walters scrappy slingshot frame should be early/mid game item instead of being locked behind celestial champion

[PLISxd]

Walter’s slingshot damage is significantly lower compared to most close-range weapons. When I finally saw an item that could make the slingshot competitive with other weapons, I was happy. However, my excitement quickly faded when I realized the cost defeating the Celestial Champion. Having to overcome such a difficult boss just to make Walter’s weapon comparable to standard ones feels unreasonable. Let me explain my reasoning in detail.

1. Charged Attacks Locked Behind the Final Boss

This point is more subjective, but I find charged attacks much more enjoyable to use than regular ones. Locking this feature behind the Celestial Champion—essentially the game’s final boss—feels far too late in progression. Players should be able to enjoy such a mechanic earlier in the game.

2. Mid-Game Potential

I ran some tests, and Walter with the Scrappy Slingshot can defeat Deerclops just as quickly as Wilson using a typical weapon. Shifting the availability of the slingshot upgrade to the mid-game would finally allow it to compete with other weapons instead of being completely outclassed. This change would make Walter more viable during earlier stages of progression.

3. Underwhelming in the Late Game

For the late game, this weapon remains underwhelming, especially considering its cost. The celetial Champion Crystal used to craft it could instead be spent on far more valuable items, such as Warbis Armor or Wigfrid’s weapon upgrade—both of which are stronger in my opinion.

 

To resolve these concerns, I propose the following changes to make the Scrappy Slingshot more accessible earlier in the game while still preserving some sense of progression:

1. Adjust Crafting Requirements
   Instead of requiring the Celestial Champion, the Scrappy Slingshot could be crafted using:

   • More Scrap (6-10)
   • A couple of Gears(2-4)
   • Either warbis Repair Kit or the Horizon Expanditor

   This adjustment would still gate the weapon behind a boss, but it would be a much earlier and more reasonable boss, making it easier and faster to obtain compared to the Celestial Champion.

2. Late-Game Enhancement
   To keep the weapon relevant in the late game, I suggest adding a new feature similar to Wigfrid’s weapon upgrades. The Scrappy Slingshot could be combined with the Celestial Champion Crystal to unlock the following benefits:

   • Increased damage output
   • An expanded ammo capacity (up to 999 rounds).

   this expanded ammo capacity would be exclusive to the upgraded version, making the normal version no longer have this feature

 

 

[PLISxd]

also if scrappy slingshot would get this change the thulecite frame should also gain end game upgrade but instead of celestial crystal it could get the possesed heart giving you both shadow and lunar upgrades to slingshot in endgame

[Catuna_]

On 11/23/2024 at 2:10 PM, PLISxd said:

For the late game, this weapon remains underwhelming, especially considering its cost. The celetial Champion Crystal used to craft it could instead be spent on far more valuable items, such as Warbis Armor or Wigfrid’s weapon upgrade—both of which are stronger in my opinion.

wigfrid's weapon upgrade is both character exclusive (unrelated to walter) and doesn't even require a shard? warbis armor and the slingshot are not mutually exclusive? and it also sucks...
the slingshot isn't supposed to be better than melee weapons, i don't think people understand this, it's fine at the current power level it's in

 

[kroban]

Nah I think its fine, Thulecite frame is pretty good and its supposed to be more of the early-mid game alternative. In fact its soo good that I have seen people saying that they prefer Thulecite frame over Scrappy's lmao. Not only that but, Klei said that they are going to give Thulecite frame its own special attacks with the magic ammo, so I think that both are going to be on pair, to the point that almost all Walter players will most likely carry 2 separate slingshot with the 2 frames for the end game.

On 11/23/2024 at 10:10 AM, PLISxd said:

For the late game, this weapon remains underwhelming, especially considering its cost. The celetial Champion Crystal used to craft it could instead be spent on far more valuable items, such as Warbis Armor or Wigfrid’s weapon upgrade—both of which are stronger in my opinion.

 I dont think scrappy frame is expensive at all, the scrap is easily obtainable without even having to kill Scrappy, hell if you have a Winona friend I bet there will be lots of scraps just laying around the map. The pure brilliance is obtainable pre-rift thanks to Wilson. And Walter already used to have an easy time against Celestial Champion, post-skill tree he will have it even easier against it. Getting the shard as Walter is pretty much a walk in the park. And why would you want to spend the shard on Wigfrid's weapon if you are already playing another character?

[PLISxd]

30 minutes ago, Catuna_ said:

wigfrid's weapon upgrade is both character exclusive (unrelated to walter) and doesn't even require a shard? warbis armor and the slingshot are not mutually exclusive? and it also sucks...
the slingshot isn't supposed to be better than melee weapons, i don't think people understand this, it's fine at the current power level it's in

You're right—I don’t play Wigfrid, so I didn’t know how to upgrade her spear. However, the point remains that you can only upgrade it during the endgame, making it a good weapon for early and mid-game while still being solid in the endgame.

That said, I completely disagree with the idea that it shouldn’t be better than melee weapons. Walter’s slingshot should be slightly stronger than Wilson using a melee weapon. After all, Walter’s main gimmick is the slingshot, and it’s the primary reason someone would choose to play him. Woby is outclassed by the beefalo (and I really hope they buff her before this update is released), and Walter’s survival abilities are more like “nice extras” rather than core strengths. The only truly strong ability he has is Fearless, so his slingshot should be more effective—especially because character-specific weapons are usually designed to be better than other alternatives.

Look at Wormwood’s Bramble Husk, Wigfrid’s spears, or Wanda’s clocks. These items encourage players to use them when playing those characters. If Walter’s slingshot were worse than standard melee weapons, what incentive would there be to use it? And considering the slingshot is Walter’s defining feature, why would anyone choose to play him if his main ability is weaker than most other weapons?

12 minutes ago, kroban said:

And Walter already used to have an easy time against Celestial Champion,

my problem isnt fighting him but getting to him especilly for newer player it would take alot of time 

[Mysterious box]

35 minutes ago, kroban said:

Nah I think its fine, Thulecite frame is pretty good and its supposed to be more of the early-mid game alternative. In fact its soo good that I have even seen people saying that they prefer Thulecite rather than Scrappy lmao. Not only that but, Klei said that they are even going to give Thulecite frame its own special attacks with the magic ammo, so I think that both are going to be on pair, to the point that almost all Walter players will most likely carry 2 separate slingshot with the 2 frames for the end game.

 I dont think scrappy frame is expensive at all, the scrap is easily obtainable without even having to kill Scrappy, hell if you have a Winona friend you could just ask them for some scraps. The pure brilliance is obtainable pre-rift thanks to Wilson. And Walter already used to have an easy time against Celestial Champion, post-skill tree he will have it even easier against it. Getting the shard as Walter is pretty much a walk in the park. And why would you want to spend the shard on Wigfrid's weapon if you are already playing another character?

Personally I sorta get both ends of the spectrum the only thing that makes the scrappy slingshot "end game" worthy is the fact that it has a infinite ammo slot as for the reason some prefer the thulecite frame is because you can use 2 different types of ammos at once.

Technically this could be solved by further breaking down the modular process with the slingshot for example add additional slots on the slingshot and give the choice of changed shot or special shot and double slot or infinite slot with the infinite slot mod still costing a brilliant shard.