OpenXcom Forum
OpenXcom => Fan-Stuff => Topic started by: luke83 on July 31, 2012, 02:42:23 pm
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As many of you have noticed , i asked a lot of annoying questions, thing is i am trying to determine what is possible in the future as i want to have a Openxcom only game, I view my current "Mods" as training towards this goal.
Currently i am thinking between 2 paths, another x-com game ( which i want to do) or a nockoff of one of games-workshop game ( either necromancer or Mordehiem ). It would be easier to work into the Game workshops Universe as its very open and there is heaps of "FLUFF" on each race but still i am leaning towards Xcom. Problem is where in the Timeline can i put it without destroying it. Also the plus side to another x-com game is anything new that is created could be used in the existing games if the project is never finished.
My best guess at this stage is to ignore Apocalypse's back story ( which doesn't mention another war) and just progress on along a different Timeline. I don't want it set to far into the future ( like apocalypse) as the weapon ability start getting alittle weird ( Teleporting what a cheap move). Currently i am looking at squeezing it into this time line around the 2050 time frame unless someone has a better story for me ?https://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Recovery_%28Timeline%29
Assuming i keep this timeline - here are my quick thoughts
* New alien menace - all new aliens except for the good old fashion BRAIN controlling everything as there is no reason this Hive should function to differnt to bees ( they make new queens when they want)
* Heavily modify the Pyramid UFO found in the data of original x-com , make them flying battle fortresses . Alien bases are heavily bedded in UFO on top of land .
* Maybe have a terraform UFO fly around and deposit Alien Forests to change the atmosphere more to there liking and less to ours ( alien trees release thick dark clouds to block out more light and make it colder - Yanks shading code - full-time Night missions around alien forests).
* Ice-age map in process since the dust of T-leth exploding and alien trees - causes sea levels to drop and ice to creap down from Poles ( changing maps)
* New terrains - Destroyed/ abandon city's , more interesting Ice Maps, Slums , New enclosed Farms ( keep atmosphere out, man made lights), Alien forests, Terror mission could be at large Corporation sites instead of city's.
Onother Timeline option was to have it after Apocalypse a good 100 years after a alien race has conquered earth and make i more of a fight for resistance movement ( aliens control the world and mankind has no weapons and live only as slaves. )
At this point i am only thinking out loud, i plan to finish all my current projects before picking a story to start working towards, what i would like is community feedback on why these ideas are bad or good, what we should do and what we should not do and most of all a Good Story ;).
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I'm trying to understand your wall of text, so to summarize it:
you are trying to determine what is possible in the future within openxcom
Nobody knows I think, it depends what is contributed, what people want...
I have no idea what Game workshop Universe is.
I think your thoughts are good, they are mostly focussed around adding content. And if that is backed up with a story, so the whole thing is consistent and it makes sense, then why not.
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I like the idea of a "total conversion" mod. Keeping it as close to xcom as possible is probably smart to allow for mutual exchange of graphics/ideas/mods.
A kind of post-apocalyptic setting with alien terraforming sounds very nice... I always liked these storylines (in comics, games, movies - lots of examples come to mind).
From this and from what you posted in the geoscape/ natural terrain / globe editing thread I assume you want a lot more geoscape "action"? changing landscapes as a result of player or alien action... sounds good. I think I mentioned before, I'd like to see a lot more geoscape tactics.
I think this offers some great things:
story-wise: human "resistance" movement trying to find other armed human forces, trying to protect survivors, being attacked by aliens... you could already bring in human-sectoid hybrids or even other cross-bred subspecies both hostile and potentially friendly...
scenery-wise: fighting in destroyed cities or wastelands, those alien forests sound like creepy battlescape settings as well...
technology-wise: all kinds of weapon technology make sense here - human weapons because it's all you have in the beginning, but then re-discovering former x-com technologies as well as capturing and retrofitting alien weapons... you'd probably have missions where you hunt for weapons caches (human/x-com technology)...
I like it. :)
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Daiky , Currently i have focused on adding new content for x-com1 , the problem is every second thing i do others think is to outthere. so the thought crossed my mind to create a entire new game so i don't trample everyone else idea of what xcom is. To start with it would be a few Mods grouped together around a story, ultimate goal ( with community support) would be a entire new game.
