NEW WEAPON TYPE:

The Triggerblade

Based on Final Fantasy's Gunblade (renamed just because the regular one does't actually shoot, although this one actually does now), it brings the Trigger mechanic inspired by its original title, into Hytale. The mod offers custom animations for attacks and moving around, in third and first person.

This weapon aims to be technical and harder to master its full potential than the regular weapons already availible, granting a varied moveset that's not easy to use all at first but can work on dungeons, party compositions and more advanced content more easily. Without using the trigger, this weapon is faster than a Battleaxe but slower than a one handed sword, yet being two handed still deals damage above the one handed weapons but less than the Battleaxe. It's about being patient, knowing when to attack, when to reload and when to pull the trigger and go all in.

The perfect mix between a Knight and a Gunslinger Artificer.

To craft it, it's in the blade's section on the regular weapon bench. The fire cartridges can be crafted on the weapons bench or the arcanists bench. This is done to not clutter your world with more benches.

MOVESET:

All attacks are controled through the primary click, but as the mace does already, the charged move changes depending on the direction you are moving once you click down and hold. The input is registered as soon as you're not attacking or defending and start holding down the button, so train your timings, soldier.

Charge Forward: A leaping attack like the battleaxe, perfect for a surprise assault through the air.

Charge Neutral, Back or Diagonal Back: The all trusty one hand sword thrust.

Charge Left and/or Right (even if going diagonally forward): A "Hyaaah" (Link) inspired move, circular slash all around you.

- PULL THE TRIGGER, WATCH 'EM BURN ! -

The (E) key allows you to pull the trigger if you have reloaded the weapon with special ammo, called Fire Cartridges. Crafted with copper, red crystal shards and fire essence, this ammo allows you to upgrade EVERY move, even the basic combo strikes (uncharged). Beware!, the trigger effect lasts only 1.5s, so be quick on deciding what to do with it. It takes time to perfect the moment and know the correct option, but I think it adds depth and raises the skill ceiling. For more easy to use weapons, there are the normal ones that don't require managing slashes and pulling the trigger at the right time. This is what was about in FF8. Rewarding good timing, you can do 2 chain combo attaks enhanced if quick cancelled between strikes, or a basic attack AND a charged one, all dealing 1.5x more damage (Fire ammo) or 1.2x for Crystaline (Keep attacking with it and it can add another 1.2x with defense down for teammates to join on better damage as well!). The bonus is split between physical(slashing) and fire damage, so not everyone will be prepared perfectly to withstand your assault.

Fire Enhanced Moves:

Charging Forward: The damage is stronger and is faster to charge up. Meant to still be able to engage even if the trigger is active.

Charging Neutral or Back: Time to shoot. Aim down your barrel(Blade?) and shoot a fireball that ignites enemies on contact. Meant to keep them on their toes if they decide to give you space on the battlefield, or you see them first outside your blade's reach.

Charging Sides (even if going diagonally forward): The "Hyaaah" inspired move now does 2 hits, inspired by "fated circle" from Squall Lionheart. The first one attracts enemies a bit towards you, all around you, only to pull the trigger automatically a second time and blast all around. The second hit is fire damage only, and sets enemies ablaze, but be careful with those tough critters with fire immunity, and watch out for your teammates with the blast, as they will still get flung out by the explosion.

(NEW!) Crystaline Enhanced Moves:

Basic Attacks: They deal 1.2 times normal damage, but each hit adds Defense Down to the enemy (Up to Def Down Lvl2)

Charging Forward: Currently does the normal attack.

Charging Neutral or Back: This ammo doesn't shoot, instead it deploys a shield for the user for 8 seconds. During that time, you become a tank-role, granting yourself a bit of extra max health, 30% resistence to physical and projectiles, and 20% resistence to elemental damage (Watch out with poison tho!!). Blocking with a Triggerblade while this effect is on grant's a 360º protection field, able to block attacks even from behind. Hold down the click long enough to charge the bar at full, and upon releasing this effect will be granted not only to you, but your close allies as well!

Charging Sides (even if going diagonally forward): The "Hyaaah" inspired move now does 2 hits, inspired by "fated circle" from Squall Lionheart. The first one attracts enemies a bit towards you, all around you again. The explosion from the second hit, automatically triggered, ads more defense down to the enemy taking into account how much Def Down the target already has (Lvl1 to Lvl3, Lvl2 to Lvl4, if none adds atumatically Def Down Lvl2).

This is my first ever mod, made thanks to how easy and intuitive Hytale is to mod with the Asset Editor already. A long way to go, but here for it.

What's to come:

Animations: clean-up and enhance current ones.
Moveset: Improve/add moves.
Tweak Fire ammo, make it more interesting.
Propper trailer showcasing combos and utility of the weapon type.
Concept-Art Sharing, for those interested (On X I'm more active on sharing current development)
A "Repair Kit" style item that allows you to craft cartridges on the go only with crystals and essence, having packed in it the copper shells needed, allowing you to stay exploring longer if you happen to be out there fighting to break the curse.
Prisma variants/tiers (Have I heard a Dark Silver variant as well? MajorDungeons anyone?)
Trigger Breaker Armor set (To feel like a Gunbreaker from Final Fantasy XIV Online)
Implement a custom class for Endless Leveling.
Implement some unparriable moves for Perfect Parries.
More ammo types (for now just letting you know: It's going to get "shockingly cool" ;) )
More "Fantasy Weapon" mods with new movesets. (Less complex than this weapon type tho)