[quote=charwo]Well, so then are you still unconvinced at the hyper breeder, with lower damage in returns for greater firepower? I think its the right kind of trade off for a highly skilled character. I don't think energy weapons should be the Godmode class. There has to be a decent tradeoff somewhere.[/quote]
They're expensive and heavy. Like any new tech they're inefficient and fickle, they require more maintenance and user know-how than tried and tested firearms but make up for that in being worth the hassle if you know what you're doing. They're the tool of the professional soldier, the weapon you take when you're looking for the best. There will of course have to be lower level weapons, the rechargers, a laser pistol (perhaps use the wattz as a civillian laser pistol analogous to the 9mm/10mm split in projectile pistols) and others. The laser rifle needs to be better than the service rifle, though.
[quote=charwo]
In any case, what about the rest? making energy weapons among non-state actors and the replacement ideas? I mean if there's going to be a rationalization it needs to be across, broadly the whole Fallout universe. And what's more the more weapons from Fallout 3 without a version in vanilla NVUE that get nixed in favor of NVUE variants saves a whole bunch of balancing issues, (plus, common, tribals with Medicine Sticks? Hell Yes.)
[/quote]
I agree energy weapons shouldn't be so common outside of the hands of organised groups, however they should probably be MORE common in the hands of those groups than is shown.
[quote=charwo]Any objections to the other parts of the rationalization? I like the Plasma Defender mesh, that's why I said replace the Bethesda design with it. Although, its the Bethesda PLASMA designs I abhor, I like their laser designs, especially the pistol. The problem is ergonomics: the Plasma Defender and Watts 2000 make better designs for those familiar with real world guns, including the monkey's in the Pentagon who will be recommending some weapons over other for production. I say let's get rid of the Mesatron mesh and replace it with the Bethesda laser mesh, with a different color beam for stun. Or can it and have the Mezatron be reskinned to be a unique version of the compliance regulator. That would make a lot of sense. [/quote]
Only in the name of variety, though there are a few decent model replacements out there that might be better than cutting the normal plasma weapons entirely. The laser rifle fits a kinda 'laser M1 Garand' aesthetic, it also looks very much like something the military hiercahy would approve. I can also see the Wattz getting the greenlight (and as suggesting in the game) finding a niche role as a laser marksman's rifle.
[quote=charwo]So basically, no Wattz 1000 laser pistol, the unique AE7s still exist, the Plasma pistol doesn't exist outside of Mothership Zeta prototype, and the Winchester P94 is the only Plasma small arm. That and technically make Flamers an energy weapon, though no mechanical changes including requisite skill.[/quote]
Flamers are already in the energy weapons class. Also, flamethrower fuel bears little resemblance to vehicle fuel, it's far more like napalm. That kind of stuff is available from sources other than oil, and would probably be easier to make in the wasteland than building (and charging) an energy cell. There's a decent model of the Fallout Tactics style P95 plasma rifle around, even one with high-quality effects and textures in Wei's FO3 version of EVE. That'd make a decent mid-level plasma weapon with the plasma caster keeping its high-level powerhouse role.
[quote=charwo]We also make sure lasers travel at speed of light (instantaneous) and speed up the Plasma and Alien Weapons so that their discharges travel at least as fast as a RL .45 ACP round. I would recommend doing away with the alien quasi plasma thing and turn the discharge into a blue laser beam with the aforementioned travel speed.[/quote] Lasers are hitscan by default, they hit in the same frame they are fired IIRC. It'd be simple enough to make alien energy weapons fire beams, so that solves that issue too. Plasma weapon projectiles can be sped up pretty easily, though speeding them up too much pretty much just renders their projectiles fancy effects and makes lasers less useful at long range when you could use a plasma weapon for high damage rather than using a laser for crits and accuracy.