FYI: Games Workshop is a company that make table top minitures that you battle with , they have a few main game universes ( war-hammer Fantasy and War-hammer 40k) and heaps of background information on each race of creatures ( they call this "FLUFF), I found it a very good way to pass time when i was 17 and couldnt get a girlfriend ( i think that is the draw for most of the players :P).
https://www.games-workshop.com
Moriarty - Yes the biggest difference to this game would need to be Geoscape features as Battlescape is already pretty awesome. The idea is to make it different enough to the original games to justify a new story, originally i was just going to create new aliens and mix and match with originals but as Daiky said once , "it would not fit the story".
As for new battlescape options, this would only depend of what kind of aliens are used or any new weapon designed , mostly i would like to keep them similar in use to the originals so i don't need to NAG any programs to do upgrades ;) One " Out there " new Skill i have been thinking of would be a alien that could re-animate dead units on the battle-scape, this would require some new features . This would force you to keep protecting the Dead as a new tactic ( the current thought is it would be the Chrysalis of the game - i just did not want a direct clone) - Please note this is just a random thought :P
What i would like to achieve first is have a good story as the background so we can start planning what should be included. It would take the x-com universe in a slightly new direction but looking at the 2 new x-com games being sold , no one else is worried about that.
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please don't refer to that FPS game as a new xcom game. :o the only reference to the real thing is the name. unless they decide to completely re-make everything now... :)
good background story - well I guess you've already started, right? let's see if we can find some more people willing to add their ideas... :)
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starting point of this history can be simple: X-com failed :D
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please don't refer to that FPS game as a new xcom game. :o the only reference to the real thing is the name. unless they decide to completely re-make everything now... :)
You do realise they're making a new XCOM game in the same vein as the original too, right?
https://www.xcom.com/enemyunknown/index.php
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You do realise they're making a new XCOM game in the same vein as the original too, right?
https://www.xcom.com/enemyunknown/index.php
of course I do. I have preordered that one weeks ago :)
however, luke83 was saying looking at the 2 new x-com games
which is something I couldn't leave uncommented. there is only one xcom game coming out that belongs to that universe, at least in my book. from what I've seen of the other, that is something completely different. I could believe in the FPS XCOM being remotely related to apocalypse, which is also not really consistent with the UFO:EU and TFTD setting. :P
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please don't refer to that FPS game as a new xcom game. :o the only reference to the real thing is the name. unless they decide to completely re-make everything now... :)
They might have, given the release was pushed all the way to 2013-2014 and nothing's been heard of it for years. Another cancelled official game to join the ranks? :P
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luke83, I posted a link to this page before, but if you haven't checked it out yet, it might give you inspiration, it has ideas about story and missions etc: https://androidarts.com/xcom/rebelsquad.htm
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This reminds me of an old "Tech Tree" I made about a different ending of the first alien war. The new ending I had in mind was inspired by a lot of games.
Basically, the aliens detonated various hidden Fusion and Biological devices around Earth when Cydonia Base was destroyed. Permanently damaging Earth's Surface.
This new ending would create a different sequel and it would take place several years later. The new game mode would allow you to choose one of your previously built bases, leaving the rest and its personnel as separate factions since all contact with them and the outside world was lost.
The game in Geoscape would be somehow different, having the land separated as territories, with some of them being home to mutated and dangerous fauna or be owned by a Faction. The members of these factions would be the remnants of the old countries and organizations, as well as aliens and other "races" that survived the destruction. I also imagined a Diplomacy feature that would let you interact with the different factions.
Races I had in mind in this are:
-Pure Humans: Your first Personnel kind at your disposal. Few factions would be comprised of Pure Humans. Normal Stats.
-Surface Humans: Most of the factions encountered would be comprised of these. Surface Humans suffer from mutations, giving them weird stats.
-Aliens: Surviving alien formed separated factions in order to survive too. Usually strong factions with underground bases.
-Hybrids: Survivors from alien experiments that used to be part of their infiltration operations. Usually found in their own factions but some of them can be part of a Surface Human faction or Alien factions. Weak Physical Stats but Strong Psi Stats.
-Androids: Born from Alien AI research done by an advanced faction, probably from one of the other X-Com bases. Strong Physical Stats, Slow stat improvement.
I still have that "Tech Tree" in a .Txt file. :P
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pop up that Tech Tree , i was planning a few re-coloured sprites to later build new factions off, Hell if StarTrek can go back and recreate the Fist StarTrek and change there time line , so can we ;)
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Dont something get released into the atmosphere when TFTD final mission is completed. I think any new game should come here as it then allows a greater amount of stuff to mix and match into a new game.
