Samuel Hound . custom perks . vanilla-friendly . custom squad leader

Intentions behind the design

Thematically this character is based around my very loose interpretation of the reconnaissance in force concept for this game.

His perks make you want to move a lot. To stay hidden, to strike harder, to be more robust, to find a better position and get even more bonuses.

He can use cover not to just help with survivability, but also to be more deadly, which makes you think about it in cases you usually don't and plan your movement differently.

He gets an increase in survivability, but only when he is actively moving and using cover while being properly armored.

Mechanically most of his character exclusive perks are based on stacking Detection with core perk and using that Detection to get bonuses from other perks.

Detection is used to scale other perks because it is thematically appropriate, but also because Detection does not give you any game breaking value after very low bonus and can be relatively safely abused. I did not wanted it to be a form of abuse when I planned it but it is what it is. I do not think it's really breaking anything too much or in bad way, but it is slitly cursed idea.

Character-exclusive perks

For full perk tree or descriptions check screenshots.

All of this perks use already existing logic and mechanics from the base game, but mixed differently, so fundamentally there is nothing new, just different mix.

T0— Next Clue To The Case

+1 Detection per each tile moved this round until start of next round, up to +4, and additional +1 first step bonus for the first tile.

+3/4/5 Detection according to cover.

+4 Detection if concealed.

Permanent Nearsighted effect (-1 Vision). Can be removed with Scout perk, Binocalurus or Thermal.

T1— Armored Awareness

+4% Armor per Detection.

+1 Concealment when hidden.

T2— Extended Surveillance

+3% Accuracy per Detection.

+2% Damage per Detection.

T2— Right tools for the job (instead of bags & belts)

Gain +2 accessoriy slots, but become Encumbered (same effect as from heavy armor or weapons).

T3— Concealed Assault

+1 Concealment per each tile moved this round until start of next round, up to +2.

-1 AP movement cost

T4— Steelgrinder

+5% Armor Damage per Detection

How to recruit

You can get him on hiring list from black market separate dossier. For now its 4 trade value. Market refresh is needed.

Installation instructions

1. Download and Install MelonLoader on your Menace game.

2. Download latest version of Jiangyu. Loader.dll and put it in Mods folder in the main directory of your game.

3. Download the mod and put SL_Hound folder from the archive in Mods folder.

Readiness state now and later

Mod is more ready then not, but everything is subject to change still.

Many things in some part, way or form are a placeholders still. But I might just leave them as they are if they turn out to be just good enough.

I've dealt with all stupidest and most obvious f-ups in first updates, did some other things, and right now I don't have any big or urgent plans for this mod other than basic life support.

Mechanical part

Right now everything is working good, good enough or at least somehow. As far as I know, nothing is broken.

I think i tested everything properly, but i can't say I did everything possible.

And about the balancing. If it is possible to balance this properly, I will try.

For now, IMHO, it's more or less fine. It is obviously not perfect. Character is somewhat stronger than I want him to be, but overall state is just good enough for me to not disrupt what is already working without good and concrete target. Some further tuning is possible, but nothing on rework level.

Pictures

All sprites needed already in and look more or less as intended. There is enough to fix and polish, but overall everything should be at least just ok.

Most of the small status effects icons are reused from the base game. Maybe later i will tinker with them more just for fun, but it is not really any important.

Text

It has some flavor, and descriptions have to be correct, but there is never enough editing. Also needs few changes to