Spiral Knights - [Visual] Shard Bombs

[Visual] Shard Bombs

10 replies [Last post]

Thu, 07/03/2014 - 10:10

Whimsicality

Depending on who you ask, Shard Bombs are either worthless, a strain to the eyes, or both.

This thread isn't focusing so much on how horrible the Shard Bombs are in terms of a damage bomb (trust me, weapon balance is a completely different beast in itself.), but rather how the visuals clash with every other bomb in the arsenal.

Nitronome? Plant it down, you get an indicator of the radius, and the bomb slightly expands before that big boom. Simple, right? Shard Bombs? The initial bomb has a little range indicator too, although incredibly tiny and horrible when it comes to telling where the shards will land. But what about the shards themselves? They... Rapidly switch from their color to a bright white glow? Ow ow ow my eyes. Now, I may not be the most ingenious when it comes to designing something, but isn't rapidly flashing between bright colors not particularly the best idea?

I propose that the Shard Bombs steadily turn white as the shards are about to detonate, instead of rapidly flashing white. I reckon it would make them a lot less painful to look at. That said, some other bombs could have their visuals slowed down slightly to make them less eye strain-y.

Thu, 07/03/2014 - 10:25

Dibsville

+1.

Thu, 07/03/2014 - 13:27

Fehzor

The flashing lights are there because they represent scary knock back in various directions to all mobs stepping around them. It is important for your friends to look over and see the field of glowing crystals so that they can avoid the mess. Right now its kind of important.

That said, if the developers are planning a bomber update, I would definitely like for them to make bombs more party friendly. Making them less flashy and obnoxious would definitely be part of this, as would making them jive better with the inevitable friends trying to use their swords on whatever you're bombing.

Thu, 07/03/2014 - 14:59

Fangel

Need a sound change too then

The shard bombs have a wind-up sound as the shards are exploding that are supposed to be synced with the color flashing. Would you have any sound replacement to go alongside this, or just leave it up to their sound department?

Thu, 07/03/2014 - 17:18

Whimsicality

I can't be the only one who has a hard time seeing Polyp bullets when there's a bunch of Shards glowing rapidly... But I suppose I needed to get my eyes checked anyways.

The sound-windup sounds (har har) more suitable for a steady transition from Shard Color to bright white, as opposed to flashing. If you're drawing connections between audio and visual cues, there is a severe disconnect between how the shards function, and how the sound portrays their function.

I hear a steady "whooooooop" growing louder as the shards are about to detonate. Not a "whoop whoop whoop wwhoopwhoopwhop".

Thu, 07/03/2014 - 19:33

Avihr

Box

I like it, not that i have any problem with how the current shard bombs explode, but like this it would be much more easy to tell when they are going to explode.

@Fehzor they are planning a bomber update? 4 reelz?

Fri, 07/04/2014 - 10:42

Holy-Nightmare

@Whimsicality

"I can't be the only one who has a hard time seeing Polyp bullets when there's a bunch of Shards glowing rapidly... But I suppose I needed to get my eyes checked anyways."

Actually that happens with most bombs..

@Aviri

I too hope and dream of more bombs

Fri, 07/04/2014 - 10:52

Fehzor

@Aviri I didn't say that, but

@Aviri

I didn't say that, but it would surprise me if they didn't. I don't think it would be a good idea to make the game entirely focused on handguns, and I'm pretty sure that isn't the developer's/developers' master plan. A bomber/swordsman update will be a neccessity if they are to release TWENTY FOUR BRAND NEW HANDGUNS into the game.

Fri, 07/04/2014 - 10:57

Holy-Nightmare

@ Fehzor Rumors speak of

@ Fehzor

Rumors speak of valiance style guns with each damage type (this will make valiance about as used as the leviathan blade), a similar update would do the same for nitronome.....

Fri, 07/04/2014 - 14:40

Fehzor

But that's the thing.

The gunner update aims to fix all of the issues with guns-- things like lack of a standard option, blitz needle's balance, the iron slug, the gunner armors. A bomber update should also aim to fix these things... making a standardized bomb would be great, but doing so would require more than just reskinning nitronome.

Here's what I kind of want to see for blast bombs, anyway:
0/1* blast bombs = No nockback

Nitronome/Shadownitronome/Elementalnitronome = no knockback, otherwise same as is but toned down a bit.

Irontech Destroyer = normal movement speed, slightly less knockback. Like current nitronome, but stronger and with slightly more knockback.

Big Angry = Redone to be larger and angrier. Like... twice the damage, 100% chance of stun, maybe fire damage. Maybe more slow/time to charge.

The idea being to offer a no-knockback style of bomb as the standard, with knockback bombs being a more advanced tactic.

Not that it really matters. I care more that the problems with the bombs is fixed than how it comes about. And there are much larger ones than just the knockback and effects and what have you.

Sat, 07/05/2014 - 12:06

#10

Fangel

Huh...

I haven't really used shard bombs for a while, but my memory seems to recall the sounds acting more like a "Beeooeeooeeooeooeooeooeooo!", with the "e" and the "o" being alternating tones but both being increasingly louder and higher pitched until detonation.

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[Visual] Shard Bombs