Thunder_GR

I see, thank you for specifying the reason. About the perks, if it is possible to create a new perk that would be given to all soldiers and aliens which would increase their defense when behind cover, it would, actually, increase the cover's value and make it really useful for everyone. It would enhance the tactical game greatly, from the very start to the end game. My searches for such a perk and how to implement it did not show up anything. Maybe I am searching the wrong way? Or, maybe, noone has, actually, done it yet?

I just had an idea! Heavies have this perk(will to survive, IIRC) that gets them -2 damage if in cover and not flanked. Is it possible to use this mechanism to give a defense value increase instead?? This would, effectively, alter the cover base value without the need to find where these values are defined. In conjunction with the "low profile" perk mechanism, it may even be possible to give a different defense increase in half-cover than in full cover. I have no idea if it is possible but I thought it to be promising, in theory...

I have searched everywhere and I read that, what someone would think to be easy to alter, the cover defense value, is impossible to alter!?!. After all the amazing things the modders on this site have accomplished, expanding the game in an unthought of extend, it really makes me curious as to why is impossible to alter the cover defense value? Noone has found where it is defined? The change would break the AI? It is impossible to change because at the place it is located the change cannot be integrated to the game? Something else? Thank you in advance to anyone that might take the time to answer. Great work modding such a modding-hostile game. All the hard work is appreciated!

Alright, I've had these moments as well, but I've also had it the other way around. These are all on Classic Ironman. Desperate shot at 25% against a floater, hits and kills it. Hopeless shot at 13% against a Thinman behind full cover, hits and kills it. I really do not have much more to display, because I only take this kind of shots when the soldier's position is either hopeless(will die anyway) or irrelevant(too far away from the heat zone and nothing more useful to do). Needless to say I had all my soldiers miss on the same target at 60% - 75% all of them with 2 heavies with bullet swarm firing twice. But, after the first time this happened, I always prefer a grenade over that 75% or even 90% shot, if missing will mean my soldier to be toast. Grenades never miss ;). To conclude, I always think twice when I am to take a shot at less than 100%. I ask myself, if I miss, what then? If my soldier can survive a shot, I take it, otherwise I retreat, unless I am willing to take the loss if I miss. It is not much different when you have to fight Mutons and Elite Mutons. They do not die on one shot. So, you have to consider your options carefully.

While this is a very good game, it has the same problem that all attempts to create something good compared to the first X-Com had. It cannot compare. They favored the consoles, thus the small squad size, only one skyranger that seems to be invincible, no way to send multiple interceptors *at once* against UFOs, no concurrent UFO detections, no multiple alien bases, no multiple X-COM bases, no base management, there seems to be enough living quarters for everyone and your engineers and scientists can work everywhere. No need for workshops and laboratories. Aliens just "pop into" existance, like they were never there. Same maps over and over. Small maps. Limited soldier development and, instead of natural advancement, it is a hand-picked advancement. The two moves limitation is a bit disturbing, as well. Why lose half my soldiers movement if I move a very short distance on first move? Soldiers could, certainly, carry more grenades. The Archangel Armor is useless. The inability to pickup equipment in battle is disturbing as well as the unlimited ammunition. The list can go on for ever, it seems. So, just like Groogo said, I do not feel I wasted my money on this game, I find it entairtaining and I like it. However, I do not think it can be compared to the original. It cannot bring worthiness to the name, it is lessening it. For me, there is only one X-COM: Enemy Unknown. There has not been one game out to compare to it, so far. If this was an attempt to surpass the X-COM: Enemy unknown, it was a failure, IMHO. I hope someone will manage to bring out something *better* than X-COM: Enemy Unknown(always refering to the Original) and I will, certainly buy it at double price, if this is what it takes to make one. I hope others share the sentiment.

You can complete the first mission in slingshot with your current troops but do *not* try the second one(the train) until you are well in the game. I kept ignoring it until I had plasma weapons(which was not until the next year). I started in Asia, concentrated on sattelite coverage for N. America, first(cheaper interceptors and armament), Africa and S. America, next, left Europe to the Aliens(I do not build any laboratories and I only built a couple of workshops if not enough missions where I can get engineers for sattelite uplinks appear) put all my efforts on the sattelite coverage and my research on wepons until I could equip everyone with lasers and then the armor. It was a hell at first, especially if you do not have a HEAT tile for a Thermo-power generator. Explosives are a must use until you can get scopes and a bit more experienced soldiers. After you manage to have coverage, though, things get progressivelly better. Be certain to use clever tactics in battle. Do not feel shame to retreat your soldiers and set up overwatch ambushes. Never take a shot if you are not sure the soldier will survive a miss, even at 99%. Do not set overwatches before the last soldier completes the 1st move. If you run on a group of aliens you may need to retreat on the second move. Never and I stress *never* dash on unexplored areas. Your soldier will be as good as dead if you encounter an aliens group. These are basic guidlines but much more depend on your prefered style of play. I only play Ironman. Never thought it makes any sense to be able to reload a failed mission unless for training purposes. If you need any more tips, I will be happy to help.