[DONE][Suggestion] Mana pool

[Nord]

I have a request. Or maybe a question:
What if "costUse", "costPanic" and "costMindcontrol" will use Psi skill or psi strength?
Now - it is nothing happens, i know. But what will be game behavior if?

EDIT by Meridian: feature implementation described/documented here: https://openxcom.org/forum/index.php/topic,7241.0.html

[Meridian]

I have a request. Or maybe a question:
What if "costUse", "costPanic" and "costMindcontrol" will use Psi skill or psi strength?
Now - it is nothing happens, i know. But what will be game behavior if?

I don't understand the question.

Psi strength and Psi skill are constants, they cannot be changed or "used up" in combat.
(same as why you can't "use" Firing Accuracy or Strength or Bravery, etc.)

[The Reaver of Darkness]

I think he might be asking if psi power could alter the TU cost?

[Nord]

Well, easiest way is to explain with the example(theoretically!):
psi skill renamed to mana. Using any psionic abilities spends mana and thus abilities can become weaker.
1. then psi skill resstores after battle ends.
2. to restore psi-skill you must use some kind of training in psi lab (let's call it meditate in some Dart Vader's spherical chamber)

But if it is only a constant, only first choice can be made relative easy. With adding variable, existing through one battle.

[Meridian]

No, psi skill cannot be used as mana.

But adding a new concept of mana is doable.

[Yankes]

I planed something like that in 4.0 and probably it will be ready in 4.1 or 4.2. Each use of item will call script and this script could change some property. Another script call before will check if you can use item at all. With this to script you could spend your "psi" (by altering status of battle unit and checking it).

[Nord]

No, psi skill cannot be used as mana.

But adding a new concept of mana is doable.

Sad. Idea was in attribute (property, stat), that can be spended through mission and needs global time to train back/restore.

I planed something like that in 4.0 and probably it will be ready in 4.1 or 4.2. Each use of item will call script and this script could change some property. Another script call before will check if you can use item at all. With this to script you could spend your "psi" (by altering status of battle unit and checking it).

This is great.
I see a thin spot - this new property will need some kind of visualization in numeric, just as forcefields need it now(but dont have).

[robin]

AFAIK something similar can be done already, you can make psi attacks cost morale and/or energy... Right?

[Solarius Scorch]

AFAIK something similar can be done already, you can make psi attacks cost morale and/or energy... Right?

Yes, that's exactly how it was done in Piratez, and also in The X-Com Files.
I've never been a huge fan of the concept of mana in X-Com; even if it was available, I'd rather use energy and morale instead. But for some mods it may be fitting.

[Meridian]

Sad. Idea was in attribute (property, stat), that can be spended through mission and needs global time to train back/restore.

What is sad?
I said it is doable... just with a new property, because misusing existing one is not possible.

[The Reaver of Darkness]

I think using stamina is an excellent way to do it. You can make a psionic armor that increases stamina regen rate, or a more powerful psi amp that can be used at long range and allow your soldier to avoid walking as much...or both.

[Meridian]

I think using stamina is an excellent way to do it. You can make a psionic armor that increases stamina regen rate, or a more powerful psi amp that can be used at long range and allow your soldier to avoid walking as much...or both.

Just guessing, but I think Nord already considered that option... since it is quite obvious.
(and we're talking about Energy here, not Stamina... Energy changes, Stamina is a constant)
(same as Morale changes, Bravery is a constant)
(same as -- maybe in the future -- Mana changes, Psi Skill/Strength are a constant)

However, Energy is already used for many other things... like walking, shooting, throwing, etc.
And it also regenerates every turn.
I believe Nord wanted a way to limit Psi spam by introducing a separate non-regenerating pool of mana.

[BTAxis]

I'm wondering how mana levels would be communicated to the player though. If it isn't easily readable on the battlescape it sounds like it would be terribly tedious to manage.

[Nord]

I believe Nord wanted a way to limit Psi spam by introducing a separate non-regenerating pool of mana.

Exactly!

[Meridian]

I'm wondering how mana levels would be communicated to the player though. If it isn't easily readable on the battlescape it sounds like it would be terribly tedious to manage.

I would definitely display it on the UI... don't know how yet, but without it, we don't even need to think about introducing it.