While I was imagining what my character might be like in Pantheon, I came across something that hadn't really occured to me before. The location of weapons not currently in use. I saw some limited discussion within other topics about this, and thought I'd start a dedicated one to see what everyone's opinions is. Honest, I used the search function!
Given that so many MMOs have covered a lot of ground over the years, from the simple 'always holding them' of old to 'walking armory' with every weapon displayed to various modern incarnations, I think it would be very cool (though unnecessary, since this is a pretty extraneous detail) to be able to choose where you store your weapons.
There's also a few other questions that you can delve into with this, that I'll get to in a moment because they require some pretty big assumptions*.
I'll just lay out what I think are a few standard/neat options to get us started.
Staff casters - always holding it or conjuring it when you begin your casting actions.
Dagger/cudgel/wand + offhand casters - maybe a choice of having the wand in a case/sheath at your side, or strapped across your lower back. Cudgels and daggers seem like they'd best belong on a belt, I can't really think of another good spot. Maybe conjuring your focus items with a snap of your fingies would work for this too?
Two-weapon fighters - cross on the back, or one at each hip?
Two-dagger users - forearm sheaths? Maybe the weapons would be too big for this, or the art just wouldn't work out.
That's all I can think of at the moment. Not terribly creative, I'm afraid.
*Assumption time; if we were allowed to equip multiple weapons but have an active and inactive set, wouldn't it be cool to be able to show the inactive one? For example, a fighter wielding two swords from the hip, and with a large two-handed axe on his back. Seems like there'd be a lot of situations where there would be a conflict and this would look ugly, though. Perhaps this isn't a good idea, haha.
What are some other spots for various class/combat styles you guys can think of? What would you really like to see for your character?
I suppose another good question is - how realistic do you want your inactive weapon storage to be? Do you mind them dangling there at your sides, or want them strapped into something?
I imagine this as somewhat of a racial and class artistic approach? So a gnome rogue might hide them away behind the cloak, but a human rogue might have a utility belt that displays the weapons. The major component would be to code the unique weapon graphic into the display of the utility belt? or just have a basic graphic displayed? IDK it is something to think about though. I do like the idea of when i am climbing or running or just basically not fighting having my weapons tucked away, but visible. I imagine playing a direlord and would love to have the two weapons on my back when i am climbing stuff.
I like Sheathing weapons out of combat over having a death grip on them for the rest of your life LoL. Something to choose where you stash them like in Warframe is pretty sweet, doesn't have to be that complex. Would be pretty cool to have daggers/shortswords part of armor graphics.
As soneone who carries a weapon most places, I don't run around with my Glock in one hand and my knife in the other. I keep them in their repective carriers (pocket and Kydex holster). I think that we should have to draw weapons for combat and put them away for non-combat situationss. That being said, if someone waants to run around with their weapons drawn too, I thiink that thye should be able to.
Choices my good man..... Choices.
An appearance ui option in your character window is always a nice thing. If you're into such a thing. I happen to be one of those people.
I don't see this being available at launch, but in due time...sure.
When it's just about the location of your equipped weapons, I don't see why you can not sheath them if you're not fighting.
Pretty difficult crafting when holding two swords, or riding a horse or harvesting. It makes sense to me that if you kneel down to harvest from a shrubbery that your twohanded axe is situated/fixated on your back. I'm not sure why dev's would not do this from launch. It would definately impact my game experience. If I see my character holding his weapons all the time in any situation, that would be a real dealbreaker for me.
I really doubt that VR would fail to deliver on this one. (based on what's been shown so far).
Weapons can be fixated on your back vertically, diagonally if they are large enough. Smaller weapons could be horizontally placed behind your back (backpack).
Axes and daggers fit nicely on the hips. Small daggers could fit could fit crossways on the frontside of the belt.
Neat, but perhaps too far, would be daggers fixated on the side of your legs. Perhaps more of a class outfit?
Tomes and relics often dissappear and are not shown, that's a pitty. I don't see why you can not have a tome bulking out a backpack or just fixated by some straps on your back. Relics and dolls can be fit alongside the belt or in a specific 'appearance only' sack. Symbols could actually be worn around the neck or diagonally across the body hung by a long cord, instead of just dissappearing when out of combat.
Musical instruments can go all over the place really, at the hips, on the back, across the body even on a hat.
Armour gloves can be worn again on the belt, or perhaps the blades of the gloves can be moved up the upper arm so it looks like an armwrap/bracelet.
Shields can be worn on the arm, if it's small, basic and/or leather. Across the back of the body, vertical or diagonal. Smaller metal shields could be worn just behind one shoulder or again at the side of the hips.
Blunt weapons again at the hips or on the back, behind one shoulder, vertical or diagonally across the back.
This again could stretch too far, but just about all one-handed weapons, that aren't too bulky could be placed inside a backback (this could look like it's hung on the side of the backback or sticking out somewhere) I would guess it's usually on the sides of a backpack since it could damage/contaminate goods on the inside and one would want to grab it quickly without having to remove the backpack. So other than appearance for sheathed weapons, you'll have appearance of weaponloaded backpacks as well here.