I have long thought about trying to create a weapon to add to the Halo multiplayer experience. After some long hours of staring at my ceiling I came up with this. [b]Suggested ideas for a name: Shard launcher, Perforator, Seeder, Crystallizer, Duster, Mist Mortar (Mister), lacerateor. [/b] Role: The key to creating a weapon for the multiplayer experience was, for me at least, to introduce a new weapon without shattering the carefully held balance that Bungie has (almost) perfected. The role this weapon assumes is that of a heavy weapon, one for the Covenant. The reason for this is that the Covenant have precious few heavy weapons available to them. It also directly promotes teamwork, something none of the other weapons do. General Description: The weapon is similar to the human rocket launcher, except that it fires rather large shards of Needler crystal. It explodes upon impalement or with the touching of the ground or wall like a rocket with a smaller blast radius, but that is not it's true purpose. When it explodes, it sends out a pink mist made up of tiny reactive crystals in the air for a medium to large area. Anyone caught in the blast will be coated with the mist for a while until it wears off. People coated in the mist will have floating clouds of it hanging around and being given off from the crystals on the surface of their armor. The mist released by the blast will have a delay before settling to the floor and becoming harmless, making the weapon useful for stoppering up passages. What does this mist do, exactly? It makes the victim incredibly reactive to needler rounds, in fact, one might be able to kill a player with just two rounds from the needler, as opposed to the usual 8-10. This directly promotes teamwork between users of the needler and the new weapon. Another side effect is that it also makes the victim susceptible to plasma bolts, only on a much weaker scale. *Update* Based on the communities' responses, it appears that the henceforth named "shard launcher" is a bit contextual, in the sense that without a needler around, it's rendered unnecessary. Upon consideration, I must say I agree ^_^, so here's the update. If it sticks a person, it get's an instant kill. If it hit's the ground, it stays there for a slight delay, and then explodes with the force of a rocket in addition to it's other effects. Pit0 had another idea. Let it deteriorate the players shields and health as the move through the resulting cloud. (explanation for this? The gas is corrosive(acidic)). Look and Feel: I got Lord Josephius2 to make some pretty cool [url=http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii166/lordjoseifius/?action=view¤t=NeedlerMortar.jpg]concept art[/url] for it. He portrays it as a large, mortar-like version of the needler which is pretty much how it would look. It would be the size of the Rocket launcher, with similar delays in between firing. It would hold six shards by default, and will have a wait time in between shots, however there would only be one clip as it is made to be a disposable weapon for the field. The projectiles would home a bit, but with remotely descent reflexes, you will be able to avoid it with ease. The shards would travel quicker than the rocket though, so your timing would be different that the timing of avoiding a rocket. The Shard would make a sound while traveling so you would have some warning of it coming. llamalizard made this really cool [url=http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii187/llamalizard/?action=view¤t=Needleroverview.jpg]3D model[/url] with an alternate design for the weapon. In his version, it is more of a rocket launcher or fuel rod cannon type weapon that shoots needles in a straight line, rather than an overhead arc. *Update* llamalizard finished[url=http://ashsr.deviantart.com/art/Shard-Launcher-138482354] arm-mounted version[/url], with a spartan for scale. Great work! Yankee115 drew out an [url=http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb250/brooily3000/?action=view¤t=concepto1.jpg] alternate design[/url] for the weapon. In his design, the weapon takes on a more sleek and rounded form (much like the covenant's ships) that really suits the covenant's artistic design. Very cool concept! Unique medals associated with it: Set 'em up... : Damage someone with the weapon, and have someone else kill them. And Knock 'em down: Get a kill with this weapon. Predicted Reactions By: The Players: The players would enjoy a new covie weapon that promotes teamwork, and doesn't mess with the well planned formula. But hey, I can't speak for everyone. What do YOU think? Bungie: From Bungie's standpoint, it represents a fresh new addition to the covie's arsenal along with