Topics

1

The X-Com Files / Is this a bug? Passenger cars riding on water

« on: March 10, 2023, 04:39:09 am »

So, I was trying to locate the exact location of a manor, and my Dragonfly was being chased by Exalt passenger cars.... over... water!

Is this a bug? Or just a "feature" in that there is no way to keep vehicles from going over water.

2

OXCE Suggestions Archive / [Suggestion] Recon Mission Assignment Feature

« on: March 06, 2023, 06:00:24 pm »

I would like the ability to send agents to recon a potential mission location before sending in a full team to handle it.

I have a feeling this idea will be very difficult to implement, but I thought it might be worth discussing at least.   

First let me explain why this idea came about.  I had my first cult manor in X-com files which was rough to say the least particularly with where the starting location was.  It would have been nice to have a layout of the compound ahead of time. This thematically seems like a normal thing for military/espionage organizations to be able to accomplish since they have been doing it for decades (pre-1997).  I could have at least planned a better angle of attack tactically speaking.

So what if on the intercept menu for certain missions like alien bases (i.e.  manors) there was a "recon" option where you could click it instead of intercept that pops up a menu to assign agents/soldiers to a "reconnaissance mission"?  It would give you estimate of how long the mission will take to complete with odds of success based on who you assign the mission.  Success rate could be dependent on the stats of the soldier (TU, STR, STA, FA).  Failure could randomly result in either wounded soldiers or dead soldiers.  This is not a mission you actually execute but the game handles behind the scenes kind of like a research project that pops up later with the results when the mission is completed.

Success could be that the tiles are revealed at the start of the mission at a minimum.  Additionally a few enemies could be revealed at the start of the mission (percentage based on success) or just a tally of possible enemies at the mission complete screen.  Again, that number may not be accurate.

The cost is you at least tie up some soldiers and/or a vehicle for a while that can't be deployed on other missions and at worst is you may lose them.  That's the risk reward.   If the capability was added to other missions that timeout, then the risk is that the mission despawns before you get your recon team back and deploy your assault team. 

I figured that the default behavior that this is off, but a modder could add a flag to the mission that enables recon capability if the player would like to try it.   For instance, I would not expect a real alien base to be capable of recon since it's underground and good luck sneaking in. However, a cult manor is above ground with mostly humans which could have closer scrutiny applied to it before sending in strike team.

3

The X-Com Files / Manors and cult termination

« on: February 28, 2023, 10:29:00 pm »

Quick questions to make sure I understand how stopping the cults work and reading the mod files...

1. If a manor pops up before I terminate a cult, that manor will stick around even after I terminate that cult?

2. All termination does is prevent more manors from spawning correct?

3. Are there any other bad side effects letting manors linger for a while longer that I may not be aware of?  I ask because I'm still trying to tech up a bit.

4

OXCE Suggestions DONE / [DONE][Suggestion] QoL: Ability to sort Funding Countries list

« on: February 19, 2023, 10:26:22 pm »

Hey o,

Been a while since I played this game and getting back into some X-com files again.  Love a lot of the updates in both mod and OXCE and I'm glad to see some of my changes (jgatkinsn) still exist like the Research overview and hide items in purchase screen.

Anyway, I was looking at the Internation Funding list and found myself wanting a better way to find the countries providing the most funding.  I noticed that the list isn't sortable, and I wanted to request a feature to at least have the list sorted by funding amount (i.e. descending order).   Just to make it easier to find who are the top donators. 

Other plus would be to sort based on most change in funding.

Anyway, just a nice little option if it ever gets added.  Maybe I'll pull out the code editor and make a PR... who knows

Later

5

Offtopic / Looking for a new book series to read?

« on: May 30, 2018, 04:59:18 pm »

I've been enjoying this book series:  Galaxy's Edge for quite some time.  It's available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.  It's not quite XCOM, but it's really good.  It has a more of a Star Wars feel to it because there are some sarcastic references taking jabs at the SW universe occasionally.  The best parts are when they focus on "The Legion" and their exploits.

KTF!

