Golden Path Themed Revamp

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Author: EvilBob22

Last revision: 10 Apr at 19:06 UTC (2)

File size: 283.66 KB

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Description:

Replaces enemies in Golden Path missions with randomized, leveled picks matching the original enemies types.

In the base game, the enemies found in the main story missions (also known as the "Golden Path") are challenging if you take the mission soon after it’s available. However, the pods do not change, so if you take the mission later or use enemy mods, you’ll have already been fighting tougher enemies, making the base ones feel like pushovers. Golden Path Missions Revamp does a good job replacing them with leveled pods, but most units are replaced with whatever random enemies meet the force level. So, you lose out on having a MEC with supporting ADVENT units in the Black Site or, more importantly to me, the gauntlet of chryssalids on the way to [redacted]. This mod replaces enemies based on their type. For example, it takse the original tier-one MEC leader in the Black Site boss pod and replaces it with a random MEC unit up to two force levels higher than currently. It will work fine with the base game enemies, but really shines when it has several mod-added enemies to pick from.

It’s best to use this mod in a new campaign. However, Golden Path missions before the Broadcast Tower are recalculated every time the force level changes, so waiting for a force level change is enough for those missions. Pods on the final two missions are calculated only once, so will need console commands to force an update.

GPTR_PrintGPPods
This console command prints the "EncounterID"s and enemies in every current Golden Path pod to the screen. "GPTR_PrintGPPods true" will also print them to the log file.

GPTR_UpdateGPPods
This runs the same code that updates pods when the force level changes. Useful if this mod is installed mid-campaign, or enemy mods are added/removed, and you don’t want to wait for a force level change.

GPTR_ForcePodUpdate EncounterID
Forces the encounter with the given EncounterID (see GPTR_PrintGPPods) to recalculate itself. Useful if this mod is installed mid-campaign to change the final missions, but will overwrite the "Golden Requiem" option from the Requiem Legion mod (if that mod and option are enabled).

Only one Golden path mod should be active at a time, and combinations with others were not fully tested. In general, other Golden Path mods will take presidence over this one until the force level changes. When that happens, this mod will overwrite the other(s) for Golden Path missions before the Broadcast Tower (although many add extra units, which do not get changed). It was originally coded to never overwrite them, but getting it to update pods when the force level changes made overwriting necessary. It may be fixed in the future, but is a low priority.

Specific mods:

• Golden Path Missions Revamp matches the general compatibility notes above. It also adds additional units to some pods.
• Blacksite & Forge: Requiem Plugin also matches the general compatibility for those two missions. It adds additional units to the Forge mission.
• Diverse Aliens By Force Level is mostly compatible. It will correctly add enemies with this mod active, but they may be at the initial force level when the mission first appeared on the map.
• Waterworld Ethereals appears to be fully compatible. Testing is ongoing.
• Requiem Legion is compatible. If the "Golden Requiem" second wave option is enabled (with or without Waterworld Ethereals also loaded) it is still compatible, although that is a very rough combo. That option is tuned assuming it’s used on top of base game pods and this mod bumps up the pods’ strength. Note that running a forced update on final mission pods will overwrite the Golden Requiem settings for those pods.
• A Better Campaign and A Better Campaign PLUS match the general compatibility. They add a few units to some of the missions (and affect Gatecrasher, which is not normally considered "Golden Path").

Special thanks to Vaultwulf for testing and for being the biggest cheerleader, and to DeaconIvory for speed-running an entire campaign to get a feel for the balance.