Targeting Harness

[Surrealistik]

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

Add a targeting harness attachment for baldies; SMG and Rifle attachment; a ghetto retrofit counterpart of Smartgun technology.

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

Reduces overall levels of FF albeit at a fair price.

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

New targeting computer attachment; either for underslung or barrel.

• Pros:
• Moderately increases accuracy (targeting computer helps with accuracy).
• Weapon ignores FF (targeting computer directs weapon to avoid friendlies).
  
  Cons:
• Reduces projectile damage (byproduct of venting mechanisms to help supplement automated ballistics aiming; reduced muzzle velocity).
• Sharply reduces fire rate (targeting and control systems aren't as advanced as those on the Smartgun; takes quite a bit of time to readjust/reacquire targets).

Especially attractive combos are:
The Idiot Proof Baldie Special: Magnetic Harness + Targeting Harness.
The Friendly Sniper: Rail Scope + Targeting Harness


Also to preempt what I'm sure is going to be an obnoxiously recurrent argument, no this does not step on the toes of the Smartgun, because the Smartgun has ungimped burst fire, fire rates and damage with 200 rounds, and if you're a robust specialist that can extract good mileage from a SADAR or other weapons, you're probably better off getting attachments that don't utterly gimp your DPS because you know how to avoid FF.


Implementation (Optional, if you have an idea how to implement it):

Minor coding changes + spriting.

[spartanbobby]

+1
This could be a useful attachment for newer players to use while they get the hang of the server and how everything works

[Eonoc]

+1,
I dig it. A few less instances of FF go a long way. Would be especially useful for the people that grab AP rounds. Also, if it goes to the underbarrel, snipers will finally be able to shoot, worry free.

[Scrat505]

FF avoidance is a major feature of the smartgun, and being able to stick it on two common guns will mean even less reasons to pick the smartgun. Specialist could kit up a standard rifle with this attachment and grab a SADAR and be totally set for support gunning and picking high priority targets.
no pls

-1

[Surrealistik]

FF avoidance is a major feature of the smartgun, and being able to stick it on two common guns will mean even less reasons to pick the smartgun. Specialist could kit up a standard rifle with this attachment and grab a SADAR and be totally set for support gunning and picking high priority targets.
no pls

-1

Having a 200 round weapon that isn't taking a stroll through gimptown like a Targeting Harness weapon is basically guarantees the Smartgun remains attractive, and that harnessed weapons don't step on its toes.

A truly robust specialist taking the SADAR would probably do better with other attachments that don't gimp his weapon because he generally knows how to avoid FF.

[Jroinc1]

+1
Give it -20-50% damage, the fire rate of a sniper, and lock to singlefire.
But rename it to "The Training Wheel".

[Derpislav]

I both love and hate this. Equally. But emotions have nothing to do with "do you want to see it in". Extreme +1.

[Mook476]

+1 This looks like a great idea and I can tell you put effort into this. This would really help out baldies and in general lower ff and as you said keeps the attractiveness of smartguns nice mate

[Renomaki]

I dunno if this might be auto denied or not, but I might as well have some input into this.

While I'd LOVE to have a mod that makes your weapon FF free, the idea of having a hindered firerate would kinda suck. I don't really enjoy a slow firerate, preferring to be able to fire in a steady manner as the situation demands it.

Just today (as of this writing), I managed to get my hands on a charger for the first time while out on the field. I thought it was going to merely boost my damage at the cost of hit chance, but what I later found out was that it also lowers your fire rate to a more disappointing level, which threw me off, moreso when I was trying to suppress some aliens and keep them at bay.

I'm neutral on this idea. I'm not against giving anti-FF mods to guns, but I doubt it would be all that popular.

[Surrealistik]

I dunno if this might be auto denied or not, but I might as well have some input into this.

While I'd LOVE to have a mod that makes your weapon FF free, the idea of having a hindered firerate would kinda suck. I don't really enjoy a slow firerate, preferring to be able to fire in a steady manner as the situation demands it.

Just today (as of this writing), I managed to get my hands on a charger for the first time while out on the field. I thought it was going to merely boost my damage at the cost of hit chance, but what I later found out was that it also lowers your fire rate to a more disappointing level, which threw me off, moreso when I was trying to suppress some aliens and keep them at bay.

I'm neutral on this idea. I'm not against giving anti-FF mods to guns, but I doubt it would be all that popular.

At an absolute minimum, I can see it being very popular for Rail Scope snipers, and users of AP rounds.

Also, the firing rate can be tweaked as necessary.

[spartanbobby]

I forgot to ask this so I guess I'll do it now, How many do you think should spawn at round start I wouldn't think it would be as rare as BCs I was thinking maybe 4 or 5 would be nice for it.

