7 replies to this topic

[nopoet406]

Why not call the Ufopaedia the "Xenopaedia"? For a start it sounds better, it's more accurate, plus it refers to "Project Xenocide", so players don't forget that they are actually playing a tribute to X-Com and not just the same game with better graphics.

One thing that bugged me about TFTD and Enemy Uknown (E/U) is the lack of useful info in the Ufopaedia. For example, the Aquatoid entry says that "we hypothesise that all these creatures are clones", but it doesn't give you any stats or vulnerabilities we can work with. Surely a full autopsy would reveal any natural defensive abilities - such as the Lobsterman's ability to reduce different types of incoming damage by x per cent - and a live study followed by slow, painful "surgical interrogation" could yield useful info about time units, innate weaponry (e.g. psi attacks or ability to implant into humans).

You could have a tab for each section, such as a Biology tab which tells you about the alien, a Stats tab which gives a general guideline about the vital statistics of the alien, plus any other tabs to list anything else we ca think of. (It doesn't have to be information that can be useful in the game, just as long as it creates a deeper atmosphere.)

To expand this idea, Sectoid medics would suddenly become useful. Instead of simply telling us about different types of alien, they could actually help us to complete the stat lists for aliens already destroyed and autopsied by X-Com.

So if you kill a Snakeman (just as a random example) and autopsy it, X-Com will be able to reasonably deduce its Health, Strength, Armour and vulnerabilities. A live interrogation will tell us its TUs, Strength, Energy and Courage and strengths. Captured Medics would reveal info that is not normally accessible to X-Com, e.g. its Psi Strength/Defence, which other aliens it's bonded with (as in the case of Chrysalids being the terror troops tied to Snakemen).

[stewart]

It's refered to as The XNet.

[Kratos]

Xnet sounds better than 'Paedia' It doesn't sound so 'copied'.

Edited by Kratos, 07 March 2006 - 06:10 PM.

[Engy]

Xnet.... I really don't think a top secret orginzation would put top secret information on the internet.... Even if it was military grade...

It's a lot harder to hack something that isn't connected to anything.

Not to mention the diffuctultys of keeping a transmission to the 'Xnet' while in a plane. I.E. Bob and Team take of from Alpha Squad Base 1, during the flight Bob is giving a briefing about what to do if you encounter a lobsterman. However, a fighter UFO starts attacking the transport and they lose transmission... and crash land in an area they know nothing about. Thank God they have the Xnet to look things up... Wait, the radio, statilite reciver, and Psi Trooper all died/were destroyed in the crash. Bob and Team are going to die. (or at least be no help when the rescue ship arives).

If they had only had an encopaedia on board....

And of course storms winds ufos taking out the statilite network... it just isn't a good idea to put it on a network...

I would rather it remain a Paedia.

[Mad]

The XNet is an isolated Network, not connected to the Internet in any way.
There is no problem with storms if you are able to adjust the dish in a right way. No problem with crashes, X-Corps agents might have offline versions on PDAs they use in the battlefield. No problem with sattelites if you have your own secret redundant sattelite array...
But in the end, it's really not worth debating. It's just a name, maybe it's reffering to the computer grid on which the information is stored or whatever.

[Engy]

Hmmm... a PDA... being able to read it in a battle...

Manufacture: 12 Xnet PDAs
Equipment: Xnet PDA - Left hand
Right click.
Pops up the Xnet in battle.
Engy goes over Snakeman stats.
Engeena, Engena, Jane, Bob, Engy, and Sharp all equip exposive rounds.
Snakeman dies.

Hmmm being able to view the PDA would be useful indeed... even without the requested autopsy stats....

[Mad]

Hmmm... a PDA... being able to read it in a battle...

Manufacture: 12 Xnet PDAs
Equipment: Xnet PDA - Left hand
Right click.
Pops up the Xnet in battle.
Engy goes over Snakeman stats.
Engeena, Engena, Jane, Bob, Engy, and Sharp all equip exposive rounds.
Snakeman dies.

Hmmm being able to view the PDA would be useful indeed... even without the requested autopsy stats....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hehe. actually this might be sth for v1+, but we will make the X-Net accessible from the battlescape.

[Chaos]

Hmmm... a PDA... being able to read it in a battle...

Manufacture: 12 Xnet PDAs
Equipment: Xnet PDA - Left hand
Right click.
Pops up the Xnet in battle.
Engy goes over Snakeman stats.
Engeena, Engena, Jane, Bob, Engy, and Sharp all equip exposive rounds.
Snakeman dies.

Hmmm being able to view the PDA would be useful indeed... even without the requested autopsy stats....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hehe. actually this might be sth for v1+, but we will make the X-Net accessible from the battlescape.

That, or have some info known about a particular kind of alien pop up like a tool tip when you hold the mouse cursor over the alien... how much shows up depends on how smart/experienced the active soldier is, i.e. how much of the information he remembers.