Alien sight range

[ReCurse]

As i´ve read, the alien sight range is constant. How about changing that, as per alien race and/or game difficulty?

[Shoes]

Is it defined in the ruleset? If so, it can easily be modded. If not, someone just has to move it there ;p

[Shadow]

I believe it'd hardcoded, but yes, it'd be nice if it were moddable in some fashion.

[redv]

Soldier can see to distance up to 20 tiles.
If alien will have (for example) view distance 22 tiles, then the game will extremely difficult. Because alien can do 2-3 reaction shots, before soldier will able to see him. You can try night mission without flash-lights.

If alien will have view distance 18 tiles, then vice versa, the game will extremely easy. Because soldiers will kill aliens as blind kittens.

Therefore, in my opinion, view distance for aliens and humans should be equivalent.

PS: PR sent: https://github.com/SupSuper/OpenXcom/pull/698

[ReCurse]

Soldier can see to distance up to 20 tiles.
If alien will have (for example) view distance 22 tiles, then the game will extremely difficult. Because alien can do 2-3 reaction shots, before soldier will able to see him. You can try night mission without flash-lights.

that is the point in that.
Nothing like having to flank aliens, since you´d die on a direct approach or having to fire (or throw 'nades) at a a location you suppose an alien stands.
With the first reaction fire you do know the exact location anyway.
I´ve never used flares and such, way too lazy

[moriarty]

there's been a somewhat similar discussion about night vision... I think it would be nice if all of this would be moved to the ruleset, including the possibility for items to change this.

in my mind, the perfect openxcom would have
- sight range in the ruleset
- sight range modification via use of items (using binoculars gives a soldier an increased sight range until he moves or takes another action, for example)
- a "minimum light level for vision" defined in the ruleset: each unit can only detect other units sufficiently well-lit.
- "minimum light level for vision" modification via item use (advanced armor types have night-vision installed; night-vision goggles like binoculars above)

some aliens would perhaps have a rather shorter vision (silacoids?), others could see quite far (mutons?), still others would have supreme night vision (sectoids, chryssalids). humans would have average sight range, and mediocre night vision