6

OXCE Suggestions DONE / [DONE][Suggestion] [Feedback] Interceptor Range indicator

« on: April 01, 2018, 03:46:32 am »

After debating about how to manage the interceptor ranges on the intercept screen, I decided it would be best to make it "moddable".  I've completed the code for this feature in my own fork of OXCE+ and I must say I can't imagine playing without it after all the testing I've done with it.  My son loves it too

Below are screenshots of how the range status is encoded for normal or default, TechComm mod, and two TFTD screens showing the out of range and slightly in range status (red squares  & yellow triangles respectively).

This feature is an option that has to be enabled from the Options menu called "Interceptor Range Status".  Once enabled, you only need to click on a possible target and then click the "intercept" button from the target screen.  By default, the shape also indicates the range no matter if the craft is ready or not: X - craft is not allowed to fly there, square - craft is out of range, triangle - craft is borderline in range, and circle - craft is well within range.  The color is used to emphasize the range: red - out or not allowed, green - good to go, yellow - caution, and blue means craft isn't ready.

To change the colors or shapes or both, the interfaces.rul file will need to be changed by providing a copy for you mod.

Example:

Code: [Select]

  - type: interceptorRangeStatusReady
    elements:
      - id: craftNotAllowed
        textShape:  0x0058   # unicode character for X cross (must be hex)
        color:  128      # red
      - id: inRange
        textShape:  0x25CF   # unicode character for circle (must be hex)
        color:  107      # some shade of brightish green
      - id: mightBeInRange
        textShape:  0x25B2   # unicode character for triangle (must be hex)
        color:  251      # golden yellow
      - id: outOfRange
        textShape:  0x25A0   # unicode character for square (must be hex)
        color:  128      # red
  - type: interceptorRangeStatusNotReady
    elements:
      - id: craftNotAllowed
        textShape:  0x0058   # unicode character for X cross (must be hex)
        color:  80       # dull blue
      - id: inRange
        textShape:  0x25CF   # unicode character for circle (must be hex)
        color:  80       # dull blue
      - id: mightBeInRange
        textShape:  0x25B2   # unicode character for triangle (must be hex)
        color:  80       # dull blue
      - id: outOfRange
        textShape:  0x25A0   # unicode character for square (must be hex)
        color:  80       # dull blue

If you want this integrated into OXCE+ and think it's a must have, you'll have to convince master Meridian  

If you want to test the code (and know how to compile), my changes are located in two places:

Feature only: https://github.com/jgatkinsn/OpenXcom/tree/interceptor_range_status
Feature plus hide purchase items:  https://github.com/jgatkinsn/OpenXcom/tree/combined_hidden_ir

7

OXCE Suggestions DONE / [DONE] [Feedback] Hide items in the Purchase Screen

« on: March 23, 2018, 06:55:50 am »

Okay, I've finished implementing the ability to hide items in the purchase screen.  It's an option in the Advanced Mods list called "Hide Purchase Items".  As you hide items, an internal list (really a map) is managed that is saved and restored into the save game file.  It's backwards compatible with save game files that don't have the hidden purchase item list in it. 

Users just "right-click" on the item in the purchase screen to "hide" it, and if they want to "unhide" it, they can go the the "Hidden Items" category and right-click on the item again. 

And yes... if you select another category other than "Hidden items", the hidden item will not show up there even it it belongs in that category.

Here's a link of the hiding in action:

Everything is checked into my oxce3.5-plus-proto branch on GitHub if anyone wants to test it.

https://github.com/jgatkinsn/OpenXcom/tree/oxce3.5-plus-proto
'
Let me know if this can be improved.  Would this be better if it was called "Ignore Items" instead of Hidden?

Again, the premise behind this feature is to cut down on the clutter of all the items in the purchase screen you no longer care about because of obsolescence over the course of the game.  This is particularly helpful with the mods with tons of items like XcomFiles and FMP.

