So I'm remaking my absolutely ancient Orbital Kinetic Munitions pack.

I need ideas and some feedback. No betas as of yet, stuff is way lacking polish.

However, I do need ideas for new kinetics. As of now, the pack contains a remake of the original kinetic (the meteor one), a fuel air bomb, and the "Spiker".

IRC has been having a bit of a debate about the spiker. So, I've decided to put it up to you, DRL.

Which of these looks better?

Flechettes:


Or a more spherical "buckshot":


The sprites on both are placeholders, so ignore that, and focus on the shape. Flechettes have the added advantage of mildly sticking into the ground, but the spheres seem to do a bit more damage. Up to you, DRL.

Also, to clarify: neither one is explosive; it's all mass based. The actual weapon is an ACRocket that you order, which gibs in midair, causing the nail/hail storm.

You've got a week to decide.

EDIT gifs on the way

Flechettes:



Buckshot GIF:

i think you should go for the flechettes. because i like how it looks like raining death opposed to being crushed by circles.

Flechettes, yes. If not because they look like death rain, then because OrientToVel needs even more love.

What material properties did you put out of bounds?

Look at the clone on the far right, last image. His helmet.

Are the flechettes pixels with trails or just really thin objects? If they where sorta sloped a bit, that's what I would vote for.

Rough idea: or

Buckshot but significantly smaller like in cassette bomb.

I don't believe anything.

Oh, wait.

The flechettes might be made of air, I'm not sure. Okay nope, bullet metal. Nevermind.

Also, the "flechettes" are actual objects, and I'm afraid sprite changes aren't really possible. Making them any thicker really throws off the way they impact the ground.

grapeshot.
little metal balls covered in spikes.
or the flechettes.

actually, i want to use grapeshot for something.

The flachettes look much cooler, but i think fewer of them in a cluster would be more fun in game, or if they hit the ground in even waves (if this is possible). You're pretty much doomed if one of the particles makes contact with you if the gifs are an accurate representation, so maybe a lighter, wider sprinkle instead of a dense barrage would be more fun and uncertain to use.

If it's something that gibs in midair releasing the particles in a fan-shape, then will the height of the map it's deployed on have an effect on the distribution of particles? If so, is this a valid consideration to have?

I'll have to play it to be sure, but that's my wildly speculative two cents on an early build of something.

The buckshot is also really interesting and i hate to see just one idea get chosen. If they were both more specialized and tweaked in opposite directions then they could coexist in the same pack without being redundant. There's good opportunity for both.

*Look up*
Ummmm...... Is there any reason why we can't have both of them ?

I prefer the flechettes, and they're winning overall, for this particular mod, but there's no reason whatsoever that I won't make a seperate munition that incorporates them.

Allen: You're the second person to suggest waves. I'm considering it; it wouldn't be hard to do at all.

Also, the weapon is an ACRocket that automatically detonates after spawning. While the height of the map might have some effect (I test everything on Grasslands, for those curious), I doubt it will be major, unless it's significantly too short. Any higher map won't have a significantly higher spread, though the particles will, actually, be significantly more dangerous. They're set to accelerate much faster than regular gravity.

So, your speculation was actually pretty accurate. Kudos.

Oh, and I'm cycling a beta now, but only on IRC. Might be some changes made.

Also, just finished the tech of an artillery barrage weapon. Fully functional, just needs effects, as does the FAB.

if i had more time id get on irc to try this out. can the particles have trails?

The flechette particles? There's no real reason why not, but there's rather a lot of them. Could lag.

why dont you put both in? 2 difrent versions

Go flechettes, I say. They look more like rain. A rain of spikes.