Research (Hardmode)

2023-11-25T01:50:08Z

Comradechryssalid: fixed numerous spelling and punctuation mistakes

[[Hardmode|Back To Main Page]]

'''Research''' in Hardmode has seen a major revamp, with a noted increase in difficulty. Research takes longer to complete and has more complex requirements.

==Quick summary==
A quick summary of the major changes to the research system:

* 1.5 times increase in the time to research the majority of topics.
* The Alien containment facility must be researched; the topics required to unlock this can only be found in an Alien Base.
* Many technologies will require a live alien to be interrogated.
:* Typically Alien Engineers are needed for certain engineering technologies, Navigators for aircraft topics and Medics for psionic topics.
* Two unique items, the Alien Data Slate and Alien Data Core, gatekeep most advanced technologies.
* Laser weapons cannot be researched until a live Alien has been interrogated and the Alien Data Slate has been researched.
* Some additional early game research topics have been added to bridge the gap between Terran weapons/armour and more advanced Laser/Powered armour, these being alloy enhanced ballistic weapons and armour.
* Significant increase in the difficulty to unlock psionics

==Detailed Information==

A major change of note is that the '''Alien Containment Facility''' must now be researched. The technology required to research the Alien Containment can only be found in an '''Alien Base''', necessitating an early assault on an Alien Base in order to progress the tech tree.

The majority of technically complicated research topics require the interrogation of an appropriately ranked live Alien. For example, the UFO Power Source topic, a pre-requisite to Power Suits and Firestorm construction, can only be researched if any Alien Engineer is interrogated beforehand.

Major technological breakthroughs are gated behind locating, recovering and researching an '''Alien Data Slate''' and a '''Alien Data Core'''. The Slate can only be found in an Alien Base, whereas the Core can only be found on an Alien '''Battleship'''. Of particular note are that Laser Weapons cannot be researched until the Data Slate is researched, and Alien Plasma weapons cannot be researched until the Data Core has been researched.

In order to compensate for the delay that X-COM will have in unlocking Laser weapons and more potent Personal Armour/Power Suits, X-COM can research new topics that can unlock '''Alloy Ammo''' for usage with Ballistic firearms, and '''Alloy Armour''' as an improvement over the starting armours.

Without being able to interrogate Aliens, X-COM will be unable to progress the tech tree in an appreciable matter and will be rapidly overwhelmed within several months. Every effort should be made to secure the ability to construct the Alien Containment facility, and begin interrogating live aliens, before the end of the second month of the war.

==Research Tree==
<center>[[file:hardmode_tree.jpg|1400px|thumb|center|Hardmode Research Tree]]</center>

Expansion Info (Hardmode)

2023-11-25T01:44:39Z

Comradechryssalid: fixed spelling and punctuation

[[Hardmode Expansion|Back To Main Page]]

== What is Hardmode? ==
Hardmode is a mod for OpenXCOM that aims to make the gameplay more challenging and deals with most of vanilla version's flaws, such as overpowered Psi and early Plasma weapons. The mod tries to stick close to the vanilla core components of X-COM.

It is aimed at experienced X-Com players, who know the game well and are not afraid of a difficulty higher then Superhuman. The Aliens are more powerful, have more variants and your weapons will slowly become obsolete due to them. Research progress is a must, but comes at costs.

== Exactly what new mechanics can I expect? ==
Some new concepts and mechanics you will see include
=== Aliens ===
* Multiple new Alien species and terror forces (did anyone say long range Chrysalid Spitters?)
* Mixed alien crews, and mixed terror forces
* New UFOs to contend with, and with all pre-existing UFOs receiving dozens of new and unique interior redesigns
* Alien Bases may deploy hostile missions that will force an X-COM response
* Certain Aliens are harder to manipulate psionically, and the Ethereals are immune to Mind Control

=== Weapons/Equipment/Armour ===
* New array of weapons for all tiers Grenade Launchers, Shotguns and Snipers for X-Com and the Aliens.
* Dedicated melee weapons for X-COM and the Aliens
* Special Alloy ammo that can be manufactured for early game ballistic weapons, which gives a 1,5 factor damage boost.
* Alien Plasma weapons have secondary stronger Clip which confers more damage.
* Large array of new armour for X-COM, from ceramic plated vests to reinforced power suits
* New X-COM aircraft, Heavy Weapon Platforms and even unmanned Support Drones

=== [[Research (Hardmode) |Research]] ===
* Research tree has been completely overhauled
* Research times are significantly longer, most advance technology requires special alien artefacts and the interrogation of alien engineers/medics/leaders and sometimes specific aliens or their corpses
* You can't research Laser weapons until you've stolen and researched an alien data slate, you can't research it until you've interrogated an alien, you can't interrogate an alien until you've researched a containment cell, you can't do that until you've raided an alien base

=== Tactical Combat ===
* Aliens are aware of your presence earlier than normal (turn 14 from turn 20)
* Larger maps for terror missions and certain alien UFOs, also a lot more civilians
* Aliens will use explosive weapons from turn 1
* Chronological alien race mixes, don't be surprised if some Sectoids tag along with Floaters, and they might bring their Cyberdiscs as well

== Thanks and Acknowledgements ==
Please see here - https://openxcom.org/forum/index.php/topic,4965.0.html

UFOpaedia - User contributions [en]

Research (Hardmode)

Expansion Info (Hardmode)