8

OXCE Suggestions DONE / [DONE][Suggestion] Craft max range indicator on the globe

« on: March 22, 2018, 05:29:40 pm »

So, another idea I got that I think would be nice is a way to toggle the craft's maximum flight range onto the geoscape globe.  I think this would be handy particularly in the XCOM files mod if you want to see if the Hummer or the Mudranger or the Osprey can reach that new point of interest no the map.  Even more important if multiple points of interest have popped in quick succession, and I'm trying to decide which craft is best suited for the mission in range. Then make a decision based on that.  When I'm done deciding which craft to use, I hit the toggle key to remove the circles.

I envisioned possibly making the range circles a different shade per craft at each base and possibly labeling the circle with the craft name.   If the craft has global range, no circle would be displayed. 

Thoughts?

9

OXCE Support / [Solved] Weapon use hotkeys?

« on: March 20, 2018, 03:29:14 am »

I had another idea that might speed up gameplay for some people like me.

What if there were hotkeys that tell the weapon in your hand how you're going to use it?

Example:

LSHIFT A - Left hand weapon Aim
LSHIFT S - Left hand weapon Snap
LSHIFT O - Left hand weapon Auto
LSHIFT P - Left Hand weapon Prime
LSHIFT U - Left Hand weapon Unprime
LSHIFT T - Left Hand weapon Throw

If the key combination doesn't apply, then it just does nothing or pops up a message telling you it doesn't apply.

Then the Right hand would be CTRL or CTRL Shift, so I don't have to take my right hand off the mouse.  Now, I realize as I write this. it would have to be ambidextrous, so any SHIFT is left hand and CTRL SHIFT is right-hand weapons.

10

OXCE Suggestions DONE / [DONE] [Suggestion] Global Research Overview screen

« on: March 18, 2018, 04:15:36 pm »

Because you ... no wait... I demanded  it, I've implemented a screen in OXCE+ that allows a player to check all the projects being researched at all the bases in one screen.  Using the key "c", you can bring up in two places: Geoscape & a base's current research screen. 

From this screen, if you click on a project in the list, it will take you immediately to that base's current research screen.

This is useful for times when you just can't keep track of all your projects.  When you find yourself saying, "Now which base was researching laser pistols again?" or while watching the globe spin, "How much progress have I made over these past few days?"

Changes are located in my copy of the oxce3.5-plus-proto branch:
https://github.com/jgatkinsn/OpenXcom/tree/oxce3.5-plus-proto

Attached is a small screen capture video.

11

OXCE Builds & Ports / [Solved] Problems running OXCE+

« on: March 17, 2018, 05:48:53 pm »

Need help.

I've built a branch of OXCE+ (oxce3.5-plus-proto) with some changes I want to add and test (adding a new screen). However, I can't launch the game, but I could with vanilla OXC no mods enabled.

From the log it looks like it doesn't like the UFO ruleset, and turns if off which kills the game because then it can't find BATTLE.CAT.  Is there a way to get more debug output without firing up the debugger?

Audio error is the same for vanilla OXC, because I'm running in Ubuntu Bash Shell for Windows 10.. so no audio.

Any help is appreciated.

12

OXCE Suggestions DONE / [DONE] [Suggestion] See what other bases are currently researching in one screen

« on: March 12, 2018, 02:52:13 am »

EDIT by Meridian, more info here: https://openxcom.org/forum/index.php/topic,6128.0.html

When you have research projects going on in several bases, it would be nice to have a quick way to see what other bases are currently researching in progress from the research screen.  This could simply be another button from the research screen to click on called "Current Global Research" that pops up a list of all ongoing projects located with the associated basename.   This would help tremendously because I can't keep track of all the projects in progress, so I have to jump around from base to base checking their research projects.


Another perk would be able to jump to another bases's research screen from this global list.

Cheers!

