Yup, I checked the .inis to see if I could enable Hardcore from the start.
The good news is in my fork version everything is unlocked from the start (it just strongly warns you against using them but doesn't stop you).
It's not ready yet, though.
For now, if you're going to play v9, you should play vRSD instead, since it's basically v9 but with:
- bugfixes
- inventory rotation
- balancing a lot of the more overpowered/useless augs
- much more.
https://www.moddb.com/mods/gmdx/addons/version-rsd-beta-10-future-official-update
My fork version (not ready yet) is based off vRSD and contains a lot of changes, including:
- MAJOR qol additions including a complete overhaul of the left-frob mechanic, and many belt features (belt memory, disabling belt autofill, significant bug fixes for the IW toolbelt option, etc)
- Full Lay-D Denton support
- Many many more bugfixes
- Poison inflicts Stamina damage in addition to health damage, making aqualung a viable combat augmentation.
- Complete Hacking rework. Most security objects will now reboot after a timer (2-6 minutes, depending on skill level and perks) so that bypassing with multitools is worthwhile and viable. Hacking was too good before. Now the return from the sub base contains some actual gameplay if you invest in hacking, because all the turrets and cameras you disabled will be online again and have different challenges since you're approaching from the opposite direction.
- Complete perk overhaul including unique icons for many of the perks
- Even more Augmentation rebalancing
- Less unreliable Plasma Rifle Damage (removed the headshot multiplier, as it would basically instant-kill the player if they got unlucky when being hit on all difficulties. Now all limb and head hits deal Torso damage. Same for enemies to make Plasma weapons splash damage more reliable)
- Rifle Grenades don't require reloading when switching from the normal firemode (grenades still need to be reloaded between uses), so the grenade launcher is actually useful in combat now.
- Added a small delay when enemies see the player so that strafing enemies don't instantly prefire at you around corners anymore (Hardcore+ is still as it was before, though)
- Door locking mechanics, available with the Locksport perk, so you can create chokepoints and block enemy patrol paths.
- A bunch of new high quality sounds in place of previously missing or crappy ones (like a sound for selecting lockpicks or multitools, unique equip sounds for each apparel type, etc)
- Much, much, much more.
Stay tuned, I'll post it in here when it's ready.
For now, here's a sneak peak (the brightness is off because I had to brighten the image in an image editor, because Deus Ex doesn't have proper gamma in screenshots, because the dx9 renderer sucks, despite being better than all the other ones):