Rodmar18

Hi! It's a known rating bug, I believe. 0/0 is considered the same as 0/X: there were aliens and you didn't killed any... except that there weren't anyone! The real bug is when you actually fought and killed aliens, and the debriefing screen doesn't report anyone. Perhaps a corruption occurred? Also mods? On the other hand, having 0 alien spawned on a scout crash map could perhaps happen because of a very small crew, and everybody was destroyed during an explosion set at map generation (equipment included). But in this case, you wouldn't have encountered aliens.

Isn't it this "ghost" installation thing? You know, when Windows stores and uses files from another, hidden location?

You can't tell them that, but at this stage, you'll always have a severely wounded soldier to run for and from the locker in your transport through seemingly deserted streets, or the supply crate in the insertion room through gloomy corridors... But the real situation that would be avoided by such a feature is when you managed to keep the enemy at bay (or to corner them) with your inferior weaponry and "superior" tactics, but failed to push your advantage further, and now you start counting every ammo that is shot. On one hand, equipment management is a full-fledged part of the game, and should stay as it is... on the other hand, not having some spare supplies is a tad odd when the game's settings and premises don't preclude it (more so when defending your own base).

Interesting, given how the lambda player is only informed that hit chances resulting from accuracy, weapon and distance (e.g. 100% or 68%) are decreased relatively to a cover's percentage (e.g. 25%), as displayed during the aiming animation (e.g. (100-25)x1 = 75% or (100-25)x0.68 = 51%). So, if I understand well, you are saying that: with Community Edition, a 100% chance shot through a 25% cover: Hits cover 25% of the time (first test); Hits target (100-25)x1 = 75% of the time (a 1:3 ratio); Misses the target (100-25-75) = 0% of the time. with vanilla Xenonauts, a 100% chance shot through a 25% cover: Hits target 100% of the time (a 1:1 ratio); Hits cover (100-100) = 0% of the time. with Community Edition, a 68% chance shot through a 25% cover: Hits cover 25% of the time; Hits target (100-25)x0.68 = 51% of the time (a 1:2 ratio); Misses the target by a few squares (100-25-51) = 24% of the time. with vanilla Xenonauts, a 68% chance shot through a 25% cover: Hits target 68% of the time (a 2:3 ratio); Hits cover (100-68)x0.25 = 8% of the time; Misses the target by a few squares (100-68-8) = 24% of the time. These ratios are both different and simple to test enough to assess whether the shooting logic in vanilla and XCE are different. Are the info displayed during aiming in vanilla Xenonauts also different?

Overpacking is useful on terror or base missions, when a long siege may occur, at least for half the team. A locker would be welcome in such situations. I'd have a storage capacity at least three times that of a backpack, i.e. a small weapon rack, spare ammos for everybody, an additional medipack, ...

Either something like this, or another game mode.

Hello, In Xenonauts I, cities were chosen so as to balance city-related mission over all the land and between founders. They could appear at different level of zoom on the geoscape, depending on their relative importance. They could all be struck by terror or aerial terror missions, and their population stat was the same for all (I don't know if it was ever used). It appears that cities fell into several categories: - political capitals (although not all were listed); - economical capitals and metropolis (although not all populated centers were listed, even by 1980 standards (China, ...)); - strategic bases (Churchill, Punta Arenas (?)) (although not all, if any, strategic military or survey assets were listed) The above takes in to account the mod Geographic Addition that added more locations and used more zoom level to not clog the geoscape. Some ideas for Xenonauts 2: Balance city distribution as required, but use more levels of zoom so that the geoscape appears a bit like the Earth at night at the first any zoom levels. Use different icons, one for each (three) category of locations (notwithstanding icons for alien activity). This would allow to sort each category (capitals, metropolis, bases) by importance, and use zoom levels more efficiently. Take actual population into account to assess the number of casualties in case of bombardment, terror mission, or destruction. Use different mission lists for each category; at least, differentiate terror_megalopolis and terror_miltarybase. Also, have different consequences both on success and on failure in each category: loosing the entire population in Churchill would be negligible for Canada USA and barely affect the population's morale, but loosing their missile base (in the 1980s) at Churchill would anger and enfeeble their military. Use a better map: better projection system (not overgrown polar areas, we don't need to conserve angles but distances (radar and patrol ranges), even if vectors and trajectories are kept linear for simplicity of use), more resolution to benefit from another zoom level. Eventually, consider the 3D (geoid) system used by UFO: Alien Invasion.

