Part 1 Weapon Balance according by Embrionic Pete (emb@qa.com)


I know this word has been tossed around a bit I just wanted to take a minute to explain what we mean by
"Weapon Balance".  Each weapon in Malice is lethal, you just have to determine which weapon works best
in each situation. 

Ex: The uzi is a great way to hit a player from long range. If you provoke your opponent and force him to
    charge in, the uzi is not the ideal weapon to use anymore. You might want to switch to your punisher
    when they get a bit closer... or possibly the mortar gun to set them on fire (then follow up with 
    another weapon). Or you might continue with the uzi, then switch to the vert barreled shotgun to
    get a nice clean kill up close.


I've seen ppl kill an opponent completely loaded with all weapons by effectively using the trusty .44.
Although I don't recommend this, it is possible. =)  There will be little gravitation to ONE or TWO weapons
only.  On particular maps, some weapons will be favored more than others, however.. Malice deathmatch
will be based on how well u can utilize the weapon u pick up.. not who can camp the best or who can
grab x weapon first.

Certain weapons in Malice demand a "reload" after x rounds of ammo are fired.  This adds the realism most
games before it have lacked. It's difficult to get used to at first, but once you do, it will become like
2nd nature.  You'll find yourself playing other games and going "Damn, what happened to the reload" =)


There is no Armor, no Quad, and no pentagram.  You want protection, buy a condom.  There are plenty
of health kits, however, u can never have more than 100 health at a time. We listened to the gamers... 
you wanted realism, you wanted strategy, you demanded kick ass weapons... we delivered.


Here is a brief rundown on the weapons:


1. Trusty .44

Recommended: close range

Pro: Unlimited ammo, can pump off 10 quick rounds before reloading, default weapon you always carry

Con: Not very effective medium - long range, no radius damage



2. Hellfire 

Recommended: close range

Pro: Fires 16 exploding tip'd shells real fast, powerful 

Con: Not every effective medium - long range, shell eater



3. Vert-Barreled Shotgun

Recommended: 2 quick shots close range is lethal, medium range also deadly

Pro: Close Range you're unstoppable (providing your aim is on)

Con: Eats shells even faster than the hellfire
     


4. Uzi

Recommended: Medium to Long Range

Pro: Fantastic for flushing campers out long range, good on ammo,

Con: Constant reloading (as opposed to the minigun) 



5. Minigun

Recommended: Long range

Pro: Lethal weapon at any range

Con: Eats ammo at an alarming rate. 



6. Mortar Gun

Recommended: Medium to Long range

Pro: Nice blast radius, incredibly strategic weapon

Con: Not a direct hit type weapon.. must be creative when deploying the explosive
     canisters.  Easy to set yourself on fire at close range.

Note: If you fire this weapon carelessly.. it has a habit of exploding in your face.
      That will be a camper deterent



7. Missile Launcher

Recommended: Long Range

Pro: 1 shot kill, ammo comes in packs of 5 and 10, large radius damage

Con: Slower than the Quake Rocket Launcher, Reloading time is a bit lengthy

Note: You will not be able to dominate with this type of weapon any longer in Malice.
      The Missile is very effective, if you learn to exploit its strengths. 



8. The Punisher

Recommended: Medium Range

Pro: It's fast, conservative on ammo, and has blast radius

Con: If carelessly used, can cause more harm than good

Note: At close range, aim at the feet. The punisher has radius damage, so a direct hit is not
      needed. Remember, since it has radius damage, firing too close to your own body may be
      a bad idea =)


Tricks of the Trade:

- In a conjested room, the recommended weapon to use is a Mortar Gun (keep a bit of distance).. once
  you set someone on fire, watch them set everyone else on fire. It's not only fun to watch, but  
  a minigun is a great follow-up weapon for an easy bead.

- Hoverboards will replace rocket jumping in a heart beat. I recommend really learning how to exploit
  this toy. When you aim for the sky, keep hitting the "jump" and watch yourself soar.

- The punisher is a strong weapon at medium range, it's fast and there is no reload. Aim at your opponents
  feet and watch them fall before yours.

- Rocket Launcher is not effective close range (ala Quake) but its a nice weapon for long hallways... groups
  of players who don't see you.. and a great defensive weapon.  

- The minigun/shotgun combo I discussed before is something that needs to be mastered for 1 on 1 mathes. Get
  use to using more than 1 weapon per kill in Malice. Weapons gain and lose effectiveness according to location.
  
- Handgun is very effective close range, don't be afraid to use it.


I hope these help out a bit.. look for a more detailed version (with frequent updates) in the passing days at:

http://www.qamalice.com

Any questions, comments, tips? hit me at emb@qa.com

Make sure to check out what Strag had to say in strategy2.txt and strategy3.txt

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Thanks: To my mom, without her support and encouragement, i'd probably be unemployed feeding the pigeons. =)


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