Default difficulty

[Bromley]

When I first installed the game (presumably 1.0 UK version), I could swear it was tougher. I didn't rtfm, so I just started playing by clicking on Play and started in the US.

 

Now I've patched to UK 1.1a and have restarted ('cause you have to to benefit from the patch changes). To do this I clicked on Game and set up a new one. I stuck with the default US and Easy, because I reasoned that the previous game must have used these settings and I didn't want it any harder than before.

 

Obviously I'm finding the first missions easier than before - I know how to best use Uzis for a start . However, it really does seem like it is easier because I'm getting loads of equipment. The CoE troops took my first base for me (I was running around clearing out incursions) and I got 4 sets of Combat Armour, 4 RPGs and some Assault Rifles with loads of clips. Previously a base would net me 1 set of armour, no RPGs (I did get one once before Area 51) and the only rifle with clips to spare would be the M4 and maybe the AK.

 

So, have I started on a different difficulty level to straight out of the box, has the patch tweaked something, was I just lucky because the CoE took the base (although they did that for me in the previous game with no unusual effects) or is it just a random effect?

[Pete]

I gt the feeling that the default when you first play the game i actually Normal setting, and thereafter it appears to make some kind of weird leap into Easy mode. It's one helluva lot easier on Easy

 

Area51/Russian bases? Not too much problem (Russian base is still quite solid though... took two hours and several attempts with different weapons loadouts ).

[Bromley]

Thanks. Second restart today then - Easy looks just too easy, even for me .

[zowrath]

Default difficulty when installing and starting a new game is Hard, check at the bottom of the UFOOptions.txt file in the Profiles dir.

 

Hard:

STRUCT "Game"

KEY "difficulty" INT 0

KEY "game_length" INT 0

Normal:

STRUCT "Game"

KEY "difficulty" INT 1

KEY "game_length" INT 1

Easy:

STRUCT "Game"

KEY "difficulty" INT 2

KEY "game_length" INT 2

 

I started on default and played a while until after the Russian secret base mission and found it quite ok. I've just restarted a new game on Hard difficulty and with the gaming experience I've gained missions are a peice of cake.

Also, save just before you exit a mission and also right after you return to the Geoscape. Some times you'll get awarded a base if your rating in that sector is high enough and it is randon each time what items you get in the new base.

A few reloads and you get what you're after at the time :-)

 

Z.

[bulldogc]

easy is WAY easier. almost to easy. u get mega equipment and its almost imposible to not shoot down ufos(ps try europe for starting ive tried all 3 and this is the best start place thusfar, the rockets dont insta kill everytime though on easy which is nice.

[ShadowBlade]

I'm currently playing on Normal and I find it quite challenging. Just came across Reticulans with Sky Armor and Rocket Launchers, and they're kicking my butt. Maybe I'll change to Easy if I don't manage to get through this (Though I hope I will).

 

PS: What does "game_length" affect?

[Pete]

Ah, I'd be the crap player on easy setting then

 

Completed it though, so I'll be restarting on Hard setting soon.