[TC][OXCE][I.D.T.] Terminator: Tech-Comm - Alpha

[zaibakk]

This project is just so COOL! Great job guys! 
I will try your 0.3 version when I'll have the time for it.
Cannot wait for new updates! Again good job! 

[efrenespartano]

This project is just so COOL! Great job guys! 
I will try your 0.3 version when I'll have the time for it.
Cannot wait for new updates! Again good job! 

I'm glad you like it!

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[Hobbes]

A little progress report...

I've been testing the strategic level lately since I hardly had any time when implementing the latest features, to get a feel of the whole campaign.

Here are my impressions so far:
* The starting base location determines a lot of the first month. In one hand, you'll want to be lucky and place your base within Osprey range of the Skynet facilities in the region. But, at the same time, starting next to an HK Base is essentially a lot of trouble, since you'll need to destroy it to be able to conduct missions without being constantly harassed by HK interceptors.
* Skynet bases can generate 1 interception mission every 12 hours, so if you want to destroy the base you'll need to get rid of the interceptors, detect and and assault it in the 12 hour period.
* Starting next to the Skynet Core basically means a restart - it has improved HK interceptors and it can generate them every 6 hours, plus the tactical mission will be designed to be very tough to make it past the first part. I've considered before other options as a workout to this issue, but the only viable alternative at this point is to set the Skynet Core always to be placed in North America, instead of a region randomly chosen.
* Pairs of craft operating together (one escorting the other) work better than two craft operating independently against HKs. I've had a mission where 2 Warthogs and 1 Talon working together quickly killed 2 HKs in succession. It also helps if the craft have different weapons loadouts.
* A choice I'll have to make soon will be if craft can be purchased at start, purchased after research is completed (not sure if this is possible), manufactured at start, manufactured after research is completed, recovered from missions, or a combination of all possibilities.

Finally, next upcoming feature should be the actual content of the Sector Reports. Those will give the player information about the possible locations of mission sites and for HK Bases and Factories for the respective sector, and are meant to help with placing new bases and knowing where to scout. The image below gives an idea about the type of info (orange dots = destroy mission sites, pink dots = tech recovery mission sites)

Spoiler:

[efrenespartano]

A little progress report...

* Skynet bases can generate 1 interception mission every 12 hours, so if you want to destroy the base you'll need to get rid of the interceptors, detect and and assault it in the 12 hour period.

Does this intercept mission consist of 3 HKs? I always see three HKs.

* Starting next to the Skynet Core basically means a restart - it has improved HK interceptors and it can generate them every 6 hours, plus the tactical mission will be designed to be very tough to make it past the first part. I've considered before other options as a workout to this issue, but the only viable alternative at this point is to set the Skynet Core always to be placed in North America, instead of a region randomly chosen.

I think I placed my base in Europe near the Skynet Core, I am constantly harassed by squadrons of Improved HKs, I think the Core is located in Russia or in the Urals (would be a reference to the Battle on Mount Yamantau?).

Regarding permanently placing the Skynet Core in North America, you could apply the "island hopping" strategy used by the USA in WWII. They could not directly attack Japan, so they attacked and established bases on islands. Attack Factories, HK Bases and so on, softening the enemy, before attacking the Skynet Core

Spoiler:

Could it be the attack on the mini core in Mount Yamantau before the main attack on the core? You know, that Death Hand-stuff of the storyline. Maybe a requisite to attack Skynet Core.

* Pairs of craft operating together (one escorting the other) work better than two craft operating independently against HKs. I've had a mission where 2 Warthogs and 1 Talon working together quickly killed 2 HKs in succession. It also helps if the craft have different weapons loadouts.

In fact, a lone craft equals a downed craft.

One tactic that I have found effective in very hot areas, is to create "attack packages", similar to those used by NATO in Operation Allied Force, in the 90s. Attack aircraft along with support aircraft / logistic, entering areas of Yugoslavia, attacking targets and returning to base. I use Prowlers or Tracers and Mohawks mostly, escorted by Lions or Warthogs. Sometimes I use Skyhawks, but they are somewhat weak and I reserve them to escort the Ospreys. So, I detect bases, I watch the skies and I keep my attack package secure. The problem with this, that I practically deploy all my planes at once, so I stay a couple of days without fighters, in which they are repaired for each incursion.

