Difference between revisions of "Weapons (Worms Unlimited)"

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== Introduction ==
 
== Introduction ==
  
The true number of weapon suggestions I have recieved number in their hundreds, but here I list only fifty of what I consider to be the better weapon ideas. The reason for this is not because I think other weapon ideas should not be included in Worms, but simply to prevent this page being cluttered up by ideas that are ugly, don't work, or were inadequately described to begin with.
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These pages describe some weapons that might feature in Worms Unlimited.
  
It is important to remember that in Worms, you can choose what weapons you play with, and what weapons you don't play with. Ideally, if developing time was not an issue, there are no good reasons why any particular weapon idea, however bad it might seem, should not be implemented. If a suggested weapon seems as though it is flawed, unskilful, imbalanced, or doesn't add anything to gameplay, then players can simply opt not to use it. The Concrete Donkey and Armageddon are examples of this mechanism in effect: many people play online without it because they are too destructive, and require no skill to use.
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Ideally, Worms Unlimited would have a powerful scripting feature which would allow its users to effectively create any weapon imaginable - not unlike some existing third-party programs which can create or modify weapons for Worms Armageddon, such as the [[Fiddler]] or [[Project X]]. This would be far more versatile than simply including a fixed set of new weapons.
  
One immediate problem that comes to mind when people consider a Worms game with over a hundred weapons, is the size of the weapons inventory in-game. But this concern is easily addressed: it would only be a problem if all the weapons are in use. Most schemes only include a very small number of the total weapons available. Another similar problem that crops up is that players will be overwhelmed by 'too many' weapons. Again, this is simple to debunk: most schemes will only use a few weapons. Furthermore, new players can be overwhelmed by merely 15 weapons, let alone 100. You might remember playing the "Beginner" scheme for the first time, and not having a clue what to use because you don't know what anything does.
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Would such a feature give ''too much'' versatility? Having fixed weapons with slightly variable settings (the power setting) gives the game a degree of reliability, and assures WormNET players that they know roughly what to expect, and won't be surprised by a handgun that fires bazooka shells, or other absurdities. Giving players the ability to create and use new weapons at will might make it too difficult for other players to find games in which they can be comfortable.
  
Sixty weapons is a lot, when you think about it. But with time, everyone becomes familiar with every weapon. The same would be true of 100 weapons. It just takes time, and not a lot of it.
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But these issues can be solved with carefully restricted WormNET channels. The simplest version of this solution might be as follows: one channel is restricted to the "default" weapon set that comes with the game, and another channel allows all scripted weapons. A more complex solution might involve a go-between channel, which filters out the awful, unbalanced weapons that people would surely create in extreme numbers. This channel might be restricted only to those scripted weapons that have won community approval (in much the same way as certain schemes have become staples). How this might be implemented though is not discussed here.
  
I have a confession to make. I lied. There is ''one'' reason why a weapon idea can be so bad that it should not be included by any means: if the idea is identical to a weapon that already exists. The only possible point of having a weapon that is essentially a clone of another weapon is the variety that comes with different sprites - which isn't really good enough to justify to space taken up in the weapons inventory or the extra pages on the Weapons Editor. This mistake has been made in Worms Armageddon, when Team17 included both the Uzi and the Minigun. These weapons run on exactly the same mechanism. The only difference between them is that the Minigun spills twice as many bullets and has a slightly wider spread. However, these qualities do not make the weapon unique as they could have been included as editable parameters for the Uzi. Think of it as having a slightly more powerful grenade and calling it a new weapon. It just isn't sensible.
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Given the infinite possibilities that such a scripting feature would provide, why bother listing any potential weapons at all, as this page does?
  
There is an argument that having both an Uzi and the Minigun in the same game can make strategic sense, if the weapons are strictly limited. However, with suitable adjustments to the Weapons Editor, the need for the minigun even in this situation can be negated. If the player is given the ability to include two versions of the Uzi into one scheme, one with more bullets than the other, then the same effect is achieved. This is explained in more detail in the [[Editors]] section.
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The weapon ideas listed below could be considered to be potential additions to the "default" weapon set that would come with Worms Unlimited. These ideas, or the inspirations for them, were collected from community forums and catalogued on Run's Worms Unlimited website (the content of which has since been moved here), and were selected for the perceived fun, balance and strategic value they might bring to the game.
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Alternatively, the ideas here could be seen as a way to inspire others to create them, should such a powerful scripting feature ever come about in a Worms game (if not Worms Unlimited itself). The wiki nature of these pages allows anyone to 'invent' their own weapons and suggest modifications for any of the existing ideas, and so create a hub of brainstorming for that future possibility.
  
 
== Contents ==
 
== Contents ==

Revision as of 11:35, 12 October 2010

Introduction

These pages describe some weapons that might feature in Worms Unlimited.

