This sounds like vanilla behavior - when you hit an enemy, they become 'alerted' to the presence of the unit that fired.
Dang I cant believe I missed that. Its never happened to me before now. If this is vanilla behavior then im thinking whats going on is ive just never usually had a problem with shooting someone in the back and they survive - and when they do im shooting from a window or right around a corner and the only movement I do is just to return to cover (not much TUs spent, doesnt fall below reaction threshold).
In X-Piratez the weapons (like an smg, low end pistols) do so little damage that you can shoot someone two or three times and they don't die. And I figured if he didn't reaction fire then that event has passed and I can just take my time repositioning.
To be fair in my first 2 playthroughs this never happened, back in E/F/G/H editions, so its pretty surprising and its happening enough now that im adapting my tactics.
Edit - Hey wait one minute...
I can walk right in front of some guy like to charge up on him in melee, but I realize I don't have enough Stat Cost to make it be worthwhile. So when I pass by him I just keep running and
he does not turn around to reaction fire.
Shouldn't he have been "alerted" just by seeing my character? Whats the difference between movement and having actually tagged him with a shot?
Movement is definitely setting off reaction fire (from behind the guy who was shot) but it doesnt seem to be setting it off if the target wasnt shot by the offender. Even if they are aware of that offender.