Every player is different, I like my games inexplicably tough, hence why I’ve increased the difficulty by about 4 fold and made the player’s weapons on par with it. I also have a general rule to be brutal on myself and play the game at its max difficulty on my first play through. All of the problems you pointed at are easily solved by modifying the skill.cfg as you see fit.
It’s not a grind increase, I can testify to that. What will take you an amount of time, will likely take me just as long. The difference is that I’m very likely to die from the first squad of marines I go toe-to-toe with if I don’t execute a plan perfectly. The AI is horribly lacking though (not much I can do about it, short of decompiling the .dlls; that’s annoying in on itself).
While many games have different mechanics to increase difficulty, BM doesn’t have it, nor does Half-Life. I’m not saying its a bad thing, but it doesn’t translate well here as it stands.
This is my skill.cfg, take a look.
[code]ai_force_serverside_ragdoll “1”
ai_readiness_decay “10”
sv_infinite_aux_power “0”
//=--------------------------------------------------
// GamePlay
//=--------------------------------------------------
bms_normal_jump_vertical_speed “160”
bms_normal_jump_crouch_vertical_speed “160”
bms_double_jump_vertical_speed “200”
bms_airboost_jump_vertical_speed “80”
bms_airboost_jump_forward_speed “360”
bms_airboost_jump_original_speed_mod “0.25”
bms_long_jump_vertical_speed “150”
bms_long_jump_horizontal_speed “460”
bms_long_jump_delay “1”
player_airtimer “15”
player_drown_dmg_intial “10”
player_drown_dmg_step “10”
player_throwforce “2250”
//Player damage modifiers
sk_player_head “4”
sk_player_chest “1”
sk_player_stomach “1.25”
sk_player_arm “0.75”
sk_player_leg “0.75”
//=--------------------------------------------------
// Items
//=--------------------------------------------------
sk_battery “15”
sk_healthkit “25”
//=--------------------------------------------------
// WEAPONS
//=--------------------------------------------------
// PLAYER WEAPONS
sk_plr_dmg_crowbar “40”
sk_plr_dmg_9mm “28”
sk_plr_dmg_357 “75”
sk_plr_dmg_buckshot “26”
sk_plr_dmg_grenade_mp5 “125”
sk_plr_dmg_grenade_rpg “150”
sk_plr_dmg_bolt “100”
sk_plr_dmg_energy “30”
sk_plr_dmg_grenade_frag “150”
sk_plr_dmg_grenade_satchel “175”
sk_plr_dmg_snark “10”
sk_pop_dmg_snark “30”
sk_plr_dmg_grenade_tripmine “175”
sk_plr_dmg_grenade_hornet “24”
// AI WEAPONS
sk_npc_dmg_9mm “28”
sk_npc_dmg_357 “75”
sk_npc_dmg_buckshot “26”
sk_npc_dmg_grenade_rpg “125”
sk_npc_dmg_grenade_frag “150”
sk_npc_dmg_snark “10”
sk_npc_dmg_grenade_hornet “24”
// MAX AMMO
sk_max_9mm “150”
sk_max_357 “18”
sk_max_buckshot “40”
sk_max_grenade_mp5 “3”
sk_max_grenade_rpg “3”
sk_max_bolt “20”
sk_max_energy “60”
sk_max_grenade_frag “5”
sk_max_grenade_satchel “3”
sk_max_snark “15”
sk_max_grenade_tripmine “2”
sk_max_grenade_hornet “24”
// AMMO Pickup
sk_item_ammo_357_pickup “6”
sk_item_ammo_crossbow_pickup “5”
sk_item_ammo_energy_pickup “20”
sk_item_ammo_glock_pickup “18”
sk_item_ammo_mp5_pickup “30”
sk_item_ammo_shotgun_pickup “20”
