Chris Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 So, we've been thinking about the way line of sight works in Xenonauts and comparing it to the original game. We've got a couple of special modes for you guys to play with. Activating them requires opening config.xml (in /assets/) with notepad or another text editor, and finding the lines: <PersistentLOS>0</PersistentLOS> <OriginalMode>0</OriginalMode> Changing either 0 to a 1 will activate that mode. Please only activate one at a time. PersistentLOS is named somewhat misleadingly, because it actually disables the persistent LOS that the game uses by default. The only things visible is what units currently have in their vision cone - so turning a unit means the area they are no longer looking at falls back under the fog-of-war. The same should happen if a unit is killed or a door is closed etc. OriginalMode uses the above system, but adds an extra complication: the fog of war is not actually shown. Any terrain that has been revealed remains revealed permanently, but you've got no idea where the aliens and civilians are unless you're looking directly at them. This is called OriginalMode because it's actually how the original X-Com works. Feel free to try either or both and let me know what you think of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpikeOnUr6 Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 This is called OriginalMode because it's actually how the original X-Com works. And I just hated it The PersistentLOS is cool, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silencer Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I like how it is now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max_Caine Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Only done 2 missions so far with OriginalLOS, so way too early to make proper impressions, but I must say it's really useful to have civvies, because when an alien or a civvie first blinks out, you think "is that a bug?" It isn't until you get a trooper to do a double take and notice that civvies and aliens blink out of sight when they are out of sight that you realise that this isn't a bug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amaror Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 I think this kind of thing would be great for a simple option in the options menu. While it influences the Balance somewhat, it doesn't do so heavily and it's always a good thing to give players more customization for their game in this kind of game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burzmali Posted April 16, 2014 Share Posted April 16, 2014 Conceptually, I like PersistentLOS, but it might be improved if targets you looked at and turned away from were marked with a "hostile" or "friendly" place holder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legit1337 Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 I dont think originalmode is a good idea. I didn't in the original x-com either. I want to know what I can see and what I cannot see. Everything being "revealed" and then units only showing up in a cone of vision is too confusing... Which squares do I have vision in? I think PeristantLOS is the way to go though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoitessier Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Does either of these setting influence the AI at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caaygun Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 I've seen aliens make good use of persistent LoS, scouting you with one, then attacking with others. They might be affected worse by real-time LoS if it applies for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skitso Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Original mode adds unnecessary complexity to the game. I really want to know exactly which tiles I can see. My vote goes to persistent mode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted April 17, 2014 Author Share Posted April 17, 2014 OriginalMode is indeed a bit rubbish. Is PersistentLOS an improvement over the current game, though? BTW it would be helpful if people could let me know if they've actually tried the modes they're discussing too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skitso Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 (edited) I have tested these and I simply love the peristent mode. It just feels so much more logical. The current system in the game has always felt wrong and unrealistic to me. There are few small bugs in it though. When a unit dies, it doesn't refresh the it's FoW until someone else moves. Also, closing a UFO door works much better now as you can't see whats happening inside after that but the adjacent tiles inside the door are still in FoW until end of the AI's turn. Edited April 17, 2014 by Skitso Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairyscreech Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 Could this just be left in the code for people to chose? I do like the visual cleanliness of the original view. The beauty of the original mode is on Xcom it required less processing power, not really an issue on new computers but the in game view is still a lot prettier. I can see myself switching modes depending on my mood. For those that struggle with the sight lines would it be possible to do a very light haze to make the clear vision cones obvious? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skitso Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 The peristent mode doesn't seem to work in night missions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max_Caine Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 (edited) I'm still doing missions with OriginalLOS, I'll try persistent when I get to Corvettes. What I would say is that Original so far feels like the kind of vision mode that masochi... *ahem* hardcore enthusiasts will pick up saying "this is the only way to play the game!". EDIT: I can see the appeal - it is quite hard to guess the FOV without a handy cone, and some might argue that's all for the better. But.. eh, I dunno. EDIT 2: I will say that the best "gotcha!" moments I have from the game so far have been from Original, in a jump scare, "where the fuck did you come from???" kind of way. And, and I haven't been able to play my old game with Hunters of zipping forwards, spotting some poor zeeb, zipping away and slotting him with a sniper. Edited April 17, 2014 by Max_Caine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max_Caine Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 New post rather than double post. I've now had the opportunity to extensively play with Original and Persistent, and I would say hands down Persistent is the way to go. As has already been noted, Original has a clean elegance to it and I can definatly see people migrating from Persistent to Original. Peristent is messier, but those cones of vision really change the way I perceive how my soliders perceive the battlefield. I have no idea how you'd make it cleaner, given the limitations of the engine. But yah, Persistent is the way to go, no question about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacticalDragon Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 I test this two LOS modes and in my opinion is that the game is not suited for non of them. Both LOS modes has different unbalance handicap for the main elements in game, the aliens and the player. The Original mode is pain for the player, is like soldier has alzheimer and can't remember where is the aliens. In other hand Persistent Mode bring some benefits for the Processor and let the game run more quicker, alien's turns speed up and civilians move in the fog. The main problem with persistent mode is for the AI, the current config and settings of behavior of aliens suffer too much in this mode, units behave like they are blind and don't let him react good enough to considered an AI... is more like BI (Blind Inteligence). In my opinion, if aliens has more arc of view and range, they can properly to Persistent mode. For now, the current LOS Mode of the game (Which don't have a name) is good enough for players and Alien's AI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gijs-Jan Posted April 19, 2014 Share Posted April 19, 2014 (edited) Does either of these setting influence the AI at all? No; not directly as the AI uses a lot of inferencing on where you are. It never used the "global LOS" for this, only the actual LOS of the squad. So, unless this got bugged in the process of implementation, there should be no consequences. Edited April 19, 2014 by Gijs-Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kabill Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 A bit late here, but I've played a few missions using Original mode and think its fantastic. I've not tried the other mode, but I imagine I would get along fine with that as well, since the gameplay consequences are largely the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirill Selivanov Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 it gain a proper impression, so mission becomes for player more challenging to its mind. more fearsome, as i think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amiga4ever Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I like PersistentLOS. With it you exactly know what you see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skitso Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Will we be getting the persistentLOS in the game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legit1337 Posted April 28, 2014 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Will we be getting the persistentLOS in the game? I would also like to know this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackRoc Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 i like the current LOS. If you add these please add as an option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skitso Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 I've played a bit more with the persistentLOS and still love it! One simple visual thing I'd make to improve it: could the revealed but not seen grayness be toned down a bit? Like 25% less opacity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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