Better Unique Weapon Pallet...

Now I know, everyone says reskinning weapons isn’t the way to go… make all weapons unique… etc. etc. But some weapons are just plain similar… however weapons can still retain a unique possession about them, rather than definitive ‘fit this role, check, next’ type thinking…

Basically instead of seeing the basic classes… like shotgun, sniper and rockets… look past that and address their more defined roles.

Roles Example

  • Pistols Magnum, Plasma Pistol
  • Sub Machine Guns SMG, Plasma Rifle
  • Automatic Weapons Assault Rifle, Plasma Repeater
  • Precision Weapons - DMR, Needle Rifle
  • Anti-Infrantry Weapons - Sniper Rifle, Focus Rifle
  • Anti-Vehicular Weapons - Rocket Launcher, Fuel Rod Cannon
  • Close-Quarters Weapons - Energy Sword, Shotgun
  • Special Weapons - Spartan Laser, Plasma Launcher
  • Anti-Riot Weapons - SAW, Concussion Rifle
  • Small-Munitions Weapons - Needlers, Sticky Detonator
  • Suppression Weapons - Machine Gun, Plasma Cannon
  • Other Weapons - Flame Thrower

This way we can have those unique roles filled… but different factions have ‘different ways’ to address them… focus rifle more field based while the sniper is instant kill from distances…

Human Weaponry should be designed like our ‘modern counterparts’… straight forward role or purpose, squarish or block-based appearance, standardized lead bullets and explosives… etc. With the exception of the M6 Spartan Laser. This way giving us that relative and comfortable feeling, of familiar weaponry.

Covenant Weaponry should be designed ‘alien in origin’… unique roles and purposes, curvature or smooth-based appearance, unique crystalline projectiles, concentrated radiation and weaponized plasma… etc. This way giving us a unfamiliar, unknown feeling to what we are holding.

Promethean or Forerunner Weaponry should be designed both ‘alien and advanced’… multiple purposes, triangular or point-based appearances, forming weaponry, futuristic gravity, hardlight and photon projectiles. This would give that uber-advanced species the unique feel of what they were capable of…

This is my suggested list of what the pallet should roughly be… with perhaps some other weapons being forge-able so we can still use them…

United Nations Space Command(UNSC) (Humanity)

  • Fragmentation Grenade [Grenade]
  • M6H Magnum [Pistol]
  • M7/C Submachine Gun(SMG) [Sub Machine Gun]
  • MA5D Assault Rifle(AR) [Automatic]
  • M395 Designated Marksmen Rifle(DMR) and BRHB85 Battle Rifle(BR)[Precision]
  • M45D Shotgun [Close-Quarters]
  • SRS99-S5 AM Sniper Rifle [Anti-Infrantry]
  • M41 Rocket Laucher [Anti-Vehicular]
  • M363 Sticky Detonator [Small-Munitions]
  • M319 Grenade Launcher and M739 Squad Automatic Weapon(SAW) [Anti-Riot]
  • M6 G/GNR Spartan Laser [Special]
  • AIE-486H Heavy Machine Gun [Suppression]
  • M7057 Flamethrower [Other]

Covenant Empire(Sangheili/San’Shyuum)

  • Type-1 Energy Sword [Melee/Close-Quarters]
  • Type-1 Plasma Grenade [Grenade]
  • Type-25 Plasma Pistol [Pistol]
  • Type-25 Plasma Rifle [Sub Machine Gun]
  • Type-52 Focus Rifle [Anti-Infantry]
  • Type-51 Covenant Carbine and Type-31 Needle Rifle**[Precision]**
  • Type-33 Needler [Small-Munitions]
  • Type-33 Fuel Rod Gun/Cannon [Anti-Vehicular]
  • Type-52 Plasma Cannon [Suppression]
  • Type-50 Concussion Rifle [Anti-Riot]
  • Type-55 Storm Rifle [Automatic]
  • Type-52 Plasma Launcher [Special]

Covenant Empire(Jiralhanae) (More Additions?)

  • Type-2 Gravity Hammer [Melee/Close-Quarters]
  • Type-3 Incendiary Grenade [Grenade]
  • Type-25 Spiker [Sub Machine Gun]
  • Type-25 Brute Shot [Anti-Riot Weapon]
  • Type-52 Mauler [Pistol]

Promethean Ecumene (Forerunner) (Needs to be rehashed or rehauled)

[/li]1. Z-040 Pulse Grenade [Grenade]

  1. Bishop Beam? [Pistol]
  2. Z-110 Bolt Shot [Close-Quarters]
  3. Z-130 Suppressor [Automatic]
  4. Z-250 Light Rifle [Precision]
  5. Z-390 Incendiary Cannon [Anti-Vehicular]
  6. Z-750 Binary Rifle [Anti-Infantry]
  7. Z-? Sentinel Beam [Suppression]
    ? [Anti-Riot Weapon]
    ? [Sub Machine Gun]
    ? [Small-Munitions]
    ? [Special][/SPOILER]What do you reckon?

The roles you’ve defined aren’t quite accurate, though I have to admit they’ve become less clear since Reach.

The Grenade Launcher from Reach was the closest thing to an analogue that the Brute Shot or Concussion Rifle ever had, but it managed to remain very unique. The sandbox could actually benefit greatly from its return.

There was no convincing reason to use the Focus Rifle - it killed significantly slower than any of the sniper weapons, and the beam it projects revealed your position much more clearly than any of the snipers.

In Halo 3, the Needler was the analogue of the Assault Rifle. I never understood why Bungie felt the need to introduce the Plasma Repeater, as the Plasma Rifle was superior for close-range combat, and the Needler was a better analogue.

> There was no convincing reason to use the Focus Rifle - it killed significantly slower than any of the sniper weapons, and the beam it projects revealed your position much more clearly than any of the snipers.

I wouldn’t choose a Beam rifle over a Sniper rifle, but that doesn’t mean that there’s no reason to use it. I found the Beam Rifle was very effective, especially on Invasion.