feat(content): adds an entry-level launcher weapon

[chaosvolt]

Purpose of change

This adds a weapon geared towards a higher-power upgrade step beyond slings and staff slings, with the added bonus of a design that can reasonably justify being a launcher-skill, in turn making it possible to break into entry-level launcher skill without spending valuable 40mm rounds on practice.

Also, as can probably be guessed, inspired by the over-the-top creations devised by Joerg Sprave (https://www.youtube.com/@Slingshotchannel).

Describe the solution

1. Adds item definition for a slingshot cannon. Geared towards being a signifigant step up in raw damage over the staff sling, a more modest step up in range, and accuracy comparable to baseline slingshots, using the launcher skill. Notably bulkier, high reload rate instead of being a reload-and-shoot weapon, STR_RELOAD can help with it.
2. Added recipe for the aforementioned weapon. I placed it a step up above the staff sling, requiring a bit more fabrication skill as well as low-level mechanics skill, now a bit more obtainable. Comparable to and in some ways the inverse of the skill requirements for the weaker spearguns (one can assume more of the power and fabrication demand both come from a frame built to keep the rubber at much higher tension, whereas the spearguns only likely draw back enough to comfortably hook them into place by hand).
3. Added a vehiclepart version to allow mounting them as turrets.
4. For bonus fun, added the new item to guns_launcher_improvised.

Describe alternatives you've considered

1. Making it reload faster in exchange for only being a bit stronger than a staff sling.
2. Finding some way to justify it having more than one shot to increase its utility.
3. Basing it more off one of Joerg's blursed gatling slingshot launchers instead, making them much weaker and limited back to pebbles in exchange for multiple shots and/or burst fire.
4. Focusing on reviving early-game homemade flamethrowers instead as the go-to way to potentially bootstrap launcher skill.
5. Axing the requirement for launcher skill from the recipe for grenade ammo pouches since it's probably the only instance where not having launcher skill will ever actually be an annoyance for players.

Testing

1. Checked affected files for syntax and lint errors.
2. Ported file changes to compiled test build and load-tested.
3. Played about a bit with it, can just barely two-shot basic zeds with crits. With basic hits it's more of a 4-shot. Requires one to either make good use of its range or be mindful about kiting with reload rate, upgrading to lead sling bullets makes things easier but that adds even more weight of course. :3

Additional context

Checklist

[DrPariah]

No reason not to revive early flamethrower as well, but that's best served as a separate PR. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Thu, Feb 8, 2024 at 2:28 AM, ***@***.***> wrote: Purpose of change This adds a weapon geared towards a higher-power upgrade step beyond slings and staff slings, with the added bonus of a design that can reasonably justify being a launcher-skill, in turn making it possible to break into entry-level launcher skill without spending valuable 40mm rounds on practice. Also, as can probably be guessed, inspired by the over-the-top creations devised by Joerg Sprave ***@***.***). Describe the solution - Adds item definition for a slingshot cannon. Geared towards being a signifigant step up in raw damage over the staff sling, a more modest step up in range, and accuracy comparable to baseline slingshots, using the launcher skill. Notably bulkier, high reload rate instead of being a reload-and-shoot weapon, STR_RELOAD can help with it. - Added recipe for the aforementioned weapon. I placed it a step up above the staff sling, requiring a bit more fabrication skill as well as low-level mechanics skill, now a bit more obtainable. Comparable to and in some ways the inverse of the skill requirements for the weaker spearguns (one can assume more of the power and fabrication demand both come from a frame built to keep the rubber at much higher tension, whereas the spearguns only likely draw back enough to comfortably hook them into place by hand). - For bonus fun, added the new item to guns_launcher_improvised. Describe alternatives you've considered - Making it reload faster in exchange for only being a bit stronger than a staff sling. - Finding some way to justify it having more than one shot to increase its utility. - Basing it more off one of Joerg's blursed gatling slingshot launchers instead, making them much weaker and limited back to pebbles in exchange for multiple shots and/or burst fire. - Focusing on reviving early-game homemade flamethrowers instead as the go-to way to potentially bootstrap launcher skill. - Axing the requirement for launcher skill from the recipe for grenade ammo pouches since it's probably the only instance where not having launcher skill will ever actually be an annoyance for players. Testing - Checked affected files for syntax and lint errors. - Ported file changes to compiled test build and load-tested. - Played about a bit with it, can just barely two-shot basic zeds with crits. With basic hits it's more of a 4-shot. Requires one to either make good use of its range or be mindful about kiting with reload rate, upgrading to lead sling bullets makes things easier but that adds even more weight of course. :3 Additional context Checklist You can view, comment on, or merge this pull request online at:   #4202 Commit Summary - 0fd2d5c feat(content): adds an entry-level launcher weapon File Changes (3 files) - M data/json/itemgroups/Weapons_Mods_Ammo/guns.json (3) - M data/json/items/ranged/slings.json (25) - M data/json/recipes/weapon/ranged.json (20) Patch Links: - https://github.com/cataclysmbnteam/Cataclysm-BN/pull/4202.patch - https://github.com/cataclysmbnteam/Cataclysm-BN/pull/4202.diff — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>