Shotgun
From Worms Knowledge Base
 Shotgun
| |
|---|---|
| Type: | Firearm (2 shots) |
| Keyboard selection: | F3 (x1) |
| Standard effects: | 25hp injury (max.), very small circular crater (for each shot) |
| Present in: | Worms, Worms DC, Worms 2, W:A, WWP |
| Power settings | |
|---|---|
| Power | Injury (max.) |
| 11 | ? hp |
| 12 | |
| 1 | 20 |
| 2 | 22 |
| 3 | 25 |
| 4 | 27 |
| 5 | 30 |
| 19 | ? |
| 14 | ? |
| 15 | ? |
The Shotgun is one of the weapons that makes up the backbone of the Worms arsenal, together with such weapons as the Bazooka, the Grenade and the Fire Punch. Although a skillful player can generally get more out of the Bazooka and the Grenade, the Shotgun is markedly easier to use: it fires in a straight line with no wind or gravity effect, and its blast radius is far smaller, giving it more utility in a close quarters situation. The Shotgun also posesses the almost unique quality of giving the player a second shot before their turn ends (only two other weapons in Worms history have this feature: the Longbow from Worms Armageddon and Worms World Party; and the Ballista from Worms Forts: Under Siege).
Tactics
Due to its double-shot nature, the Shotgun has a variety of tactical plays assoiated with it:
- Manoeuvring an enemy worm from one location to a more perilous one (e.g. nearer water or a mine), and then finishing off with the second shot (generally superceded by the Longbow in WA or WWP)
- Hitting two different worms in two different locations.
- Breaking through a small land barrier with the first shot, then attacking with the second.
- On a long-distance shot, using the first shot as a "tracer" for the second (i.e. firing the first shot in the general direction required, and then refining the second shot based on the results of the first).
- Although individual Shotgun shots are not especially powerful, the Shotgun is excellent for hitting barrels next to worms and causing mass devastation that way.
- At fairly close range, the Shotgun's accuracy gives it a near-guarantee of 50hp damage.
- The second shot can be used for a spot of impromptu Darksiding if there are no targets to hit with it.
Criticisms, Problems and Weaknesses
- Because of its ease of use, the Shotgun is considered by many to be a cheap weapon, and therefore many schemes either leave it out entirely or limit your supply of ammo for it.
- According to Team17, the Shotgun is notoriously difficult to program, hence one or two odd bugs when combined with damage from Mines in its implementation in Worms Open Warfare and Worms for Xbox Live Arcade
- The Shotgun is obviously not particularly useful when a large mass of land stands between you and the enemy: in such situations you would need the parabolic trajectory of the Bazooka or Grenade.
- In Worms 3D and Worms 4 Mayhem, the Shotgun is fired in first person and a wobble is introduced to the sights, in order to stop the gun becoming ridiculously easy to aim. The holes left in the terrain by the Shotgun in the 3D games are also much smaller, reducing its utility value.
- The Shotgun behaves nothing like a real-world Shotgun, a device that is short-range and gives a wide area of effect, unlike the long-range precision of the Worms Shotgun. The only similarity is in the double barrels. However, there is plenty enough unrealism in Worms already without quibbling too much about this.
W:A Cheats
Gaining a Gold Medal on the Rifle Range training mission unlocks the Golden Shotgun scheme cheat. When activated, the Shotgun deals twice the damage, twice the blast range and twice the shots. (firing 2 bullets/round, for a total of 4 bullets/turn) This means that with the default health and power, the Shotgun can kill a full-health worm at once! (100 damage/turn)
