RAFS (Reinforced Anti-ballistic Firing Shield)

[CrimsonAerospace]

Summary (a quick, 2-3 sentence summary):

So I was bored, and thinking about neat ideas for Marine equipment, and I came across this gem of a website ---> http://www.bakerballistics.com/rifle-protective-shields

Basically, what I'm thinking here, is we add a less-shit version of the riot shield. Yes, it can be pretty useful, with the ability to boink pouncing aliens right off the front, and it can block some melee and some bullets, but staff have even told me before, it's rare, and not that impressive a piece of equipment. So, I'd like to add a more updated, Colonial Marines spin on the vanilla SS13 Riot Shield we currently use, and maybe get more marines using the shield as a piece of equipment in the field.

Benefits (How this will benefit the server and game as a whole):

Pros :

- The MRAPS is made to still allow for accurate fired of a two-handed long rifle while using the shield, so it will not decrease Accuracy too much while using it. (Will help with the accuracy loss while using a gyro)

- The advanced anti-ballistic plating will assist in stopping small-caliber projectiles from colliding with the body or the head of the operator in the direction the shield is facing (I.E Pulse Rifle, service pistol, buckshot, SMG), as well as stopping spit from directly impacting the body of the user. This MAY even assist the user in not being fatally wounded by direct hits from larger projectiles (I.E Boiler bombs. I believe a better approach would be for it to just toss them back a few tiles and knock them on their ass for some brute damage, instead of insta-killing them while using it.)

- The shield, while not weighing too much, will allow for some decent hand-to-hand combat with a strong swing, and to possibly even knock back or stun targets.

- This will replace the Riot Shield, so expect only four in the field at one time, not twenty.

Cons :

- The piece of equipment is bulky like the regular Riot Shield, and will have to be placed on your back to carry it.

- It does NOT boink aliens off the front, in exchange for much better projectile/melee protection.

- It will cause you to move a tad slower

- This piece will REPLACE the standard Riot Shield among the Marine infantry's ranks.

- This weapon is RESERVED to only be used with a Pulse Rifle, or a one-handed pistol.





Details (Description of how you think this would work, the benefits, etc):

In my eyes, it wouldn't be that OP of an object, not really anyway. We're swapping out the bwoinking of aliens for better projectile protection. Or, if it is desired to be kept, maybe instead of knocking them down, it only blocks the pounce instead of stunning the alien.

In another way there are only going to be four of these things in the field at a time, that's if Specs move them out for others to take. So even if they are somehow made OP or something, It's not like every marine has one. At most, four do.

And to sum it up, it's pretty much just a buffed, somewhat more useful and more militaristic version of the dinky Riot Shield that honestly should be made towards MP's, not Marines.

Implementation (Optional, if you have an idea how to implement it): Coding, for the mechanics of it, spriting for the sprite.

[NoahKirchner]

I'd support this a lot if MPs got it, but keep it for the MPs (maybe ID lock it)

[CrimsonAerospace]

I'd support this a lot if MPs got it, but keep it for the MPs (maybe ID lock it)

MP's have little need for a combat shield meant to support a long-barrel firearm. THEY need Riot Shields. MARINES need a ballistic shield.

[NoahKirchner]

MP's have little need for a combat shield meant to support a long-barrel firearm. THEY need Riot Shields. MARINES need a ballistic shield.

Yeah but I feel like this is still a sorta large marine buff. Maybe restrict it to only have M41As be able to be used with it also?

[CrimsonAerospace]

Maybe restrict it to only have M41As be able to be used with it also?

That was the plan. It's meant to hold long-barrel weapons after all.

Yeah but I feel like this is still a sorta large marine buff.

I'm not quite sure how you look at this as a large buff...

A, I hardly see anyone use the Riot Shield, and according to staff it sucks.

B, This is just building on the current Shield, making it a bit better while also giving it some drawbacks, to not make it too OP.

► Show Spoiler

Cons :

- The piece of equipment is bulky like the regular Riot Shield, and will have to be placed on your back to carry it.

- It does NOT boink aliens off the front, in exchange for much better projectile/melee protection.

- It will cause you to move a tad slower

C, This would replace Specialist Shields, so at most, there would only be four on the battlefield at a time.

[NoahKirchner]

That was the plan. It's meant to hold long-barrel weapons after all.