I see the game like this
Factions sound great , Each faction could have its own agenda and is a mix between existing aliens and/or Humans . Xcom has become the Force to defend the last UN nation on earth.
Each factions attitude towards UN ( xcom) should be randomised on startup - this will increase longevity . Faction control screen needed to make alliances through game and create missions where you need to help your allied factions out
Each faction has it own preferred weapons based on there previous Story and Tech levels - some things have changed since Elerium no longer exists in large quantity. Each alied faction provides you some of there weapons based on how much they like you - ultimately Unit sharing is possible.
EVENTUALLY ( half way point in game), New alien race attack earth, then you take your factions and fight for survival of earth ( AGAIN)
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two words: Chryssalid Queen.
don't even act like you don't know.
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two words: Chryssalid Queen.
don't even act like you don't know.
See thats what i am talking about!
Also i was thinking the Sectoid rich faction are re-growing the BRAIN ( as there is a Big-arse Brain in a water tank tile)
So i am thinking "XCOM : FACTION WARS"
Requires xcom 1 and 2 to play + Mod pack .
We should nut out a story and each faction , agendas , tech per Faction , etc ,etc
I think some sort of Control the globe system is needed , so if I attack City "X" i gain control of the resources . Yanks , Global shading could colour the globe on Press of button to show factions.
Once the game is planned we harrass the coders for support , i dont think there will be much support from main DEV team until TFTD is fully supported but thats cool , we can find other coders OR spend time working on everything else needed.
Then once all that is agreed , some of us can start working
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hmmm... I'm thinking the destruction of the Brain will probably have caused a psionic backlash that killed most sectoid commanders and leaders, throwing the rest of the hive-like "society" into disarray... half-mad-half-feral sectoid "scientists" try to re-create the Brain by collecting cerebral tissue... genetic experimentation with chryssalids lead to new "chryssalid collectors" that turn humans into longer-lasting zombies that shamble back to the sectoid base for dissection and collection of gray matter :D
whole landscapes are turned into zombie wastelands this way...
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hmmm... I'm thinking the destruction of the Brain will probably have caused a psionic backlash that killed most sectoid commanders and leaders, throwing the rest of the hive-like "society" into disarray... half-mad-half-feral sectoid "scientists" try to re-create the Brain by collecting cerebral tissue... genetic experimentation with chryssalids lead to new "chryssalid collectors" that turn humans into longer-lasting zombies that shamble back to the sectoid base for dissection and collection of gray matter :D
whole landscapes are turned into zombie wastelands this way...
Very interesting idea ;)
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could be worth a faction, right :)
that's the beauty of this whole set-up: you can create all kinds of "factions". as long as they can be explained with a common backstory and fit the "canon", they are possible :)
hmmm... actually, it would be nice to have no (or VERY limited) air transport in this kind of game, because exploration on land (mudranger, anyone?) would force you to conquer or at least fight your way through "unattractive" terrain (like that zombie wasteland), instead of simply flying over it.
the whole game would be more like the old "axis and allies" or "risk" games... or one of their computer-fantasy-gaming counterparts, "master of magic".
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Flight could simply be expensive as Resources are limited. Also a Modified version of globe with lower sea levels would increase the Land to fight along.
Turn based Geoscape , Multi-player anyone ;) Who Needs Xcom TTS ;D
Also maybe we could increase the RPG aspect fo the game if it ever takes place , add MORE character traits ( long term ).
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Quick Faction Tank
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I made a post about this topic a while ago, here:
I always liked fations in X-Com Apocalypse. Having rival organizations spawning around the globe like X-Com but with less resources would be so awesome... A diplomacy feature would also be cool. Hard to implement, I know but one can always dream. :P
Reasons for them spawning could be the following:
-Not satisfied enough with X-Com performance: Most likely a faction made of the country's military forces or a private X-Com like organization if it's at least 2 countries one next to another. They will only be active in their territory.
-Totally influenced by alien activity: Free alien base for the country also containing human/hybrid soldiers.
-No longer influenced by aliens: Not really an organization, if X-Com destroys the country's bases provided by aliens and all its military forces, the country will succumb into anarchy, no longer being able to be influenced by any faction. Any Tactical mission in their territory will contain hostile gangs of humans and hybrids that will attack anyone that isn't one of them.
