Re: The X-Com Files - 3.5: Whispers In The Dark

[Vakrug]

Improved Laboratory for laser weapons and a lot of other things. Advanced Laboratory for even more... advanced stuff.

And none of these can research stuff that standard laboratory can! Never dismantle your standard laboratory just because you have not enough space in your main base.

By the way...does the game automatically end if you attack Cydonia?

Yes. And if you play like me it will happen much earlier that many other "endings".

[Juku121]

I guess I just have to keep beating up aliens with stun batons until somebody talks...

Engineers/leaders need regular beatings because there's a laundry list of important technical info you can get from them. Some is blocked behind other requirements as well.

I also have no idea what I need to do to unlock improved laboratory...

Psst.

RNG has also messed with me pretty hard...

Story of every XCF player ever.

...I haven't even seen a shambler once the entire campaign and since I already did final solution I doubt I'll ever unlock hidden caves...

I think Dr. Alpha is supposed to be your failsafe for getting at least one of each cryptid species.

By the way...does the game automatically end if you attack Cydonia?

Yep. Used to require finishing the two other major alien arcs too, but that seems to have changed. I was quite unhappy to see the Temple of Atlantis getting removed.

I'm decently far along on the Hybrids (I captured a specialist so now I'm waiting for the control mission to fire),  and UAC, but I've barely dipped my toe in everything else.  I would like to experience everything the mod has to offer so it would suck if I finish the campaign before I wipe all the other factions out.

I think Hybrids never truly go away. You can sabotage them and get to recruit dissenters, but there's always more alien-impregnated women, or cloning tanks, or wherever these things come from.

You're not forced to push the Cydonia button, either. Play as long as you wish.

And none of these can research stuff that standard laboratory can! Never dismantle your standard laboratory just because you have not enough space in your main base.

Yah. Things be weird in X-Com labs.

[Lone Wolf]

And none of these can research stuff that standard laboratory can! Never dismantle your standard laboratory just because you have not enough space in your main base.

I didn't know that, good to know  .

I think Dr. Alpha is supposed to be your failsafe for getting at least one of each cryptid species.

Damn, I screwed that up.  I did that mission a while ago, but from what I remember I tossed a metric crapton of dynamite down the top hole and then shot everything that wasn't human.  Then I beat up Dr. Alpha with a stun baton...

I also have no idea what I need to do to unlock improved laboratory...   

Psst.

Really useful!  Thanks Juku!




I figured the game ended at Cydonia, but I just wanted to be sure.  Otherwise, I would have wiped the aliens out so I don't have to do anymore pesky UFO crash site missions.  I am big on actually wiping out factions so it does kind of irk me that I can't wipe Hybrids, Osirion, or MIB but it is what it is. 

Since I screwed up the hidden caves thing, is there any chance that anyone here knows how to remove the prerequires for the research project in the game files?  I am not above making a local modification to get this to work, and I would have already done it except the mod files are complicated enough that I have no idea what I am doing  .   

[Juku121]

Since I screwed up the hidden caves thing, is there any chance that anyone here knows how to remove the prerequires for the research project in the game files?

I think it'd be easier, less troublesome and less cheaty to just give yourself a live Shambler by editing your save.

[Lone Wolf]

I think it'd be easier, less troublesome and less cheaty to just give yourself a live Shambler by editing your save.

That's a really good idea, and I'm willing to put in the research time, but I'm still unsure of how to do this.  I've looked in my save files but it goes on for quite a while.  Is there a trick to finding the base stores?  When I try to look for base inventories I keep ending up with the inventory of my agents or the transport craft?  I've tried adding stuff to these, but nothing ever appears either.

[Lone Wolf]

Is there a trick to finding the base stores?

Nevermind I figured it out.  I can get to the base inventory directly before the name of the next base.  I've already tried it and it works!  I now have one live shambler!  Thanks Juku!

[zee_ra]

 

...
- Fixed Golden Academy Towers not spawning in some scenarios.
...

Thank you for posting this update.

Could you please tell more about the mechanics and the underlying design of the Golden Academy Towers spawn.  When I looked at the spawn config, it appears that they only require the corrupt politician flag set to spawn.  However, I do have the flag set, and the towers had not yet spawned.  What am I missing?  Is there a set-off date?

