Halo 3 Forum
This topic has moved here: Poll [80 votes]: Is this a good idea? (read)
  • Poll [80 votes]: Is this a good idea? (read)
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • of 4
Subject: Plasma Pistol "fix"?

Sandswept Studios Design Director

Visit us and check out our games at Sandswept.net!

~~Pardon Our Dust.~~

Poll: Is this a good idea? (read)  [closed]
Yes:  74%
(59 Votes)
No:  20%
(16 Votes)
Other (Please, explain):  6%
(5 Votes)
Total Votes: 80

Let me share my idea, pertaining to the poll. Listen carefully, don't respond in an idiotic manner. Think before posting.

Alright, we all know the plasma pistol is a weak weapon when not charged. That's ok. It's not really meant to be a devastating gun. I completely agree with use of the PlasmaPistol/BattleRifle combo. If it's in the game, then there is nothing wrong with using it. Everything is counterable in some way, shape, or form. Even if it requires dying 5 times to get rid of the guy carrying it. This post is not saying there is anything wrong with the use of the plasma pistol. It is about my idea to change it in Halo 3.

Here, is my idea:

I believe the Plasma Pistol should be much like in Halo 1, where to home in, the reticle had to turn red first. Of course, the problem with the one in Halo 1 is that the reticle turned red only at a very close distance. Here is my proposal of the Halo 3 plasma pistol, please give your thoughtful input:

- The Plasma Pistol charge should only home in when the reticle is red.
- The reticle should turn red only when directly on a player, as most reticles.
- The distance the reticle turns red at should be about 10x was it is now, or somewhere close to the distance of where the battle rifle's reticle turns red.

Not only would this prevent so much "Point-and-shoot, you'll hit it either way" behavior, it would also make sense to have to "Acquire a target" first.

And there is my idea. Again, please think before posting.


[Edited on 7/21/2006]

  • 07.21.2006 4:02 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Well done. Perhaps the only non-incompentent suggestion to alter the plasma pistol. I agree, because it's a reasonable limit. It should be like the original, including the single shots that can actually hurt an enemy on sustained fire. Remember it used to fire even faster than a plasma rifle?

  • 07.21.2006 4:10 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

*claps at one of the first rational ideas in this forum for a long time*

  • 07.21.2006 4:12 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Good idea.

  • 07.21.2006 4:16 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

One of the few good posts I have seen. It could work, now only if bungie used it that would be great. They will do something about "The Combo" though. I like the idea.

  • 07.21.2006 4:18 PM PDT

"I pledge to punch all switches, to never shoot where I could use grenades, to admit the existence of no level except Total Carnage, to never use caps lock as my "run" key, and to never, ever, leave a single BoB alive."

2B || !2B - Why don't you look Inside the Machine?

Finally, an idea that I don't have to pull my hair out over. Zag has made a very great point, and it seems logical. Acquiring a target or multiple boggies would require that you take more effort and time. Thus, reducing the effectivness in a "hot" situation, but still rendering it an effective medium range combo.

  • 07.21.2006 4:20 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I think it's fine how it is there is nothing wrong with the PP but, that is my opinion

  • 07.21.2006 4:21 PM PDT

Sandswept Studios Design Director

Visit us and check out our games at Sandswept.net!

~~Pardon Our Dust.~~

Posted by: Ancient Yeti
They will do something about "The Combo" though.


I'm not sure the BR will return in Halo 3. That may quell your discontent right there. Even modifying the plasma pistol in said ways would make it less 'Easy to use'.

  • 07.21.2006 4:23 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

The combo can be weakened a little in one way. If you charge and fire, you hold out your gun like its very very hot and you can't switch to AR for a moment, giving the victim time to get to cover.

*charge*
*shoot*
*hot!*
*hot!*
*switch*
*shoot*

  • 07.21.2006 4:28 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

halo 1 PP would be nice

  • 07.21.2006 4:30 PM PDT

Sandswept Studios Design Director

Visit us and check out our games at Sandswept.net!

~~Pardon Our Dust.~~

Posted by: SEV12
The combo can be weakened a little in one way. If you charge and fire, you hold out your gun like its very very hot and you can't switch to AR for a moment, giving the victim time to get to cover.

*charge*
*shoot*
*hot!*
*hot!*
*switch*
*shoot*


I think you meant BR.. Heh, as for your idea, it seems like it'd be a little too hard to kill someone. Now you'd be going back the other direction, from being overpowered to underpowered.

Ghost91, I'm proposing an entirely new plasma pistol. Not the Halo 1 Plasma Pistol. Unless you're just stating your opinion, which is fine as well. :)

Oh, and I want to congratulate the entire Halo 3 forum on their maturity of posting. That's fantastic. Keep it up.

[Edited on 7/21/2006]

  • 07.21.2006 4:30 PM PDT

"I pledge to punch all switches, to never shoot where I could use grenades, to admit the existence of no level except Total Carnage, to never use caps lock as my "run" key, and to never, ever, leave a single BoB alive."

2B || !2B - Why don't you look Inside the Machine?

There is a fine line bordering both of those directions of Over/Under powered...I think Bungie can handle it though, seeing that they are the only certified Game Developers around here...

  • 07.21.2006 4:45 PM PDT

Sandswept Studios Design Director

Visit us and check out our games at Sandswept.net!

~~Pardon Our Dust.~~

Hey, Zee, just because we're not certified doesn't mean-- No, no. You're right.

I've always let Bungie decide these things.. They're great at doing so. For all I know, they've already thought of this and have it working, or already have tossed out this idea.. Maybe the plasma pistol isn't coming back in Halo 3. That would be quite the twist altogether.