-Ignored UFO crash sites: Secret organization not friendly with X-Com but attacking all UFO crash sites to recover alien tech for their own ends.
-High alien activity Low X-Com activity: Secret worldwide X-Com like organization neutral to X-Com.
-Selling equipment that doesn't need Elirium: A major [Sold Item] manufacturer that will considerably decrease selling prices but will also allow you to buy that item.
As you can see, there could be a lot of reasons for a faction to spawn. I only mentioned the ones I could think of.
Also, in order to make the game a more unique experience, there should be something like a faction name/color/logo generator that will choose stuff from its files when a new faction is spawned.
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Also, Here's that .Txt file I mentioned. It first has some game mechanic changes, then a tech tree for X-Com Part 1 (X-Com: Enemy Unknown) and then the one for X-Com part two (X-Com: Resurgence), which is a new story as I mentioned before. Part two is incomplete but I might add new stuff since I think this got me interested again.
It's probably... a complicated wall of text. I hope you lads can understand it. I added a "Legend" which is like an example of the meaning of most of the Tech Tree.
https://www.mediafire.com/view/?61ybc7b4taccijb
I think it's best to download that file and read it with Notepad. I wish I could mod the game like a boss and do this fanmade idea myself. :'(
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Chiko , there is some interesting Ideas within that text file, i am going to need more time to go through it .
OK so i have been thinking about this a lot still , we should keep the original Geoscape design as it makes things simpler ( i did however image a CIvilation/Alpha Centuri grid world for this MOD but since i cane code it would be impossible). There is already someone working on some code to Generate Missions so maybe that will control most of the mission types later on with little coding required.
Quick Story ( i still need to check the Official story from TFTD ending and what Apoc has to say).
TFTD Ended , Damaged planet, cloud blocked out most of the sun Forced world into early Ice age - See map.
Aliens that survived the 2 wars are Mostly on earth , hiding / hatching plans, (Later on a Another alien faction with Ties to the original aliens returns to make things worse) currently the Governments have almost shut-down xcom as they believe the war to be over ( suckers). Now the Human governments argue and fight amongst them selves for control of the scares resources left as earth has gone to sh*t.
Various Alien types and Human Groups form factions to perform the goals but now there is now High leadership all factions want power. ( Some Alien faction , some Commercial factions - using alien tech , some Governments want more resources = WAR) .
New features
Enemy Aircraft ( not just UFO should be on map and depending on View could be friendly or Hostile).
Multiply aircraft combat should be possible from both sides .
Faction List and Graphs need to be created and Rules for factions will need to be coded .
Game at start should randomly pick between multiply factions , tech trees , available research on start of new game to give game replay ability.
Some weapons should be use-able but Scientist should not know how to recreate them ( also random ).
TFTD water levels should be Added to allow for more variety in factions.
Also some more SPACE missions would be increase variety :P
Pictures are just some ideas i just wanted to share , nothing is set in stone , i just want some discussion
Air-Combat
Next Level of mutation for Chrysalids - PSI Enabled - Back story a ethereal got to close and the 2 become one ( some DNA merged)
Ice-age earth.
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I've not read the text file, but judging from what I've read here, things sound similar to my dev thread - https://openxcom.org/forum/index.php/topic,669.0.html - Mine wasn't planned to be an "X-Com" game per-se, but it was going to follow some conventions.
Anyway, I mention this in case that making this game is a serious consideration, maybe a combination of the two could result in something pretty interesting?
Just throwing the thought out there...
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As you know i cant code, so i have had to limit my crazy ideas to something i may be able to Mod down the track , also i was sticking to the xcom world as we can then use all the existing art assets as a bases to work from ( and any thing that is created for it is compatible with the other OX projects for separate mods by other users).
I assume we could just use x-com data now (# original game data will still be required) and test the "GAMEPLAY" side of Airbattles and Geoscape in openxcom and then you could port it over to your 3d engine. Also i am happy to help your project where i can but i dont know how much help i could be to you as my drawing skills a very basic and my Blender skills are about on the same, but you can have what little ( and i do mean little) skills i have. Later on testing is something i will gladly do.
How far forward have you thought out How your Geoscape and air combat should work out?
my thoughts , should be able to either send on craft out by himself ( as in xcom now) or highlight several to create instant squadron.
