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Psionics, any news? would they be implemented in later versions?


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So well, any news about psionics in the game? are they still going to be present just for the aliens?

It would really help to have our troops being able to attain psi ability, it helped a lot in UFO EU. It was kind of an exploit but later it was corrected in xcom apocalypse and it was a nice feature but not the incredible "marvel comics" superpower that soldiers had in UFO EU (bypassing line of sight like professor xavier with **cerebro).

Is this kind of coding a heavy duty task? would they have to change anything of the actual game coding?

**Just FYI cerebro means brain in spanish ; )

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Chris just doesn't want it in afaik. To some people it didnt make sense how humans could attain it a few months after seeing it the first time.

It might be possible to modd it in for Humans but I dont think it will be in the game at release

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Chris just doesn't want it in afaik. To some people it didnt make sense how humans could attain it a few months after seeing it the first time.

It might be possible to modd it in for Humans but I dont think it will be in the game at release

Well this isn't JA2 1.13 :D it's about SCI-FI and gameplay but it's a relief knowing that it could be implemented via mod, thanks guys.

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Then people would fire 99 soldiers, and rehire another 100 soldiers until they have all psionics.

Precisely.

In a game with an infinite supply of soldiers, any such ability cannot be limited by availability.

It has to be limited in itself.

For instance, any use of psionics will make every other soldier within 20 tiles go crazy for 1-2 turns. That leaves the psionic in a rather isolated position...

That and / or less powerful psionic effects like

http://forums.2kgames.com/showthread.php?117010-X-Com-Features-Wish-List&p=1514977#post1514977

Anything but full mind control. That is impossible to balance.

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Well it was an exploit in UFO EU, I just had lots of psi troops and a hover tank to finish every mission. They could implement psi powers but make some aliens inmune to mind control, kind of what they did in apocalypse. I don't know it's just a feature I'd really miss :__ (

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For instance, any use of psionics will make every other soldier within 20 tiles go crazy for 1-2 turns. That leaves the psionic in a rather isolated position...

That and / or less powerful psionic effects like

http://forums.2kgames.com/showthread.php?117010-X-Com-Features-Wish-List&p=1514977#post1514977

Anything but full mind control. That is impossible to balance.

Yeah, sounds a little 40K-ish to me. I like that idea.

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Psi abilities can be anything you want them to be.

Even mind control would work if it had a big enough down side, probably best avoided though.

You could have them as buff/debuff effects so your psi troops can raise one of your own troops accuracy, or reduce an enemy, for a turn by enhancing or reducing how easily they can concentrate..

Maybe reduce the reactions stat of that alien you need to get past by making him see things or boost the morale of that rookie by making him feel stronger and tougher.

Replicating the function of a motion scanner and other equipment also makes the psi trooper useful to bring along without meaning you want everyone to have those skills.

Keeping them situational but useful rather than the only thing you need to use is their main balancing feature.

Having them reduce the surrounding troops morale each time you manipulate something would be an interesting secondary balance.

Another reason to not have too many of them or use them too much.

I won't miss the old implementation of psi at all and I haven't seen any suggestions so far that make me think they would add a whole lot to the game.

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I think old human psi was one of most game ruining features. Implemented by other way it became worthless for those nostalgic puppet masters.

For this tricks what suggested here humans use drugs, smoke and scanning devices.

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Just add PSI defense. Kinda reminds me of remote viewing since continued practice is supposed to make it harder for others to read your mind or give you unconscious suggestions, at least that's what I saw in a video on YT. RV seems legit, so make PSI defense possible at least ;D

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Just add PSI defense. Kinda reminds me of remote viewing since continued practice is supposed to make it harder for others to read your mind or give you unconscious suggestions, at least that's what I saw in a video on YT. RV seems legit, so make PSI defense possible at least ;D

You sound crazy. =S

Sorry for beeing blunt. Just calling it like I see it.

PS. I think Chris has said he intends to have PSI resistance be equipment based or something.

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Yeah, I don't really want to implement psionic powers for the humans. I'll have to think about whether they can be modded in because currently there's no interface for using them, as the aliens will just use them direct from the code. Hopefully we can put in some basic box to make them usable though.

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You could link the psi abilities to an ammunition type, like the existing ballistic, energy, incendiary types.

Then you can add a psi amp type weapon that can hold different "programs" as ammo to fire off the psi abilities.

Think of a mental rocket launcher ;)

If you want to reduce morale you select the proper program from your ammo list and fire away.

When you want to mind control you switch over to the mind control program and fire.

That wouldn't tie in so well with the mental prowess of the individual using the weapon but at least the abilities would be available.

Not unless there would be some way for the weapon to use morale instead of accuracy for its hit chance or something similar.

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Well it seems kind of logical that humans needs at least a couple of months of training and some kind of tech device if they want to be considered a psi threat to aliens.

The idea of different psi ammunition or psi grenades sounds weird, it sounds like playing cyberpunk or warhammer 40k.

Well at least now Chris has posted in the thread so we now know he's aware of the will of the common people lolol ; )

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I liked the use of Psionics in EU. Particularly the first couple of months when the soldiers were trying it out. The problem was that the aliens lost their superiority as X-Com became just as proficient, if not more so.

It also tapped into UFOlogy with the idea of Psychotronics.

So long as the aliens would still be much better at it, I'd like to see the Xenonauts with the capability too. Say a small chance to panic aliens, while the aliens still have mind control, for example. Something that would make it worth specialising a xenonaut in to add some difference into the squad.

I'd prefer that to what I thought was a cop out in Apocalypse by having so many of the critters immune to psionics.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I wouldn't mind Psionics in the game, but yes the balance must be right. "Low key" effects that are mentioned here for example. Also the research could be horrendous, and the troopers would need to go through several rigid LONG trials and training, complete with cybernetic implants and a psionic device thingy in their hand. (Expensive as hell, and you didn't know if they got a good psi-rating until after you spent all that cash) If they use it too much they risk burn outs, wounding or killing them outright. Morale is also an issue. If done in such a way I think it would be cool. Guys that go through it are feared and respected at the same time by the others. Could be some nice stories in there.. hmm...

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