Could you please tell more about the exact semantics of the following definition:

Code: [Select]

  - type: STR_CORRUPT_POLITICIAN_BLACK_LOTUS
    eventWeights:
      0:
        STR_CORRUPT_POLITICIAN_BLACK_LOTUS: 100
    firstMonth: 0
    executionOdds: 3
    researchTriggers:
       STR_BLACK_LOTUS_NETWORK: true
       STR_DESTROY_BLACK_LOTUS: false

The definition would trigger if I have researched the Black Lotus Network, but have not yet terminated their operations.  What is the meaning of the reference to currupt politian?  I have

Code: [Select]

STR_CORRUPT_POLITICIAN_BLACK_LOTUS: 1already set in my save file, under the generatedEvents.  Is this sufficient to trigger the towers spawn?

In the playthrough in question, I have already investigated the Black Lotus HQ, and am having missions to storm it every month.  Could I still get the Black Lotus White Tower (of the Golden Academy) spawning, particularly without the Osirion involvement?

[Juku121]

When I looked at the spawn config, it appears that they only require the corrupt politician flag set to spawn. 

How did you come by that conclusion? Corrupt politicians are just pop-up events, they don't have any particular relation to the Golden Towers spawning or not spawning. Well, ignoring the fact that killing BL disables both.

Is there a set-off date?

January 1, 1999.

Is this sufficient to trigger the towers spawn?

No. Towers spawn randomly (3% chance per month).

Could I still get the Black Lotus White Tower (of the Golden Academy) spawning, particularly without the Osirion involvement?

I don't think you can avoid Osiron without either savescumming or favourable RNG. You can't get either before the invasion starts.

[zee_ra]

I don't think you can avoid Osiron without either savescumming or favourable RNG. You can't get either before the invasion starts.

I saw two messages and two strings for the spawn of the Towers.  One is for whence they're sponsored by the Black Lotus.  The other is for whence they're sponsored by Osirion, presumably after the elimination of the Black Lotus.  I wondered, if it was possible to have them sponsored by the original BL, rather than the Osirion.  As for Osirion itself, is presence is fine; it also brings some tech perks within, as far as I recall.

[zee_ra]

How did you come by that conclusion? Corrupt politicians are just pop-up events, they don't have any particular relation to the Golden Towers spawning or not spawning. Well, ignoring the fact that killing BL disables both.
....
No. Towers spawn randomly (3% chance per month).

I pasted the wrong snippet in my previous post.  The correct ones are as follows.

For Black Lotus sponsorship:

Code: [Select]

  - type: STR_BLACK_LOTUS_GOLDEN_ACADEMY_ESTABLISHED
    oneTimeRandomEvents:
      STR_BLACK_LOTUS_GOLDEN_ACADEMY_ESTABLISHED: 100
    firstMonth: 25
    researchTriggers:
       STR_DESTROY_BLACK_LOTUS: false

For Osiron sponsorship:

Code: [Select]

  - type: STR_OSIRON_GOLDEN_ACADEMY_ESTABLISHED
    oneTimeRandomEvents:
      STR_OSIRON_GOLDEN_ACADEMY_ESTABLISHED: 100
    firstMonth: 25
    executionOdds: 5
    researchTriggers:
       STR_OSIRON_CONTACTS_WITCHES: true

Could you possibly help me with understanding how this code works?

I guess, the 3 percent you've mentioned are coming from here:

Code: [Select]

  - type: goldenAcademyTowerAssault3
    firstMonth: 25
    executionOdds: 3
    missionWeights:
      0:
        STR_ACADEMY_TOWER_ASSAULT: 100
    regionWeights: *BlackLotusCityRegions
    useTable: false
    researchTriggers:
      STR_DESTROY_BLACK_LOTUS: false
    startDelay: 20
    randomDelay: 43500

  - type: goldenAcademyTowerAssault4
    firstMonth: 25
    executionOdds: 3
    missionWeights:
      0:
        STR_ACADEMY_TOWER_ASSAULT: 100
    regionWeights: *BlackLotusCityRegions
    useTable: false
    researchTriggers:
      STR_DESTROY_BLACK_LOTUS: false
    startDelay: 20
    randomDelay: 43500

  - type: osironGoldenAcademyTowerAssault1
    firstMonth: 25
    executionOdds: 3
    missionWeights:
      0:
        STR_OSIRON_ACADEMY_TOWER_ASSAULT: 100
    regionWeights: *BlackLotusCityRegions
    useTable: false
    researchTriggers:
      STR_OSIRON_CONTACTS_WITCHES: true
    startDelay: 20
    randomDelay: 43500

  - type: osironGoldenAcademyTowerAssault2
    firstMonth: 25
    executionOdds: 3
    missionWeights:
      0:
        STR_OSIRON_ACADEMY_TOWER_ASSAULT: 100
    regionWeights: *BlackLotusCityRegions
    useTable: false
    researchTriggers:
      STR_OSIRON_CONTACTS_WITCHES: true
    startDelay: 20
    randomDelay: 43500


January 1, 1999.

