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New Close-Range Weapon Discussion/Suggestion Thread
Machiavelliest:
Just want to throw out that if you have a piercing gun that also gets more damage with ship speed the Pyramidion just became an insta-killer via ramming.
Also, projectile speed is so much greater than ship speed that, realistically, it wouldn't generate additional damage.
I was toying with the idea of a heated slug-like close range projectile. I came up with piercing, but also sets fires. The fire damage is pretty worthless against the hull (since you're going to destroy their armor and put out the fire anyways), but makes a component hit worthwhile. I'd avoid piercing/shatter, since the spinnigun already has that.
Then again, all piercing weapons are piercing/shatter. I think the fire would be another good way to allow some form of disabling.
Arthem White:
I'm toying with the idea of a ballista that shoots huge lance-like chunks of metal at short range. Pure piercing damage, and the special effect would be pushback. A hit from one of these lances would bump the ship back in that spot (potentially making it turn if you hit in a way that applies torque, or smashing it against the wall).
What do you think? Should I ellaborate this more?
EDIT: Bah, in for a penny, in for a pound:
(temporary name):
"Lancer" Composite Ballista:
Range: Very Short
Damage: Pure Piercing (very high)
Clip size: 1
Effect description: Shoots a huge steel shaft with a loud "thunk". It deals significant piercing damage and pushes back the ship at the point of impact. This is a physics-based push and as such will have more effect on lighter ships, and it would be able to apply torque to ships, smash them against canyon walls, slow them down to counteract an impending ram, and so on.
Why would it be fun to use?: Well, aside from the Harpoon it would be the only weapon to let you explicitly fiddle with your opponent's movement, and as such it opens up many possible strategies. With focus fire it would be possible to repeteadly smash an enemy against a wall, to turn an opposing ship out of its arc of fire, etcetera.
Why would it be fun to play against?: It's a one shot, slow reload weapon, and as such it encourages good tactical decisions such as keeping track of the reload time and proper positioning (not being close to a wall to be rammed against, having the right angle...)
To justify the fact that it is short range, the projectile could be designed in a way that doesn't look too aerodynamic... (It could have a ram head, which would look awesome by the way)
Kestril:
--- Quote from: Machiavelliest on May 23, 2013, 11:09:15 am ---Just want to throw out that if you have a piercing gun that also gets more damage with ship speed the Pyramidion just became an insta-killer via ramming.
--- End quote ---
Perhaps, but it would be left with less range, and power than the gat/flak combo if it missed it's initial ramming attack, which is quite easy to do.
--- Quote ---Also, projectile speed is so much greater than ship speed that, realistically, it wouldn't generate additional damage.
--- End quote ---
True, but I don't think it's far out there enough to make me go "oh, wait, physics doesn't work like this." That may just be me though.
--- Quote ---I was toying with the idea of a heated slug-like close range projectile. I came up with piercing, but also sets fires. The fire damage is pretty worthless against the hull (since you're going to destroy their armor and put out the fire anyways), but makes a component hit worthwhile. I'd avoid piercing/shatter, since the spinnigun already has that.
--- End quote ---
Interesting. I'd love to see this idea further developed.
--- Quote ---Then again, all piercing weapons are piercing/shatter. I think the fire would be another good way to allow some form of disabling.
--- End quote ---
Yeah. I think fire, and disabling in general, needs a bit more love. Gat/Flak seems to be the standard these days.
--- Quote from: Arthem White on May 23, 2013, 11:12:08 am ---What do you think? Should I ellaborate this more?
EDIT: Bah, in for a penny, in for a pound:
(temporary name):
"Lancer" Composite Ballista:
Range: Very Short
Damage: Pure Piercing (very high)
Clip size: 1
Effect description: Shoots a huge steel shaft with a loud "thunk". It deals significant piercing damage and pushes back the ship at the point of impact. This is a physics-based push and as such will have more effect on lighter ships, and it would be able to apply torque to ships, smash them against canyon walls, slow them down to counteract an impending ram, and so on.
--- End quote ---
High-risk, high reward. I like it. It's a stark contrast to the relatively safe, easy-to-use chaingun we have currently.
--- Quote ---
Why would it be fun to use?: Well, aside from the Harpoon it would be the only weapon to let you explicitly fiddle with your opponent's movement, and as such it opens up many possible strategies. With focus fire it would be possible to repeteadly smash an enemy against a wall, to turn an opposing ship out of its arc of fire, etcetera.
--- End quote ---
All of it sounds fun. Especially using it to deflect an enemy's ramming attack. The only pitfall I can see is it's one-shot nature and "messing with movement" effects tread on the harpoon's territory a little bit. But, because the harpoon exerts a pull and not a push, I still think it's different enough.
--- Quote ---
Why would it be fun to play against?: It's a one shot, slow reload weapon, and as such it encourages good tactical decisions such as keeping track of the reload time and proper positioning (not being close to a wall to be rammed against, having the right angle...)
--- End quote ---
The harpoon right now is pretty fun to have used against you, even though it's more of a "hold on for dear life" sort of thing. I think this would be similar, and pretty fun, honestly.
--- Quote ---To justify the fact that it is short range, the projectile could be designed in a way that doesn't look too aerodynamic... (It could have a ram head, which would look awesome by the way)
--- End quote ---
Yeah, justification is tough on this one. My gripe is that a bolt powerful enough to push or deflect ships is probably bigger than what can be used on a light gun, so, in my mind this weapon is more along the lines of a medium weapon. Basically, I picture a giant ballista that launches something like a small battering ram, which is way too big to be a light weapon, even though it's freaking awesome.
I think it's a great idea for a medium weapon, but, as of now, we need an alternative to the chaingun for armor shredding. While it definitively is a good suggestion, I don't think I could wrap my head around a light gun being able to push ships around, but that may be just me. In other words, while it is awesome, it may break my suspension of disbelief unless it was made a medium-sized weapon.
Machiavelliest:
I agree, it would have to be a medium weapon. I like the idea, though, because since it pushes the other ship, it makes powerramming not as easy.
Arthem White:
Thanks for the review guys!
Here's my rationale for the weight:
It is indeed bigger than a normal light gun, but it is also mostly made of wood (while, say, a gatling or a light flak is much heavier) also, the clip is very small (one shaft at a time) so in terms of weight, it would fall into light category. In terms of bulk it might be borderline, but that can be justified with a small arc of fire (which it is supposed to have anyway).
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