Aim/Gun Mechanic Talk After 2ish Months with B42

[THE REAL CAPT3N]

After almost 2 months, I thought I might, but I really haven't came around to the Crosshair and General Aim Mechanics. I know it's still unstable/experimental, but the direction of aiming/gun mechanics isn't very satisfying and I think this is ultimately the wrong direction for it.

If you wanted to keep this system/direction, I think making aim skill less grindy, but making aim level 0 feel like aim level 1 or 2, and aim level 3 the new aim level 1, that would help.

And then you gatekeep the powerspike of guns behind loot rarity even more (even if its unrealistic). Guns should should feel reliable almost from the get-go, and your player's ability should level up with them much faster (for the sake of fun, if for nothing else.)

But using a shotgun that misses on close targets more than other guns, and shooting and hitting something like over a dozen times before it dies is like anti-satisfying. And then blowing hundreds of rounds in this manner to get a level up... is grindy and not very fun.

(I don't mind the shotgun exp nerf generally speaking, but think the gameplay loop of finding a shotgun and getting a bunch of shells then leading to a few aim levels and opening up the ability to use other guns was fun.)

The reduction in multi-hit power is also alright with me, not as fun as before, but it fits with the general B42 experience.

Anyways, I wouldn't mind seeing the crosshair go away, but if not my real hope for aiming mechanics is that we could get a real crosshair. This crosshair/aiming systems is just the old system, but with a crosshair overlay..

Too often the game chooses to shoot at something I'm not aiming at, like the old system. Which compounds the dissatisfaction when its happening with a crosshair. (A Crosshair doesn't fit the random chance/RPG element of the game if you ask me. And compensating with a Damage Chance mechanic that makes you hit the target, but you have to shoot it like 15+ times to do lethal damage is... leaving something to be desired. It's fun, maybe for like 1 Zomboid. Then a slog that trivializes guns for your first few levels, which are now quite grindy. I wouldn't mind nerfing guns by making their sound radius even wider, but the grindy, weak guns meta has less appeal.)

And that's not including the sort of awkwardness/clumsiness/bugginess that comes with it in this experimental phase. But with that, the guns/aiming situation is kind of enough to make even a Project Zomboid Veteran lose interest in using them. (As someone who always used guns late game).

If we could get an aiming system with an authentic crosshair that works in a 1:1 ratio of aim/hit target, then the crosshair might be something, but short of that it seems out of place in PZ, especially if its just an overlay, and especially if it takes then over a dozen bullets to kill something, which must be repeated over the course of hundreds of bullets and many Zeds to achieve an aim level that provides a more satisfying experience, around aim level 3.

I wouldn't mind seeing Sandbox Options for Aim Mechanic Style, B41 or 42, RPG Style Crosshair, or True Crosshair like a real shooter or something.

[Atti]

At this point gun play is just a sad husk from it's former self.

I get it, when your skill isn't high you shouldn't hit from far away or hit every shot. BUT at the starting levels the Z's have to be direct in front of you that you maybe hit, point blank and there is still a chance you miss a shot.
And with the new chance to damage it feels like you're holding a BB gun or maybe a paintball gun.
The only use I have for guns now is, stand outside a buidling, fire some shots from the m9 and pull out the Z's in the building, than switch to meele and kill 'em.

Originally posted by THE REAL CAPT3N:

I wouldn't mind seeing Sandbox Options for Aim Mechanic Style, B41 or 42, RPG Style Crosshair, or True Crosshair like a real shooter or something.

that would be awesome, this solution would benefit people who like the old system and people who like the new system.