Protocol 1: Link to Pilot

I also need "Aliens can bond" mod:)

I've tried using this mod in two different campaigns and while the Sparks can bond with other soldiers and Sparks, when in combat the bond perks are not available. Has anyone else experienced this issue?

Does this work with the LASER Spark classes as well?

Stuffs to add into note:
This mod is safe to be removed mid campaign. But may left a quirky after effect for any spark(s) that produced and soldier(s) recruited before removal. Any spark or soldier after removal are completely safe from any after effect from both the old or new.

If added mid-campaign, any spark before adding the mod may still don't have any compatibility with any other old (and new) soldier/sparks. The workaround is to "force bond" thru console or use "Spark can do convert mission" then look up those "Form bond" convert mission..

Just finished a campaign with about 280 mods, this one included, and had no major issues! Thanks for putting this up, really helped me get my SHODAN on.

can you tell me if it is possible to have Sparks only be able to form bonds with Specialists?

Some bond skills are deliberately excluded by Firaxis for SPARKS. I have not changed any of those limitations.

I have two Sparks bonded with each other and when in combat they don't have any of the bond abilities available. Does this only work with 1 Spark and 1 human?

Hello, @Yagisan. Very cool mod. I do wish it could fully bond with others (i.e. teamwork), but I can see it as a balance.
Questions:
Is raising SPARK CI also hardcoded and very difficult like giving them bidirectional bonds?

I get to here in a Robots on covert actions mod, but I don't know how to make SPARK eligible or to remove the check entirely.

static function bool IsNewUnitValidForIntSlot(XComGameState_StaffSlot SlotState, StaffUnitInfo UnitInfo)
{
local XComGameState_Unit Unit;

Unit = XComGameState_Unit(`XCOMHISTORY.GetGameStateForObjectID(UnitInfo.UnitRef.ObjectID));

if (Unit.ComInt >= eComInt_Savant || (!Unit.GetSoldierClassTemplate().bAllowAWCAbilities && !Unit.IsResistanceHero())) //not a soldier hero NOR can it get AWC abilities
{
// If this unit is already at the max Com Int level, they are not available
return false;
}

return IsNewUnitValidForCovertActionSoldierSlot(SlotState, UnitInfo);

Just curious about your take on this.

can you make this work for custom spark classes

Thanks, great job! :)

@Tatourmi - Yes.

Aere the other bonding skills still working?

I'll try some more tests when I get some free time, but I'm not going to push out any changes I am not happy with.

@Yagisan, if a bondmate could grant an action *to* the SPARK, even if the SPARK couldn't grant one back - that would still be pretty sweet.

I have a technitian bonded to a SPARK right now. They're becoming a pretty great duo.

@Malidictus

The SPARK does have a point animation - is it the same point animation that soldiers use when granting actions? The sparks use it when using the fear ability and for something else that I don't remember atm.

SPARKs not getting the teamwork skill probably has to do with how the skill is granted by the actual Bonding mechanic, which I don't know where that would be coded. I don't think they'd be able to use the skill properly anyway, since they don't have the associated mechanic. You could leave that limitation in as a balancing feature. SPARKs can't inspire humans, but they also don't get tired.

Honestly, I'm just happy to have the option for RP purposes :)

@Augustus - Not this mod. It currently has No code overrides.

@Malidictus - I changed it to not exclude robots in my private branch. I could grant teamwork my Spark, but I still can't get the Spark to show the skill despite having met all the requirements. I am wondering if there is a hardcoded limitation.

I'm not sure if it's you mod or maybe something else, but after completing an ambush mission with a SPARK my game keeps crashing, so I'm stuck on the load screen before returning to the map.

Ah, I see:

TargetCondition.ExcludeRobotic = true;

That's not the only skill which deliberately excludes robotic units, though. A lot of the Psi Operative skills do, as well. The first one I ran across - Soulfire - has the same X2Condition_UnitProperty object added to it, with ExcludeRobotic set to true. In the case of Soulfire, that's a lore-based design choice - it's a psychic attacks and robotic enemies aren't affected by psychic effects.

I wonder if excluding robotic for Teamwork is a necessity or a similar lore-based decision, i.e. you can't be friends with a robot. Could be SPARKs don't have an animation to play for it, or somehow break when affected by it. For my own sake of curiosity, how would you go about changing that stat if you could? Pulling the BondmateTeamwork templates out of the manager would work, but I'm not sure how you'd address that specific limitation.

@Malidictus - The function is called CreateBondmateInspireAbility located in X2Ability_DefaultBondmateAbilities.uc

Hey, fair enough. I just want my soldiers to be friends with my robots like Shen is with her Gremlin :) Incidentally, where is this specific and deliberate exclusion handled? Where the Teamwork skill is defined, I presume?

@Malidictus - Yes, but that would involve changing the unrealscript. It's very specfic in that it intentionally excludes robotic units, and no other skills do. I personally have no problem with this "limitation".

Once I have investigated what is needed to override only a single function, I'll come back and reconsider this.

Turns out that "bonding" is not retroactive. If you enable this mod during a campaign, all existing soldiers will still hate the SPARK and not want to be friends with it. Any new soldiers joining your roster, however, will not be as racist and will accept friendship from a machine.

As to Teamwork - is there a way to un-exclude it for SPARKs?

Oh yeah, this is the kind of mod I need. :P

Its about time for this mod! The Sparks are way more than just a bunch of metal and wires!!!

very cool

having this mod plus the titanfall sparks means we can have our BT-7274 titan and pilot bonds nice.

@pheonix89 - I have identifed why this is the case. The Teamwork skill is specfically excluded by Firaxis from working on Robotic units. No other bondmate skills are.

@Bobbers - Indeed.

@Saskatchewan Wtf. W@t thë ƒü©k

Don't listen to them, 2B. They don't have any feelings. They're just imitating human speech. Let's take 'em out.

Sparks aren't getting Teamwork when bonded for me.

Yes!!!!!

"Stephanie change colour, attractive, niiiiice software!"

Funk capacitor overheating.

Boogie overload imminent.

The Singularity Is Near....!!!

@Thanos They can bond with anyone, they just prefer other Sparks.

@SuperJesse64 - I`m going to need more details. They were all tested before upload, and have been restricted to the smallest possible change required. All my Better Double Agent mods are mutually exclusive, as they change the same lists.

My spark got the option of bonding with the Templar...There's a joke in there somewhere.

ERROR ERROR. DOES NOT COMPUTE. WHAT IS THIS FEELING I AM FEELING. IS THIS... LOVE?

Does this unit have a soul?

Your mods currently don't work for me, both with and without ABA. Is there any known conflicts?

#roboboner

Can sparks bond with humans, or just other sparks?

"Machines making machines, how perverse." - C3PO

Wall-E and Eva sparks when?

Say that to the one Shen build, he has feelings!(at least he fake them well)

its time for some beep boop <3

Pfff, robots don't have feelings.