sk_item_grenade_mp5_pickup “1”
sk_item_grenade_rpg_pickup “1”
//RPG
sk_plr_grenade_rpg_airspeed “5000”
sk_npc_grenade_rpg_airspeed “5000”
sk_grenade_rpg_precision “1.0”
sk_grenade_rpg_health “15”
//MISC/GRENADES
sk_grenade_lin_resistance “0.2”
sk_grenade_ang_resistance “0.2”
//HORNET OPTIONS
sk_grenade_hornet_search_radius “512”
sk_grenade_hornet_airspeed “1200”
sk_grenade_hornet_npc_precision “0.15”
sk_grenade_hornet_plr_precision “0.15”
sk_grenade_hornet_global_lifetime “5”
sk_grenade_hornet_hit_lifetime “1”
sk_grenade_hornet_autoaim_scale “10”
sk_grenade_hornet_noise_magnitude “45”
sk_grenade_hornet_noise_speed “5”
sk_grenade_hornet_noise_gaussian “50”
//TAU OPTIONS
sk_tau_charge_max_velocity “500”
sk_tau_beam_undercharged_dmg “50”
sk_tau_beam_charged_dmg “720”
sk_tau_beam_penetration_bias “0.9”
sk_tau_beam_penetration_depth “48”
sk_tau_overcharge_damage “100”
//GLUON OPTIONS
sk_gluon_consumption_rate “1”
//TOW
sk_plr_dmg_grenade_tow “425”
sk_npc_dmg_grenade_tow “425”
sk_grenade_tow_airspeed “1500”
sk_grenade_tow_precision “1”
//=--------------------------------------------------
// AI
//=--------------------------------------------------
sk_npc_head “4”
sk_npc_chest “1”
sk_npc_stomach “1.25”
sk_npc_arm “0.75”
sk_npc_leg “0.75”
sk_npc_ricochet “0.6” // scaled with the other modifiers!
//HUMAN SCIENTIST
sk_human_scientist_health “100”
sk_human_scientist_heal_amount “30”
sk_human_scientist_heal_interval “60”
//HUMAN SECURITY
sk_human_security_health “120”
//HUMAN MARINES
npc_marines_crouch “1”
npc_marines_crouch_delay “5”
npc_marines_crouch_min_dist “128”
npc_marines_crouch_min_health “50”
npc_marines_melee_dmg “30”
sk_human_commander_health “150”
sk_human_grenadier_health “140”
sk_human_grunt_health “140”
sk_human_medic_health “120”
sk_human_medic_health_amount “70”
//ZOMBIES SCIENTIST
sk_zombie_scientist_health “80”
sk_zombie_scientist_melee_range “75”
sk_zombie_scientist_bullet_dmg_scale “1”
sk_zombie_scientist_357_dmg_scale “1”
sk_zombie_scientist_buckshot_dmg_scale “1”
sk_zombie_scientist_blunt_dmg_scale “1”
//ZOMBIES SECURITY
sk_zombie_security_health “80”
sk_zombie_security_melee_range “75”
sk_zombie_security_bullet_dmg_scale “0.8”
sk_zombie_security_357_dmg_scale “0.8”
sk_zombie_security_buckshot_dmg_scale “0.8”
sk_zombie_security_blunt_dmg_scale “0.8”
//ZOMBIE GENERAL
sk_zombie_dmg_one_slash “30”
sk_zombie_dmg_both_slash “60”
//HEADCRAB
sk_headcrab_health “30”
sk_headcrab_melee_dmg “15”
sk_headcrab_min_jump_dist “28”
sk_headcrab_max_jump_dist “256”
//ALIEN SLAVE
sk_alien_slave_health “90”
sk_alien_slave_357_damage_scale “1”
sk_alien_slave_zap_cone “0.5” // cos( 35 )
sk_alien_slave_dmg_zap “30”
sk_alien_slave_dmg_claw “20”
sk_alien_slave_claw_range “75”
sk_alien_slave_dispel_dmg “125”
sk_alien_slave_dispel_force “450”
sk_alien_slave_dispel_forcez “225”
sk_alien_slave_dispel_angle “10”
sk_alien_slave_dispel_range “256”
sk_alien_slave_dispel_time “6”
sk_alien_slave_dispel_enable “1”
sk_alien_slave_bullet_dmg_scale “1”
sk_alien_slave_357_dmg_scale “1”
sk_alien_slave_buckshot_dmg_scale “1”
//BULLSQUID
sk_bullsquid_health “160”