I'm not quite sure how you look at this as a large buff...

A, I hardly see anyone use the Riot Shield, and according to staff it sucks.

B, This is just building on the current Shield, making it a bit better while also giving it some drawbacks, to not make it too OP.

► Show Spoiler

Cons :

- The piece of equipment is bulky like the regular Riot Shield, and will have to be placed on your back to carry it.

- It does NOT boink aliens off the front, in exchange for much better projectile/melee protection.

- It will cause you to move a tad slower

C, This would replace Specialist Shields, so at most, there would only be four on the battlefield at a time.

Oh, I thought marines would be able to have riot shields and these shields, I did not know that they would be replaced.

[CrimsonAerospace]

Oh, I thought marines would be able to have riot shields and these shields, I did not know that they would be replaced.

No, at most, Riot Shields if they were to be kept, would be reserved for MP's for Ship-Oriented situations.

The MRAPS, or whatever we would decide to call it, would be used for Marine group operations.

[CrimsonAerospace]

ALSO, if anyone can come up with a more creative name than MRAPS or CMRS, please do post it.

[Sneakyr]

First: PAFS. Personal Anti-ballistic Firing Shield. Alternatively, MAFS: Man-portable Anti-ballistic Firing Shield.
Second: I think that xeno anti-pounce should continue, and instead of not having a stun it has an extremely short stun and a significantly longer period (determined by someone who knows the balance better than I) where the xeno cannot pounce. If they had no stun and no pounce restriction, they'd just wait a few seconds, dodge the bullets (as fast xenos are wont to do), and then pounce the shield user again likely knocking them down for keeps. Since this is supposed to only be used with pulse rifles and handguns as opposed to shotguns, there shouldn't be a problem with xenos pouncing then being instakilled during the short stun, unless they foolishly pounce with low health.

[Artouris]

These are clearly for long rifles. M41As aren't really long rifles, more carbine in nature (which makes sense given space stations and space). Not to mention it doesn't even have a barrel to put on the shield like it does on the picture. I don't see it working mainly because the M41A wasn't designed to be put on shields nor does it have any form on the bottom to do so easily.

Not to mention instead of having people with gyro weapon + shield, it enables any marine to have basically that combo for almost no cost other than there's four of them. I mean I'm not opposed to the idea of maybe giving specs a choice between regular riot shield or this shield, but this is almost a flat upgrade from the riot shield (and you get to preserve that underbarrel attachment for any number of additional xeno killing tools). Even in terms of bwoinking aliens off, I'm pretty sure the riot shield as it is protects you from bullets better than most people give it credit for.

[CrimsonAerospace]

First: PAFS. Personal Anti-ballistic Firing Shield. Alternatively, MAFS: Man-portable Anti-ballistic Firing Shield.
Second: I think that xeno anti-pounce should continue, and instead of not having a stun it has an extremely short stun and a significantly longer period (determined by someone who knows the balance better than I) where the xeno cannot pounce. If they had no stun and no pounce restriction, they'd just wait a few seconds, dodge the bullets (as fast xenos are wont to do), and then pounce the shield user again likely knocking them down for keeps. Since this is supposed to only be used with pulse rifles and handguns as opposed to shotguns, there shouldn't be a problem with xenos pouncing then being instakilled during the short stun, unless they foolishly pounce with low health.

I like PAFS, with one change though.

And again, thanks for input, but I believe we should go for a more, you just block the action from happening and don't stun them instead. But, your addition is also pretty good too.

[CrimsonAerospace]

These are clearly for long rifles. M41As aren't really long rifles, more carbine in nature (which makes sense given space stations and space). Not to mention it doesn't even have a barrel to put on the shield like it does on the picture. I don't see it working mainly because the M41A wasn't designed to be put on shields nor does it have any form on the bottom to do so easily.

Not to mention instead of having people with gyro weapon + shield, it enables any marine to have basically that combo for almost no cost other than there's four of them. I mean I'm not opposed to the idea of maybe giving specs a choice between regular riot shield or this shield, but this is almost a flat upgrade from the riot shield (and you get to preserve that underbarrel attachment for any number of additional xeno killing tools). Even in terms of bwoinking aliens off, I'm pretty sure the riot shield as it is protects you from bullets better than most people give it credit for.

