Here's the situation, right now.
At this very minute, my researchers are interrogating the Outsider I just captured.
My troops are walking around in a mismash of Carapace and entry level body armor. A couple have laser rifles. Everyone else has standard starting gear.
There are exactly two satellites orbiting the earth right now, and my interceptors haven't been upgraded...ever.
Japan has already left the project, and China and India aren't far behind. I have $20 remaining and 18 days left this month. I haven't sold anything on the gray market - I don't know yet what's important for research.
I'm playing on Normal. It's May 25.
I don't know anything about XCOM. Have I fallen deeply behind the [research/weaponresearch/finance]finance curve here or is this normal at this point in the game?
And if it's not normal, is there an accepted starting build priority order that I should stick with?