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I'm thinking of buying this game, but I'm concerned about one thing: what happens if you lose too many units? What if you lose all the builder units? Will you still be able to finish the game?
You find new soldiers from time to time (scripts). In some missions you find a few people, a plenty of people or nobody at all.
The thing is, everyone can do everything. For example your US campaign hero, John Macmillan starts with combat skill at level 3, the other skills (engineering, mechanical and science) are at lower levels. That means, that he is a good soldier from the beginning (=he will do more damage in combat than someone with combat skill 0), but if you want him to become an engineer and build a workshop, just switch him and he'll do it (but obviously building built by him will be weaker than built by more skilled engineer).
Only thing you need to switch someone's job is the appropriate building (mechanics in workshop, engineers in storehouse, etc.)
So to answer your question: it doesn't matter if you lose all your builders, because your other soldiers can do it as well (after switching them to engineers). But here you have limited amount of people, so when you lose too many soldiers, it is better to restart the mission.
So if you don't restart the mission after losing 95% of your soldiers, you're screwed?
Technically no, you might be able to finish the mission. But every soldier can train his skills, so the better soldier you lose, the more you will miss him/her.
Simple solution is to play the demo. You need to make sure you get the 1.09 demo version (Since it uses an updated version of the game).
You can download the demo from Here.
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klaymen: You find new soldiers from time to time (scripts). In some missions you find a few people, a plenty of people or nobody at all.
The thing is, everyone can do everything. For example your US campaign hero, John Macmillan starts with combat skill at level 3, the other skills (engineering, mechanical and science) are at lower levels. That means, that he is a good soldier from the beginning (=he will do more damage in combat than someone with combat skill 0), but if you want him to become an engineer and build a workshop, just switch him and he'll do it (but obviously building built by him will be weaker than built by more skilled engineer).
Only thing you need to switch someone's job is the appropriate building (mechanics in workshop, engineers in storehouse, etc.)
So to answer your question: it doesn't matter if you lose all your builders, because your other soldiers can do it as well (after switching them to engineers). But here you have limited amount of people, so when you lose too many soldiers, it is better to restart the mission.

No offense, but maybe that could and should be explained
differently.
Any unit "type" can take on the role of another "type" ONLY IF you have a building that
will convert him. For example, a soldier can be converted into a mechanic by having him
enter a factory, and clicking the appropriate button.
HOWEVER.......only engineers can construct buildings. If you enter a scenario
without an engineer, you may not be able to convert anyone.
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lowyhong: So if you don't restart the mission after losing 95% of your soldiers, you're screwed?

The game follows the plot mechanics. The Eon time machine casts persons
and materials imprecisely across time and space, so persons show up scattered.
You can rely on new people showing up all the time, unexpectedly.
However, it hurts, bad, to lose people in combat. You never quite have enough
personnel, and after developing and training someone across three or
four missions, it can be painful to see them get killed. You never know what
skill level the new people will have, or when they might show up.
I think the key is to save your game, very often. Insanely often.
Post edited November 10, 2009 by bearcat22
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bearcat22: No offense, but maybe that could and should be explained
differently.
Any unit "type" can take on the role of another "type" ONLY IF you have a building that
will convert him. For example, a soldier can be converted into a mechanic by having him
enter a factory, and clicking the appropriate button.
HOWEVER.......only engineers can construct buildings. If you enter a scenario
without an engineer, you may not be able to convert anyone.

Generally when you start a new mission you can change the job of the people you select (as I recall its a little hidden away in the botton left corner) for that mission. So even if you lose all your builders on one mission, you can change another character to be a builder (at the start) for the next mission; thus giving you a unit able to start building a base to aquire the options for the other unit types.
However as said you really don't want to end up working like that since you will be putting lower grade workers to a task. For building its not actually that important I find, though highlevel builders are good - the same is true of scientists you can get away with lower grades provided you can hold out long enough.
However combat wise you need good warriors and drivers so that your troops are on par with the enemy - otherwise your fighting at a disadvantage and that is risky since on many missions the enemy has more troops to use than you will.
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bearcat22: I think the key is to save your game, very often. Insanely often.

I don't think so. Besides the fact that after every mission you get a star for no loading, you don't really learn much if you can reload at any time... Trust me - it took me YEARS to stop quicksaving every 5 seconds, so I know what I'm talking about.
Simply try every mission over and over again until you finish it with no casualties. You'll learn a lot a get many 'hell yeah!' moments, seeing your men alive and well.
Also - always bring two scientists with you. You'll need the second one to heal the first one.
And most of all - use the terrain... a lot.