The idea
When you buy a weapon from the game world it would come as a generic version of itself, so instead of a katana it could be something like high-end long sword or something that makes sense for identifying where it falls on balance spectrum and there could be a command on it that allows you to choose from a list of variants. This selection would be permanent, so you can't just switch your weapon around after it's set.
A Japanese katana
A Chinese Jian
An Italian spatha
A Spanish arming sword
A Russian Shashka
Just to name a few basic types of swords based on the major cultures I've seen in game. There is of course no need to have these variants appear as their medieval designs, they could easily be given the cyberpunk treatment with proper materials for the tier of weapon, and design considerations.
This isn't limited to swords of course, could do plenty of variants of melee weapons, and knives where variety is needed.
Short Blade
Melee
I did a brief search and came up with a wide variety of results that could be given the cyberpunk treatment and associated with a generic version of what we already have balanced in game.
I am not familiar with ALL attack messages for every weapon obviously but the ones I've seen I feel like are generic enough to their base weapon type that they could work for any amount of variants.
Why it helps
It always seemed a bit odd to me to have such a melting pot culture in Red but such little care is given to the culture of weaponry in a game with a ton of combat. I understand that having to balance a TON of weapons just to give people more variety would be a burdensome task, but I think the balance that exists now can be preserved, and we can simply make progress on aesthetic choices. I think the added diversity would also help separate the John Sledgehammer's from each other a bit if they choose to be more unique and rather be a Cillian Shillelagh instead.
Will this idea increase RP?
I think it would increase RP when it comes down to weapon choices and cultural backgrounds of characters and their weapons. I understand how it could add some confusion as to what weapons are balanced around but this also creates a lot of new opportunities for people to roleplay passing this knowledge around which is a pro and not a con to me and I think it's better if every player isn't familiar with what every type of weapon's balance is at a glance without some research. Besides it'd likely just be more content for the Grid with lists of what is what.
I like when people RP about where they're from in Sindome's game world, and there's all sorts of people from all sorts of cultures. I really think this would take that to another level of diversity, and simply make it more interesting.
Other considerations (optional)
I understand that Japan has a ton of exposure in Cyberpunk as a genre, but in most popular representations of Cyberpunk, whether it's 2077, Deus Ex, or even Sindome there is plenty cultural lore and corporations based in other countries that have representation actively on their mediums. Kang-Tao, Luminous Path and Red Arrow, Steiner-Bisley GmbH, Military Arms of Ostrava to name a few from popular media, I think there's plenty of variety in Sindome's mega-corporations as well.
When you buy a weapon from the game world it would come as a generic version of itself, so instead of a katana it could be something like high-end long sword or something that makes sense for identifying where it falls on balance spectrum and there could be a command on it that allows you to choose from a list of variants. This selection would be permanent, so you can't just switch your weapon around after it's set.
A Japanese katana
A Chinese Jian
An Italian spatha
A Spanish arming sword
A Russian Shashka
Just to name a few basic types of swords based on the major cultures I've seen in game. There is of course no need to have these variants appear as their medieval designs, they could easily be given the cyberpunk treatment with proper materials for the tier of weapon, and design considerations.
This isn't limited to swords of course, could do plenty of variants of melee weapons, and knives where variety is needed.
Short Blade
- Kris (Indonesia/Malaysia)
- Jambiya (Yemen/Arabian Peninsula)
- Katar (India)
- Balisong (Philippines)
- Dirk (Scotland)
Melee
- Kanabō (Japan)
- Shillelagh (Ireland)
- Tonfa (Okinawa)
- Macana (Americas)
- Mere (New Zealand/Māori)
- Flail (Medieval Europe)
I did a brief search and came up with a wide variety of results that could be given the cyberpunk treatment and associated with a generic version of what we already have balanced in game.
I am not familiar with ALL attack messages for every weapon obviously but the ones I've seen I feel like are generic enough to their base weapon type that they could work for any amount of variants.
Why it helps
It always seemed a bit odd to me to have such a melting pot culture in Red but such little care is given to the culture of weaponry in a game with a ton of combat. I understand that having to balance a TON of weapons just to give people more variety would be a burdensome task, but I think the balance that exists now can be preserved, and we can simply make progress on aesthetic choices. I think the added diversity would also help separate the John Sledgehammer's from each other a bit if they choose to be more unique and rather be a Cillian Shillelagh instead.
Will this idea increase RP?
I think it would increase RP when it comes down to weapon choices and cultural backgrounds of characters and their weapons. I understand how it could add some confusion as to what weapons are balanced around but this also creates a lot of new opportunities for people to roleplay passing this knowledge around which is a pro and not a con to me and I think it's better if every player isn't familiar with what every type of weapon's balance is at a glance without some research. Besides it'd likely just be more content for the Grid with lists of what is what.
I like when people RP about where they're from in Sindome's game world, and there's all sorts of people from all sorts of cultures. I really think this would take that to another level of diversity, and simply make it more interesting.
Other considerations (optional)
I understand that Japan has a ton of exposure in Cyberpunk as a genre, but in most popular representations of Cyberpunk, whether it's 2077, Deus Ex, or even Sindome there is plenty cultural lore and corporations based in other countries that have representation actively on their mediums. Kang-Tao, Luminous Path and Red Arrow, Steiner-Bisley GmbH, Military Arms of Ostrava to name a few from popular media, I think there's plenty of variety in Sindome's mega-corporations as well.
SPLATJOB