Oh hey guys I'm modding HCE again

[Ifafudafi]

After the move to my new computer, I never really got back into Halo; partially because I could now run all this awesome shit at max settings, and mostly because of the fucking Vista/DX10card decal bug. But I decided "hey what the fuck" and threw together some weapon concepts I've been bouncing around in my head.

Without further ado, the (hopefully) beginning stages of Ifafudafi's PLASMA PACK!

Note that I use existing models because I currently have neither the means nor the skill to make my own. Also, I used Muki's UT weapon test map for its killable bipeds. If you don't want me using it, I'll take it down but you being the open source guy you are I'm assuming it's not an issue.

1. PLASMA BEAM

Fires a single, powerful red beam at just under 1rps. Drains shields in one shot, kills in two more. No headshots so as to not step on the territory of sniper rifles/pistols/carbines/BRs (whichever apply.) Beam can ricochet off just about anything at just about any angle. Extremely accurate. I'm considering putting a 4x zoom in.
2. PLASMA BURST

Appears to merely fire a single, highly innacurate, weak purple bolt; but when charged for 2 seconds, spews out a fuckton of the same bolts in a wide forward cone. Bolts are all extremely weak and not very effective at anything farther than shotgun range, but tears through shields quickly and is excellent for fending off crowds.
3. PLASMA SPREAD

Since the Covenant doesn't have their own version of a shotgun (their "parallel" is the Energy Sword, and Mauler doesn't count) I decided to whip one up. Faster rate of fire than the human shotgun, and you can hold down the trigger (1.5 to 2rps after acceleration). 3 shots at point blank to kill; first one takes down shields. Essentially the close-range counterpart to the Plasma Beam.
4. PLASMA NUKE

NO IT'S NOT A FUCKING UNBALANCED GODWEAPON, but it is a heavy weapon. Primary fire is a simple three-shot spread (simultaneous, not burst), which is very weak. Complete the 5-second charge (with custom effect!), however, and you'll unleash a massive ball of yellow plasma. It'll travel extremely slowly, but after 5 more seconds it will detonate in a giant explosion. Not only that, but it can pass through most materials (basically everything except force fields, dirt/sand/snow, and thick metal.) To balance the massive power, its ridiculously slow movement makes dodging easy, and it can be detonated prematurely by firing anything into the center (including the gun's weak primary fire, which is really its purpose for being there in the first place.) With quick timing, you can actually blow it up in the face of its owner.
But you guys don't like words, right? PICTURES ON THE STARBOARD BOW!

PLASMA BEAM
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/7286/plasmabeam1xs2.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/3774/plasmabeam2zp6.jpg

PLASMA BURST

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8707/plasmaburst1lk3.jpg

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8923/plasmaburst2dt6.jpg

PLASMA SPREAD
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3654/plasmashotgunvg2.jpg

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/2240/plasmashotgun2xy3.jpg

PLASMA NUKE
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/8079/plasmanuke1rc4.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/1074/plasmanuke2fj4.jpg

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1769/plasmanuke3al8.jpg

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/6962/plasmanuke4ie6.jpg

I'd post a video but since Vista doesn't fucking come with Windows Movie Maker, I'm a bit stuck.

When I squash the bugs and add the necessary polish to this, I'll probably release it along with my Plasma Rifle and Plasma Grenade to complete Ifafudafi's PLASMA PACK.

Comments/Crit/Suggestions/Bile?

[paladin]

Cool

[Mr Buckshot]

The plasma beam looks like the Sentinel laser. The idea for each weapon is cool though, especially the plasma spread (btw the Covenant do have a shotgun called the Mauler lol).

[itszutak]

Mauler doesn't count

and Mauler doesn't count

Anyhow, looks like a great idea. Especially that last weapon, which I'd love to see in video format

[Mr Buckshot]

Mauler doesn't count


Anyhow, looks like a great idea. Especially that last weapon, which I'd love to see in video format

Sorry, I didn't see that part in his post.

I would wait for him to acquire some alternate weapon models to go with the new projectiles first though. I understand why this is the case, but it's a bit unnerving to see the PP/PR being used for everything :P

The plasma burst is neat (I like the purple effect), though it seems like it would be one of those ignored-guns-used-when-nothing-else-is-there guns.

[Advancebo]

Nice HUD :V

Most of the weapons would seem unbalanced, got a way to fix that?

[Mr Buckshot]

Nice HUD :V

Most of the weapons would seem unbalanced, got a way to fix that?

How? Only the plasma nuke looks somewhat overpowered but such guns, like the rocket launcher, would be rare on most maps and highly contested for.

[t3h m00kz]

I'd post a video but since Vista doesn't fucking come with Windows Movie Maker, I'm a bit stuck.


Yeah it does..

Search the computer for it.

