Weapon Types (Part 3/3)

The last but not the least bunch of planned weapon animation sets, not weapons themselves, but the way characters hold and interact with the weapon.

Combat Staves

While it might seem ordinary, this category is extremely versatile, be it just long sticks, bladed staves, sickles, polearms, spears, all can use similar animations. The beautiful moves and intricate dancing fightstyles are expected to be bundled with such weapon as well, however that is, no doubt, still a lot of work to animate.

Gameplay wise, staves also provide a great middle ground between a melee and a ranged weapon, and not only because of the extended reach - some of them have special devices on one of their ends that can shoot energy projectiles, akin to staves seen in Stargate series...

Light Ranged Weapons - Open Palm

Weaponize your hands with special gloves! This is one form of light energy weapons, both for ranged and melee. Can't really give any examples without referencing certain comic book characters, but the idea should be clear - you just use your hands to shoot or manipulate things directly. 

This animation set is also usable for certain non physical special abilities...

Heavy Ranged Weapons

Two handed heavy weapon animation set! Used in weapons like rocket launchers, miniguns, heavy-duty energy weapons, etc...

Big, bulky, powerful weapons. Not much is needed to be said - its awesome. One problem though - running with this thing might prove difficult, but while it might slow you down, no need to underestimate its firing power. Some big mean industrial tools will use this animation set as well.

Head-mounted ranged weapons

Some species don't have the luxury of having arms available for use at all times (quadrupeds), some have necks longer than their arms (theropods), and some just have wings instead (wyverns)... So when it comes to using most types of weapons it is a bit of a problem, as they require hands to operate. 

Some weapons, like medium ranged ones (first post in the series) offer an automatic aiming shoulder mounting system, and some just levitate and don't require hands to use, but this one, by far, is the most close to nature ranged weapon possible...

Simply aim it with your head, look where you want to shoot and with with a simple mental command (or, even better, a commanding roar), let the shot loose... Needless to say, using similar to bullets projectiles would mean creating recoil and very loud noises, which don't feel that nice when mounted directly to your head regardless of who you are... 

That's why it's mostly only energy weapons that can be head-mounted. Special abilities, such as fire-breathing, also use this animation set.