Thank you! I appreciate the effort to not spoil the content too much. I'll have to see by myself then. After all, a special effect is only worth as part as a whole, and the whole can very well be enticing enough no to demand too many aesthetic/immersive effects or features. (I'm still playing Xenonauts 1 with 2D sprites for example, without the slightest feeling of repulsion). A few last questions if you don't mind: 8. Audio volume: are there 3 settings for music, special (technological) effects, and ambient effects? We had only 2 of them in Xenonauts I. 9. Stunning and suppression: I think that the two mechanics should be linked, at least in one direction. Do stunning weapons suppress? Do suppressive weapons have more effect on partly stunned/dazed/dazzled targets? There was a link through moral and AP loss, but I'm not sure it was thorough. Perhaps now, wounds could alter the suppression regeneration, depending on their location ("Am I really going to be evacuated?")? Also about stun grenades, I guess that standard ones may be resisted by alien physiologies. Do we have research to adapt them to each new alien species? Is there one stunning/choking device per species? Like flares at night (or special oxidation grenades, even by day?) to stun/suppress thermal vision species, concussion devices (or sonic weapons) to stun/suppress vulnerable species, micro-fragmentation grenades to threaten Harridans in their sealed suits? No need for actual weapons, but it would be nice, perhaps if existing weapons had different effects to different species (instead of species/armour-dependent resistances to the same mechanics); to be clear some hidden settings that Sebillian Soldier type resists Mk3 grenade and not Mk2 grenades' stunning effect, and that's the reverse for Caesans (no need for visible numbers). 10.Wound regeneration: Except perhaps when they were stunned, I don't remember that a Sebillian could passively regenerate when left for dead, or worst, when mimicking the dead. Referring to the novel one time more, I wonder if we should not overkill some of them, or have a dedicated scout run at each corpse to check their status and perform a termination protocol (once a proper research has been conducted). 11. EMP damage: Back to Xenonauts 1 we had EMP "explosives". Are plasma projectiles deemed powerful enough to generate an electromagnetic field disturbance, at least when they penetrate armour? I mean that they are not only searing hot.That is, couldn't be EMP damage be associated to projectiles/hits, the same as there is a suppression damage? 12. Ammunition magazines: Are their mechanics basically unchanged? Or do we have special ammo and partially depleted magazines that can return in the inventory (like rockets)? I'm thinking about explosive/hide piercing/EMP bullets for instance. Mods can't do anything if the proper mechanics isn't implemented. Also, you mention two tiers of laser technology: 13. Weapon Tiers: I'm just curious how technological breakthroughs confront with tactical considerations (RP-wise). Do all assault rifle share the same stats throughout the game or do we use basically the same weapon with other visuals and more damage, as in Xenonauts I? I know that at some point, game balance and handiness shall prevail, but why design a brand new weapon with just one consideration in mind, that to not disturb those poor rednecks that can't use anything different from their usual toys, for sure. Perhaps playing on damage reduction with distance will be enough to have feeling of novelty, as it seems the case for lasers?