[Ifafudafi]

Oh yeah it does have moviemaker, nvm D:

Video coming up soon. (i.e. as soon as someone makes another post so that I don't have to bump it myself)

As for balance, Buckshot pretty much said it. Here's my logic for the balance:

Plasma Beam: Low rate of fire and easily identifiable contrail make locating and evading its fire easy.

Plasma Burst: May look intimidating, but it's actually not very powerful. If you get in close enough that every single bolt hits, you can kill a guy, but otherwise it's fairly weak.

Plasma Spread: Shotgun physics. Useless at close range. Also, takes two/three shots instead of one due to the increased rate of fire.

Nuke: It moves so slow that it's easy to avoid, and you can blow it up prematurely.

[t3h m00kz]

I'm definitely wanting to see that nuke. It looks somewhat what I was going to try to get my Redeemer to look like judging from the picture.

Plasma beam sounds interesting, too.

[Ifafudafi]

Well after some trouble with mah internets (the upload would stop halfway through) here's a video detailing all four.

Make sure to watch in High quality. Also, I've increased the ROF, decreased the decal size, and centered the projectile of the Plasma Beam after this upload.

yqXwyo2ssYE

[Hunter]

I like the last one. Nice ending as well :)

[Inferno]

Oh cool you can shoot the big nuke plasma to detonate it?

[ultama121]

This is really cool. Those particles are delicious... I think I'll get hypnotized looking at 'em. http://sa.tweek.us/emots/images/emot-pcgaming.gif

Here's to hoping there will be a Needleocity-esque map formed with these weapons. :awesome:

[Apoc4lypse]

Haha sick particles, I love the (goes back to check name...) Plasma burst concept, fuken great idea, unique in a way. (idk been livin under a rock lately theres probably been something simillar) if not tho sick idea.

The nuke is also great haha, my only concern would be multiple people firing them, ther a little obnoxious on the screen (the big ones) maybe a slight transparency? Idk just a suggestion, still cool either way haha.

[Ifafudafi]

Mini-update: New muzzle flashes for the Plasma Rifle (as that's part of the package). Some other tweaks that aren't really that noticeable.

M8TRLJfOp7A

Two high-res pics. The flash starts with the first pic and ends with the second, although they happen so fast the change isn't that noticeable. Basically there's a center flash sprite, the lightning sprite, and an extending flare sprite which appear in that order:

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2117/pr1ll4.jpg

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4194/pr2jo1.jpg

[t3h m00kz]

Good to see someone else noticing the ever-so-slight changes required to make Plasma look more like H3, lol.

That nuke was fuckin crazy.

[Ifafudafi]

M-M-M-M-MONSTER BUMP!

Today, I've finalized the plasma grenade. As well as the video, I've got four high-res screens. The most notable change is the electric arcs added in after the explosion.

Keep in mind that all the sprites you see here except the burning effect and the sparks all custom-made.

j0mc-_oAlMQ

Activates...
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3702/plasmag1.jpg

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/6406/plasmag2.jpg

Detonates...
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3658/plasmag4.jpg

Dissipates.
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9325/plasmag3.jpg

That makes the Plasma Rifle and the Plasma Grenade completely finished. Once I get new, unique effects in for the other four weapons (should happen in two weeks or so), I'll release 'em all for your tagging pleasure.

[Timo]

God damn that's awesome man. Love the plasma arc after the explosion.

[n00b1n8R]

Now THAT'S a plasma grenade!!

[Boba]

I think you should refine the streaks after the explosion a bit more, but other than that, great work!

[ICEE]

Can sigma use that plasma nade effect?:)

[RobertGraham]

Wow! Those plasma weapons are nice. Good work! Are there any melee animations for it?

[sdavis117]

Too much dirt. Other then that, that has to be one of the most beautiful plasma explosions I have ever seen.

[Ifafudafi]

I think you should refine the streaks after the explosion a bit more...
You mean increase the resolution, modify the shape, change the color, or what? I know they're a bit fuzzy, but any bigger and the tagsize would just be to large for practical purposes.


Can sigma use that plasma nade effect?:)
Once I finish up the other weapons, I'll be releasing the four new ones, the Plasma Rifle, and the Plasma Grenade for public use.


Too much dirt...
The dirt comes with vanilla Halo, but yeah, I should probably change it.

E: I'm thinking of axing the Plasma Nuke and possibly the Plasma Burst. Both are really just novelty weapons designed to experiment with weapon tagging; at the very least, I'll just leave 'em where they are and spend the rest of the effort on the Spread and Beam. Burst is too useless except at superclose range and really doesn't make much practical sense, and Nuke was basically just seeing how big I can make a light_volume and resulting explosion. Opinions?

[Mass]

This really makes me want to make a covenant style map to use all these cool weapon variants.

Perhaps for the nuke you could try making it a ring instead of a sphere so it doesn't totally block vision...?

[Ifafudafi]

It's out! Check the Release forum.