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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0010065Valley 2Suggestion - Spell IdeasDec 21, 2012 2:28 pm
Reportermadcow Assigned To 
Status consideringResolutionopen 
Summary0010065: Encouraging ammo use: pt 2
DescriptionMy idea of a way to encourage ammo use. Assign a slight cost (maybe 1 or 2 ammo) to special abilities on some of the classes.

Some of the special abilities (like campfire, the rocket spells even when fixed will be good, homing shots, likely more) are well worth a couple of ammo and this is another way to encourage smart usage of those abilities. 1-2 ammo is enough that you can still use them quite a bit as well - but you wouldn't be able to spam them.

I'm not suggesting an across the board change, but certainly some of the special abilities are worth it.
TagsNo tags attached.
Internal WeightFeature Suggestion

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tigersfan

Dec 20, 2012 2:12 pm

reporter   ~0029198

I agree that some of the Specials are OP, but, is the answer to make them cost ammo? Or is it to just nerf them?

madcow

Dec 20, 2012 2:22 pm

reporter   ~0029199

I'm not sure to be honest. Both (or some combination) are viable ways to go. Probably worth getting more feedback from open beta. Even I'm not completely sold that it would be the ideal solution, but I'm certainly inclined towards the extra resource management on ammo it would offer.

khadgar

Dec 20, 2012 2:30 pm

reporter   ~0029200

I don't like the idea of having more than one spell cost ammo, but I do like the idea of making sure that normal abilities don't feel so powerful that they should require ammo, and all ammo abilities feel that they should be drawing ammo.

If more spells cost ammo I probably wouldn't use them either. I'm the guy who saves all his screen-clearing bombs when playing a top down shooter for when I "really need them" but never uses them. I save all 3 of my mushroom boosts in Mario Kart until the last seconds of the race, just in case I "need them". :(

Nanashi

Dec 20, 2012 3:12 pm

reporter   ~0029205

Last edited: Dec 20, 2012 3:23 pm

If you want to encourage the use of ammo, the simplest way is to add (very slow) ammo regeneration. When people play games, finite resources are always hoarded over renewable ones - stockpiling ammo is done because the opportunity cost of using ammo is that there may be a situation later on which may require ammo, but you have no way of replenishing it as all enemies are dead.

This is also why making unused ammo explode really doesn't encourage people to use it, because the cost to not using ammo is marginal and easily avoided.

Ideally, you should take 2 steps back and ask yourself what the point of ammo is in the first place.

Edit: I feel a little elaboration might be necessary

Limited ammunition has played many roles in different games. I'll list the common ones that come to mind.

1)To act as a limiting factor and discourage reckless skill use (spamming). This is mostly seen in FPS games, which strongly discourage shooting with no obvious purpose in the hopes that you hit something.

2)In combination with the above point, but the motivation is to create tension. Mostly seen in survival horror - Silent Hill, Resident Evil.

3)To counterbalance high-powered skills by limiting their number of use. See: Bombs in shooting games. Ammo is generally used as a panic mechanism, almost equivalent to "Extra Lives".

4)To provide a one-time boost to overcome roadblock difficulties. Mainly seen in items used in RPGs.

5)To add impact to the skills that consume the limited resource. Generally seen in Japanese shounen manga where skills are "so powerful they can only be done X times in Y period of time".

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Dec 20, 2012 12:04 pm madcow New Issue
Dec 20, 2012 12:04 pm madcow Description Updated
Dec 20, 2012 2:12 pm tigersfan Note Added: 0029198
Dec 20, 2012 2:12 pm tigersfan Internal Weight => Discussion Only
Dec 20, 2012 2:12 pm tigersfan Status new => feedback
Dec 20, 2012 2:22 pm madcow Note Added: 0029199
Dec 20, 2012 2:22 pm madcow Status feedback => new
Dec 20, 2012 2:30 pm khadgar Note Added: 0029200
Dec 20, 2012 3:12 pm Nanashi Note Added: 0029205
Dec 20, 2012 3:23 pm Nanashi Note Edited: 0029205
Dec 21, 2012 2:28 pm tigersfan Internal Weight Discussion Only => Feature Suggestion
Dec 21, 2012 2:28 pm tigersfan Status new => considering