Shotgun to Shotpistol

[MirceaKitsune]

A crazy idea I've been wanting to take a shot at. Tracker ticket can be found here. I made this topic for opinions and to discuss if this change is wanted or not.

I finally decided to try something that's been on my mind for a while, and bring my idea in the open. I've been thinking about turning the shotgun into a pistol-like weapon with the same purpose, which imo would be nicer in many aspects than the classic long shotgun.

The main reason I'd like such a change is that in most shooters, the weapon provided at spawn time is usually a small side-arm, which imo gives a better feel. Second, many games have weapons like the shotgun, but not a shotgun-pistol weapon... so Nexuiz would win on an original idea as well. It would also seem more logical for the weakest weapon to be generally smaller, Nexuiz has a lot of big guns over small guns either way.

What I did was lightly modifying the current shotgun model and turning it into a pistol with 3 pipes. This also includes modifying the shooting sound into a more pistol-like blast. My idea doesn't include changing firing types or anything else in the gameplay, just the design of the shotgun. This is included under features so people can vote if they like it or are against this change and prefer the shotgun as it is.

In case the idea is accepted, this is the remaining todo list:

- I only modified v_shotgun.md3 and g_shotgun.md3. Although the others don't seem to be used, weapon models are also included in .dpm and .zym formats. I don't have the Blender import / export script for these so I couldn't change h_shotgun.dpm and w_shotgun.zym as well.

- The pictures of the shotgun need to be changed. eg. HUD weapon bar and weapon stats screen.

- Optionally, the weapon could be renamed to something more fitting than shotgun. I thought about calling it shotpistol... you can post your ideas for a new name here

[Flying Steel]

Meh, I have to vote no on this one. The thing with shotguns in games is they are big brutal weapons, it seems bad enough to have one as a weaker starting weapon. And in real life shotgun pistols are wildly unwieldy, impractical weapons that I don't believe would ever see real combat.

Plus I think the laser is supposed to be your backup pistol, especially since it never runs out of ammo.

[tZork]

I think this is a great idea. turn the shotty into something explicitly short range ouch. leaves room for a "real" shotgun pickup

[alphagod]

I think this is a great idea. turn the shotty into something explicitly short range ouch. leaves room for a "real" shotgun pickup

+1 on this

[Samual]

I voted no because it looks bad this way. For one, way too small -- It's smaller than the laser in fact. Second, it's pointless... And the idea of adding another shotgun weapon will cause confusion, and sucks because we already have 15 weapons -- Adding another is a no-no unless we remove one imo. Third, it breaks configurations that want a powerful shotgun (As the model does not match the balance in that case) -- Mine is affected by this.

All in all, i'm against it unless there is a cvar (server side cvar) to control it.

[Sepelio]

If you want to do this, why not name it the "microshotgun" similar to what they have done in UFO:AI

[MirceaKitsune]

I voted no because it looks bad this way. For one, way too small -- It's smaller than the laser in fact. Second, it's pointless... And the idea of adding another shotgun weapon will cause confusion, and sucks because we already have 15 weapons -- Adding another is a no-no unless we remove one imo. Third, it breaks configurations that want a powerful shotgun (As the model does not match the balance in that case) -- Mine is affected by this.

All in all, i'm against it unless there is a cvar (server side cvar) to control it.

The size problem can be solved. I will scale the models back up tomorrow, if everyone agrees they are too small this way (I posted an updated .pk3 where I scaled the pickup model a little more). I made them smaller to simulate the size of a pistol, but will undo that.

Also it's not another shotgun, I'm only modifying the looks of the current one. I don't intend any gameplay changes such as changing its power, etc. This only changes the current shotguns model, firing sound and possibly name.

As for model not matching balance, imo a pistol better reflects the shotgun's performance. It's a very weak weapon, which is better represented by a pistol than a big gun. And Sepelio, I'll keep that in mind I'm not working on anything else until there's a decision about this change and if it's wanted or not in some form.

[paperclips]

very good idea MirceaKitsune!

I think this is a great idea. turn the shotty into something explicitly short range ouch. leaves room for a "real" shotgun pickup

R'amen. My thoughts exactly. Since the awesomeness of the new antilag, the shotgun has felt really weird. Even with those new values that was applied over at DCC. IMHO the SG is still overpowered for a starter weapon. Indeed a shotgun should be something that you haul out in a close - mid range close quarter situations and yes it should have a good bite that makes you half blind (with monsieur Samual's damage blur) and leave you thinking "oh bai jaw, nice chewing with you".

but not as a starter weapon, further moar, this leave room for even more creativity both in gameplay, mapping and of course in the art department.

something that comes to mind is the scrapped (:cry:) "gun slinger twirl" of the laser and how terminator reloaded the shotgun in terminator 2.
so yes this idea would bring even more awesome to the game!

[MirceaKitsune]

Posted a pic from yesterday's drop model resize, if everyone likes it this way. It is lightly smaller than the laser, but at a normal size compared to the UZI.

[Morphed]

adding pistol or blaster to nexuiz its good idea, turning shotgun into pistol, hell no