scientists can work on one project to cut the time down, but no project can be completed in less than a week. If a rare specialist, a world-class scientist is involved in a project, he/she contributes DOUBLE the normal number of research days compared to ordinary folk. Also a PC scientist (PC or NPC) who is involved in actual missions may learn additional data faster, by watching Aliens in action etc. This is a matter of roleplaying and the GM's storytelling.

PLAYERS SHOULDN'T READ THIS PART OR IT WILL RUIN THEIR ENJOYMENT OF WHAT IS TO COME! :)

  Items must be researched in series, some things cannot be learned until other items have also been researched! Where an additional item that must be researched is needed, it is added in (green  brackets). For example, to research  the POWER SUIT,  (Elerium 115) and (Alien Alloys) must also have been investigated. Naturally, XCOM personnel will need to gather the Alien items before they can be researched, but some things, such as Laser Weapons, can be investigated straight away.

LASER WEAPONS (50 days)--Laser Pistol (160 days)--Laser Rifle (480 days)--Heavy Laser (740 days)--Laser Cannon, Tank/Laser Cannon (420 days) --Laser Defences (850 days)

MEDIKIT (350 days)

MOTION SENSOR (300 days)

PLASMA PISTOL (Elerium 115) (1,000 days)--Plasma Rifle (1,170 days)--Heavy Plasma Rifle (1,340 days)--Plasma Cannon (1,100 days)--Hovertank/Plasma (Firestorm) (500 days)--Plasma Defences (1,004 days)

ALIEN ALLOYS (670 days)--Personal Armour (300 days)

ELERIUM 115 (750 days)--Power Suit (Alien Alloys) (340 days)--Flying Suit (UFO Power Source) (550 days)

UFO POWER SOURCE (750 days)--UFO Navigation (750 days)--UFO Construction (Alien Alloys) (750 days)--Firestorm (1,000 days)--Lightning (1,160 days)--Avenger (1,500 days)

GRAV SHIELD (Lightning) (1,550 days)

BLASTER LAUNCHER (Elerium 115, Psi Lab) (1,500 days)--Fusion Ball Launcher (1,460 days)--Hovertank/Launcher (Lightning) (1,150 days) and Fusion Ball Defences (1,334 days)

ALIEN GRENADE (Elerium 115) (340 days)

SMALL LAUNCHER (Elerium 115) (920 days)

ANY ALIEN AUTOPSY (300 days)

ANY ALIEN INTERROGATION (320 days)-- this gives data on the mission the Alien was carrying out--Full knowledge of the Alien Species so players can see their entries in the ALIENS section (Autopsy on same Species). Any interrogation allows investigation of Alien Origins (500 days)

ALIEN ENGINEER INTERROGATION (320 days)--either: UFO information (it's type etc), UFO Power Source, Construction or Navigation. Only one topic maybe learned randomly.

ALIEN MEDIC INTERROGATION (320 days)--and gain additional full knowledge of another Alien species!

ALIEN NAVIGATOR INTERROGATION--Hyperwave Decoder (1,120 days)

SECTOID LEADER OR ETHEREAL INTERROGATION--Psi Lab (700 days)--Psi Amp (840 days)--Mind Shield (600 days)

ALIEN LEADER INTERROGATION--The Martian Solution (Alien Harvest mission) (840 days)--Cydonia or Bust (Alien Commander Interrogation) (1,000days)

ADDITIONALS

ALIEN ORIGINS:
The Aliens are ancient creatures who have visited Earth over the aeons, indeed, it maybe the aliens who seeded life on Earth! This is why Terran and Alien genetic material is so similar, allowing the Aliens to feast on Earthly prey.

THE MARTIAN SOLUTION:
The Aliens main base is on Mars, exactly where is unknown however. Obviously the war must be taken to the Aliens, unless their main supply base is taken out, they can keep attacking Earth until one day they succeed!

CYDONIA OR BUST:
A region on Mars called Cydonia, is the site of the Alien's main base. A massive, sprawling subterranean complex. In it is the Master Brain that rules them all. If this can be taken out, Earth may be saved!