an interesting art design. The promotion of teamwork would probably be welcomed by them, but hey I can't speak for Bungie. So Bungie, You tell me what you think :P MLG: Now the interesting thing about this weapon is that MLG might actually like it, seeing as it promotes teamwork, and we all know how they LOOOVE teamwork. It also might distract them from plastering their maps with BRs every two inches. Precedent: Believe it or not, someone actually found a precedent among the Halo canon for the existence of this kind of weapon! Check it out, it certainly make the weapon more conceivable. [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] The1Pink1Pirate7 I actually found some precedent for this weapon in Halo: First Strike on pg. 108. When flying over Covenant Fred and Kelly are fired upon by I'm assuming grunts with a weapon that fires large needler like rounds. They exploded into lots of needles. This is a summary of the text in the book of which is UNDER COPYRIGHT BY MICROSOFT CORPORATION (2003) and WRITTEN BY ERIC NYLUND and PUBLISHED BY DEL REY BOOKS which is an imprint of THE RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP. Purple-white crystalline shards hissed through the air - projectiles/shards looked like the the projectiles fired from a Needler - The size of Fred's forearm - One of the projectiles exploded in midair sending needle shards (like a spike grenade) outward - of the shards most of them bounced off the banshee but one stuck onto Fred's banshee and exploded destroying one of the canards(wings) on the banshee. Ok so here is my very pathetic sketch, my hands can't do what my mind sees. [url=http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/537/photo8w.jpg]The pathetic sketch[/url][/quote] I'd recommend reading his post, it's very insightful ^_^ After some considerably more time staring at my ceiling, I have come up with the second of my trio of weapons to add to the Halo experience. [b] Suggestions for a name, anyone? [/b] Role: To provide a(nother) team-based weapon, but to be a weapon in it's own right as well. General Description: A UNSC grenade launcher, it launches electrically charged grenades that have an area of affect shield drain, as well as a vehicle knockout (similar to the overcharged plasma pistol). The secondary effect of this would be that it would overload any equipment in a small vicinity, destroying them. It would have two firing modes, the first would just fire the grenades in semi-automatic fashion. The grenades are very bouncy, meaning that they may not stop exactly where you want and continue bouncing for a second. That brings us to the second firing mode, which is: By holding down the right trigger, the launcher overcharges the grenade, causing it to explode the moment it hit's another object. The tradeoff being lack of rapid fire for a better aimed shot. You could hold it like that indefinantly, and cancel it by switching weapons. Reloading would take a while, to offset the grenade's power. The launcher would carry six grenades before reloading. An alternate view of this weapon, to nerf it, would be that the current runs alon the ground, so anyone jumping won't be affected. I don't particularly like this idea, as people are always jumping, but it's there. Look and feel: In my opinion, should be that of the [url=http://www.futurefirepower.com/mgl-m32-multiple-grenade-launcher]mgl/m32 multiple grenade launcher[/url] UNSC style, yet keeping with the futuristic nature of the weapon. The fact that it's based on electricity should be apparent, with glowing blue cables roped underneath it, and electrically charged firing chambers. That's my vision, if anyone want's to create some concept art for it, be my guest. Please :P Unique medals: Electrocution: get a kill with this weapon. Predicted reactions by: Bungie: It's a cool addition to the UNSC arsenal, and it adds another layer of gameplay to the single and multiplayer aspect of it. What's not to like? The Players: Same as above, really. The UNSC should have had a launcher long before now, and it's cool looking and gameplay enhancing to boot! MLG: It's a human weapon, it emphasizes personnel and team skill, and it adds another layer of skill to the game. The might go for it... *Note* This is an excerpt from my Precedent: In Halo Wars, the fully upgraded hog had one. There, justified. Extra stuff: Fox_Knight made some cool [url=http://s1007.photobucket.com/albums/af193/3blindmice/?action=view¤t=weapons001.jpg]Concept[/url] [url=http://s1007.photobucket.com/albums/af193/3blindmice/?action=view¤t=weapons.jpg] Art[/url] for the weapons. Keep up the good work! So that being said, tell me your opinion of the weapon! [Edited on 10.20.2009 9:21 PM PDT]