In response to what you just said, I did some math.

There is a theoretical chance the pulse rifle could easily sit on this thing and still operate.

According to Xenopedia, the only place I can get somewhat-accurate seeming information about Aliens/Predators/Colonial marine jazz, the standard M14A Pulse rifle, with the stock retracted, sits at 69.5 centimeters (27.3622 inchs)


(Also, I am aware we use the Mk2 version, but sadly there is no length posted, so I had to go off the size of the standard pulse rifle.)

The shield in the picture below, is 76.2 centimeters tall (30 inchs even), and the long-barreled rifle next to it, looks to be about... I'd say at best, 4 more inchs longer?

► Show Spoiler

So to me, it seems, if you're saying this wouldn't work because of measurements, I just more or less worked that out for you. And if you need to nerf it somehow, go right ahead with your own ideas, but from what I've experienced, staff themselves have told me and what I've seen ingame from others, the standard Riot Shield doesn't seem very effective, and it doesn't really make sense being used by Marines in the future.

[Artouris]

I'm writing about this in bed, I'm not arguing about the length of the gun. I'm talking about the shape of the gun. It's easy to rest the barrel of a m4 or m16 or just about any real gun on a ledge or shield in this case. The m41a doesn't have a long protruding barrel. Not to mention the various bit's that would make it awkward to place on a shield.

I also dont doubt people use this irl or what not otherwise it wouldn't be sold. But it seems rather incredibly silly to equip a force such as the USCM with this. If you're fighting in urban environments lugging this shit around with a gun awkwardly jammed onto the side of it would be terrible. In outdoor fighting this shit is worthless since it impedes movement and the ability to do anything else.

I'm also saying the way it's presented is a pretty big increase in the riot shield. If you said make the riot shield better by making it more bullet proof i'd be fine with that. But now we're basically making the rifle no longer require the gyro attachment but basically be able to carry a underbarrel attachment which is a big boost to firepower.

[CrimsonAerospace]

I'm writing about this in bed, I'm not arguing about the length of the gun. I'm talking about the shape of the gun. It's easy to rest the barrel of a m4 or m16 or just about any real gun on a ledge or shield in this case. The m41a doesn't have a long protruding barrel. Not to mention the various bit's that would make it awkward to place on a shield.

I also dont doubt people use this irl or what not otherwise it wouldn't be sold. But it seems rather incredibly silly to equip a force such as the USCM with this. If you're fighting in urban environments lugging this shit around with a gun awkwardly jammed onto the side of it would be terrible. In outdoor fighting this shit is worthless since it impedes movement and the ability to do anything else.

I'm also saying the way it's presented is a pretty big increase in the riot shield. If you said make the riot shield better by making it more bullet proof i'd be fine with that. But now we're basically making the rifle no longer require the gyro attachment but basically be able to carry a underbarrel attachment which is a big boost to firepower.

Well, in seeing the lack of literally anyone else looking at this, and a Dev isn't with it, could you just have it locked? Seems this idea won't go anywhere.

[Swagile]

Just boost the riot shields ability to block things instead of making an entirely different item to replace it and the problem is solved.

[Artouris]

Well, in seeing the lack of literally anyone else looking at this, and a Dev isn't with it, could you just have it locked? Seems this idea won't go anywhere.

Well I'm not the only Dev. My opinion isn't set in stone either. I'll leave it open just incase other people look at it and stuff like that, its good food for thought if anything.

[CrimsonAerospace]

Well I'm not the only Dev. My opinion isn't set in stone either. I'll leave it open just incase other people look at it and stuff like that, its good food for thought if anything.

I dunno, I've been thinking about what you said... I'd like to try and make some changes to the idea if I could, but it seems fairly inactive.

-Though one thing I will pose, is what if, to balance the under barrel concern you had, it is required that you use a foregrip alongside this shield? In most pictures of the actual MRAPS, most weapons needed a foregrip to be used correctly.

And also, on another note, I wasn't suggesting we MAKE MRAPS, like, standard ones. I was thinking ones made by the company who produces the Marines weapons (Name is slipping my mind), one that is actually made to hold and support the M41A MK2 body. I mean you said it doesn't make sense why Marines would be equipped with these, but at the same time, does it make sense that Marines carry Riot Shields...?

Either or, please to reconsider.