Soldier's Helmets

[IIAceofSpadesII]

Are there gonna be any helmets in this game, i have not seen them (yet). Where they left out so you can recognize your soldiers more easily?

It seems very illogical to me to leave them out, not only does it protect your head. Under the right circumstances.

A helmet can also help you identifying your soldier's on the battlefield.
By imprinting the soldiers rank and or other more practical add'ons on it, (like nightvision), or when further advanced into the game, things like aiming support. maybe even a pack of sigarettes attached to it or keeping the score of kills marked onto the helmet, or maybe even a personal handwritten message.

The oppertunitys with helmets are endless and should not be overlooked. Heck maybe you wil even bounce a shot from a sectoid.

- IIAceofSpadesII

[SectoidSquisher]

The helmet would also be another good place to put the national flag.

[IIAceofSpadesII]

Yes! Indeed, also an experienced soldier should not be running around without a helmet Gears of war style

[SectoidSquisher]

Now you mention it, it does look a bit odd that they're out there fighting with no head protection.

[Gen_Pho]

I like the way it was done in 1994. They start off without helmets so you can sort of identify with how vulnerable they were, then when they get more power and flying armor they seem even more powerful, albeit less personable.

In retrospect that's something I didn't like about APOC, they started off with helmets so you never really identified with the soldiers.

[IIAceofSpadesII]

But if your soldiers have the hair like the guys in 1994 then i would like helmets even more

[ShanDaMan]

I like the no-helmets look, although it is very unrealistic. It would seem like a waste to me to allow facial customization yet hide them behind a bulky helmet. And to be honest, the Flying Suit helmet was UGLY!

Also we have been told about smoke grenades laced with PEDs, so helmets might interfere with that.

[IIAceofSpadesII]

It is not realy that unrealistic, there were some soldiers that disliked helmets because they found them annoying, because it messed with their aim etc.

I think helmets add more to personality(if you can customize). Then to have no helmet at all.

Also the helmet could include some awesome mechanics where you could lose your helmet in battle + add ons. So you either retrieve it or sit in the middle of the night with no nightvision with chryssalids and sectoids creeping around

[Silverwave]

It is not realy that unrealistic, there were some soldiers that disliked helmets because they found them annoying, because it messed with their aim etc.

Even if you dislike wearing a helmet, it's not like you can decide wheter to wear it or not. It's part of the FFO (Full Fighting Order) and it's a REQUIRED piece of gear. Every soldier has to wear it and for a reason. That being said, X-COM operatives are like special forces, top of the elite. Now, I am no special force so I wouldn't know but I guess these guys can decide what gear they'll wear. Anyway, I too find it a bit wierd that they have no helmet but I understand that it's to be able to better identify your characters and give them a personallity. Then again, it's possible to put them a classic open face PASGT type of helmet.

[CaptainMuton]

Found a safety video on why you should always wear a helmet. Don't think I saw it at school though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLopbgNVbAI

[Brian Damage]

Classic.

Weirdly enough, I think someone did bring that movie into my school one Muck-Up day. I seem to recall watching it on a "borrowed" AV unit.

[Mattyx]

Yes! Indeed, also an experienced soldier should not be running around without a helmet Gears of war style

Yes, I would love to see this mistake rectified, probably it's an upgrade/customization thing.

[IIAceofSpadesII]

Captain Muton made my day, thats classic:'). When rookies start panicking i would like a helmet.

[kingsword]

I'd like helmets as well but some games tend to go no-helmet style to make your characters more individualistic vs hordes of generic enemies. (like Valkyria Chronicles) This also is seen frequently in newer RPG's.

At least make an option to toggle them on or off like all new games do.

[Inkidu]

Of course, modern earth-tech helmets really aren't that good. They're meant to protect more like a hardhat than stop a bullet. The amount of protection one can put on their head has always been more for deflection. So it stands to reason that they go in with no helmet because if you take a plasma shot to the face it's kind of moot, and alien grenades tend to be above our level of protection as well. That means they're not really going to save lives.

Think about it historically. When the firearm reached about the flintlock stage humanity forewent armor all together. Until WWI and then they got the doughboy helmet, but even then it was more for protection against fragmentation and falling debris than taking a bullet.

[BCD917]

Of course, modern earth-tech helmets really aren't that good. They're meant to protect more like a hardhat than stop a bullet. The amount of protection one can put on their head has always been more for deflection. So it stands to reason that they go in with no helmet because if you take a plasma shot to the face it's kind of moot, and alien grenades tend to be above our level of protection as well. That means they're not really going to save lives.

