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[shark20061]

Chain guns are the carbines of classic Doom.  There were machine guns brought over from Wolfenstein, but those were for the Nazis in the special levels, so using magazines doesn't make any sense for this setting.  Chain guns shouldn't hold ammo; they aren't supposed to or they wouldn't be called 'chain' guns.  They should be limited to chains, and what I know of them from modern times is what I've already explained: they're long clips and are broken down as they're fired.

Using 'ammo boxes' to facilitate lower reload times for pistols and shotguns doesn't make any sense.  It would probably increase the reload times and again, magazines don't match the setting.

Rocket boxes don't make any sense, either.  It would make more sense if they used some sort of clip, but that's what the missile launcher is for.

Sometimes realism has to take a backseat to entertainment and balance.  It's a matter of priorities.

As far as balance is concerned, the fear of ammo boxes becoming overpowered this way (as many others in this thread have stated) are, in my opinion, well-founded.  It's an interesting idea but it needs tweaking, or the way ammo boxes work will need tweaking.

[OldSpider]

I just provided the catalyst for tweak.  I am a programmer, so I know what that may involve, but I also know modding is most likely not how it will happen.  All it takes is for the programmers of this project (which isn't me; I already have my own projects) to make a few alterations to the code.

[Thiebs]

The old thread had timed out, so here goes: The general consensus was that making shell boxes/rocket boxes/ammo chains re-loadable would make them broken, considering the already-significant advantages of quicker reloading times and extra carrying capacity. I fully agree. However, it occurred to me that with a slight re-flavoring and a bit of balance tweaking, you could change ammo boxes to something like extended magazines or some-such, and add new 'ammo box' item that would provide significant extra storage, be re-loadable, but not be usable directly like the current boxes are. Basically, you'd make ammo boxes re-loadable at the cost of splitting them into two separate items.

P.s.: Don't really know the protocol for continuing locked threads, so feel free to delete this if it's inappropriate here, I won't take offense. Thanks!

[emulord]

Oh I get it!
You equip a stack of ammo in the prepared slot. It gets used like the current ammo boxes get used now for faster reloading.
Ammo boxes have a capacity that can be unloaded/reloaded.

You need a way to reload objects in inventory/prepared for this tho. (F)ill?

If the ability to speed up ANY reloading is too powerful (probably is), then make a quick reloading "ammo belt/magazine" item instead.

[thelaptop]

If you have something significant to contribute, you PM either Malek or I with details of the thread to unlock, and we'll do so if it is indeed relevant.

Edit: Unlocked and merged.

[Thiebs]

Thanks, thelaptop! I'll do so in the future.
(By the way, are those boots named after you?)

[thelaptop]

Boots?  What boots?  Don't know what you are talking about.

* thelaptop puts on his boots and prepares to stomp on spammers-to-be[/url]

[LuckyDee]

I must admit I've never met thelaptop in person, but I have a hard time believing he looks like this:



No way he has three legs.

[thelaptop]

Ahem.  Stay on topic people -- this thread is on reloadable ammo boxes, not a discussion on my footwear.

=.=

[Malek Deneith]

Of course he doesn't have three legs. That'd be silly, laptops don't have legs at all.

[LuckyDee]

Ahem.  Stay on topic people -- this thread is on reloadable ammo boxes, not a discussion on my footwear.

Ah, good, since I do have an opinion on this:

add new 'ammo box' item that would provide significant extra storage, be re-loadable, but not be usable directly like the current boxes are.

So in fact you take a stack of ammo, increase the capacity and rename it? The effect you're describing has more in common with the backpack than with the ammo boxes as they are now.
That's not to say that there isn't any merit to your idea, but with the effect you have in mind it might be better to leave ammo boxes out of the equation altogether and find a new name for this.

[Thiebs]

Actually, the renaming is the key there. That's where all the argument started: the current item is the ammo box, which doesn't make sense for what it does (quick reloads). The extra ammo storage is a big help, especially for the build-challenges that have a hard time getting the backpack, though obviously that'll be the bigger deal if you can get it. Anyway, the better ammo storage is what a lot of people use ammo boxes for, which is great, but the inability to reload them is counter-intuitive, since it's pretty easy for a lay-man to stick shells in a box. And so splitting the ammo box in two seems the logical course: an item (say, an 'auto-loader magazine' or some such futuristic gibberish) that is disposable, non-refillable, and increases decreases reload time (possibly also stores slightly more ammo, too, though not for sure), and another item (ammo box, ammo case, etc.) that's sole purpose is storage of ammo, which it does well, but requires loading and unloading manually to be used. Make the two less likely to spawn individually, so you aren't flooded with stupid ammo-thingies all the time, but slightly more likely to find in total than the current, so as to off-set the disadvantage of breaking a good item in two. You could even limit carrying to only one ammo box or only one of each type, if it's needed, though the 'auto-loader' one would be better off unhindered, since it's disposable. Sorry if I rant...

[LuckyDee]

increases reload time

Typo?

Sorry if I rant...

You've come to the right place. And in fact, the more you disclose, or think out loud possibly, the better this idea is starting to sound to me.

I must say though, that apart from shellboxes (for the City of Skulls or Abyssal Plains) I generally only use ammo boxes as extra capacity, not for decreased reload time - I can usually time my reloads to not have to worry about the amount of time they take. If a split were made between boxes and auto-loaders, I'd be more inclined to use either.

[Thiebs]

an item (say, an 'auto-loader magazine' or some such futuristic gibberish) that is disposable, non-refillable, and increases reload time

This should have been worded a bit differently. What I was saying, is that the half of the current ammo boxes that is for disposable quck-reloading should be a separate item from the one that is for extra storage. Which you probably already gathered. But to clarify, that wasn't a typo, so much as just poorly worded. To summarize: My proposal= 2 new items replacing old ammo box. 1st item is for quick reloads, it's disposable, and it's non-refillable. 2nd item is used strictly for storage, holds more ammo, and is refillable, but takes time to load and unload.

I know I'm repeating myself, I just didn't want any confusion. :)

[LuckyDee]

But to clarify, that wasn't a typo ... 1st item is for quick reloads, it's disposable, and it's non-refillable

So it was a typo: you don't want it to increase the reload time, but to decrease it.

I just didn't want any confusion. :)