Hey everyone,
Welcome to Developer Briefing #95!
This week Lead Developer Max is here with a new weapon reveal, new mechanic info and an update on how things are going on our path to Update 8!
Right then, over to Max!
A Message From Max - Metagame, Mechanics and M3 Submachine Guns!
Hi everyone!
We’re hard at work right now on Update 8 and we’re really excited to settle many undercooked aspects of the metagame. So much has changed in such a short time - with us moving so much of the nonsensical and blended functionality out to specific items within the inventory. This is done to enable us to properly build out supply and ammunition economies (no more redeploying!), as well as properly build out experience attribution and the general immersion of the game. As a result, we feel that most roles and loadouts will feel far more detailed and provide a much greater level of cooperation and teamwork.
This week, we’re showing off a highly requested iconic Allied weapon that’ll be added to loadouts in the game: the Grease Gun.
The Grease Gun
The M3 Submachine Gun - better known as the Grease Gun (or “the Greaser”) - is a 30 round submachine gun that was introduced to the Allied forces in 1942. It was designed as a cheaper and lighter replacement for the Thompson submachine gun. It’s worth noting that these perks came at a cost of accuracy when compared to its Thompson predecessor.
However, due to deployment delays due to production issues and further specification adjustments, this weapon did not see widespread use on the frontline during WW2.
In Hell Let Loose, the Grease Gun will function similar to an MP40 style weapon for the US forces - with a 450 rounds/min rate of fire, it’s almost half that of the Thompson. Fed by a 30-round detachable box magazine, we suspect the Grease Gun will be best deployed as a middle to short range CQB style weapon.
We’ll be providing them to a limited number of roles as a special loadout. We’re currently deciding the exact loadouts, but we feel armor crews and other supporting or close range roles will benefit most.
In regards to the German forces, watch this space…
New Hitbox System & Flinching
You may wonder what the use is for a new weapon in a game like Hell Let Loose - where the TTK is so short that nearly every weapon in the game is similarly effective at dropping an enemy.
In Update 8, the introduction of bullet penetration AND a more complex hit box system (including limb detection and flinching when hit) will give specific weapons greater stopping power and effectiveness at certain ranges.
We always want to make sure our design maintains the lethality of weapons - we know that there’s nothing more frustrating than firing on a target and nothing registering - or them soaking up bullets like a sponge. At the same time, we’re going to be using these aspects as a way of increasing the effectiveness of slower bolt action weapons, while also increasing longer range survivability for high rate of fire weapons (ie. being hit in the foot by an MP40 at 300m) and prioritising aim.
We’ll talk more about this in a later dev briefing, but we feel that these additional aspects will give great tactical distinction to each weapon, naturally balance bolt action weapons against faster-firing weapons and will reduce the incidents of instant-death at long range - allowing for more useful medic gameplay.
Onwards to the 100th Dev Brief!
That wraps up todays Dev Brief!
We hope you enjoyed your first official look at the Grease Gun, as well as further information on we're further involving infantry combat.
As always, we really look forward to hearing what you think of today's info drop so feel free to put your thoughts in the comments below or over on the Steam forum.
Have a great weekend everyone!
See you on the frontline.