sk_bullsquid_whip_dmg “75”
sk_bullsquid_whip_range “135”
sk_bullsquid_whip_force “450”
sk_bullsquid_bite_dmg “45”
sk_bullsquid_bite_range “76”
sk_bullsquid_spit_amount “9”
sk_bullsquid_spit_range “2048”
sk_bullsquid_spit_speed “792”
sk_bullsquid_spit_dmg “16”
sk_bullsquid_spit_radius “96”
sk_bullsquid_bullet_dmg_scale “1”
sk_bullsquid_buckshot_dmg_scale “1”
sk_bullsquid_357_dmg_scale “1”
sk_bullsquid_turn_rate “15”
//Ichthyosaur
sk_ichthyosaur_health “600”
sk_ichthyosaur_melee_dmg “75”
sk_ichthyosaur_max_linear_speed “800”
sk_ichthyosaur_max_linear_accel_f “512”
sk_ichthyosaur_max_linear_accel_r “256”
sk_ichthyosaur_max_linear_accel_u “256”
//Gargantua
sk_gargantua_melee_dmg “600”
sk_gargantua_flame_dmg “15”
sk_gargantua_flame_dmg_falloff_perc_dist “64”
sk_gargantua_flame_dmg_falloff_perc “0.1”
//Alien Grunt
sk_alien_grunt_health “210”
sk_alien_grunt_hornet_min_range “0”
sk_alien_grunt_hornet_max_range “2048”
sk_alien_grunt_melee_range “94”
sk_alien_grunt_melee_jump_range “256”
sk_alien_grunt_melee_dmg “120”
sk_alien_grunt_front_dmg_scale “0.6”
sk_alien_grunt_turn_speed “30”
sk_alien_grunt_rage_threshold “3”
sk_alien_grunt_rage_reset_delay “6”
// Alien Controller
sk_controller_health “160”
sk_controller_max_linear_speed “1000”
sk_controller_max_linear_accel_f “600”
sk_controller_max_linear_accel_r “600”
sk_controller_max_linear_accel_u “1000”
sk_controller_throw_next_attack “0”
sk_controller_lift_duration “2.5”
sk_controller_min_small_eballs “4”
sk_controller_max_small_eballs “8”
sk_controller_max_large_eballs “3”
sk_grenade_energy_dmg “20”
sk_grenade_energy_dmg_radius “128”
sk_grenade_energy_airspeed “1000”
sk_grenade_energy_precision “0.001”
sk_grenade_energy_large_dmg “60”
sk_grenade_energy_large_dmg_radius “250”
sk_grenade_energy_large_airspeed “500”
sk_grenade_energy_large_precision “0.1”
//Hassassin
sk_human_assassin_pistol_damage “28”
sk_human_assassin_pistol_spread “0.04362”
sk_human_assassin_pistol_burstinterval “0.2”
sk_human_assassin_pistol_burstcount “34”
sk_human_assassin_pistol_restinterval “2”
sk_human_assassin_health “120”
sk_human_assassin_melee_range “75”
sk_human_assassin_melee_damage “40”
sk_human_assassin_jump_rise “300”
sk_human_assassin_jump_distance “400”
sk_human_assassin_jump_drop “756”
sk_human_assassin_flip_hratio “256”
sk_human_assassin_decloak_damage “5”
sk_human_assassin_decloak_flip “3”
sk_human_assassin_decloak_melee “3”
sk_human_assassin_decloak_shoot “0.5”
sk_human_assassin_force_cloak “1”
sk_human_assassin_pistol_range “1024”
//Turrets
sk_sentry_ceiling_health “150”
Sk_sentry_ceiling_motorspeed “350”
sk_sentry_ceiling_scan_pitch “22.5”
sk_sentry_ground_health “75”
sk_sentry_ground_motorspeed “350”
sk_dmg_sentry “30”
sk_max_sentry “90”
//Abrams
sk_abrams_maingun_muzzle_damage “100”
sk_abrams_maingun_muzzle_radius “500”
sk_abrams_maingun_reload_time “0.75”
sk_abrams_maingun_reset_time “2”
sk_abrams_maingun_turn_speed_combat “3”
sk_abrams_maingun_turn_speed_idle “2.5”
sk_abrams_miniturret_burst_shots “80”
sk_abrams_miniturret_burst_interval “0.01”
sk_abrams_miniturret_rest_interval “5”
