Yes, I know this is a lot of work. Which is why I have been attempting to drump up support for UFO:AI everywhere on the internets.
in my opinion it's not really "wrong" to always get some damage, think of current real-world armour versus rifle fire - rather unlikely to catch a rifle shot in your vest or helmet and not be at all affected, it's perhaps more like a motorcyclist's crash padding - it won't make you invulnerable but rather reduces the severity of your injuries which is shown as hit point reduction in the game.
And if you shoot at an APC wiht your machinegun the while day, you won't do siddly squat to it. Armor effectiveness certanly plays a role here. The modern combat armor can shrug off 9mm like it's not there. As long as you're shot in the armor it won't really hurt you..aside from the "oww..that stings you moron". Affected and really hurt are not the same thing you know.
Aside from that...the bit about heavy weapons. As it is they lack gravitas.
IMHO, heavy weapons should make your soldier count as encumbered (he's slower to move) .. unless you carry power armor. And maybe even then for some really heavy weapons (that atuo-fill the entire backpack slot, making it unusable).
Heavy weapons should have their own cary and fire animations..or two kinds. For normal heavy weapons (like a saw or M60) and for really heavy ones (think minigun).Of course, making all thos animations is the problem. I got blender and am looking into it ATM.*
And since we're at hte topic of animations... for proper ovewatch/supression more are needed.
- Regular running/walking
- walking with gun primed and pointed
- crouching movement
- crouching movement with gun primed and pointed
- stamding still/croushing still with gun raised
- heavy weapons (hip carried), etc...
*in the repository all armor models are wihout skeletons. Isn't there a original 3D Max/Blender scene, made prior to exploring with all the rigging in tact out there somewhere?
Why I say heavy weapons, I mean this:
http://www.metalcraftbyblair.com/bmz_cache/4/47f9295aa0659cf1fb376756a79dc9f5.image.350x262.jpgread this:
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/10/foghorn/iowa-national-guard-unit-watches-predator-one-too-many-times-makes-jesse-venturas-ammo-backpack/Say hello to my little friend!