Is this really the date for the Golden Academy possibly becoming active?  I assumed, this has been the date for the UFOs becoming active.

The questions that I am trying to answer as a player are:

• Could I as a player hasten the appearance of the Golden Academies?
• Are there actions that could lead to the prevention of the spawn of the Golden Academies?
• Would Golden Academies spawn if I eliminate the Black Lotus, after tampering with their Psi Generator (through a research item)?
• Could the Golden Academies be spawned before the 1999-01-01?
• Am I slowing down the process of the Golden Academies spawn by successfully completing every mission against the Black Lotus, including the monthly base assaults?

I would like to get access to the star weaponry ASAP in my play-through.

[Juku121]

I saw two messages and two strings for the spawn of the Towers.  One is for whence they're sponsored by the Black Lotus.  The other is for whence they're sponsored by Osirion, presumably after the elimination of the Black Lotus. I wondered, if it was possible to have them sponsored by the original BL, rather than the Osirion.

The Osiron version seems to come online regardless of what happens to BL, it's just random. As far as I can see, both towers can coexist.

Code: [Select]

  - type: STR_OSIRON_GOLDEN_ACADEMY_ESTABLISHED
    oneTimeRandomEvents:
      STR_OSIRON_GOLDEN_ACADEMY_ESTABLISHED: 100
    firstMonth: 25
    executionOdds: 5
    researchTriggers:
       STR_OSIRON_CONTACTS_WITCHES: true
Could you possibly help me with understanding how this code works?

The last line should be 'STR_OSIRON_CONTACTS_WITCHES: false'. If it isn't, that's a problem right there.

Otherwise, what you're pasting here are the flavour events that either tell you about the BL spawning alongside the alien invasion, or a 5% per month chance of establishing the Osiron version. Both happen in month 25, i.e. January 1999. Both trigger eponymous events (what you have here are event scripts), one always and the other 5% of the time. BL won't trigger if they're dead, and Osiron won't trigger if it's already triggered once.

I guess, the 3 percent you've mentioned are coming from here:

Yeah. It's actually more like four separate 3%, so ~12% chance to get at least one. Plus two more Osiron spawns if they're unlocked.

Is this really the date for the Golden Academy possibly becoming active?  I assumed, this has been the date for the UFOs becoming active.

One date can have several things happen at once.

I suppose it's part of the punishment for not killing BL off earlier.

Could I as a player hasten the appearance of the Golden Academies?

Not really. The Osiron version could be savescummed into existence earlier, but that's about it.

Are there actions that could lead to the prevention of the spawn of the Golden Academies?

Kill off BL.

Would Golden Academies spawn if I eliminate the Black Lotus, after tampering with their Psi Generator (through a research item)?

Looks like the Osiron version will be there no matter what, contacting some sort of remaining Witch cabal or something. You only avoid them via RNG.

Could the Golden Academies be spawned before the 1999-01-01?

Sure, if you mod the mod.

Am I slowing down the process of the Golden Academies spawn by successfully completing every mission against the Black Lotus, including the monthly base assaults?

Don't think so. The only slowdowns I'm aware of come from shooting down UFOs (and fake UFOs for the cults) flying a mission. Since Golden Academies spawn via script and not mission, well...

I would like to get access to the star weaponry ASAP in my play-through.

As far as I know, these are Golden-Academy-exclusive. In theory, Star weapons can also be found on GA retaliation missions, but I think you probably have better luck getting a GA assault first.

[zee_ra]

The Osiron version seems to come online regardless of what happens to BL, it's just random. As far as I can see, both towers can coexist.
The last line should be 'STR_OSIRON_CONTACTS_WITCHES: false'. If it isn't, that's a problem right there.

Otherwise, what you're pasting here are the flavour events that either tell you about the BL spawning alongside the alien invasion, or a 5% per month chance of establishing the Osiron version. Both happen in month 25, i.e. January 1999. Both trigger eponymous events (what you have here are event scripts), one always and the other 5% of the time. BL won't trigger if they're dead, and Osiron won't trigger if it's already triggered once.
Yeah. It's actually more like four separate 3%, so ~12% chance to get at least one. Plus two more Osiron spawns if they're unlocked.
One date can have several things happen at once.