[mrturkeytoe]

+1

Please no more baldie AP to the back, maybe rebuff the quickfire /slightly/ so it can counter-act the fire rate reduction at the cost of accuracy, since if it was under barrel you wouldn't be able to use a foregrip to make a memeblaster.

Overall awesome idea, I like the idea of giving newbies training wheels so the don't fuck over the more experienced players. And the negatives still keep the smartgun competitive.

[jaggaaff]

+1, would like to see this in-game, as- holy-fucking-god my right foot got torn off!

[Surrealistik]

I forgot to ask this so I guess I'll do it now, How many do you think should spawn at round start I wouldn't think it would be as rare as BCs I was thinking maybe 4 or 5 would be nice for it.

They should be pretty common; we want the Baldie hordes to use it as pseudo standard issue, so 10-20.

[Jroinc1]

They should be pretty common; we want the Baldie hordes to use it as pseudo standard issue, so 10-20.

It better have INSANE nerfs if you're giving that many out...

10-20 people immune to causing FF could launch a stupid-OP hive assault.
2-4 guys in the front with normal weps, then 10 people with these harnesses behind keeping up a wall-of-fire on any ayy which dares to approach the pointmen...

[Surrealistik]

I'd say the nerfs are pretty insane; the weapons would have pretty ass DPS.

[Szunti]

-1. I don't see how this could ever work. Do you really think the guy who packs only AP ammo (and optionally aims for the head) cares about FF? He wants maximized damage to kill xenos. Would never use an attachment that decreases the DPS significantly. This would only punish new players who asks RO for recommendation on attachments, but in my experience those who talk with surrounding players are the ones who care for others and care for FF.

[Jroinc1]

Snip

I'm agreeing with this. I'm seeing this as sort of a "BY YOUR POWERS COMBINED!" teamwork-based weapon. Encourages squads to work together, decreases ramboism.

[Surrealistik]

-1. I don't see how this could ever work. Do you really think the guy who packs only AP ammo (and optionally aims for the head) cares about FF? He wants maximized damage to kill xenos. Would never use an attachment that decreases the DPS significantly. This would only punish new players who asks RO for recommendation on attachments, but in my experience those who talk with surrounding players are the ones who care for others and care for FF.

How would it 'punish' new players if it keeps them from doing more harm than good?

Also not everyone who packs AP ammo is a shitler. Besides, even though it reduces your DPS capacity, it makes your DPS much more consistent (and probably increases it overall significantly) when you're working the backline, especially if you're doing support fire with the railscope and AP rounds.

[Derpislav]

C-can I put it on my sniper rifle?

[Szunti]

How would it 'punish' new players if it keeps them from doing more harm than good?

Also not everyone who packs AP ammo is a shitler. Besides, even though it reduces your DPS capacity, it makes your DPS much more consistent (and probably increases it overall significantly) when you're working the backline, especially if you're doing support fire with the railscope and AP rounds.

My post was about the idea to make an attachment for newbies so they are out of the combat part of the game and don't kill friendly marines. But as I see the original idea is shifting to an attachment that is useful for regular players too and has nothing newbie specific.

[Surrealistik]

My post was about the idea to make an attachment for newbies so they are out of the combat part of the game and don't kill friendly marines. But as I see the original idea is shifting to an attachment that is useful for regular players too and has nothing newbie specific.

It's useful for everyone, which is a good thing, and especially good for newbies who aren't familiar with guns, tactics, gameplay, projectile pathing, etc. This isn't mission creep, this is by design, with _overall_ reduction of FF being the key goal.

That said, SLs should be charged with taking a more active role in steering new/unfamiliar players towards good choices, whether or not their advice is solicited.

[Surrealistik]

C-can I put it on my sniper rifle?

That's one of the better combos for experienced players per the OP; backline support sniping with AP.

[Joe4444]

hmm..Neutral for now. One question however, how exactly will this help with FF? if a baldy picks this and never has to worry about FF...how is he gonna learn NOT to FF? this'll lead to more and more people being used to people using it, meaning they're won't be enough for them all which would probably make MORE ff(one of my man gripes with picking the smart gun is that I always FF the next round).just a question there if someone wants to answer it...or not, whatever floats your boat

[Surrealistik]

hmm..Neutral for now. One question however, how exactly will this help with FF? if a baldy picks this and never has to worry about FF...how is he gonna learn NOT to FF? this'll lead to more and more people being used to people using it, meaning they're won't be enough for them all which would probably make MORE ff(one of my man gripes with picking the smart gun is that I always FF the next round).just a question there if someone wants to answer it...or not, whatever floats your boat

You still get a sense of firing lines and how projectiles act/travel, even if FF doesn't occur which helps a lot in avoiding FF in the future.

Further, for those that have resigned themselves to being unable to avoid it (either because they're bad, or their connection is laggy), they have this option so they can play combat roles without being a net liability, albeit at a price.