[BETA][WIP][BUNCHOFSTUFF] Xeno Operations v0.98

[XOps]

Still tinkering.

Got some nice stun weapons. I made a really awesome hit animation for them before I realized that shooting weapons with stun explode. Maybe I can make a cool electrical style explosion for them. Still not really sure where I stand on releasing this beast. I am working on the final edits for my book, so that is going to monopolize my time and it gets priority since it might make me some money.

1) Are we gonna het some sort one handed auto weapon like a terran smg (some guy wrote it in one of early post)

The UZI is already in the mod as is the machine pistol. Both are one handed autofire weapons.

2) Since xeno operation is incompatible with most mods, final relase will, be labelled as "total conversion"?

I don't know about calling it a total conversion. It's close to one, but it still uses a lot of the original artwork. It's more like an overhaul. Regardless I will mention compatibility in the readme. It's not my fault no one reads the readme  .

3) Since i intend to give a shot in linux - but atm oly with wine - what is the nightly that works best with the mod right now? Please X-Ops, would you add that imfo in the first post, along the mod progress?

I have no idea what nightly this works best with. I think someone attached a nightly earlier in this thread that works well. To be honest, I would rather spend my time trying to get the next release out the door rather than trying to fix compatibility with the old version. I'll update the front page when I finally get something I'm content with releasing.

4) Some "less exotic" names for weapons, eg. "portable missile launcher" instead of "advanced launcher", and so on

I am not really sure what you are talking about here. I don't have an advanced launcher. I have an X-9 Rocket Launcher and an Anti Matter Launcher though I would hardly call those exotic names.

as for the 1.0 compatibility, it may be achieved by enabling only certain rulesets and not all of them? Please may someone test it out, since i'm "far from the game" now?

Edit: Otherwise relasing a 1.0 compatible verwion may be a fine idea, of course without some features that would make it incompatible.

I have no intention of releasing a 1.0 version. Too much work for very little payoff.

Edkt2: I wonder if compativility with hobbes' terrain mod will be achieved in the end..otherwise a final addiction may be to add new terrain from scratch, so that it may be considered properly more of a total, conversion. Sry for typos!!

I am planning on integrating most of the terrain pack down the road. This will be a necessity seeing as how I am adding terrains for the next version.

I don't know why, but my UAV/Rockets drone enters combat without any weapons

HWPs are broken in the older versions. They should be fixed (I hope) for the next release.

This mod is wonderful!

Do you have a secure and recent backup of your hardisk ?

Mod site is back up. I'll repost an old dropbox link in case it goes down.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vl120t51n9zekr4/XenoOperationsBetaV0.90.zip?dl=0

[niculinux]

Hey really like these stun stuff! And the H.E.C. is  old fashined splinter cell style, i guess

Fired up the mod with 2015_05_07_1716 and started without quirks..ah finally could see an Uzi!!! Have you ever considere to realize you own terrain pack even if a light one in comaprison to Hobbe's terrain pack? Does also the mod include a modified version of skyranger's map? If not may i suggest some from the New SkyRangers or A better Skyranger ones?

Gonna wait the final version, don't want to screw up saved games with newer mod relases, oh and i like new startin layout base!

[davide]

...
Mod site is back up. I'll repost an old dropbox link in case it goes down.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vl120t51n9zekr4/XenoOperationsBetaV0.90.zip?dl=0

Indeed I meant a backup of resorces of new version ...

[XOps]

Indeed I meant a backup of resorces of new version ...

I have a drop box backup as well as another on a thumbdrive that I back up often. In case of a hard drive crash, I'm mostly covered.

[davide]

 

Dioxine advices the same thing to Robin ...

https://openxcom.org/forum/index.php/topic,3319.msg50899.html#msg50899

 

[Hobbes]

XOps, any ETA on the next version of Xeno Operations?

[XOps]

To be honest, I really don't know. It depends on a lot of different things and how they turn out during testing. Is there a specific resource you need Hobbes?
The mod as it stands is still not really playable from start to finish. The early game is working fine, but I still need to tie up the end game stuff for it to be playable.