13

OXCE Suggestions DONE / [DONE] [Suggestion] Marking items as ignored in purchase screen

« on: March 11, 2018, 08:43:10 pm »

EDIT by Meridian: more info here: https://openxcom.org/forum/index.php/topic,6150.0.html

I don't know if this is possible, but it would be nice to mark items on the purchase screen as ignored.  Once the item is marked ignore it won't show up on the purchase list or maybe moved to the very bottom or have an "Ignored items" pull down to show them.  Either way, it would be helpful to have items you no longer care about purchasing cluttering up the screen when I find the items I do care about buying.  This has become more of an issue in the XCOM Files mod with so many weapons available to purchase. I spend a lot of time scrolling up and down sometimes missing the item I'm looking to buy.  Also, some items are great early game, but as you get upgrades, I don't care about the early items anymore and have no desire to purchase them.

Anyway, here's a suggestion that would help improve the game IMHO

Cheers!

14

Released Mods / FMP on GitHub

« on: April 13, 2016, 04:25:48 pm »

Solarious,

Have you ever considered putting your FMP mod up (or at least the text files) on github particularly since this mod is no longer in feature development?  It might make it easier to maintain when people submit bugfixes.  They can do pull requests, and you can review them.   

15

Troubleshooting / Can't install latest nightlies

« on: February 26, 2016, 05:09:06 pm »

I tried to upgrade to the latest nightlies 2/13 and 2/16, but I'm getting a crash.

Here's a log output:

[26-02-2016 09:06:33]   [INFO]   Data folder is:
[26-02-2016 09:06:33]   [INFO]   Data search is:
[26-02-2016 09:06:33]   [INFO]   - C:\Users\jatkinso\Documents\OpenXcom\
[26-02-2016 09:06:33]   [INFO]   - C:\Program Files\OpenXcom
[26-02-2016 09:06:33]   [INFO]   - C:\Program Files\OpenXcom
[26-02-2016 09:06:33]   [INFO]   User folder is: C:\Users\jatkinso\Documents\OpenXcom\
[26-02-2016 09:06:33]   [INFO]   Config folder is: C:\Users\jatkinso\Documents\OpenXcom\
[26-02-2016 09:06:33]   [INFO]   Options loaded successfully.
[26-02-2016 09:06:33]   [INFO]   SDL initialized successfully.
[26-02-2016 09:06:34]   [INFO]   SDL_mixer initialized successfully.
[26-02-2016 09:06:34]   [INFO]   Attempting to set display to 1440x900x32...
[26-02-2016 09:06:34]   [INFO]   Display set to 1440x900x32.
[26-02-2016 09:06:34]   [INFO]   Loading data...
[26-02-2016 09:06:34]   [INFO]   Scanning standard mods in 'standard'...
[26-02-2016 09:06:34]   [INFO]   Scanning user mods in 'C:\Users\jatkinso\Documents\OpenXcom\mods'...
[26-02-2016 09:06:34]   [INFO]   Mapping resource files...
[26-02-2016 09:06:35]   [INFO]   Resources files mapped successfully.
[26-02-2016 09:06:40]   [FATAL]   A fatal error has occurred: code 0xc0000005
[26-02-2016 09:06:40]   [FATAL]   SymFromAddr failed: 487
[26-02-2016 09:06:40]   [FATAL]   SymFromAddr failed: 487
[26-02-2016 09:06:40]   [FATAL]   SymFromAddr failed: 487
[26-02-2016 09:06:40]   [FATAL]   SymFromAddr failed: 487
[26-02-2016 09:06:40]   [FATAL]   SymFromAddr failed: 487
[26-02-2016 09:06:40]   [FATAL]   0x7e7eb0 SDL_Error (SymGetLineFromAddr64 failed: 487)
[26-02-2016 09:06:40]   [FATAL]   0x77799894 free (SymGetLineFromAddr64 failed: 487)
[26-02-2016 09:06:40]   [FATAL]   StackWalk64 failed: 299
[26-02-2016 09:06:40]   [FATAL]   Crash dump generated at C:\Users\jatkinso\Documents\OpenXcom\26-02-2016_09-06-40.dmp
[26-02-2016 09:06:43]   [FATAL]   OpenXcom has crashed: code 0xc0000005
Extra information has been saved to openxcom.log.
Please report this to the developers.

It's been a while since I've upgraded, but I have been playing with the nightlies normally.  I have  Windows 7 machine 32-bit.

Any suggestions?