Look at every other Power Weapon in the sandbox. They all have unique shapes that drastically alter the player profile and/or provide unique bright colors. Rockets add mass to the upper right hand side of the player. The Sniper is a long and thin horizontal protrustion. This allows the player seeing them to instantly react appropriately to the threat being presented before him.
But the Shotgun and Grenade Launcher? They look like the AR or DMR at first glance. When a player with either one rounds a corner you’re not quite sure what they have since all four weapons are rectangular black masses held and chest height.
So much like the Sawed Off and Boomshot in Gears 3, these weapons need something to visually distinquish themsleves.
the shotgun and the grenade launchers looks nothing like the AR and DMR at first glance, well it dosnt to me anyway, and i hope they get rig of the grenade launcher in halo 4 its a useless weapon imo
Gotta love it when you got the shotgun and some guy sees you running toward him not shooting but does not take the time to realize that you have a shotty and BOOM…good times anyway wouldn’t it be kinda hard to alter the shotguns shapes I mean its a pump action there is not many different shapes they can add?
> the shotgun and the grenade launchers looks nothing like the AR and DMR at first glance, well it dosnt to me anyway, and i hope they get rig of the grenade launcher in halo 4 its a useless weapon imo
Not once you learn to use it, and have a good connection; it can be bloody helpful.
How exactly is it a problem? I’ll be honest - I never have an issue with confusing what guns people have. For me, it’s distinguishable enough, whereas you believe they look the same.
Given that, here are a few tips if you didn’t know. If you’re at long range confronting an opponent, it would be obvious they weren’t using a GL or a shotgun, and if they were, it wouldn’t be an issue.
However, at closer ranges:
A critical point is to look for the red lights on the shotgun. This is the absolute easiest way to know if the opponent has a shotgun or not. For the GL, look for the little glass panel, and the firing hole until you become familiar with its shape. The way the Spartan holds it is unique, and when he is about to fire it, the GL has several lights turn on.
However, most importantly, is to recognize the sound and bullets of those weapons instantly. Chances are before you confronted your opponent, he has fired several times.
I feel as if your issue is not a problem in distinguishing the weapons as much as it is becoming familiar with them. Or perhaps poor experience with and around the weapons is the reason they are troublesome to distinguish in the first place.
> However, at closer ranges:
>
> A critical point is to look for the red lights on the shotgun. This is the absolute easiest way to know if the opponent has a shotgun or not. For the GL, look for the little glass panel, and the firing hole until you become familiar with its shape. The way the Spartan holds it is unique, and when he is about to fire it, the GL has several lights turn on.
The range at which these become apparent is pretty close, close enough so that melees become a concern. Beyond that the features are small and almost unrecognizable at slightly farther distance. Especially after just a quick glance.
> However, most importantly, is to recognize the sound and bullets of those weapons instantly. Chances are before you confronted your opponent, he has fired several times.
That isn’t always the case and only tells you that the weapon is nearby. Not if the person you’re fighting has it or not.
> I feel as if your issue is not a problem in distinguishing the weapons as much as it is becoming familiar with them. Or perhaps poor experience with and around the weapons is the reason they are troublesome to distinguish in the first place.
While I am aware of the trend for people to believe themselves faultless, I doubt it’s me.
> the shotgun and the grenade launchers looks nothing like the AR and DMR at first glance, well it dosnt to me anyway, and i hope they get rig of the grenade launcher in halo 4 its a useless weapon imo
The whole thing I liked about the shotgun was that it wasn’t instantly noticeable, since anyone using a shotgun has to be at close range it has a distinct disadvantage from the majority of the other power weapons (except the sword and hammer which are instantly visible to anyone being charged with one). It also allows the user to not be a specific target until their close enough to inflict damage with the weapon.
If the shotgun was made more prominent in its appearance to “stand out” more then the user would become an easy and specific target for a longer ranged attack preventing the weapon from being any use at all except in a surprise confrontation.
Personally, half the fun of the shotgun is its inconspicuous profile. On your back from a distance, it’s hard to tell what it is, and until you get close, unless you’re paying really close attention to it it’s pretty ambiguous. And I rarely am, preferring to watch my radar and enemy behavior to judge reaction.
Generally, a guy with an AR doesn’t run at you and not fire. A guy with a grenade launcher… if he’s good, you never see him until you’re being shot so weapon recognition is kinda pointless. By behavior alone, it’s fairly easy to tell what a guy has. And honestly, I’m more afraid of the DMR than either of those weapons…
I agree, the shotty at least should be visible (wodden barrel, mean looking thing). Add a few spikes or something, a blade or two
The grenade launcher should be removed since it fit’s no role compared to regular grenades, missile pod, spartan etc. It’s just copied from CoD since Bungie wanted to make a “pro tube”, yeah, thay were really serious when developing Reach focusing on teh major things
