Zaero on 17/6/2012 at 10:36

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Hi!
We all know that some features of vanilla SS2 exists only to be considered useless. I mean, some skills, items are pretty useless since there ara much better, easy obtainable alternatives (repair skill, statis field etc). I would like to share my ideas how to heal this illness of such a beutiful game as SS2.
Below you'll see a list of changes which can be made by some skilled modder like Thiefsie for ex.
A few features listed may be already in found in Secmod, but I decided to list them anyway, cuz I didn't want to re-invent the wheel where unnecessery. Note: names in "()" are former names of stuff. Ok, here's the list:

Skills / Used for

Hack
-manipulation of software security in computer terminals:
-deactivate the security systems in the whole area
-alert deactivation
-replicator database manipulation
-bot's AI alternation (makes them friendly)
Repair
-repairing and disabling certain devices:
-repair damages made by hacking and modifing
-deactivate the camera
-dismount the activation keys of surgical unit
-repairing the destroyed turrets (makes them friendly)
Modify
-manipulation of electronic and mechanical safeties:
-removal of some weapon safeties (modifications)
-cracking the electronic numerical locks (doors, caches)
-alternating the turrets behavior to friendly
Maintance
-improving the condition of devices:
-maintaining the weapons
-restoring armor of destroyed turret (15% per skill lvl)
-improved cells capacity
-slower implant's power drain
Research
-allows to research the nature of items and create your own:
-research items to get damage bonuses/items etc
-gain access to new receipts to create some items

Strenght
-melee damage
-inventory slots
-firearms use
Edurance
-more hp points
-all damage reduction of 5% per skill
-armor use
Agility
-running speed
-falling damage
-kickback reduction
-melee weapons use
Psi
-affects the total psi points
-unlocks psi powers
-boosts psi powers
Technical (Cyber)
-removes white nodes during hack and
-repair
-modify

Psi Power / Effect (new properties/changes only)
Psycho-reflective Aura = 10% dmg reduction/psi, 20 sec/psi
Projected Cryokinesis = Dmg + slows enemies down 10%/psi
All „Stat boosting powers” = 1 stat boost/2 psi, 1 min + 1min/psi
Remote Electron Tampering = Faster alarm timeout + Disables security for the same time
Anti-Entropic Field = Weapons dont degrade for 1 min/psi
Neural Decontamination = 100% Radiation protect for 20 sec/psi
Cerebro-Stimulated Regeneration = heal 4 hp/psi
Recursive Psionic Amplification = See „stat boosting powers”, psi cost +50% per 3 psi
Energy Reflection = 15% energy immunity per psi
Neural Toxin-Blocker = Blocks all poisons, 20 sec/psi
Telepatic Awareness = Enhanced Motion Sensitivity + Remote Pattern Detection
Projected Pyrokinesis = Sets enemies on fire for 3 sec/psi duration
Photonic Redirection = Invisible only to living creatures
Electron Suppression = 10 sec/psi
Soma Transference = Drain up to 2 hp/psi from enemies
Metacreative Barrier = Wall: 30 hp/psi, 40 sec/psi
External Psionic Detonation = Creates booby-trapped user hologram, 40 sec/psi

New Powers
Projected Electrokinesis = Deals 2x dmg to robots, 1x dmg to organics
Blinded Motion Sensitivity = Invisible to security systems, cameras, bots etc.
Remote AI Adjustment = causes bot/turret to attack enemies, 5 sec/psi

OS Upgrades
Strong Metabolism = 25% protection + slowly removes all the radiation&posion effects
Pack-Rat = 3 extra slots + more items in stack
Naturally Able = 1 extra module per 10 modules collected
Healing Wounds (Tank) = slowly regenerates hp (1 per 20 sec)
Security Expert = +2 skill bonus for breaking into sec. terminals, turrets, bots
Smasher = adds overhand attack mode for melee weapons
Scavenger (Cyber Assimilation) = you can get ice-braeker, french-epstein, auto-repair units from bots
Nanite (Replicator) Expert = 1 extra nanite per 10 nanites collected
Power Psi = slow psi regeneration (1 per 20 sec)
Tinker = works for all uses of modify skill

Research
All items requires chemicals = Each chemical is used at least once
New receipts for item creation:
ArmorP Bullets = Standard Bullets + Barium
AntiP Bullets = Standard Bullets + Copper
Incendiary Grenade = Fragmentation Grenade + Cesium
EMP Grenade = Fragmentation Grenade + Tellurium
Proximity Grenade = Fragmentation Grenade + Yttrium
Disruption Grenade = Fragmentation Grenade + Radium
Psi Hypo = Medical Hypo + Sodium
Anti-Toxin Hypo = Medical Hypo + Antimony
Anti-Radiation Hypo = Medical Hypo + Selenium
Speed Booster = Medical Hypo + Gallium
Strength Booster = Medical Hypo + Vanadium

Armors / all require Endurance of 1 to 6 to wear
Hazard Suit = 60% toxin & radiation protection
Light Combat Armor = 15% defense bonus
Standard Combat Armor = 30% defense bonus
Heavy Combat Armor = 45% defense bonus
Powered Armor = 60% defense bonus, drains energy
WormSkin Armor = 60% defense bonus + 60% radiation & toxin protection, drains psi

Final notes: some of the alternations may drastically change the balance of the game, so probably increasing total modules available in the game would be a must to afford some more skills (since they'll be more useful). Some easy obtainable powerful stuff (Grenade launcher, laser pistol) are now harder to get, some weak skills, psi powers and os upgrades are now much more useful. 3 psi powers were merged to make a space for 3 new.

I would like to know what you think about it, especially from modders. Just please post only after reading and rethinking the whole.

ZylonBane on 17/6/2012 at 18:50

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Don't get me started on how useless swimming is.

Zaero on 18/6/2012 at 19:32

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Sorry, but I don't get the whole "swimming" chat - what's the point?

As for "Scavenger" os up: well, that depends. There are just a few security bots in the whole game, if we give them a single item depending on the bot type (so the less useful tool spawns more often etc) this should'n be a much of a problem. There are tons of occasions to use skills in the game, so the amount of tools collected from bots will be not enough for sure.
This os may sound a bit overpowered at first, but probably you would change your mind if seen in the game itself. Most os upgrades are powerful anyway since there are just 4 available for the whole game.

ZylonBane on 19/6/2012 at 12:41

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If you don't get it, that means you haven't played Deus Ex. And if you haven't played Deus Ex, well... that's just terrible.

ZylonBane on 19/6/2012 at 15:19

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Because swimming in Deus Ex is the canonical example of a useless RPG skill, and because we have a sense of humor.