Right now I am working on this mod between breaks in my book editing. I can only murder so many darlings an hour before I need a short rest. But this mod is secondary to getting my book done since I am trying to have it ready for a con in November. Still I am making progress on the mod.

I'll just share my current laundry list of stuff I still have to do.

Spoiler:

[Secondary]: Things marked as secondary are things I may save for another release. Basically they are not essential and I will probably release a beta before these are implemented.

Research Tree: 70% finished. Needs a few more techs fleshed out. However it really needs research times balanced in accordance with game pacing. This will take a few test playthroughs before I get this right. There are a number of smaller items though that need to be tied into the research tree
   Integrate Codex Key item into research tree
   Add a few research items into completed codex tech list [Secondary]
   Final melee weapon  [Secondary]
   Final weapon tier [Secondary]
   Unlock alien weapons for completed Codex  [Secondary]
   Finish Complete Codex Archive Tech for completed Codex list
   Tie in stun weapons into tech tree
   Tie in final Avenger craft into tech tree
   Tie in new aliens into tech tree
   Tie in new plasma weapons into tech tree
   Redo alien weapons in tech tree
   Take a second look at the interrogation tech tree that opens up the final mission. Cut techs where needed. This is one of the only survivors of my tech tree purge so its still a bit bloated. Also it needs to be tied into codex research properly as well as the final Avenger.
Manufacturing: 10% done. Needs a big overhaul. I may do away with the crafting system entirely. I still haven't done much to fix this yet.
   Ditch old crafting components
   Redo crafting components to use only 4 key items: Tech Cells, Elerium-115, Alien Alloys, and Antimatter
   Redo nearly every item's material cost in accordance with these new items
   Balance material costs so that they accomplish the following things
      Costs are not so large or complex that the player cannot calculate in their head the amount of components needed to build multiples of an item.
      This can be done by sticking to multiples of 5 and 10 at most
      Exception: Upgrading a Codex should be very costly since this done only every once in a while.
   Costs are high enough that component scarcity is an issue. I don't want the player to have large stockpiles of components. Every UFO assault needs to be a desperate struggle for resources.
Scarcity is compounded by tech upgrading costs. To advance the tech tree requires a significant amount of resources that could be spent on weapons. However, waiting too long to upgrade could mean the player is outpaced by the escalating Alien Threat.
   Test new system with the option to make alien items self destruct upon death.
      If this still results in too much micro management then ditch the entire system and start over.
   Add stun weapons to manufacturing list
   Add new plasma weapons to manufacturing list
   Add new UFO items to disassembly list
   Add Codex Key items to manufacturing list
   Add remaining Codex Items to list
   Add end game component manufacturing to list
   Add Hurricane transport to list
   Add Final Avenger to list
New Aliens: 90% done. All of the artwork is done along with most of the coding.
   Needs to be integrated with the research tree properly.
   Polish roacher graphic for UFOpaedia
   Playtest appearance ratios
UFOPaedia: 50% done.
   Needs a lot more artwork for the various entries  [Secondary]
   Do a crap ton of writing for the various entries. This is mostly fluff, but some of it gives the player critical information
   A lot of existing artwork needs to be integrated
   Needs entries for the new stun weapons and plasma weapons
   Will need an entry for the final avenger as well
New Craft: 40% done. I want to redo the Skywarden maps and I want to add one more transport to the game. I need a few more tiles to do so.
   Skywarden replacement: I have a good prototype done. I need a few extra tiles and to recolor the tiles I have.  [Secondary]
   Lightning: I have an idea on how to make the Lightning an interesting and viable transport. It needs a proof of concept first before I get into making new tiles for it.  [Secondary]