  • 07.21.2006 4:47 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

The 10x sounds out of place. What would that be, Sniper range lock on?

In Halo 2 at the moment if you lock on with the PP the "claw" reticle closes. It should only lock on when this clamping motion is acheived. There is no reason to give the PP repreations to some power it should not have had in the first place ( improved range to make up for losing the auto lock ).

UNLESS you meant 10x the halo ONE lock on range, im not sure what that would equal out to. The PP should be a medium range class at its max and even that is pushing it.

So what I think it should be is the halo 1 PP with a little bit increased range, but a Sniper pp? Thats just crazy, then again I might have misunderstood what you were trying to say.

  • 07.21.2006 4:57 PM PDT

ლ(ಠ_ಠლ),ಠ_ಠ,ʘ_ʘ,ಥ_ಥ,ᶘ ᵒᴥᵒᶅ ,ᶘ ಠᴥಠᶅ,ᶘᵒᴥᵒ ʘ‿ʘᶅʕ·͡ᴥ·ʔ@[393703897340448:]

I think the Halo 1 plasma pistol would be good in Halo 3 because it had minimal honeing ability with the charge shot meaning you had a good chace or should I say equal chance of killing each other also the plasma pistol in Halo 1 could actualy kill some one with the normal small shots so the gun was not under powered, it would be cool for the Halo 1 version of the plasma pistol returned to the next game.

  • 07.21.2006 4:58 PM PDT

Sandswept Studios Design Director

Visit us and check out our games at Sandswept.net!

~~Pardon Our Dust.~~

Ah, sorry I was clear. I mean 10x the distance it locks on in Halo 2.
(Which is about 5 feet..) So, within 50 game feet or so, it would turn red and close, as you've said.

I think you understand what I mean with the "locking on first" idea.. You're right on that.

Eyeless Sid, as I've said before, a brand new pistol, unlike the Halo 1 or Halo 2 pistol.

[Edited on 7/21/2006]

  • 07.21.2006 5:00 PM PDT

But it seems to me that you basically want to increase the range of the plasma pistol. That just makes the combo even more powerful than it is already. Then it would get you from further away. I don't what the answer is though since sadly we don't what weapons are going to be in H3 except from a modified AR with uknown firepower.

  • 07.21.2006 5:00 PM PDT

Sandswept Studios Design Director

Visit us and check out our games at Sandswept.net!

~~Pardon Our Dust.~~

Posted by: jonny 888
But it seems to me that you basically want to increase the range of the plasma pistol. That just makes the combo even more powerful than it is already.


No. If you read it fully, I said that you would have to be looking at the person directly, not just have them on your screen, as it is now. This would require more precise aiming. (And it wouldn't have any drag or auto-aim.)

  • 07.21.2006 5:01 PM PDT

"I pledge to punch all switches, to never shoot where I could use grenades, to admit the existence of no level except Total Carnage, to never use caps lock as my "run" key, and to never, ever, leave a single BoB alive."

2B || !2B - Why don't you look Inside the Machine?

Posted by: SS_Zag1
Posted by: jonny 888
But it seems to me that you basically want to increase the range of the plasma pistol. That just makes the combo even more powerful than it is already.


No. If you read it fully, I said that you would have to be looking at the person directly, not just have them on your screen, as it is now. This would require more precise aiming. (And it wouldn't have any drag or auto-aim.)


That as well as I think an idea about when the pistol has dispensed it's charge, you should take about 2-3 seconds to recover from the shock to use it or another weapon again.

  • 07.21.2006 5:03 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Locking on isnt hard, you do it everytime you shoot the BR. I dont think forcing locking on is anywhere close to waranting that increase.

  • 07.21.2006 5:07 PM PDT

They should just not let you switch weapons until the PP is done overheating.

  • 07.21.2006 5:09 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I'd like to see it that if your plasma weapon overheats, then you can't change weapons until it has cooled again, to help prevent overpowering of the PP/BR combo, it's easy, and it makes sense.

This idea is good too, but i do feel that in the right hands it over powers the combo more.


EDIT: AKA, What he said ^

[Edited on 7/21/2006]

  • 07.21.2006 5:09 PM PDT

"I pledge to punch all switches, to never shoot where I could use grenades, to admit the existence of no level except Total Carnage, to never use caps lock as my "run" key, and to never, ever, leave a single BoB alive."

2B || !2B - Why don't you look Inside the Machine?

Posted by: ghost91
Locking on isnt hard, you do it everytime you shoot the BR. I dont think forcing locking on is anywhere close to waranting that increase.


What Zag is talking about is the fixing the ability to look at an opposite agle, fire the charge, and have it magically follow someone without ever having to have the reticle directly on the characters model. I have done it before, and so have others.

Zag is talking about taking the minimal Auto-aim away from the PP and replacing that ability with a little bit longer range, but you would have to manually acquire a target and manually hold the reticle on the model to lock on to him before firing.

  • 07.21.2006 5:10 PM PDT

Sandswept Studios Design Director

Visit us and check out our games at Sandswept.net!

~~Pardon Our Dust.~~

Posted by: Drakai
I'd like to see it that if your plasma weapon overheats, then you can't change weapons until it has cooled again, to help prevent overpowering of the PP/BR combo, it's easy, and it makes sense.

This idea is good too, but i do feel that in the right hands it over powers the combo more.


EDIT: AKA, What he said ^


And you have a right to that opinion.. I do understand what you are all saying. Maybe just waiting for the overheat to finish is the right option for the plasma pistol.

Thank you, Zee. That's exactly what I'm trying to put across. :) Of course, they have a good idea here as well.

[Edited on 7/21/2006]

  • 07.21.2006 5:11 PM PDT

  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • of 4