Here's how Callisto's weapon switching works:

[Ting]

I saw a thread complaining about the weapon selection stuff in the game, and I think it's a fair point that it's really not an ideal system. But do you actually know how it works, and why it fails to do what you *think* it should do? Read on.

The Callisto Protocol, some time into the game, provides the player with a "quick switching" utility. This utility allows you to swap quickly between two weapons, but how does the game decide which weapons? When you press '2' on the keypad to bring up the total list of weapons, sometimes when you select a weapon what you want to happen actually happens, while other times, nothing happens!

The key is in understanding what the "quick switching" utility does. This weapon harness, given to the player, holds a maximum of 2 weapons. We'll call those the "Short Weapon Slot" (or SWS), and a "Long Weapon Shot" (or LWS). Examples of short weapons are pistol type weapons, or the Skunk gun; basically weapons that use the receiver associated with the pistol. Examples of long weapons are weapons like the Riot shotgun or the Assault Rifle.

The quick switching utility allows you to quickly switch between your SWS or LWS. The problem is, how do you know what is *currently* occupying your SWS or LWS? Sadly, you do *not*.

So what is happening when you select a weapon from the '2' key? Well, it doesn't break any rules. Suppose what you currently have equipped in your SWS is the default pistol, and in your LWS is the Riot shotgun. Now, also suppose that what you currently have equipped on your person (ie, your active weapon you're holding) is the Riot shotgun. What will happen if you try to select the Skunk Gun? The answer is that you *cannot*. What you will instead equip is the handgun in your SWS. When you select a gun from the total list of guns, you're in essence saying "give me whatever is currently in my SWS or LWS." If, on the other hand, the gun you select is in the SWS **category**, and your currently active weapon is also in that same category, then Jacob will switch the gun on the receiver to be that weapon. In other words, weapons of type SWS may always switch to weapons of that type, and a weapon of LWS may always do the same.

As you might imagine, this causes no end of issues for players who are expecting to be able to quickly switch from one weapon to *any* weapon, and it doesn't help that the game's "Quick switch" utility doesn't explain what it really does or how it really works: pressing the '1' key will only swap between your SWS and your LWS, not your entire suite of weaponry. Likewise, the '2' key only lets you select a weapon if you currently have equipped a weapon of similar type. Confusing, huh?

I believe they should at least patch the game such that a player can quickly determine what is in both the SWS and LWS slots. It may be a valid choice to have switching take as long as it does (even if it makes things less responsive or fun), but the way things are set up now simply doesn't communicate enough information to the user when they need it.

I hope this thread clears up what the hell is happening with your gun switching. Also, as will not surprise you, when you do switch your weapon your gun will generally come without any ammo. This is also confusing and painful to have to go through an entire other animation just to get ammo for the weapon you laboriously switched to, so I hope they patch it to just automatically fill the magazine.

Given this explanation, it's worth pointing out: this behavior is not a bug. It's not well designed, either, but it is certainly not a bug.

[Wiesshund]

even just a small hud display showing what is in the 2 "slots" would be good

I know that i have both walked around, and forgot what it had queued up

Or pulled like the tactical pistol by mistake, and now i have two short weapons queued up
so quick switch to riot gun aint happening.

My next playthrough that wont be a problem, cause i think i have decided i am only going to keep the skunk gun and the hand cannon.

Yea switching will be a bit slower since they share the same receiver and have to be assembled, but i got a baton so...

[Lonely FireWolf]

Originally posted by Ting:

The quick switching utility allows you to quickly switch between your SWS or LWS. The problem is, how do you know what is *currently* occupying your SWS or LWS? Sadly, you do *not*.

That is not true. I uninstalled game, but I believe I saw in inventory menu little icon in right corner by weapons, that I have in first and second slot.

[Wiesshund]

Originally posted by Lonely FireWolf:

Originally posted by Ting:

The quick switching utility allows you to quickly switch between your SWS or LWS. The problem is, how do you know what is *currently* occupying your SWS or LWS? Sadly, you do *not*.

That is not true. I uninstalled game, but I believe I saw in inventory menu little icon in right corner by weapons, that I have in first and second slot.

I see the flashing thing, but its by everything at the same time
so im not honestly sure what it means
I see on on the ammo stacks too sometimes

[Lonely FireWolf]

Ok, it is in left corner, not right. You can see it here for example: https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/The-Callisto-Protocol-review-10.jpg/BROK/resize/1200x1200%3E/format/jpg/quality/70/The-Callisto-Protocol-review-10.jpg

[Lonely FireWolf]

Originally posted by Wiesshund:

Originally posted by Lonely FireWolf:

That is not true. I uninstalled game, but I believe I saw in inventory menu little icon in right corner by weapons, that I have in first and second slot.

I see the flashing thing, but its by everything at the same time
so im not honestly sure what it means
I see on on the ammo stacks too sometimes

You mean flashing dot. That means that thing is new in your inventory and you didn't hover over it.

[lieutenantkirtar]

It isn't like there are a lot of weapons to keep track of. All you have to remember is if you were last using a shotgun or assault rifle, and if you were using hand cannon, skunk, or pistol.

If you don't buy every weapon it is even easier and you get more ammo for each weapon reducing how much you need to swap even more.