Difference between revisions of "Difficulty Levels"

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(full rewrite. Not sure if any info is incorrect/still missing)
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{{STUB}}
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X-COM has five different '''difficulty levels''' that can be selected when starting a game:
  
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Section to discuss the difficulty level differences. Basically explains what and how exactly it influences the game.
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*Beginner
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*Experienced
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*Veteran
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*Genius
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*Superhuman
  
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On higher difficulty levels, a larger number of aliens will appear on each mission, and their [[Alien Stats|stats]] will be higher.  It is not known if difficulty influences any other aspects of gameplay.
  
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There are five different difficulty levels within the game. They are named (in order of increasing difficulty):
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== Alien Deployments ==
  
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Beginner
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The total number of aliens found in each UFO or mission type are the same for Beginner and Experienced difficulty levels.  On Veteran/Genius level approximately 20% - 40% more aliens will appear than on Beginner/Experienced level (depending on UFO type).  On Superhuman level 50% - 100% more aliens will appear.  See the "Alien Deployment" section of each [[UFOs|UFO]] page for specific numbers. 
  
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Experienced
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== Alien Stats ==
  
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Veteran
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Several key alien stats will increase with each difficulty level.  The alien stats which change are:
  
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Genius
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{| {{StdDescTable}} width = 90%
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| {{StdDescTable_Heading}} width=40%| '''Stat'''
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| {{StdDescTable_Heading}} width=10% {{r}} '''Beginner'''
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| {{StdDescTable_Heading}} width=10% {{r}} '''Experienced'''
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| {{StdDescTable_Heading}} width=10% {{r}} '''Veteran'''
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| {{StdDescTable_Heading}} width=10% {{r}} '''Genius'''
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| {{StdDescTable_Heading}} width=10% {{r}} '''Superhuman'''
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|-
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| [[Strength]] (including built-in weapon damage?) || {{r}}100% || {{r}}102% || {{r}}104% || {{r}}106% || {{r}}108%
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|-
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| [[TUs]], [[Energy]], [[Psi Strength]], [[Psi Skill]] || {{r}}100% || {{r}}104% || {{r}}108% || {{r}}112% || {{r}}116%
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|-
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| [[Reactions]] || {{r}}100% || {{r}}106% || {{r}}112% || {{r}}118% || {{r}}124%
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|-
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| [[Firing Accuracy]] || {{r}}50% || {{r}}106% || {{r}}112% || {{r}}118% || {{r}}124%
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|-
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| [[Armor]] || {{r}}50% || {{r}}100% || {{r}}100% || {{r}}100% || {{r}}100%
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|}
  
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Superhuman
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These percentages are modifiers to base alien stats, which can be found on the [[Alien Stats]] page.  Unlike all other aliens, [[Zombie]] stats will not increase; all stats will be at "base" level regardless of difficulty level.
  
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== Known Bugs ==
  
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The following factors are affected by the difficulty levels:
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All DOS versions of X-COM have a bug which causes the difficulty setting to revert to "Beginner" after the first [[combat]]. [[XcomUtil]] can be used to fix this bug.
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The battlescape statistics of the aliens
 
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The number of aliens that appear on the battlescape
 
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The frequency(?) and commencement date of retaliation missions
 
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The rate of escalation of the alien invasion(?)
 
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this refers to how quickly they switch over to heavy plasmas, start sending Mutons and Ethereals etc.
 
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(Note this list is not yet comprehensive)
 
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= Difficulty Level Issues =
 
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Notes about problems with difficulty level reverting back to beginner in older Dos versions. How XComutil fixes this. Other versions of the game (i.e. CE and PSX for example) do not have this. Finally, link to or the actual technical explanation on why this occurs.
 

Revision as of 03:23, 16 March 2007

X-COM has five different difficulty levels that can be selected when starting a game:

  • Beginner
  • Experienced
  • Veteran
  • Genius
  • Superhuman

On higher difficulty levels, a larger number of aliens will appear on each mission, and their stats will be higher. It is not known if difficulty influences any other aspects of gameplay.

Alien Deployments

The total number of aliens found in each UFO or mission type are the same for Beginner and Experienced difficulty levels. On Veteran/Genius level approximately 20% - 40% more aliens will appear than on Beginner/Experienced level (depending on UFO type). On Superhuman level 50% - 100% more aliens will appear. See the "Alien Deployment" section of each UFO page for specific numbers.

Alien Stats

Several key alien stats will increase with each difficulty level. The alien stats which change are:

Stat style="background: #c0c0c0; color:white" width=10% Template:R Beginner style="background: #c0c0c0; color:white" width=10% Template:R Experienced style="background: #c0c0c0; color:white" width=10% Template:R Veteran style="background: #c0c0c0; color:white" width=10% Template:R Genius style="background: #c0c0c0; color:white" width=10% Template:R Superhuman
Strength (including built-in weapon damage?) Template:R100% Template:R102% Template:R104% Template:R106% Template:R108%
TUs, Energy, Psi Strength, Psi Skill Template:R100% Template:R104% Template:R108% Template:R112% Template:R116%
Reactions Template:R100% Template:R106% Template:R112% Template:R118% Template:R124%
Firing Accuracy Template:R50% Template:R106% Template:R112% Template:R118% Template:R124%
Armor Template:R50% Template:R100% Template:R100% Template:R100% Template:R100%

These percentages are modifiers to base alien stats, which can be found on the Alien Stats page. Unlike all other aliens, Zombie stats will not increase; all stats will be at "base" level regardless of difficulty level.

Known Bugs

All DOS versions of X-COM have a bug which causes the difficulty setting to revert to "Beginner" after the first combat. XcomUtil can be used to fix this bug.

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