Hello, I haven't tried Xenonauts 2 yet and I wonder if some mechanics and effects that were absent in Xenonauts 1 have made or could make their way with the new engine: Laser weapons: Will smoke and very hot sources alter laser fire to some extend? Like laser beams being scattered by dense smoke (or special grenade), and refracted by hot air (and incendiaries)? There could be damage reduction and/or loss of accuracy or penetration for each square passed through. The point is not to depict in details what would happen with real weapons (I'm not a specialist) but wouldn't it be interesting if weapon tiers are not just... tiers (i.e. more damage, more penetration), and have there own assets and flaws. Also, about special effects, would it be possible to not have just red "bullets" or red "lines", but also an animation that renders a beginning of ionization and/or visual persistence after the shot?. Again, I'm not a specialist and I don't know how a hand held weapon would be like; at least the most powerful lasers mounted on vehicles could have such effects (I read that even invisible lasers could left a bright trail by night). Plasma weapons: In Xenonauts 1, alien plasma projectile were displayed like very thin elongated "bullets", because the aliens used gravitons to keep plasma balls in shape. In the end, we had like explosive bullets. Yet, the pictures in Xenopedia featured some big balls of doom, and not to speak about the alien plasma thrower that ended as a mere carbine. In contrast, I'd like visual splashes and audio hisses, at least for some weapons that are deemed to cast true plasma balls. What's the decision or the limitation here? Also, I wonder if some large projectiles shouldn't generate a small EMP damage (Androns)? Gore: In Xenonauts 1, descriptions referred to carbonized or even vaporized body parts or even whole people. We effectively had goo effect for overkilled units (and all civilians), but what about maimed, bloody or half-striped corpses, especially with the new localization system? I figure that corpses are now visible where they fell (and not just when looking at the inventory), but some diversity would be welcome. It would add a touch of anguish, I feel. Hazards: Can unprotected soldiers choke if they stay in a smoke cloud long enough? Do crashed UFOs have leaking radiative sources (alenium's potential was based on molecular bonds)? I figure that this could be rendered by a kind of smoke, but perhaps surviving aliens would be too vulnerable to this? Terrain: Could there be special squares of terrain that trigger a trap-like effect? I'm thinking about shifting sands, muskegs, snow holes, plain holes, mines, even spider mines. Perhaps at least a framework for modders to use. In Xenonaut 1, the jungle tile set had "slow motion" water squares; imagine if there was "very, very slow motion" 1-radius, invisible squares as well (of course, with a pertinent visual effect to illustrate what happened to the "trapped" unit). Non-Xenonauts: In Xenonauts 1, we had the pleasure to find our research spied on, and then local forces armed with lasers. Could this be extended to lesser armour as well? And why not a T1 vehicle sometimes (if there is any army base map). Also, why not some rare tries from major powers to fight down small UFOs, escorts, or air superiority missions, with makeshift T1 planes. Perhaps no spying would be involved, only a well understood interest in common. That is, the player would have the sense that the planet makes it better and better through the invasion (should it stay on the first stages). Also, having surviving local forces fighting together with the deployed Xeno team would be nice. Sometimes, in Xenonauts 1, we had a glimpse of this feeling when an Alien spawned in the same room of a local force, and we heard its demise and then saw its corpse. UFO Crews: I read in the Features subforum that crew will be clearly separated like in Xenonauts 1, and I can understand why. Nonetheless, I can only regret the atmosphere in the Crimson Dagger novel left by a composite crew (five species, counting the Androns, each one their role). Drones have well explained roles (scouting, defense, ...), and we find them only with a certain other species. Harridans have well defined roles (master pilots, void maintenance), and we don't find them aboard any large ship (as if Sebillian ship don't need maintenance). Caesians are feeble, and they can build their own base without the muscles of some Sebillians, Andron guards could be last-ditch onboard defenders, and we never see them defending anyone but themselves, etc. At least, the largest ships could feature such a diversity (as in the novel).

I'm in touch with Steam's support team. For now, I got a type answer (I translate:) I'm sorry but we don't offer any support for mods that are created by users, and a difference in the installation path may result from choices made by devs. When you decide to use them, we suggest that you visit their web site [etc]. A good start then (^^). I fear that X:CE is doomed to be considered as a mod for this purpose... Well, isn't it considered as a beta branch as well? Would you have any request (information, feature) I could transmit to them before I answer them? Perhaps if the way X:CE is launched will prevent it from finding and managing Steam mods for ever, I could still request that Steam provides the bare minimum technical assistance so that X:CE/the launcher informs them of its existence, and they can detect it and create a proper deposit mod folder, where users can find them and manually install them? (as does any apprentice modder/translator with other games (AoW3, Stellaris in my case), well when mods aren't packaged in some arcane way (e.g. The Talos Principle)).

