Following on from the last week’s entry on weaponry, Sitrep #3 covers the topic of armour and dives into the combat mechanics in a little more detail. The Xenonauts have access to some of the finest Cold War personal protection and, once able to research captured extraterrestrial technology, they will be able to construct exotic new personal armour in which to take the fight to the aliens.

Basic Uniform: The basic uniform is the first of two armour types available to the player at the start of the game - a thick weatherproof cotton poplin combat uniform, reinforced leather boots and a steel helmet. This combination allows the wearer full mobility and sufficient protection from the elements to operate for the full duration of a combat operation in almost any climate, as well as being lightweight and offering excellent carrying capacity. It does not, however, offer particularly good ballistic protection and is not recommended for troops likely to be exposed to enemy fire.

‘Jackal’ Combat Armour: The Jackal-pattern combat armour represents the pinnacle of Cold War personal protection, making full use of the most recent developments in synthetic fibres. A vest and helmet woven from Kevlar and reinforced with steel plates are worn over a flame-retardant undersuit, providing excellent ballistic protection for the head and vital organs, while smaller pads for the knees and elbows provide additional protection against shrapnel and other flying debris.

Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of dramatically increased weight and reduced range of motion, allowing the soldier to carry less into battle and perform fewer actions every turn. The design of the helmet also reduces peripheral vision and limits the soldier’s visual cone, making him easier to flank and less capable of spotting enemy units. These disadvantages make the Jackal unsuitable for troops in many battlefield capacities, but any soldier serving in an assault role will find the superior survivability it offers invaluable.

In Xenonauts, the dev team are making every effort to allow the player to customise their troops into different battlefield roles. Equipping your soldiers is not simply a case of giving everyone the biggest guns and the heaviest armour you can find - every item represents a tradeoff. This system adds a deep tactical layer to the combat, allowing endless variation and replayability. In this case the decision is simply between protection and mobility, but as the Xenonauts research extraterrestrial technology and discover exciting new battlefield equipment, far deeper choices will emerge from the mix of exotic battle armour!

As always, comments are welcome on our forums!