Subscribe to download
[WotC] Richards Hero Classes Rework [Old, Unsupported]

This mod makes tweaks to the WotC Faction Heroes. I felt they had become underpowered compared to custom classes in the game, especially my own. When the game first launched I used the Reaper all the time now my pick rate for them is really low, this mod aims to address this by giving them additional perks to keep them on par with custom classes. I've done my best to keep the extra abilities 'true to the class' where possible but I did re-arrange the perks to balance them around what my soldier classes recieve and at what level.

Contents:
1/ Required Mods
2/ Skirmisher Changes
3/ Reaper Changes
4/ Templar Changes
5/ Other Add Ons

1/ Required Mods

The mods listed are not required but I feel enhance the experience enough to make them neccessary.

Bullpups use Rifle Range and Skirmisher Rebalance are both great buffs to the skirmisher that really enhance their abilities making them a lot more useful overall and more versatile range wise. Sting Charges Removal is just a nifty little buff for the Reaper which swaps the charges for a cooldown on Sting, allowing them to make more use of Shadow Gameplay which is core to their class.

2/ Skirmisher Changes

The Skirmisher has gone through a complete rebalance, they've always been my least picked hero class even with the Skirmisher rebalance. With this in mind I've given Skirmishers some buffs I feel will really help them and I've better defined the trees such as Hussar (which means light cavalry) being more about moving and taking shots, Judge being the Melee & well Judgemental tree and Tactician containing all the more tactical use abilities. The skirmishers are really low powered units but make up for it with multiple shots so this should give them more usefulness.

@Corporal Rank: Full Throttle (Hussar) / Wrath (Judge) / Total Combat (Tactician)
@Sergeant Rank: Lightning Reflexes (Hussar) / Reckoning (Judge) / Zero In (Tactician)
@Lieutenant Rank: Reflex (Hussar) / Whiplash (Judge) / Return Fire (Tactician)
@Captain Rank: Hip Fire (Hussar) / Retribution (Judge) / Combat Presence (Tactician)
@Major Rank: Waylay (Hussar) / Judgement (Judge) / Interupt (Tactician)
@Colonel Rank: Saturation Fire (Hussar) / Battlelord (Judge) / Manual Override (Tactician)

The Skirmisher now also uses standard AWC pool abilities instead of the fixed ones they had before.
In case you didn't know:
Hip Fire is one of my abilities, it allows a free primary weapon shot at an aim penalty. It has a cooldown.
Return Fire is the Skirmisher Return Fire, it doesn't seem to work on other classes.
With the Skirmisher rebalance perks in this tree are really enhanced, Reflex can trigger unlimited times and Whiplash has no charges (but a cooldown instead), also Battlelord is fixed and the AWC Perk Parkour gives an extra action point to Skirmishers which is super helpful.

3/ Reaper Changes

The Reaper has gone through a complete rebalance. They've acquired a few of the Ranger & Sharpshooter abilities that fit them and they have more potential to land critical hits making up for the low power of their weapon in the late game. They now have more ways to engage enemies and while they are more efficient close range I always felt that loosing shadow makes them really vulnerable so at least now they have long range sniper abilities to fall back on and also make for a more mobile but weaker sniper unit.

@Squaddie Rank: Now starts with Squadsight
@Corporal Rank: Target Definition (Stealth) / Tactical Rigging (Saboteur) / Soul Harvest (Marksman)
@Sergeant Rank: Shadowstep (Stealth) / Remote Start (Saboteur) / Blood Trail (Marksman)
@Lieutenant Rank: Sting (Stealth) / Shrapnel (Saboteur) / Needle (Marksman)
@Captain Rank: Shadowstrike (Stealth) / Distraction (Saboteur) / Death From Above (Marksman)
@Major Rank: Silent Killer (Stealth) / Highlands (Saboteur) / Banish (Marksman)
@Colonel Rank: Shadow Rising (Stealth) / Homing Mine (Saboteur) / Annihilate (Marksman)

The Reaper now also uses standard AWC pool abilities instead of the fixed ones they had before.
In case you didn't know:
Tactical Rigging gives +1 utility slot which I think is essential for the Reaper as they are locked at 1 slot usually.
Shadow Rising is an ability Firaxis made but never used, it grants +1 charge of Shadow.
Other abilities in the files include Improvised Silencer (First Shot has less chance to Break Shadow) and Executioner (Critical hits while in shadow deal double critical damage), now I'm not sure if they work but I chose Shadow Rising over the other two as I needed a Colonel Tier Ability and while Executioner is appealing it seems too strong.

4/ Templar Changes

The Templar changes are pretty minor, they're already quite a powerful class but I did make a few tweaks.

@Sergeant Rank: Stun Strike (Dynamo) / Channel (Sage)
@Lieutenant Rank: Pillar (Dynamo) / Sustain (Sage)
@Major Rank: Fortress (Sage)

For the Templar I have kept their fixed AWC pool as I didn't see the normal AWC working for them. I have added "Return Fire" to the pool, removed Sustain & Fortress (as they are in the tree) and reduced the empty slots from 4 to 2 allowing them to gain more perks ober other heroes but I consider most of their pistol perks minor enhancements.

5/ Other Add Ons

Cost Based Ability Colors (Utility)
Color codes abilities based on AP usage. Is useful good, much fantastic, many recommend.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1289686596

There is a recent mod that increases faction weapon damage output, I'd say this is subjective to personal balance if you want this or not. Note that this also gives Bullpups range improvements so the Bullpups use Assault Rifle Range mod I listed in the requirements is likely not needed if you use this mod instead;
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1370391598&searchtext=

Remote Start Purifiers
Be just like Mox!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1305837971

WotC increase combat intelligence for everyone
Could be a bit broken but allows you to send heroes on covert actions that improve combat intelligence.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1134537412

Tempest Combat
A significant buff to some of the Templars more meh abilities making them way better.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1428718101&searchtext=#

Other Hero Buffs and Changes
I'd recommend checking out Udaya's Workshop as they keep posting improvements for some of the hero abilities.
https://steamcommunity.com/id/udayasathiyamoorthy/myworkshopfiles/?appid=268500