[Idea] AWC upgrade/overhaul mechanic

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Armoneca
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2017 8:27 pm

[Idea] AWC upgrade/overhaul mechanic

Post by Armoneca »

First of all, thanks for everything you've done for XCOM. Couldn't be more grateful.

I originally wanted to try doing mods myself, but some of my ideas are just way too ambitious or complicated, and I don't have the time, skill, talent, or resources to do anything close to what you guys have accomplished. But if sharing what I've come up with leads to something, I'd say that's a win.

This concept was partly inspired by the Leadership training School, and the bonus mission objectives found in the recent DOOM reboot. I hope you guys can make something like it or draw inspiration from it.

Anyways, thanks for giving us the opportunity to pitch our ideas, and even more for making them a reality!


~ A.W.C. ELITE CROSS TRAINING PROGRAM ~

TL;DR: A.W.C. upgrade, similar to Leadership Training School. Offers a rigorous, objective-based Cross Class training regimen for soldiers. Rewards participants with a choice of an appropriate Cross Class Skill and potentially smaller rewards, such as minor stat increases.

Concept:

The Commander’s Elite training program for Cross Training Soldiers. A limited number of soldiers are hand-picked, trained under an appropriate expert, and are assigned a training regimen. Those who succeed are rewarded with a correlating Cross Class skill of their choice, and perhaps more.

Function:

Refined Advanced Warfare Center overhaul/upgrade mechanic that allows experienced soldiers to personally train others in their respective fields of expertise. After completing a training regimen by applying the lessons learned in combat, trainees are rewarded with a correlating Cross Class skill of their choice. This mechanic also provides a delivery system for additional benefits one would expect to receive with Elite training.

A Training Regimen involves completing related objectives while in combat, earning experience in the subject matter. Objectives vary in difficulty and experience yield. Once enough experience is obtained, training is complete and participants can choose between any CC skill within the Instructor’s skill trees. All existing limitations on CC skill eligibility still apply to units. Exceptional performance may also lead to other, smaller benefits, such as a stat improvement or accelerated leadership-training advancement.

Purpose:

- To provide a balanced, rewarding mechanic that gives players a choice or influence the outcome of their AWC perk.
- Eliminate the luck factor in trying to obtain a particular AWC Skill, thus making it easier to create fully optimized soldiers.
- Has the added benefit of giving players a gratifying sense of accomplishment and deepening their connections with their soldiers, upon receiving the desired perk.
- Reward options could be expanded to include a small permanent stat boost determined by the field of study. (EX. Sharpshooter teachers could pass on a small +1-3 AIM on students)

Proposed Mechanics:

1) Requires a new sub facility structure built within the A.W.C first before any training can begin. This new addition can be upgraded to improve its efficiency and capacity for instructors and participants. Once built, the Commander hand picks soldiers worthy of advancement. They must be in good health and available for use.

2) The Commander may employ seasoned veteran officers as “Instructors”, to assist in training others. They must also be in good health and available for use. The Instructor’s class determines what Cross Class skill will be available upon completion. All existing Cross Class skill eligibility restrictions still apply.

3) Only a single instructor is allowed to be staffed at a time within the school, at least initially, but a single Instructor can train multiple soldiers simultaneously.

4) Training begins with a crash course, lasting a few days, and afterwards a field test/training regimen is assigned to each student.

5) A Field test is a set of repeatable bonus objectives of varying difficulty, designed to hone the skills of the subject matter. (Examples: perform a successful Hack, Heal an ally, Flank the enemy, destroy cover). Completing objectives earn AWC CREDITS, similar to XP. The more credits one acquires, the better the rewards one can ultimately gain, and the sooner one can complete training. Difficult objectives give more credit, accelerating advancement. This way, players can advance in training at their own pace, mitigating its impact on the player’s ability to make strategic moves.

6) In between missions, trainees may use the AWC to passively train and collect credit towards advancement. It is not as effective as hands on training, and the Instructor’s rank determines the maximum credit yield rate.

7) Once a unit has accumulated the minimum amount of credits, training can be considered complete, rewarding them with a choice of a low-ranking or generic eligible CC skill. Alternatively, they can opt to continue training to pursue the maximum/recommended amount of credits. Doing so earns access to any related eligible CC skill and other bonuses.

8) The time spent training is left up to the Commander’s discretion.

Potential Facility Upgrades:

- Increased capacity for instructors and students
- Virtual Reality technology added to training program. Increases amount of credit received while using the AWC in the Avenger.
- Instructors can earn Leadership Training experience through this program.

Possible Issues:

1) May be perceived as too lengthy, repetitive, or tedious.
2) Completing certain objectives may have too big of an impact on player’s freedom to make strategic moves.
3) Losing the active instructor in battle could be catastrophic or complicate things.
4) Too difficult or costly to test and integrate, from a developer’s standpoint.
5) Little to no benefit offered to participating Instructors.

Undecided Properties:

A) The name of the program, title for instructors and trainees.

B) Training could be done in pairs, with each participant training the other in their respective field. After training, both participants can select a CC skill from their partner’s development path.

C) High ranking Soldiers will be able to earn more credits per objective than lower ranked ones, complete the training regimen faster and easier.

D) The Commander, Central Officer Bradford, and Lily Shen are more than qualified of being Instructors. Together they are capable of teaching everything possible, and formulate the training regimens (field tests) as well.

Thanks again! You're literally making dreams come true! :D
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