The thing is CBS has since allowed beam colours to be different so there's no reason not to add in a cosmetic slot or two for weapons.
I say two because you could have one as a colour unifier and the other as the visual effect.
Cryptic maybe need to go back and have a chat with the powers that be over this as it would open the door for ship based zen cosmetics. Although there is the risk they'd simply be dumped into gambleboxes like the vanity shields are because the beancounters are cowards unwilling to test the waters on selling cosmetic fluff.
If it's so important to CBS that Phasers be Orange then explain the Undine Phasers (Green) .
Explain why Andorian Phasers are blue. Different species/factions/types almost always have different aesthetics which represents an implicit technological distinction. A la orange phasers in TNG after blue in TOS/TMP. Weapon color isn't arbitrary in-universe. Hence, arbitrary color changes being disallowed by those with creative control.
The thing is CBS has since allowed beam colours to be different so there's no reason not to add in a cosmetic slot or two for weapons.
So we'll have them get straight to work on rainbow sparkling badger mounts for space combat because if some things changed through the series (ex. how the Klingons looked and behaved in TMP) that means anything is absolutely justifiable.
Either that or its a spurious argument to paper over the basic problem with the suggestion which no one's taken a crack at (fancy that) that players already have full control over the weapon aesthetics through a 1:1 connection to weapon type (it cuts both ways). Don't want you phasers to look that way? Change phasers, there's plenty to choose from now. It's as simple as that. Weapon visuals aren't changing, so take the minor DPS hit from using a suboptimal type or accept that your priorities don't favor aesthetics to begin with (demonstrably, the numbers hold greater or equal sway over your decision making.)
Changing weapon visuals is a minor QoL feature at best and it has core franchise hurdles and severe technical challenges (it's not a simple problem and from what they've said Cryptic apparently doesn't want to tackle this beyond their initial exploration) to torpedo it as a viable suggestion. The direct answer from them (as well as CBS) is no.
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Bottom line is that this option is never going to happen.
The devs will blame CBS, if you want to believe that.. it's cool. But I don't buy it, never did. Rather you think it's a legit reason or not, bottom line is we're not getting a cosmetic weapon slot and that's a shame.
I'm fairly sure that one of the Devs posted on Reddit a while back that there is some technobabble reasson why the visuals are linked to the mechanics of the weaponry. It's how the game determines what is being shot with so changing the colours is not as simple as a flick of a button or a checkbox. If it really is entwined with the mechanics i'd prefer they leave it well alone!
A lot of people are talking about altering visuals of the actual projectiles. What would be wrong with having the option to just keep your weapons looking like they do in the shows and movies? Why can't I keep my rifles looking like this?
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rattler2Member, Star Trek Online ModeratorPosts: 58,833Community Moderator
A lot of people are talking about altering visuals of the actual projectiles. What would be wrong with having the option to just keep your weapons looking like they do in the shows and movies? Why can't I keep my rifles looking like this?
I can't take it anymore! Could everyone just chill out for two seconds before something CRAZY happens again?!
The nut who actually ground out many packs. The resident forum voice of reason (I HAZ FORUM REP! YAY!)
normal text = me speaking as fellow formite colored text = mod mode
Simple: phasers should look like phasers (and so on down the line.) Each weapon effect, be it from canon or Cryptic, represents the identity of that weapon. Change that, change the identity. CBS was to keep that core aesthetic relationship (which Trek has always kept. Whenever weapon visuals change that means something in the IP.)
So, if you want to change your weapon visuals you'll have to change your weapons. That's the rule.
It's a GAME, it's not a series or movie, games shouldn't have to be 100% accurate to the canon otherwise they would be on-rails movie based games.
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I say two because you could have one as a colour unifier and the other as the visual effect.
Cryptic maybe need to go back and have a chat with the powers that be over this as it would open the door for ship based zen cosmetics. Although there is the risk they'd simply be dumped into gambleboxes like the vanity shields are because the beancounters are cowards unwilling to test the waters on selling cosmetic fluff.
Explain why Andorian Phasers are blue. Different species/factions/types almost always have different aesthetics which represents an implicit technological distinction. A la orange phasers in TNG after blue in TOS/TMP. Weapon color isn't arbitrary in-universe. Hence, arbitrary color changes being disallowed by those with creative control.
Welcome to Trek.
So we'll have them get straight to work on rainbow sparkling badger mounts for space combat because if some things changed through the series (ex. how the Klingons looked and behaved in TMP) that means anything is absolutely justifiable.
Either that or its a spurious argument to paper over the basic problem with the suggestion which no one's taken a crack at (fancy that) that players already have full control over the weapon aesthetics through a 1:1 connection to weapon type (it cuts both ways). Don't want you phasers to look that way? Change phasers, there's plenty to choose from now. It's as simple as that. Weapon visuals aren't changing, so take the minor DPS hit from using a suboptimal type or accept that your priorities don't favor aesthetics to begin with (demonstrably, the numbers hold greater or equal sway over your decision making.)
Changing weapon visuals is a minor QoL feature at best and it has core franchise hurdles and severe technical challenges (it's not a simple problem and from what they've said Cryptic apparently doesn't want to tackle this beyond their initial exploration) to torpedo it as a viable suggestion. The direct answer from them (as well as CBS) is no.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
The devs will blame CBS, if you want to believe that.. it's cool. But I don't buy it, never did. Rather you think it's a legit reason or not, bottom line is we're not getting a cosmetic weapon slot and that's a shame.
It really is a cool idea.
I would say more, but CBS won't let me.
I actually want that rifle.
normal text = me speaking as fellow formite
colored text = mod mode