One of the great unsung games is a little gem called Silent Storm. It's a turn-based tactical strategy game in the vein of Jagged Alliance. If you're reading this, odds are you probably already know that. So let's jump ahead tot he tips, shall we?
-Saving is your best friend, even more so than a big gun. I recommend saving after every two to three turns, though when things get hectic, I'd save every round, especially when your characters are at full strength.
-Watch your skill increases carefully. Map each character out and take notes on where you want each to go. It might seem like a good idea at first to have your characters generalize, but be absolutely sure that it will allow you to grab a better skill later on. There's no real "wrong" way of going about these things, but there are smarter ways. If you're a sniper, specialize in sniping skills. If you have a demolitionist, have him specialize in that. Pretty simple, no? It's always a good idea to have your characters specialize in one particular weapon as well, in order to boost their effectiveness.
-Don't take a character's death lightly. There are a lot of tough missions in this game. If you lose a character,I almost always recommend playing the level from the beginning.
-Don't always carry a big gun. WhileI love the ability to tear apart the environment, this can also lead to certain game-over situations and some odd random disasters. Too much collateral damage will lead to a game over, and this is incredibly easy to do when you have three characters in the robotic armor or wielding rocket launchers. I would use those weapons only in the event of a last resort, or if it is tactically sound (taking out a watchtower with a rocket launcher is a trip). On the other hand, have fun with it too. The devesation you can cause is a highlight of the game, so I'd say go wild with it. Just remember to save often.
-I recommend using snipers almost exclusively during the initial missions. They will be able to hit enemies at ranges further than your other soldiers, and will be useful as the early game can be punishing. However, most characters can be developed as you see fit, so use whatever makes you comfortable. I'd always keep at least one sniper, medic, and a lockpicker.
- When starting out, don't be afraid to experiment with different types. Every single one is powerful in its own right. However, that being said, if you'd like your first character to last you through the game, I'd recommend specializing in only a couple of skill sets throughout the game. It's generally a good idea to max out one tree first. And remember, if you don't like the way your character is going, don't worry too much - there are mystics throughout the game that can alter your skill choices for a pretty hefty fee.
-Do pay attention to how you spend your attribute points. These cannot be adjusted, so a plan at the beginning of the game is a wise choice. Specialize in your attribute points just as you would with your skills - generally, warriors are going to want to focus on strength, while mages concentrate on intelligence and so forth.
-If you plan on playing multi-player, I'd highly recommend playing through the initial difficulty setting once. It will be a huge boon to helping with quests and finding rare or special creatures. You'll also get a better handle on what items are useful and which ones you can trade. You can bring a character from the single-player game to the multiplayer, so keep that in mind as well.
-Keep an eye out for equipment that boosts your individual's skills. It's not a bad idea to create a variety of characters at the start, so that if you pick up an item that can boost another ****s abilities, you can simply transfer that item over to another character using the in-game transfer tool, which is a part of the caravan, I believe.
-The bosses in this game can be insanely difficult without a decently built character. Unfortunately, there's no easy way around this, unless you like to use a program that can alter your character's stats. I do not recommend this if you plan on playing multiplayer for obvious reasons. Sometimes, the difficulty will force you to level-grind and item farm (getting new and better equipment by constantly revisiting bosses and shops).
-There is no one ultimate weapon or set of equpiment, as this can vary wildly depending on your build. Keep an eye out and talk to others on multiplayer to see what kinds of items and weapons you should be keeping an eye out for.
-Don't be a pain over the 'net. If you need help, politely ask. Don't beg for items, hunts, or that sort of thing. It just makes you sound childish and willl sometimes wind up with you booted from a game.