* A choice I'll have to make soon will be if craft can be purchased at start, purchased after research is completed (not sure if this is possible), manufactured at start, manufactured after research is completed, recovered from missions, or a combination of all possibilities.

It's possible. One of my favorite mods, World of (terrifying) Silence, for TFTD applies it. You start with basic weapons and you must investigate to obtain "contracts" with new weapons for X-Com.

You could investigate "Search in Abandoned Airbases" and unlock the purchase of a Lion, for example. You research "Search in Civilian Hangars" and you unlock a Twin Otter, etc.

[efrenespartano]

Hello everyone!
Finally, after constantly fighting with the palettes, I managed to make the images look (more or less) good!

All the articles of the Intelpedia have their image plus some backgrounds, but there are still small details, such as the position of the Skynet and Tech-Com insignias, as well as the colors of the images, and the position of the texts. They look weird, but at least, they distinguish themselves. The first versions really were terrible. I hope someone helped me fix them, they really were a pain in the a... I will update an improved version in the coming days. Enjoy!

I also added a readme with the credits of the images I used.

[Hobbes]

Hello everyone!
Finally, after constantly fighting with the palettes, I managed to make the images look (more or less) good!

All the articles of the Intelpedia have their image plus some backgrounds, but there are still small details, such as the position of the Skynet and Tech-Com insignias, as well as the colors of the images, and the position of the texts. They look weird, but at least, they distinguish themselves. The first versions really were terrible. I hope someone helped me fix them, they really were a pain in the a... I will update an improved version in the coming days. Enjoy!

I also added a readme with the credits of the images I used.

Finally had a chance to look at this, thank you very much!

Yup, there's still plenty of small details to work... but there might be also some help later on, since Meridian has been adding a new feature to OXCE+ that allows for more customization of Ufopedia articles (https://openxcom.org/forum/index.php/topic,6166.0.html), although I hadn't had time to go through it yet.

[efrenespartano]

Finally had a chance to look at this, thank you very much!

Yup, there's still plenty of small details to work... but there might be also some help later on, since Meridian has been adding a new feature to OXCE+ that allows for more customization of Ufopedia articles (https://openxcom.org/forum/index.php/topic,6166.0.html), although I hadn't had time to go through it yet.

You're welcome!

Any plans to add this new feature?

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[Hobbes]

You're welcome!

Any plans to add this new feature?

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Yes, as well as a ton of new features that Meridian designed for OXCE+, but at the moment I simply don't have enough time with real life and Meridian's Let's Play of Area 51, since I'm using the LP to find and fix bugs

[efrenespartano]

Yes, as well as a ton of new features that Meridian designed for OXCE+, but at the moment I simply don't have enough time with real life and Meridian's Let's Play of Area 51, since I'm using the LP to find and fix bugs

Oh, don't worry. One thing at a time.

I'm taking screenshots of the sectors, to add them to the Intelpedia. In most of the generic reports, I wrote the location of their HQs. Can I mark them? Just to know where is Yekaterinburg or Air Force Base 5 Zapopan, because I don't think many people knows where are them.


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[Hobbes]

Oh, don't worry. One thing at a time.

I'm taking screenshots of the sectors, to add them to the Intelpedia. In most of the generic reports, I wrote the location of their HQs. Can I mark them? Just to know where is Yekaterinburg or Air Force Base 5 Zapopan, because I don't think many people knows where are them.

The question is, do people really need to know their location to play the game?

[efrenespartano]

The question is, do people really need to know their location to play the game?

Not really. Just to add flavor to the reports, something aesthetic.

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[Hobbes]

Not really. Just to add flavor to the reports, something aesthetic.

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Well add them for now then, but just make sure that you keep some sort of template, in case we decide later in the future to remove them

[efrenespartano]

Well add them for now then, but just make sure that you keep some sort of template, in case we decide later in the future to remove them

All right! I made a few quick samples of Sector 05, I marked the bases in Chile and Argentina. I put different marks, to choose some.

[Hobbes]

All right! I made a few quick samples of Sector 05, I marked the bases in Chile and Argentina. I put different marks, to choose some.

The 2nd and 3rd are too generic, the Resistance icon works better

[efrenespartano]

The 2nd and 3rd are too generic, the Resistance icon works better

I'll use the Resistance icon, then.

I'm thinking about use the "marked" map for the Sector generic report and a "clean" for the specific reports, so the icons won't confuse the players.

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