i really like the way Fallout Tactics deals with characters, and i think that FT and this game have some things incommon. you grew attached to chars you had for a while, you were able to customize chars abilities as they grew with you, but i didn't like the way it just started you off with the same chars (even though your main was customizable). kinda forcing you to keep at least one of the chars you start with (Farsight) due to expierence and skill gain from that first mission. how about this. there is a pool of chars to start, and the first mission you go on uses all of the chars in the pool. the way they perform on the first mission determines which chars are allowed into X-com. sorta like 'The Right Stuff'. and the first mission could be like a tutorial. you don't actually fight aliens, they are simulated aliens, like the FBI or police training missions we see in movies and on TV. Think 'Men In Black' when will smith tries out for MiB. if there are different 'classes' (i.e. vehicle driver, sniper, demolitions, etc) then they can be tested against each other in easily made missions tailored to their 'class'.