Plasma tank backpacks

[Edgelord]

CM Version (alpha or Regular): Alpha

Summary (a quick, 2-3 sentence summary): Plasma tanks that fit into the back slot as a fuel source for flamethrowers. Can be refueled with plasma tanks or perhaps at special stations.

Benefits (How this will benefit the server and game as a whole): Instead of relying/fighting over plasma tanks, a marine can hook his/her flamethrower up to a backpack at the cost of storage space.

Details (Description of how you think this would work, the benefits, etc): It could go off of the same mechanics of the atmos hose-backpack in some SS13 servers. I believe the lack of storage space could balance it.

Implementation (Optional, if you have an idea how to implement it): Perhaps put one in every squad prep

[Tetsip]

I'll counter this idea.

I propose that similar to the way welding tanks have an industrial welding fuel backpack, that the flamethrower should have a plasma-pack that the flamethrower feeds from that can only be refilled at plasma canisters. This prevents ammo hoarding from the tank dispensers, as each flamer can only carry one.

[UnknownMurder]

...+1 for this kind of plasma backpack that takes up your backpack slot.

[Tetsip]

It would have to be scripted differently though. As it is the flamethrowers are fueled by 'canisters' of plasma that are inserted.

A script would have to be done allowing a click-drag of the plasma tank backpack to the flamethrower so that a plasma line can be connected to the flamethrower.

[Sargeantmuffinman]

We can now have flamethrower units that mostly use flamethrowers!

+1 and also is should impair movement by just a bit.

[Tetsip]

We can now have flamethrower units that mostly use flamethrowers!

+1 and also is should impair movement by just a bit.

Agreed. The pack should hinder movement.

[Edgelord]

Does the powerpack hinder movement?

[Edgelord]

Also, in terms of the lore, I'd like to mention that the wiki states: " The weapon could be supplied with fuel either through canisters attached to the weapon or a direct main supply". The model even sports a coupler at the rear end of it.

Flamethrower.png

[Lostmixup]

If we did do the "flamer ammo takes backpack slot" idea, the flamer would have to probably receive a slight buff to counteract the fact that you can't carry nearly as much anyone.

[Tetsip]

Either that or an ammo consumption buff that causes the flamethrower to not need to consume so much fuel for one burst.

Consider also that one plasma tank as seen in the picture above represents one 300u canister of plasma. A backpack would carry at least five times the amount of fuel by visual scaling. It's likely the backpack will make up for 5 plasma tanks. Maybe as much as a canister.

I do however think that we need to consider making the weapon a two-handed weapon, too. That would make accessing the interface a bit awkward though.

Does the powerpack hinder movement?

In the smartgun kit, it's the exosuit that slows you, not the powerpack.

[Siserith Vassada]

added idea. two slots for tanks on the flamethrower. you can either add a second tank of incendry stuff which doubles the amount of fuel storage and increses the range from four to eight while making it a dual wielded weapon with speed debuffs. or a tank of oxidisier. which slows down the user and makes it a two handed weapon. but increses the range to six long and three wide flame blast with extra damage also by having to carry oxidiser tanks for this buff you would be using storage space.

[TopHatPenguin]

If we do add this please make it so if you get shot in the chest there is a small percentage for the tank to *Cough* Rupture/blow up/set fire/something (Set fire to said person carrying it) *Cough*

But yeah... that should be a thing.

On another note this a great idea, maybe have it so you don't start off with this?
What i mean by not starting off with this is maybe have it so by combining X resources ( Most likely metal and 3 plasma tanks ) in a certain way...maybe..

Screw plasma tank1 then screw plasma tank2 then screw plasma tank3 then add them together in your hands, then add metal?

I'm just adding some ideas to this have fun!

[Edgelord]

If we do add this please make it so if you get shot in the chest there is a small percentage for the tank to *Cough* Rupture/blow up/set fire/something (Set fire to said person carrying it) *Cough*

But yeah... that should be a thing.

On another note this a great idea, maybe have it so you don't start off with this?
What i mean by not starting off with this is maybe have it so by combining X resources ( Most likely metal and 3 plasma tanks ) in a certain way...maybe..

Screw plasma tank1 then screw plasma tank2 then screw plasma tank3 then add them together in your hands, then add metal?

I'm just adding some ideas to this have fun!

I've also thought of the whole tank could rupture idea. I really like it that. Maybe it could give some warning? Like have it say "The plasma pack on your back begins to make a hissing noise" or something along those lines.

[RoswellRay]

+1 to the idea
Big -1 to the idea of it hindering you
The pack wouldn't be much more of a bother than a backpack. It already has the huge drawback of losing the majority of your storage space.

[Tetsip]

I actually agree with Roswell on this. The offset is losing storage capacity. I don't however agree with the rupturing tank. In practice it sounds good but with the sheer number of friendly fire incidents you'll be blowing up in a geyser of burning fuel every round. Not to mention the occasional griefer who will prime you just for fun.

[TopHatPenguin]

I actually agree with Roswell on this. The offset is losing storage capacity. I don't however agree with the rupturing tank. In practice it sounds good but with the sheer number of friendly fire incidents you'll be blowing up in a geyser of burning fuel every round. Not to mention the occasional griefer who will prime you just for fun.

How about the aspect of making the tank yourself instead of it spawning in ?

[Edgelord]

How about the aspect of making the tank yourself instead of it spawning in ?

Hadn't thought about that. Sounds kind of bad. It doesn't make much sense for a space marine to have to jury-rig a flamethrower pack. I there should just be one in standard prep. I think that the only downside should be the loss of backpack space.

[Lostmixup]

Having the ability to jury-rig a worse version of the flamethrower pack would be cool though.

[speedybst]

Hmm, i like this idea, and as someone who has used a back-mounted oxy-acetylene cutter, i can tell you for a fact that carrying a couple of tanks around on your back will definitely inhibit you to no small degree. I like the idea of the jury rigged pack too, since it provides a way of getting fuel whilst on the ground if you don't have time to get back up to the Sulaco. As for the tank detonation, well really, that would only happen with a liquid fuel, and generally they contain any flammable fuel in a type of sponge within the tank anyway, specifically so that detonations are virtually impossible. Like the idea of it, but the FF aspect would just not make it worth it.

+1 from me, this is a sound idea, other than the detonation.

[apophis775]

I could see this, as a potential item for specialists. Maybe a "better" flamethrower?

[Tetsip]

Perhaps a special requisition in a crate that can only be opened by a Specialist ID?

[DernSquirrels^3]

I can't remember where I read this, but the life expectancy of flamethrower units (dunno if it was just on Iwo Jima or just in general) in WW2 was around five minutes?

Anyway, I like this idea. Really would like to see it added in.

[Tetsip]

That's because one bullet to the tanks could cause a leak and generally speaking the sparks and heat generated from the impact would ignite the contents.

[Bachri]

I'm just gonna put my two cents in about a couple of things here. On the pack being cumbersome, how about make it possible to attach the incinerator to the pack? When you have it in your hands, move normally, but move more slowly when it is attached, since you'll then be off-balance with more weight on your back? On possible combustion mechanics, would it be possible to give the pack a chance to explode if the user is attacked by an Alien's tail attack? (I'm tired right now so I can't think of details, but I put in the gist of what I meant with both of those suggestions.)

[apophis775]

Probably.

But really, this would probably just function like the smartgunner pack does. The flamethrower won't function if it's not equipped, and you click the icon to "reload" it.