2+ separate craft on geoscape should be able to form squadron at any time.
I should be able to specify multiply way point around the globe in a single step ( i don't think you can do this in xcom) so i can tell them to fly around enemy countries.
A warning should occur IF a enemy aircraft is on a intercept course just to give me a chance to Run/Engage or allow player to send some backup.
Apart from that i though keeping it similar to the xcom rules would work , select crafts ICON , issue attack orders ( how aggressive, who to target, engage or keep distance) then move onto the next craft and do the same.
I originally envisioned a Master of Orion 2 style combat system but its even more work and sometimes it got plain borring ;)
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Well... you can have more than one Interceptor against an UFO in the original X-Com. I remember having 4 Interceptors against one UFO. It gets pretty easy but I think it slightly makes UFOs more likely to run away.
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Well... you can have more than one Interceptor against an UFO in the original X-Com. I remember having 4 Interceptors against one UFO. It gets pretty easy but I think it slightly makes UFOs more likely to run away.
Yes but it should also be possible for the enermy to do the same thing to you. Enermy attackign your troop transport should be a valid option so having a escort should be a option.
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As you know i cant code, so i have had to limit my crazy ideas to something i may be able to Mod down the track , also i was sticking to the xcom world as we can then use all the existing art assets as a bases to work from ( and any thing that is created for it is compatible with the other OX projects for separate mods by other users).
Fair enough, though that's why I thought if you wanted to add your crazy ideas to my project? We can actually design the game around the ideas, as opposed to trying to hack them to fit OX.
I assume we could just use x-com data now (# original game data will still be required)
TBH, there's enough free stuff out there, that you're just adding an unnecessary necessity ;) Even if it doesn't suit immediately, it can place-holder until a 3D artist jumps in.
Also i am happy to help your project where i can but i dont know how much help i could be to you as my drawing skills a very basic and my Blender skills are about on the same, but you can have what little ( and i do mean little) skills i have. Later on testing is something i will gladly do.
Thanks
How far forward have you thought out How your Geoscape and air combat should work out?
Geoscape will work similar to X-Com. You'll create bases - though you can build on land, sea and underground/underwater. You will have to "mine" resources (basically a "base facility", which extracts minerals/water at a fixed rate). You could also build satillites and radar stations that will pick up crafts and detect bases.
If you saw my last post in my game thread, there's two screen shots, combat will support a number of craft, from multiple players. The plan was this was going to be real-time, so players had to switch between geo and combat (or even several combats). Flicking back to geo would allow you to launch new craft, that can join any existing combat as well as intercepting other craft. Thus you could have several players, each with several craft, in a single dogfight. I wasn't planning a "squadron" as such, but multiple simultaneous launches would effectively give you that.
I wasn't sure whether to add an X-Com tactical section to the game, as the rest of the game has to run in real-time for the players "outside". So I was thinking two craft types, fighters and bombers - you send bombers out to destroy bases and radars, and fighters to escort/defend them and shoot down opponents' crafts
The real-time elements could be removed if the game was limited to two player, but I kind of like the idea of massive dogfights.
Maybe my idea is actually a bit too different from what you were planning. In which case, I apologise for the derailing of the thread
Edit: fixed formatting
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Yes, sounds like there slightly different directions ;)
I actually pictured this today as a Heroes of might and magic style game where instead of buying Building to get new weapons you Research them within your faction, maybe i should just learn how to mod for VCMI and build a xcom mod there.
https://forum.vcmi.eu/
If only i could draw better :(
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Yes but it should also be possible for the enermy to do the same thing to you. Enermy attackign your troop transport should be a valid option so having a escort should be a option.
Hmm... Interesting. Reminds me of X-Com Interceptor. Speaking of which, the pilots' voices in that game are in .wav format, if I remember correctly. They could be used for your new dogfight project.
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i like this ideas. There are a lot of things that come come up, if you allow transporters to be targeted then you can have new mission, sounds like waht i have been thinking of for a long time.
pmporg, are you still working on your project or is it going to become a mod for OX? i am not a programmer or artist like someone else said i gladly give ideas :)
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No, at the minute all of my projects are on hold; I've basically got zero programming time at the minute. I did try and have a look at the blaster launcher AI, but not done anything with that since the other day :(
One day... Some day... Maybe... Hopefully...