Do the classes even do anything?

[Inverse Effect]

I always try to keep a medic on my team. But i haven't seen any meaningful reason to other than everyone heals faster?

[Nightlord]

Unique abilities and upgrades as they level up. For example the medic can unlock a defib to revive marines in a coma so that you don't have to carry them back to the APC.

[bobby brown]

the tecker can unlock certain doors. The sergeant makes people less stressed. The gunner can carry certain weapons etc, and the recon can snipe shit.

[Kimarhi]

Game got so much easier when classes became available.  The sniping of drones/runners before they activate the hunts make it so much less frustrating to play. 

[Inverse Effect]

Game got so much easier when classes became available.  The sniping of drones/runners before they activate the hunts make it so much less frustrating to play. 

Guess having a recon with a sniper is like important then?

[Kimarhi]

Yes, if you want to get them before they get you. 

[Corporal Hicks]

Yeah, the sniper is just invaluable. It seemed less successful the later I got into the campaign, but I wonder if detection time decreases the higher the planetary infestation level gets. I left it too long getting a tecker too (I do hate that name, I wish they'd just called them comtechs) but that drone is amazing for recon too. Will not wait so long to get one in my replay.

[Samhain13]

Yea, sniper is great for stealth killing aliens so they dont alert others, gunner has smartgun, tech open more door etc. At the end I like having one of each on the squad.

[CANNON]

Yes they absolutely do, OP team = Two snipers and a team leader is the way to go on higher difficulties. You can make it through missions without being spotted.

[BlueMarsalis79]

I f**king love this videogame.