Hi,
Subject sounds epic but its actually simple. Its just a matter of using already implemented feature to "simulate" physics in the game.
1) If something hit unit there is a chance to push it in same direction as bullet. This could be based on pure bullet power or power / direction of explosion. So even when Armour would stop all damage still unit could be moved one or two tiles.
2) if unit is killed then its items could be spread randomly on all near tiles. This could be based on item location in inventory. So hand / belt would have larger chance to go 1 tile and backpack lower chance. This could be done using throwing functionality.
3) hitting unit with a powerful blow could force unit to drop some items. Some items would be more or less "dropable" and this would be based on inventory location. Its quite hard to lose a grenade from backpack but its easy to lost it when holding in hand or in the belt.
4) when unit corpse is destroyed due to overkill damage then it should not disappear at all but instead of change to several items randomly distributed on near tiles. I think about 3 new items: human debris, alien debris, metal debris. This staff will be useless for gameplay, just pure graphical effect.
5) panicked unit could have chance to drop or throw weapon into random direction using throwing functionality.
6) Low bravery soldier when suddenly spot several aliens at the same time (2 or more), there is a chance to lose some TU / or drop a weapon etc.
7) items that are on the ground could be moved up to few tiles using very strong explosions using throwing functionality. this could be based on their weight (how far they move) and they damage resistance (if they move at all). Only specif weapons could be used to move items on the ground like grenades.
Tom
