Upgrade the Flamethrower

[robdude19]

I think molotovs are a bad idea (redundant, don't want to be reminded of L4D), flaregun is bad (don't want to think about TF2, high level firebug has long range anyway), and flaming rocket launchers are bad, too much like the LAW. Coming up with a new firebug weapon is definitely a head-scratcher. Simple solution...

- Upgrade the Flamethrower -

This idea has been kicked around as a new weapon, but I say upgrade the old one, maybe when the Firebug reaches level 5 or 6.

Allow the firebug to spray un-ignited fuel on the ground with his flamethrower, say by alt-firing to shut on/off his ignition torch. This impinges somewhat on the Demo's trap-setting, but it's so interesting and unprecedented in a fps that it just has to be explored. LSD mentioned "Greek Fire" in another thread, I think he was talking about pitch that could be put down and set ablaze. I played a Stronghold (castle sim) years ago (awesome) and you could burn a huge area with it. This would be the same effect, although the fire wouldn't spread, only the ground that was soaked in gas would burn when ignited. It would also burn for just a few seconds, so it wouldn't create a huge molotov effect, but you could potentially blaze a huge trail beyond the range of your flamethrower if you set it up beforehand. Naturally you would be using flamethrower ammo to set up your "trap," ammo that could be used to burn the enemy directly, so this isn't really overpowered in an immediate sense. Also, the flame wouldn't kill the tougher enemies by itself, so you'd still need to have good teamwork.

BUT, if you buy extra flamethrower fuel to soak some trails between waves, and were careful to not set them on fire until you needed it, this could end up saving the day on wave 9 or 10 (not to mention being super epic). It would be easy for a noob to screw up your gas trail, or game mechanics might allow an ignited zed to blaze the trail, so this definitely wouldn't be a sure bet, but it could really pay off after building it up for several rounds. Perhaps the fire effect would last longer if more fuel is sprayed down, but to prevent the effect from getting too powerful, maybe the gas would soak into the ground after one or two waves, or a certain time has passed.

Spraying down gas would also welcome new strategies for killing the Patriarch, such as soaking a doorway and welding Pat in a room, then igniting the doorway when he tries to escape. You could also soak an entire hallway leading out of a room, then ignite it when Pat makes a run for it.

This would definitely be tough to implement, but there's no denying that it would make the Firebug a HELL of a lot more interesting to play, and give the fans a unique new game mechanic to experiment with. This would also bring more attention to KF from the gaming world at large.

 

[-=AG=- Avery]

LSD mentioned "Greek Fire" in another thread, I think he was talking about pitch that could be put down and set ablaze.

Ok in general the idea is amazing and should be implemented. I let LSD say it and slide but if it continues to accure I can't hold my tongue "Greek Fire" doesn't exist anymore atleast we don't know if it does exist. Because the recipe for "Greek Fire" was lost after the mass destruction of the Byzantine Empire more specificly the captial Constantinople. We now have many new age chemical compounds that resemble "Greek Fire" but none that are as lethal as our ancestors described "Greek Fire".

 

[Nenjin]

I'm all for getting some attention to FB...but there are like 4 threads on new firebug weapons now.

 

[NekoChrissy]

It's inevitable that people will post new threads even if there are three on the first page. Not to mention that no one ever reads past page 1.

Anyways, on the subject of Firebug, just because the Molotov Cocktail is in Left 4 Dead doesn't mean it shouldn't be considered for Killing Floor. Saying that is like saying, "We shouldn't use a Molotov Cocktail because it was in Call of Duty: World at War."

Also, the FLASH wouldn't be a "LAW" per say. The FLASH is intended to ignite an area with napalm. Not explode everything in an area into a fine mist.

 

[[PWD]Tiago]

I think Molotov would be a good idea, and like Neko said, why can't KF have Molotovs? Molotovs aren't only for L4D, they didn't invent it.

If it's like that, it would be like this for most of the game;

L4D got shotgun = KF can't have it
L4D got molotov = KF can't have it

and so on, but remember, that L4D "stole" the ideas of the specimens from KF and so on

 

[Nekomancer]

and so on, but remember, that L4D "stole" the ideas of the specimens from KF and so on

Killing Floor 1.0: 2005
Left 4 Dead: 2008

There's a temporal paradox in your theory.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Floor_(mod)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_4_dead

 

[robdude19]

That's the point he was making, that KF came before L4D which we all know.

I think Molotov would be a good idea, and like Neko said, why can't KF have Molotovs? Molotovs aren't only for L4D, they didn't invent it.

If it's like that, it would be like this for most of the game;

L4D got shotgun = KF can't have it
L4D got molotov = KF can't have it

and so on, but remember, that L4D "stole" the ideas of the specimens from KF and so on

That's too much of a generalization, pretty much every shooter has a shotgun, assault rifle etc. but molotovs aren't nearly as common. I know molotovs are in some other games, but like it or not, most people playing KF played L4D first, and molotovs would make KF "feel" more like L4D since it's pretty similar in terms of the overall objective, surviving massive zombie attacks. Nothing is strikingly similar in terms of gameplay to L4D, the bloat being the closest thing but it only damages you. The molotov WOULD be the closest similarity to L4D, and I think most or all KF players appreciate just how different KF is from L4D, rather than the similarities.

L4D sort of annoys us since it's gotten so much more hooplah, and having something remind us constantly of L4D when we play KF would be annoying, distracting the gamer and spoiling the immersion effect. A real world example, the Southpark episode about Family Guy pointed out how they always set up random jokes, now when I watch Family Guy I always remember the damn Southpark episode and I get sucked out of the story.

Ok in general the idea is amazing and should be implemented. I let LSD say it and slide but if it continues to accure I can't hold my tongue "Greek Fire" doesn't exist anymore atleast we don't know if it does exist. Because the recipe for "Greek Fire" was lost after the mass destruction of the Byzantine Empire more specificly the captial Constantinople. We now have many new age chemical compounds that resemble "Greek Fire" but none that are as lethal as our ancestors described "Greek Fire".

I didn't mean literally bring back "Greek Fire," I meant implement it in a modern fashion, i.e. dump flamethrower fuel on the ground and ignite when needed.

Also, I'm aware that there are other firebug threads, I've been through a few and they pretty much suggested all new weapons. The difference here is I'm suggesting an upgrade instead of a seperate weapon. Replacing the flamethrower is not going to happen, but modding it for extra utility (perhaps at level 6) would extend the firebug's defensive options and make for some pretty uber fire action.

It would make the firebug less "boring," since he would have more stuff to do than just stand there and blaze away. Obviously he can't carry much else besides his primary weapon, unlike the other classes, so the firebug definitely suffers from a lack of variety. Since the flamethrower weighs so much and is irreplaceable, any new weapon would have to be light enough to carry at the same time, although not light enough to also allow for a katana. It would be interesting if a new firebug weapon weighed 3 or more, so you'd have to choose between scrake defense (katana) and offering more firepower to support your team, relying on them for the scrakes.

 

[NekoChrissy]

I didn't know there was a "Fire Grenade" available for the Firebug Perk. So with that knowledge I think a Molotov Cocktail would be redundant. I still think the FLASH is a good idea.

As for the upgrade flamethrower ... I would like something other than a better flamethrower.

 

[Mr. Shoe]

The alternate fuel spray idea is top. It could be well used as an effective way as curtailing entire crowds of enemies.

I was more in favor of the alternate fire having a more of a trade-off use that is both negative and positve. IE you have to use an entire canister and throw it down, thus creating a large flame explosion that a propane canister would.