Think about it historically. When the firearm reached about the flintlock stage humanity forewent armor all together. Until WWI and then they got the doughboy helmet, but even then it was more for protection against fragmentation and falling debris than taking a bullet.

That said, nowadays, some units use Kevlar Masks as well, so as technology advances so does the protection. We just generally invent ways to kill before ways to defend.

[Voqar]

We've barely seen any game footage or anything and since you research stuff it's possible you don't start out with helmets or (much) armor.

Ie, speculating based on extremely limited knowledge is just a way to pass time on a forum.

[tazong]

lol this collection of posts has really made me chuckle but probably for all the wrong reasons - its probably my sick mind lol

when i read this

The oppertunitys with helmets are endless and should not be overlooked. Heck maybe you wil even bounce a shot from a sectoid.

i actually had tears running down my face lol

[szabolcs85]

Something tells me that there won't be any helmets in the game. Simplification, you see.

[Inkidu]

Something tells me that there won't be any helmets in the game. Simplification, you see.

Please elaborate. I'm curious.

[Brian Damage]

Something tells me that there won't be any helmets in the game. Simplification, you see.

Nononononono, streamlining. 'cos it helps the agents run slightly faster, y'see? Less wind resistance.

[Inkidu]

Nononononono, streamlining. 'cos it helps the agents run slightly faster, y'see? Less wind resistance.

Besides being a set of really backhanded comments, the original X-Com didn't have helmets until the power armor. It was nothing and the protective personal armor headband.

[olyer]

UFO and TFTD have one armor and APOC has it all separated. It is actually too much hassle for me, but it is cool to have different helmet for different ranks.

I am fine either way.

[Brian Damage]

Besides being a set of really backhanded comments, the original X-Com didn't have helmets until the power armor. It was nothing and the protective personal armor headband.

Would it have helped if I'd added a "b'dum-tish"? It was intended entirely as a lighthearted bait-n-switch joke on the term :P. If I'd meant it the way you took it, it'd have been two words long. Sorta. Does "Nononononono" count as one word?

(And like I - like anyone - could forget those Guile-cuts (and Cammy-dos?) shuffling 'round the battlefield :P)

[kingsword]

In fact, they should be getting ballistics goggles and faceguards among the first upgrades (those are beginning to get reintroduced) and evolve to power armor with full coverage helmets. IMO even modern military forces are slow to adapt, modern firearms combat is mostly shooting from cover and the only thing that's out in the open most of the time is the face and forehead with to a lesser degree, arms.

[Inkidu]

When in doubt ba-dum-tish. I wonder if the Gallop brothers liked Street Fighter.

[Brian Damage]

Street Fighter and, according to some, Rob Liefeld, or at least the 90's comic book style he influenced.

[Gazz]

Of course, modern earth-tech helmets really aren't that good. They're meant to protect more like a hardhat than stop a bullet.

A heavy bullet to the head might well snap your neck so your best defense is really to keep your head down.

Still, helmets are the most critical piece of protective gear.
The human skull can be hurt severely by far less than a direct hit of a bullet.
Oh. And it's sort of... difficult... to tourniquet.


Wearing "armour" but no helmet is umm... stupid doesn't even begin to describe it.

[jameswarsinske]

If you can change their hair, why not individual designs on the helmets?

a Muton Skull, Ace of Spade or just Sectoidsquisher's logo

you could even add import custom graphics for them.... (I'd have to Save/Reload to save them if we could do that for sure!)

[szabolcs85]

Or perhaps, helmets may be available, but only as a DLC.

[Inkidu]

A heavy bullet to the head might well snap your neck so your best defense is really to keep your head down.

Still, helmets are the most critical piece of protective gear.
The human skull can be hurt severely by far less than a direct hit of a bullet.
Oh. And it's sort of... difficult... to tourniquet.


Wearing "armour" but no helmet is umm... stupid doesn't even begin to describe it.

Well, yeah, but like I said when you're dealing with alien tech like plasma and blaster bombs, helmets are kind of moot. Plus, I don't think I've ever seen a game that factored in secondary debris as a damaging factor. Actually, never mind. Skyrim can beat your head in with skeleton parts.

[kingsword]

Plus, I don't think I've ever seen a game that factored in secondary debris as a damaging factor.