I'm sure we had this discussion before (like 2 years ago). Actually, the game runs through Wine 32 bits. I don't know what Steam OS is for, except that the game was installed by Steam in their /.local/share/steam/steamapps/common/xenonauts folder, on behalf of other games that are ran through Steam OS, and that the usual Steam UI is proposed for the game (discussions, workshop, etc). Then I had to install Wine32 on my distribution (I only had Wine64). Steam OS doesn't manage this. Whatever, I just found where my 10 subscribed mods were downloaded (a progress as compared to 2 years ago): /.local/share/steam/userdata/300392794/ugc/referenced/ ... instead of the usual: /.local/share/steam/steamapps/workshop/content/223830/ well, this folder doesn't exist but '223830' seems to be the app Id for Xenonauts. So, in this 'referenced' folder, there are 10 mod folders, each one with a zip archive and a data.vdf file. I guess that I just have to extract and install them manually in assets/mods. However, I'm still asking Steam about this odd behaviour.

Thanks for trying. I have another problem, also with Steam OS, and their resolution tool seems to redirect me to the "game designers", or GoldHawk Interactive. I am unable to download and install mods that I subscribed on Steam Workshop. All the mods that I run have been downloaded from this forum and installed manually in the /assets/mods directory. Do you know if this could be caused by a bad port of the game launcher from Steam for Windows to Steam OS (and Steam is not responsible for this)? Steam OS seems to download (or try and download) the subscribed mods, but I can't find them anywhere, neither in assets/folder nor in steam/steamapps/workshop, nor in some Wine directory. At least, I couldn't so far. No Xenonaut workshop folder is created, etc. I just ask in case you have heard of this problem before. Saying that, I realize that Steam should still be responsible for granting access to the mods it proposes in its workshop, regardless of whether GoldHawk Inc.'s launcher works correctly on Steam OS or not. I'll take my chances and try to contact them.

Hello, a bite late, but I don't see any bug with 0.35.1 (and I doubt the concerned file has changed since 0.35). Those ranks are correctly displayed both in long and short version, on my installation. Or would you have more details? @Solver Could there be any chance that some of the xml FR files I provided are plagued with a bad encoding/EoL thing, that I can't detect on my installation? Would you please mind starting a new game in French on Windows to confirm or infirm OP's observations? Apparently, the soldiers roster at day 1 would be the place to check. According to files, you should read "1°CL"/"1°Cl" instead of "PRV.", and "CPL"/"Cpl" instead of "CPL.". We only use a period after a true truncation in French, not after a mere abbreviation.

Hello, although it's possible to download the files from the forum, would it be possible to have an update for Steam OS on linux as well? I made sure the only XCE option was still selected in the betas, after a leave, just made a file integrity check, and the launcher displays "Xenonauts Community Edition 0.34.1 UNOFFICIAL". All files are dated of 2018.01.20. The same as two years ago. What am I doing wrong here? Else, who would have to be contacted at Steam by the lambda player to beg them to please synchronize with their Windows version?

I admit that I had already read this before. That's the third way. It's better than in Xenonauts-1 where regeneration was full scale (but not instant). "they regenerate to full HP at the start of their turn if not killed": this is what I call instant regen. In Xenonauts, lower ranks were regenerating more slowly than higher ranks. What would be best: instant (one-turn) regen + reduced max HP, or step regen + reduced max HP (Xenonauts-1 was step regen + unchanged max HP)? About the last standing Sebillian, we'd have considered that the team do a hidden last sweep before leaving (the same as when they retrieve corpses, items, and materials). The other Sebillians should have been finished manually or else overkilled, though.