Introduction
Now that devs are focusing on reworking the animations for the weapons in the game, I think they should consider this for future updates. Last major melee weapons got more dynamic animations and variety. I felt a bit dissappointed because, although all other melees got new animations, shovels remained limited to their same old single animation.
I think we all know that shovels can be used effectively as melee weapons, but it feels a bit weird to use them because the only thing you can do is ‘stab’ or ‘dig’ trough the enemy. Shovels are locked to the digging animation always, not matter where or who you’re looking, aiming, or attacking. This feature might be a little irrelevant for some people, but the more content we get, the better.
Proposition: Different buttons trigger different animations and mechanics
I think this could be solved adding a little function for shovels: Triggering different mechanics depending on which mouse button you’re clicking. It would be like this:
(extracted from Enlisted and Battlefield 1)
When clicking M2 (right click), the digging mechanic and animation would trigger.
However, if clicking M1 (left click), the melee animation and damage would trigger
Historical Sustain
Fighting with shovels is not just an action feature created by the entertainment industry, troopers were taught how to fight with the equipment they were given, including spades and shovels.
The 1941 manual ‘‘Уничтожай врага в рукопашной схватке’’ (Destroy the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.), written by A.A. Tarasov, compiled different hand-to-hand combat doctrines taught by the Soviet Army for their soldiers’ training, including bayonet combat, bare handed combat, and shovel combat.
Obviously, the Red Army wasn’t the only one that trained their soldiers in the art of using the shovel as a club, other armies did as well (except for the British), this is just an example.
Now, I don’t know if this is feisable because I don’t know how Dagor engine works or whether the game’s code is all mixed up or is stable, but perhaps our beloved devs team could give it a try and offer us this wonderful feature.
Now, about balance, I think it would be balanced since, at least what I can tell from my experience, shovels deal similar damage to a knife, but are slower. Overall, it would be a nice change to improve immersion and realism.
What do you think?
- Yes, new animations would be fine
- No, the animations we currenly have are enough