   Make a final Avenger. This is a tricked out avenger with all new tiles, more armor, faster speed, and more troop capacity made solely for the final mission to mars. There is a catch though in that the player will probably only be able to build one and by the time they can build it, the final mission will be available. Also, building it cripples your tech progression.
Armor: 80% done.
   Redo Xeno Operations Armor paperdolls
   Finish redo of kevlar and beret paper doll
      I have redone the base armor. No more coveralls. Too bad they look cool enough to make the Xeno Ops armor paperdolls look lame so now I have to redo those too.
   Touch up kevlar and beret battlescape sprites
   Double check inventory and ground corpses as well if needed
   Ditch any of the default kevlar vests that don't look that good.
   Keep camo vest
   Keep tan vest (new default)
   Keep black vest
   Ditch blue vest?
   Keep either gray vest or white vest (ditch one)
   Consider using a camo pattern on gray or white
   Lighten gray vest if I keep it
  Keep tan beret or red beret (ditch one)
   Ditch black with red beret
   Ditch camo beret
Weapons and Items 75% done
   Redo plasma weapons to account for new weapon types that were added
   Add Codex Key back in and make graphics for it
   Redo Alien Grenade graphic [Secondary]
   Redo Alien Blaster Launcher graphic  [Secondary]
   Remove starting armor items since they are all default now
   Add in more elite Alien weapons [Secondary]
   Final melee weapon [Secondary]
   Final weapon tier [Secondary]
Maps and Missions 70% done
   Fix Codex Recovery missions to include Codex Key item
      Also make a special tile to count as the objective
         Ideally, the player should smash the objective, steal the Codex Key from the rubble, and then abort mission after returning to the exit.
   Finish Jungle Codex Recovery map
   Add in side rails for upper teirs of map
   Add in exit tiles for abort mission recovery
   Add in small detail tiles like extra vines and rubble piles to spice up the map
   Finish Arctic Codex Recovery map
   This is pretty easy as I can use the Jungle Codex map for the layout and routes
   Change detail tiles to an ice theme recolor
   Do tiles for a Desert Codex Recovery map [Secondary]
   Consider plundering Hobbes's Terrain Pack since the next update will make Xeno Ops incompatible with it [Secondary]
New Alien UFOs 90% done
   Needs balance testing. That's about it.
   During beta, pay close attention to player feedback regarding breaching difficulty. If too many players complain about breaching troubles, then consider adding more breaching points into all UFOs.
   Note UFO type distribution amongst missions when playtesting.
   Initial tests are now fairly positive. The game has an excellent variety of UFO missions.
   Note UFO assault mission length.
   So far, testing suggests these new UFOs are faster to clear than the older ones.
   Pay attention to critiques regarding the artwork.
   See if people complain about the overabundance of animated tiles.
   See if people complain about the contrast of floor tiles making it hard to spot units
   Contrast on floor tiles has been reduced. Wait for more feedback before making further changes.
New Alien Base 90% done
   Keep a close eye on feedback over layout.
   If base is too maze like or large, then consider a redesign to remove two levels and simplify the design.
   Touch up some artwork. Some of the wall seams don't line up right.
   Do a full playtest to measure mission length
Craft Weapons and Interception 10% done [Secondary]
   Add in more craft weapons [Secondary]
   Rebalance craft weapons to make most of them useful [Secondary]
Other
   Steal robin's smoke since I'm too lazy to make my own and honestly, I don't think I could do a better job. [Secondary]
   Make some nice new explosion sprites for the various energy and stun weapons [Secondary]
   Readjust Hyper Velocity accuracies and bump them up a bit [Secondary]
       Consider changing laser damage to explosive for alternate ammo, but keep explosion radius small
   Readjust laser weapons to increase accuracy, but slow rate of fire [Secondary]
   Fix Muton Armored Commander pck from being listed twice in ExtraSprites [Secondary]
   Add a Muton Guard live alien item for modders [Secondary]
   Fix assorted Alien gear to be Geoscape only items so researching them can reveal their names in the battlescape [Secondary]
   Bug devs to unhardcode cutscenes to end the game that way I can add multiple endings [Secondary]
  Clean up unused strings in extrastrings [Secondary]

