Goetikmagus

Reading this thread only reinforces my desire to have procedurally-based (or even randomly-generated) maps.

I think that's a really good point.

Oh my!

Well, with the addition of having to pay engineering wages, the game economy (<--- Minor in Economics/Anthropology.. yeah, weird, right?) , the numbers aren't all that easy to calculate, my dear Thothkins. I could probably go on forever, talking about economies of scale and the law of diminishing returns, but I wouldn't want to bore anyone (or be more of a nit-picker than I am now!). I'd also point out that an "exploit" is an unbalancing of game mechanics in a fashion that the developers ~do not intend~. If the Devs change their mind, and allow this kind of action, then it is, by definition, intended.

I could see an upgraded late-game medkit which would serve as a kind of auto-doc (monitoring vital signs and giving injections, if needed) - but I'm not really for juicing up my troops. That leads to all kinds of problems with burnout and addiction that I just wouldn't want to inflict on my world saviors.

Balance would be lain out ~by~ the procedure. Having a procedure necessarily indicates "I need a map this (x) big. I need it to incorporate these (x) elements. Make it happen.". Sometimes, I might add, "outrageous" is, in fact, realism. You wouldn't believe the missions I've been thrown through - yet every time, my company and I had to treat it as "normal". Why should things be that much different for the XNs? Oh, sure... typical sweep-and-clear ground mission, based upon a shot-down UFO... except this time, it's teetering off of a cliff? That sure sounds like realism to me. If not, it at least sounds cinematic enough to make it into the game.

The creator of the original X-Com, every time he's interviewed, has pounded home the concept of procedurally-based combat zones. The way I see it... If all of the effort that is put forward into developing static maps were put forward into generating a procedure; You'd never have the tedium of playing the same map, ever again. You'd never have to design another map, ever again - you'd only have to tweak the procedure. It would make it easier for modders as well, because they could add or subtract simple elements of the procedure - rather than having to create an entirely new map. It would solve some of the elevation problems, by making them a universal situation, rather than something that is singular to a particular map. It would add some thrill to the game - with each player understanding that, every time they land, they won't be able to predict the environment. All-in-all, I think it would make the game better, and would detract absolutely no time or effort from development. So... why hasn't it happened, yet?

That's interesting. I think I'll start using autofire more often.

I never mentioned anything about cybernetics, but armor... is not such a wild speculation. If I recall correctly, the most excellent service dogs in the US (many of them outrank me, actually... and I'm not so bad off) actually wear flak vests.

Speaking from personal experience, you learn stuff really fast when you're being shot at. I suppose it's a question of motivation.

I'm not even gonna pitch this to the Devs.... this is for you modders: I will be your friend forever if you come up with some dog sprites. I think that having a canine XN on the team would be awesome. Sure, she can't use a weapon, but she can cover ground a lot faster than the human troops, and might even be able to suppress a low-level alien by clamping onto its firing hand or slow it down by biting its leg. How many precious civilian children could be saved by intervention on behalf of the stalwart family dog? Oh, sure - the Pomeranian might not be of much help... but the family that keeps a faithful pit bull or breeds Dobermans may give the aliens a bit more than they bargained for. *This message was brought to you by Dogmeat. Faithful to the end, I just have to mention this - for the sake of him and his pups.

*waves hands in the air* Dur, dur, dur... Sathra, I summon thee! Appear now before me, fair in form, and answer true to my post! (because you posted a split-second after I did, leaving an uncomfortable time gap in the forum... dur, dur, dur!)

I know I'm just beating a dead horse, here - but whatever happened to procedurally-generated maps? Get in a good procedure, and you could forget both the tedium of playing the same maps over and over (not to mention, you'd free up a lot of time that would otherwise be spent on map design), and the engine would also be easier to mod for interesting and/or unique missions. Heck, I'd help design the procedure for free, as would several others no doubt.

I think that delving into personal psychology might ~just~ be a little beyond the scope of development. Just sayin'.