sk_abrams_miniturret_turn_speed “6”
sk_abrams_miniturret_damage “40”
sk_abrams_body_ground_speed “128”
sk_abrams_body_turn_speed “20”
sk_abrams_health_stages “800”
sk_grenade_abrams_shell_dmg “300”
sk_grenade_abrams_shell_radius “375”
sk_grenade_abrams_shell_airspeed “7500”
//LAV
sk_lav_health “900”
sk_lav_cal_radius “125”
sk_lav_cal_base_damage “60”
sk_lav_cal_radius_damage “40”
sk_lav_cal_fire_rate “0.4”
sk_lav_aim_speed “6”
sk_lav_ground_speed “130”
sk_lav_turn_speed “6”
//Apache
sk_apache_health “900”
sk_npc_dmg_grenade_apache_rpg “150”
sk_npc_radius_grenade_apache_rpg “250”
sk_grenade_apache_rpg_airspeed “5000”
sk_grenade_apache_rpg_precision “0.5”
sk_apache_fire_cone “5”
sk_apache_resttime “1”
sk_apache_chargetime “2”
sk_apache_burst_count_max “30”
sk_apache_burst_count_min “15”
sk_apache_burst_hit_max “5”
sk_apache_burst_hit_min “1”
sk_apache_burst_interval “5”
sk_apache_rocket_resttime “8”
sk_apache_rocket_resttime_nominigun “8”
sk_apache_rocket_barrage_count “4”
sk_apache_rocket_barrage_resttime “6”
sk_apache_rocket_barrage_bursttime “0.2”
sk_apache_boss_max_stages “3”
sk_apache_boss_stage_0_health “300” // minigun ( defined via map input )
sk_apache_boss_stage_1_health “300” // minigun + rockets ( defined via map input )
sk_apache_boss_stage_2_health “300” // minigun + beserk rockets ( defined via map input )
sk_apache_boss_stage_3_health “250” // not used
//Barnacle
sk_barnacle_health “80”
sk_barnacle_bullet_dmg_scale “1”
sk_barnacle_357_dmg_scale “1”
sk_barnacle_buckshot_dmg_scale “1”
sk_barnacle_blunt_dmg_scale “1”
//Houndeye
sk_houndeye_health “60”
sk_houndeye_blast_dmg “100”
sk_houndeye_blast_force “450”
sk_houndeye_punch_angle “10”
sk_houndeye_blast_radius “192”
sk_houndeye_bullet_dmg_scale “1”
sk_houndeye_357_dmg_scale “1”
sk_houndeye_buckshot_dmg_scale “1”
sk_houndeye_blunt_dmg_scale “1”
//Osprey
sk_osprey_health “1800”
//Snark Hive
sv_snark_hive_health “60”
sv_snark_hive_count “5”
//Sniper
sk_plr_dmg_sniper_round “120”
sk_npc_dmg_sniper_round “120”
sk_max_sniper_round “30”
//Mines
sk_mine_damage “100”
sk_mine_bounds_xy “24” // 128 units ( -64 min and 64 max )
sk_mine_bounds_z “64” // 128 units ( -64 min and 64 max )
sk_mine_damage_radius “200”
//Mortar
sk_grenade_mortar_dmg “350”
sk_grenade_mortar_range “400”
sk_grenade_mortar_shakeduration “1.5”
sk_grenade_mortar_shakeradius “640”
// Surgery Bot
sk_prop_surgerybot_force “400”
sk_prop_plr_damage “155”[/code]
Suffice to say, its equal on all parameters, the only difference is that the AI can’t plan out and execute intricate thought patterns. There’s also numerous things you’ll die from in one hit if you’re not careful (Agrunt charges).
If I decided to put it on hard, it would give me a run for my money. That’s for sure, my weapon damage would be halved while NPC damage is increased by I think a modifier of 2 or 1.5. Either way, it’s going to be mean. Most of these damage values are similar to Counter-Strike weapons as are the damage modifiers (Head, chest, stomach, arm, leg) for both NPCs and players are the same as they’re found in Counter-Strike…