[Hobbes]

To be honest, I really don't know. It depends on a lot of different things and how they turn out during testing. Is there a specific resource you need Hobbes?

Well I've been using and adapting a few of your sprites for soldiers of the countries who signed alien pacts to use in a couple of missions, so I'm wondering what you might have new that isn't present in 0.90. I don't really need new stuff since I already got some 10 red beret guys (a few also taken/adapted from Piratez and the League of Superheros mods) but it's always nice to have more options to choose, especially since now you can have alienRaces composed of more than 8 ranks.

I have actually added all of your XCom armors as enemy units to Redux to test and see how they look before choosing. Reading from your laundry list I'd suggest that you keep as much color options available to the player to equip his/her units as possible, although creating paperdolls for all will take a while.

But the real reason I asked about an ETA is because I was wondering if it would be possible to keep some compatibility between Xeno Operations and Redux. I've already removed nearly all of your weapon sprites from Redux due to other reasons although I like the look of them a lot (plus the XCom armors). But from your laundry list I have serious doubts that the compatibility will be possible

[LexThorn]

Ive been not able to run the mod, seems with latest nightly openxcom cant see the mod, there is no xenooperations in mod list.  original`s resourses is in place, mod files copied to "data"

[niculinux]

Ive been not able to run the mod, seems with latest nightly openxcom cant see the mod, there is no xenooperations in mod list.  original`s resourses is in place, mod files copied to "data"

See here.

[hellrazor]

Ive been not able to run the mod, seems with latest nightly openxcom cant see the mod, there is no xenooperations in mod list.  original`s resourses is in place, mod files copied to "data"

"data" is the wrong directory.
use "mods".

[XOps]

Getting closer. Real close.
The mod is now playable from start to finish again as most of the tech tree is up. I am playtesting and tweaking values now.
The crafting system is now reworked. Alien Items Self Destruct seems to be the key to keeping micro management to a minimum. Values need to be tweaked, but so far the proof of concept holds. I'll have to get further along in the tech tree to be sure.

Other Odds and Ends
Reworked the Skywarden. The Battlescape map has been replaced. It looks much better. Stills needs a UFOPaedia article

Added another fighter/transport. It's an endgame craft. Better than the Avenger with more cargo space as well. Stupid expensive though and if the player loses it, it will take a long time to gather enough resources to replace it. Don't lose it as it is required to go to mars. No images. Sorry. Don't want to spoil this one.

I've implemented a custom mission too. The player will need the items in this mission to win the game. Occurs in place of a terror mission every once in a while (low spawning odds). Here is a snippet of the arctic version.

I have a jungle version as well since this is basically the Mujungle tiles rearranged into a labyrinth map. I hope to have a desert version eventually. The mission is literally a smash and grab and mission. I suppose the grabbing part is optional, but highly recommended.

Reworked the starting armors.

These no longer require a purchase at the store and can be selected from the start (no weight). Also there are no more coveralls as they replace them. I never liked the coveralls. At least now your rookies can look cool when they die in one shot. (I am considering releasing this as a separate mod since it is basically cosmetic)

There is a ton more stuff I've tweaked and added.
Now for the big question. When?
I still don't know exactly. It all hinges of if the crafting and tech tree is fun. I need to playtest more to find out. If it does turn out to be fun (early tests seem positive), it needs very precise value adjustments to keep the pacing. This needs to at least be in the ballpark before a beta release. Assuming that is accomplished and the tech tree and crafting system don't suck the last biggest task is the UFOpaedia which needs a lot of work.

[Mr. Quiet]

Damn, you are cool dude.

[yrizoud]

Alien Items Self Destruct seems to be the key to keeping micro management to a minimum.

I've thought of a related variant : Alien ammo clips (created by deployments) can be set as non-recoverable. This way the AI doesn't risk running out of ammo, while the player doesn't get infinite ammo supply from mission. There can be an explanation that energy leaks out, and despite XCOM inventing their own power sources (drawing on precious e115 reserves), the way the alien manage to keep their own weapons loaded remains a mystery.

[XOps]

I've thought of a related variant : Alien ammo clips (created by deployments) can be set as non-recoverable. This way the AI doesn't risk running out of ammo, while the player doesn't get infinite ammo supply from mission. There can be an explanation that energy leaks out, and despite XCOM inventing their own power sources (drawing on precious e115 reserves), the way the alien manage to keep their own weapons loaded remains a mystery.

I've actually half way done this. I removed scavenging alien clips from the manufacturing screen (I've also cut down the types of the clips that aliens get as well). I am not sure about making them non recoverable since I have a final tech that unlocks alien gear now. I wish there was a way to set certain items to be non-recoverable until certain research projects were completed.