Here's some pro tips for this game.




Alien types
Common
They do a lot of melee damage fast if they build up. They die in a single melee hit though. Best way to kill them is with the Flamethrower or Tesla cannon to stun them and then melee to finish.

Honey pots
These are the big tripod fellas. They walk slowly take alot of damage and have a strong melee attack with knockback. Once you get them close to death they swell up full of explosives. When they die they spray them all over the place. You have some time to avoid the blast after they scatter. You're going to want to mini-gun the crap out them and stand away after they die.


Shooters
These little guys are durable and annoying. They have a trademark belch right before they shoot. They fire three bullets that fuck your screen up when they hit you and have knockback.
You can roll under the bullets with spacebar. I like to use a Freeze grenade on these guys and shatter them with a melee. Alternatively Mini-guns or similar hi-fire weps eat them up fast.


Mortars
Giant pains in your ass that shoot triple grenades from way way away. They have a really fast fire rate and are usually out of killing rage. The trick with them is to avoid your instinct to dodge the falling ones and dodge the ones on the ground instead. If ones in your way, and your not worried about a timer, light it up but it's usually not worth the effort.



Queens
They can't attack you directly but they constantly have babies. Flame throwers and Tesla cannons are not recommended as they take forever to kill it. Just ignore it and burn the babies.


Babies
They spawn constantly from queens. They are one hit kills, even if they hit you they die. However, when they hit you they fuck your screen up so don't be careless. I suggest roasting them with the Flame thrower.


Wasps
The second most hated creature in the game. The are the small flying bugs that whack your screen all over the place and are about impossible to hit. Tesla Cannons will stun them but you're going to have to kill them with some bullets or fists.


Parasites
These are the most hated.
It's just like frigging Alien... Little jumping dudes who rape your throat and give you cooties.
The last 3-4 maps in the campaign have them. Luckily you can burn those little bastards. The majority of them come from egg pods, which can be burned in advance. After the first 6 attempts at these maps you'll know where the other ones all are and if you're smart you'll let the dude with the Flame thrower run in first to end them.
If you get cooties you need a medic to heal you until they pass.


Larvae
They are the mostly cosmetic grubs that wiggle around your feet on the first parasite level. Just melee them if they bother you.


Shield bugs
They only bug in the game that is not going be worried about your sentry gun. They are big 4 legged tanks and can only be hurt from the back. My advice is to just ignore them. If you're quick you can juke around them and move on with the mission. You can make them "wince" if you shoot them to help move on.



Classes
Officer
I am not sure the value of this class. It's the only class that use proximity mines but I can't see myself using them ever. I'll look into the stats of these guys a little more when i play again and edit with any valuable info i find.


Special weapons
Now these guys are alittle more useful. It's really only one weapon that's special though. The Minigun. You should have one of these guys around to tear the bulkier bugs a new asshole. It's also a good idea to have this class bring a sentry gun early campaign. The value of the sentry, however, is diminished on the later maps so switch it up to something situational. Like a Flame thrower or Chainsaw. You should grab some grenades or rockets as well.


Medic
Pros take head. The medi-gun is legit. Weapon? You don't need no stinking weapon! You can heal yourself. Take the medical station and the medi-gun for extra proleetness. I also pick the melee boost accessory because that's the only way you're getting any action. If you're sketchy on your kung fu though bring a Tesla trap or some other defensive item.


Tech
This the the most important class. Consider yourself the Swiss army knife of humanity. Your setup should be strictly utility. Flame thrower for Killing eggs/ biomass and putting out fires. Ammo so your team doesn't get thin. You should probably bring a welder as well to open doors on shortcuts. For the maps where no welder are needed then bring some offensive items.




General Gameplay
DO NOT stand still. The swarm will keep coming. You should only fight aliens that are a direct threat to you. Just stun, run, and juke.

Welding doors shut doesn't gain you like you think it does. Swarm come out of the floor, off the walls. and drop down from above... they mock your sweat weld seam you put on that door.

Pick a leader. Someone with the knowledge of the map and the tools to run ahead. I would strongly endorse a flame thrower out front to prevent infection. So likely you'll have a tech or special weps in front the medic just behind and the other two watching the back.

Protect the Tech!
Every time a door or panel has to be hacked the bugs will come running. Drop a Tesla trap behind him or a sentry to keep him from being distracted. Also most map REQUIRE a tech to finish. So if he dies you're on your way back to the lobby.

Know your role and ask what you need to do if you get confused. If no one is picking up the mining laser to cut the way open it probably should be you. Don't hesitate next run. If one guy is enough to go hit a switch then don't all waste time running over to it.

This last point might be the most important.
DRAW FUNNY SHIT ON THE MAP AFTER EACH MISSION! It's helps vent the stress of getting crushed last round.

I'd like to add that queens are easily dispatched with a minigun, as are the long-range triple grenade launching fellows.

And if you don't trust your medic to deal with infestation swiftly enough, which is an all-too-often-occurring circumstance, get yourself some electrified armour. This is particularly useful on the extermination map, where you've got to roast all the biomass and the eggs; it's teeming with the blighters. Also, it's an easy map to get split up on, so the electrified armour will save you from the infested long enough to buy time for your medic to pay attention. Dealing with infestation is a key skill.

Just like in L4D2, theres nothing that fire can't cure.

Fire. The answer to all of life's problems.

lolz

Awesome writeup Frank...I'm looking forward to playing it more later on so I don't suck and shoot my grenades at my toes.