Maybe it would be a smart move for FC to use their mastery of the Unity engine to provide just that, a solid, easy to use construction kit and framework for modders of turn based games, then use KS once more to develop the "JA:F content module" for it. And if that works out well, they could start making a plethora of series of differently styled and themed turn based games on that foundation for quite some time, whilst carefully and continually evolving and updating the tools.

This could actually work better for FC than anything else, since they don't have the budget to make a full on JA2 campaign. Fine, then design a framework with a simple campaign that can be replaced.

So if you go with an active system, maybe add merc classes to the I.M.P., like trooper, machine gunner, mechanic, scout, sniper and medic. Then make the costs of different stat updates differ, and by choosing a class you'd get a discount on some of the stats that are crucial to the class selected. It would add to the RPG sense of the game, which I think is one area that always could be improved upon.(Play BSM and you'll see what I mean )

Enemies should drop all their inventory when dying, no half-arsed probability stuff here, give me mah loot!

I was just thinking about this last night, and I am of the opposite opinion. It is more realistic, agreed, but it takes some of the pleasure out of the early game, when you are dying for decent weapons and somebody randomly drops a cool gun. If all the bad guys drop all their stuff all the time, there will be no difficulty in equipping the team. Having played it both ways, I prefer the delicious uncertainty.

-- Mal

Big sectors and lots of people.

One of the technical questions I have about the engine is how big and messy the combats will be. Most of the battlefields in Silent Storm were small, and there were never more than about a dozen enemies. And of course you were limited to six on your own side. Can the engine support large, sprawling maps and platoon-sized actions? And if so, is it the intention of the devs to exploit this ability?

@DepressiveBot: Yeah, I hear you. It can be very frustrating, but I tend to get a chuckle out of it now. I get more annoyed that Bobby Ray's doesn't always sell the ammo I want, and having to scavenge that can be a pain in the ass, especially in the early game.

-- Mal

Let's just agree they should add the option for both

No B:E5/7.62 maps please.

What I hated about that was that only a few areas on the map had proper sectors, and the rest was a repetitive list of random maps that (more or less, emphasis on the latter) matched the climate/terrain you were in.

While it is a lot of work, JA2s sectors are significantly better because it gives the gameworld some continuity. It also allows you to set set traps and ambushes and the exploration might lead to nice loot. The map is what made JA2 come alive. I have walked through and fought on the majority of the sectors at some point, and it never felt like '*Loading screen* Yawn, that map again.'

You should be able to toggle the enemies dropping everything but it really unbalances the economy and removes the challenge and elation you feel when you see the first long weapon on a body (or snatch it from the enemy after putting a dart into him and then beating him into a pulpy mess). If the items have pockets, have the game empty them automatically, it was really annoying to click through cascading windows of pouches and vests in B:E5/7.62 to get that last STANAG mag you needed.

I liked the JA skill system. It was a clear reward for what that Merc does. If it heals people it gets points in medical, the guy who fixes the gear gets mechanical...

Glad you all left it for me to bring up lighting ( again ! ) . Please give us lighting that can be turned on , off , destroyed and otherwise used properly . At least let it be moddable so traps can be set and sprung at night . Can the unity engine do this ?

Glad you all left it for me to bring up lighting ( again ! ) . Please give us lighting that can be turned on , off , destroyed and otherwise used properly . At least let it be moddable so traps can be set and sprung at night . Can the unity engine do this ?

Everytime Ira put a critical round from a roof in Drassen into the head of an enemy threatening my wounded IMP made me cheer. The +1 Marksmanship message was the icing on the cake, showing me the game understands me.

And my final note on the active/passive skill system, I should make it clear that I'm talking about an XP points idea as an addition to a passive "learn by doing" system, like the teacher/student system was in JA2. I do not want a purely XP point based system, that's not the Jagged Alliance way.

EDIT: I feel like a "Hamster Punching a Cow"

[Updated on: Fri, 03 May 2013 15:17] by Moderator

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As you use the weapon you gain skill in using said weapon to give you more damage, accuracy etc. But at the same time there is an negative effect on unlearning other skills. This counters building ultra powerful characters with 100 in all skills and then destroying the enemy. So balancing out your team suddenly matters more.

Using a weapon will slowly damage it to the point where it's destroyed. The more you use a given weapon, the more damage it takes.

A weapon familiarity stat which increases the more you use a weapon (and the stats of the weapons you no longer use decrease) is a nice idea, I think B:E5 had it. It rewards you for sticking with a weapon which might have one or two damage points less than a higher tech level / tier weapon. But I would hate to have mercs lose first aid skill if they become expert marksmen and don't use a first aid kit for a while.

Weapon jams are a nice way of reminding you to bring a repair merc with you, but I would not force the player to go back to base to get it fixed, or your will devaluate the 'Mech' skill.

in terms of weapon customization we seem to be getting what we asked for http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2079547763/jagged-alliance-flashback/posts

EXos: You mean attachements changing on the field? Why should we forbid that? Doesn't make much sense.
(but We'll step out of this thread again now. Please keep it for the wishes only )

I'd also like to see what Shadow suggested, some randomly generated maps, but it's more than unlikely they'll have the resources and time to actually do this.

Not sure what they mean with 'levels' - I'll very loosely interpret this to be the 'tech' level one gets from 'research' in the base - the better your gunsmith, the better you can add hard attachments, like rails/barrels etc. Other attachments will be changeable in the field. So its the 1.13 situation, where everything could be attached quickly, apart from adding few toys that are better left to the technicians (barrel extender etc.)

Its not the weapon itself that gets a rank, but you and your usage of it. When you constantly use the same weapon you will get familiar with it, be able to handle it better, learn that the sights are a few degrees off etc. And thats also the explaination of you "unlearning" other weapon classes if you dont maintain the skill to handle weapon X