Howdy,
1st time playing in-depth. I love cover combat games and I was really interested in playing this with the “true line of sight” model. So far I think it’s great… but I have noticed some issues.
Mainly the distance that the characters “hug” certain nodes and distance themselves from others even though they are all “1/2 cover”. It seems very inconsistent and with your true sight model, stay with me here, it almost is better to ignore the cover node and just treat it as a visual blocker. Meaning I don’t even attach the soldier to the node most times completely ignore the cover system altogether. I don’t think that is what you want to happen.
In essence, objects are just visual blockers since I cannot see any aim reductions or damage reductions for being in cover. What is the bonus for being in cover other than blocking visually? Yet when the characters move up to them, sometimes the posture changes of the characters and sometimes it does not, this is the inconsistency I am talking about. You can see this by positioning a sniper up high, then with true aim, look at your own soldier’s positions.
For example:
1/2 cover railings - the character hugs the railing close up - there is a very small gap between, it looks like the soldier is trying to use it for cover
1/2 cover flat cement blocks - the character does not hug the object - there is a visible gap between, it doesn’t look like the character is trying to use it for cover
Now use true aim to look at both targets from the same distance - the one behind the flat cement block is much more visible from the waist up than the one behind the railing ( granted the railing has gaps in the bottom to see though but from the waist up more is exposed with the cement block ).
The taller cement blocks that look like triangles are also a good example, the characters do not hug them up close for “cover” and use them as a visual block instead.
I have found since it does not give you a defensive bonus or the enemy a harder to hit modifier (not totally sure on that)? I get better results with just positioning my troops behind objects that block LOS rather than use them as a cover node… if you follow me. I don’t feel that is the intent of the game, but it functions better in most cases than using the node, in my experience so far.
I have also found that certain nodes are practically useless and others are great, even though the are all 1/2 cover or full cover depending on their shape. But again I do not use them as cover, just visual blockers. That might even by design but it doesn’t seem like cover combat functionality, again just my opinion.
Now, however, the enemy usees the cover nodes very effectively, and even changes posture to a degree. and doesn’t have a spacing issue that I have seen thus far. Granted I have only fought crabmen and the squat guys with the mushroom head.
I strongly feel that this game needs a posture changing function from laying to squatting to standing once attached to a cover node. It would make the cover nodes more effective. Even squatting to standing would be outstanding.
Just my 2 cents on the cover mechanics.
Otherwise really enjoying the game.
-Gamedrake