I suppose it's part of the punishment for not killing BL off earlier.
Not really. The Osiron version could be savescummed into existence earlier, but that's about it.
Kill off BL.
Looks like the Osiron version will be there no matter what, contacting some sort of remaining Witch cabal or something. You only avoid them via RNG.
Sure, if you mod the mod.
Don't think so. The only slowdowns I'm aware of come from shooting down UFOs (and fake UFOs for the cults) flying a mission. Since Golden Academies spawn via script and not mission, well...
As far as I know, these are Golden-Academy-exclusive. In theory, Star weapons can also be found on GA retaliation missions, but I think you probably have better luck getting a GA assault first.

Thank you for these clarifications; they have been helpful to me.

I suppose it's part of the punishment for not killing BL off earlier.
Sure, if you mod the mod.
As far as I know, these are Golden-Academy-exclusive. In theory, Star weapons can also be found on GA retaliation missions, but I think you probably have better luck getting a GA assault first.

Quite interesting.  I have changed the damage curve for the star weapons, by fitting a 3rd degree polynomial, to make them much more interesting.  Now, raiding the academies regularly would be a nice source of this ordnance.  Since in general it suffices to get Promotion III by raiding, but not destroying the BL base (which is among the easier raids, IMHO ; well, I guess the only difficult one is for the Red Dawn), by the time the GA Towers spawn, the team should have very good ordnance at its disposal, plus Osprey most likely, which makes the walkthrough much more of a breeze, with the right tactics.  The practical constraint thereby is that more soldiers need to be armed with rockets, better shrapnel ones, if at all possible.

The neatest part would be raiding the BL HQ repeatedly, with the star weaponry. 😈😈😈

No, no.  Those towers aren't a punishment.  They're an endless source of unique loot.  An early plasma bacchanalia. 😎😎😎

[Solarius Scorch]

Version 2.6 has been released.

- New HWP armors: Outrunner/Shotgun, Outrunner/Laser (graphics by Brain_322).
- New weapons: Ghost Neuralizer, Thanatonautian Manus, Katapeltes Spiritus, Klein Bottle Grenade (all mostly by CosmicAfro).
- New units: Human Ghost, Poltergeist (both mostly by CosmicAfro).
- New missions: Haunted Farm, Hounted House (both mostly by CosmicAfro).
- New craft weapon: Heavy Pike.
- 16 new faces (graphics mostly by Brain_322).
- 5 new Jungle maps and some terrain additions (by Dioxine).
- New Commercial map (by Dioxine).
- 3 intercepted cult message events (by Helrica).
- Added articles on fire and smoke damage.
- Expanded cult termination articles.
- Statistical bullet saving on some craft weapons.
- Sonic Pulser can be manufactured.
- Some items can be dismantled for Zrbite (by Juku).
- Added Psiclones as bounty to some EXALT missions.
- Making Tritanium requires researching Tritanium Matrix.
- Meridian Hunter gives an Alien Data Slate.
- Kitsune is more expensive to research and gives more points.
- Can't buy napalm grenades without Promotion III.
- Fancier melee attack names.
- New handob for the Flame Glove (provided by Juku), Double-Barreled Shotgun and small blades.
- Fabulous hair on the MiB Commander (by Brain_322).
- Improved some SCANGs (based on Kato's additions).
- Added an Aquatoid Soldier to the T'leth Embassy mission.
- All monks give basic info on Apocalypse gangs.
- Red Dawn Gangers can't snipe, and Lads are less likely to do so.
- Giant Rats and Shadowbats always hit bottom armor.
- Shadowbats have better camo.
- Ghosts can be processed into ectoplasm.
- Swarmids are really hard to hit.
- Most turrets are susceptible to CQC.
- Pioneers give Red Dawn Network too.
- Fixed Pioneers' Health.
- Fixed cult infiltrations spawning.
- Fixed an issue with some Port maps.
- Fixed Ghost Blade not displaying.
- Fixed some flag issues.
- Fixed a crash on Olympians in Personal Armor trying to fly.
- Fixed the coat and the bulletproof coat sprites.
- Fixed legs display on some Olympian sprites.
- Fixed Lithuanian characters.
- Name fixes (by Kato).
- Minor fixes (thanks to Emil J. Schroeder).

[mikmac]

Well this is awesome! Does it break savegames?

[Solarius Scorch]

Well this is awesome! Does it break savegames?

Thank you! And no, it shouldn't break anything.