Ideally, Worms Unlimited would have a powerful scripting feature which would allow its users to effectively create any weapon imaginable - not unlike some existing third-party programs which can create or modify weapons for Worms Armageddon, such as the Fiddler or Project X. This would be far more versatile than simply including a fixed set of new weapons.

Would such a feature give too much versatility? Having fixed weapons with slightly variable settings (the power setting) gives the game a degree of reliability, and assures WormNET players that they know roughly what to expect, and won't be surprised by a handgun that fires bazooka shells, or other absurdities. Giving players the ability to create and use new weapons at will might make it too difficult for other players to find games in which they can be comfortable.

But these issues can be solved with carefully restricted WormNET channels. The simplest version of this solution might be as follows: one channel is restricted to the "default" weapon set that comes with the game, and another channel allows all scripted weapons. A more complex solution might involve a go-between channel, which filters out the awful, unbalanced weapons that people would surely create in extreme numbers. This channel might be restricted only to those scripted weapons that have won community approval (in much the same way as certain schemes have become staples). How this might be implemented though is not discussed here.

Given the infinite possibilities that such a scripting feature would provide, why bother listing any potential weapons at all, as this page does?

The weapon ideas listed below could be considered to be potential additions to the "default" weapon set that would come with Worms Unlimited. These ideas, or the inspirations for them, were collected from community forums and catalogued on Run's Worms Unlimited website (the content of which has since been moved here), and were selected for the perceived fun, balance and strategic value they might bring to the game.

Alternatively, the ideas here could be seen as a way to inspire others to create them, should such a powerful scripting feature ever come about in a Worms game (if not Worms Unlimited itself). The wiki nature of these pages allows anyone to 'invent' their own weapons and suggest modifications for any of the existing ideas, and so create a hub of brainstorming for that future possibility.

Contents

The following articles begin with a basic description of the weapon in use, followed by technical considerations, then strategical implications of the weapon in a Worms environment, and finally end in a comment on its aesthetics and suitability to Worms as an idea.

It should be noted that I often cite programming certain things as being 'simple' in the following articles... take that with a pinch of salt. I am not a programmer; everything I say concerning programming is speculation.

Weapon Type Author
Crate Spy as a real weapon Utility FoxHound
Damage x2 as a real weapon Utility FoxHound
Double Turn Time as a real weapon Utility FoxHound
Geyser Utility FoxHound
Opera Cloak Utility Ion Zone
High Air Viscosity Utility FoxHound
High Gravity (and fall damage) Utility FoxHound
Indestructible Terrain as a weapon Utility FoxHound
Shrink Utility FoxHound
Thermal Vision Utility FoxHound
Wind Choice Utility FoxHound
Boomerang Projectile Run
Bowling Ball Projectile Run
Insanity Bomb Projectile Ion Zone
Frisbee Projectile Run
Radiation Bomb Projectile Run
Stone Projectile Run
Air Guitar Firearm Snicklin
Disc Launcher Firearm Run
Freeze Ray Firearm Run
Gamma Gun Firearm Run
Glue Gun Firearm Run
Laser Gun Firearm Run
Air Pump Close Combat Run
Bite Close Combat Run
Cricket Bat Close Combat Run
Cannibalism Close Combat Run
Pick Pocket Close Combat Run
Tazer Close Combat Run
Alien Invasion Global Run
Ozone Hole Global Run
Chicken Animal Run
Eagle Animal Run
Rhino Animal Run
Alien Abduction Localised Strike Run
Crevice Localised Strike Run
Lightning Strike Localised Strike Run
Telekinetic Prod Localised Strike Run
Tornado Localised Strike Run
Anvil Drop and Run Run
Beehive Drop and Run Run
Platinum Donkey Drop and Run Snicklin
Self-replicating Mine Drop and Run Run
Sentry Gun Drop and Run Run
Bunker Construction Run
Cement Construction Run
Security Door Construction Run
Invisible Girder Construction Run
Teleport Inhibitor Construction Run
Back to the Future Transport Run
Boat Transport Run
Catapult Transport Run
Evacuation Transport Run
Hang-glider Transport Run
Harness Transport Run
History Eraser Transport Run
Hot Air Balloon Transport Run
Magic Carpet Transport Run
Object Teleport Transport Run
Super Teleport Transport Run
Trampoline Transport Run
Bubble Other FoxHound
BulletTime (Matrix Slow-Motion) Other Hosma293
Chaos Bomb (Wild Magic) Other Ion Zone
Dynamite Belt Other UnderscoreKilburn
Fan Other Run
Health Jab Other Run
Mitosis Other Run
Protective Suit Other Run
Reinforcement Worm Other Run
Resurrector Other Run
Target Painter Other UnderscoreKilburn

See also

Personal tools