Myth: the Fallen Lords, 1997. Play it and see how Pentium II games had better physics than Core i7 games, it's all in the software.

[BCD917]

Well, yeah, but like I said when you're dealing with alien tech like plasma and blaster bombs, helmets are kind of moot. Plus, I don't think I've ever seen a game that factored in secondary debris as a damaging factor. Actually, never mind. Skyrim can beat your head in with skeleton parts.

But since they are an Enemy Unknown, we do not necessarily know at the start or even later that ballistic type weapons are not part of their arsenal.

[tazong]

sort of come across this by accident but i not sure if jake soloman is joking but i am pretty sure he is being serious - anyhow if he is serious he confirms hat/helmets are in the game.
go to 12 mins 20 seconds onwards.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcas...onpodcast.aspx

[Nosmirc]

But can they be shot off our heads though?

[Oathbreaker]

4-6 dudes and chicks running around with heavy armour and weapons and no helmets = cool, and makes each soldier more of an individual.

4-6 people whom you can barely tell apart = not quite as cool.

I'm okay either way on this, but yeah - they really should have helmets. As far special forces people go, they wear what they want ...sometimes, depends on what they're doing. If you're jumping out of helos into the water or sliding down ropes or something where you could easily bounce your nogging and cause the rest of the squad to have to hump your sorry dumb ass out - yep, helmets mandatory, what kind is up to the unit. If you're doing a patrol and expecting a firefight, might make Kevlar ballistic helmets mandatory - but if you're going to be out in the bush for a while, they're not gonna carry helmets and body armour - it's just too much weight and crap. Gotta bring food, water and ammo and comm gear and weapons, too. It gets too much.

[heniv]

sort of come across this by accident but i not sure if jake soloman is joking but i am pretty sure he is being serious - anyhow if he is serious he confirms hat/helmets are in the game.
go to 12 mins 20 seconds onwards.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcas...onpodcast.aspx

I would say no, this is in a totally different context. They are actually talking about "funny hats" from Valve games. And when Jake is sounding more serious it's just to enhance the joke, I think I have seen/heard him do similar at other times.

Oathbreaker nailed it I think, to put a helmet on a soldier makes them less individual. And Firaxis has put a lot of effort to make the soldiers individuals rather than faceless dummies in this game.

[Wrench]

I would say no, this is in a totally different context. They are actually talking about "funny hats" from Valve games. And when Jake is sounding more serious it's just to enhance the joke, I think I have seen/heard him do similar at other times.

Oathbreaker nailed it I think, to put a helmet on a soldier makes them less individual. And Firaxis has put a lot of effort to make the soldiers individuals rather than faceless dummies in this game.

I agree.
If anything, i reckon they'll be optional.. you'll have the helmet as part of the armour.. But you may have a tick box in the Game settings which says that the helmet is visible or not. (similar to Star Wars Old Republic). The armour rating is present, but you just have the option not to see the hat..
I would think this is relatively easy to implement, and will allow those who want realistic combat feel to have helmets visible, and those who care to see the unique'ness of their characters via the marine style hair cuts

[Freeman.Alex]

No helmets? It is unthinkable to go into combat without your ACH; almost as dumb as forgetting your rifle. This is something drill sergeants / instructors smoke you non-stop for forgetting.

I hope at least some of the armor suits have helmets that go with them. After all ladies and gents, we only have a 4-6 person squad; I think we are all quite capable of remembering who is who on the field, so the "identification" reasoning is kind of a weak point here. Humans have squishy skulls, give us head gear.

[Clayton Cross]

Of course, modern earth-tech helmets really aren't that good. They're meant to protect more like a hardhat than stop a bullet. The amount of protection one can put on their head has always been more for deflection. So it stands to reason that they go in with no helmet because if you take a plasma shot to the face it's kind of moot, and alien grenades tend to be above our level of protection as well. That means they're not really going to save lives.

Think about it historically. When the firearm reached about the flintlock stage humanity forewent armor all together. Until WWI and then they got the doughboy helmet, but even then it was more for protection against fragmentation and falling debris than taking a bullet.

... and yet that all applies to body armor as well , why not take that of too then? Make movement faster to instead of wearing point less weight? In a cover based game a helmet makes more since than body armor, I don't push my body out to shoot just my head and arm. helmets didn't really save lives much until the addition of webbing so the impact didn't go directly to the head ( A mid-evil Knight hit in the head usually died anyway from the impact. Where a foot ball helmet is far more effective, it just needs to be armored.)