Portfolio/Multi-Topic New Ranged Weapon: Slingshots

[TheSeunger]

Introduction

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A fitting addition to Terraria gameplay experience would be the addition of Slingshots. It is a ranged weapon that fires spherical objects as ammunition, though some exceptions may apply. While the Slingshot weapon at first may not appear impressive at first glance, higher grade Slingshots can certainly surprise you with how much firepower these things actually have.

Slingshot Functionality

Unlike conventional firearms where you aim and shoot by clicking rapidly or click n' hold, Slingshots differ completely from ALL ranged weapons that by clicking and holding, you will pull back the string(s) of the equipped Slingshot and aim at your foes. The longer it is held back, the more power and velocity it receives. Rapidly clicking results in miniscule damage and poor velocity. Thus, this weapon requires practice and complete mastery over.

The player character will pull back the string(s) of the Slingshot (click and hold). You can freely aim around while doing so and you can hold your fire indefinitely. When you went to let go and shoot, simply let go of your mouse button (or other controls of choice). Remember, letting the string(s) pull back at max distance grants you unreduced damage and great projectile velocity.

• Minimum Distance = <10% Damage​
• Medium Distance = 50%~80% Damage​
• Maximum Distance = 100% Damage​

There will be a visual cue when a max distance is reached (perhaps like a white glimmer with a shine sound effect). The amount of time it takes to charge at max distance takes 1 or 2 seconds (as fast as using a Slingshot as Young Link or Fairy Bow as Adult Link in Ocarina of Time).

Slingshot Ammunition

The ammunition Slingshots take are Slingshot Rounds. They are spherical ammunition for precise accuracy. Smaller spheres has the best velocity, but less impactful damage. While larger spheres has the best destructive output, has less of a velocity due to the weight.

In addition, once they hit an enemy or block, they will bounce off from them. However, this is purely visual and these ammo are non-retrievable. But ammo reservation effects will work.

Slingshot Rounds vary in appearance and are NOT to be confused with most of the ammunition guns use (such as the Musket Balls). Example Slingshot Rounds are:

Spoiler: Slingshot Rounds

• Smooth Pebble
  

  • Crafted from Stone Blocks; yields 25 each​
  • Has slightly inaccurate shots due to not completely sphere​
• Prickly Barb
  • Crafted from Cactus Blocks; yields 20 each​
  • Prickly Barb projectiles will stick onto enemies for a while, dealing damage over time​
• Spiky Balls
  • Acquired from the Goblin Army event​
  • Spiky Ball projectiles will stick onto enemies for a while, dealing damage over time​
  • Spiky Balls are larger than normal, thus has lower velocity overall but has higher damage​
  • They retain their original functionality without using a Slingshot​
• Steel Sphere
  • Crafted from either Iron Bars or Lead Bars; yields 20 each​
  • The go-to component for ALL future crafts​
• Flame Sphere
  • Crafted from Steel Spheres and Torches; yields 20 each​
  • Has a chance to inflict On-Fire! on struck enemies​
• Frostburn Sphere
  • Crafted from Flame Sphere and Frozen Torches; yields 20 each​
  • Has a chance to inflict Frostburn on struck enemies​
• Bouncy Sphere
  • Crafted from Steel Spheres and Pink Gel; yields 25 each​
  • Bouncy Spheres will ricochet furiously from blocks and enemies at blistering speed for 4 seconds or after 5 ricochets​
  • Bouncy Spheres are smaller than normal, thus has lower damage overall but has higher velocity​
• Explosive Sphere
  • Crafted from Steel Spheres and Gunpowder; yields 15 each​
  • Explosion radius is similar to that of Grenades​
  • Explosive Spheres are larger than normal, thus has lower velocity overall but has higher damage​
• Gilded Sphere
  

  • Crafted from Steel Spheres and Gold Dust; yields 20 each​
  • Inflicts Midas on struck enemies, yielding more coins on death​
• Cursed Flame Sphere
  

  • Crafted from Steel Spheres and Cursed Flame; yields 25 each​
  • Inflicts Cursed Inferno on struck enemies​
  • Cursed Flame Spheres are smaller than normal, thus has lower damage overall but has higher velocity​
• Ichor Sphere
  

  • Crafted from Steel Spheres and Ichor; yields 20 each​
  • Inflicts Ichor on struck enemies​
• Crystal Sphere
  

  • Crafted from Steel Spheres and Crystal Shards; yields 15 each​
  • Crystal Spheres split into 3~4 shards similar to how Crystal Bullets work​
  • Crystal Spheres are larger than normal, thus has lower velocity overall but has higher damage​
• Venom Gas Bomb
  

  • Crafted from Steel Spheres and Vial of Venom; yields 15 each​
  • Inflicts Acid Venom on struck enemies​
  • Hitting a block or enemies releases a powerful venom gas that lingers for 2 seconds, dealing damage over time while also inflicting Acid Venom​
  • Venom Gas Bombs are larger than normal, thus has lower velocity overall but has higher damage​
• Poltergeist Sphere
  

  • Crafted from Steel Spheres and Ectoplasm; yields 20 each​
  • Unaffected by velocity, the Poltergeist Sphere will seek out the nearest enemy or enemy part, ramming into it constantly at full speed and ignoring blocks​
  • A single Poltergeist Sphere lasts for 4 seconds before dissipating​
• Luminite Sphere
  

  • Crafted from Luminate Bars; yields 333 each​
  • Fires 3~5 Luminite Spheres at a slightly random spread from the designated aim of fire​
  • Luminite Spheres pierce indefinitely, but its damage worsens for each enemies pierced​
  • Luminite Spheres are not affected by gravity​
  • Luminite Spheres are smaller than normal, thus has lower damage overall but has higher velocity​

Slingshot Weapons

We can't have a concept of Slingshots without the actual weapons themselves. There are various of Slingshots that can be obtained throughout the game's progression.

So far, the following Slingshot weapons are as follows:

Spoiler: Slingshot Weapons

Wooden Slingshot

• Crafted from Wood at a Workbench

...and more to come real soon. Sorry guys and gals. Check back here eventually...ish.

Slingshot Accessories

TBA

Conclusion

Overall, I do believe Terraria is missing something ever since it came out. Sure, we have swords, bows and stuff... but when it comes to some questionable but fun stuff like the boomerang and yo-yos (especially the yo-yo weapons), I think Slingshots would make for a fun and interesting addition, but not necessarily a must-have. If we are to have Terraria version 1.4.5 at some point, an introduction of Slingshot is a huge must! Even if it will take a year or so for coding, balancing and what have you.

Of course, I'm sure mod creators may tackle this idea and will try to implement this on their own. If so, I do look forward how that works out.

If you like or support this idea, leave a feedback or two. Any suggestions for changes or improvement are welcome as long as they are reasonably balanced. And any suggestions for additional Slingshots or ammunition are also welcome so long as it is reasonably balanced based on progression and obtainability.

With that, that'll be all from me. I'll be continuing to work on this post in the coming days.

 

[Schparks]

Another banger suggestion.

I feel like this could be a fun weapon for the Thrower class, haha.

Maybe shifting over boomerangs and all the consumables too.