Not always the right time
As mentioned on the previous page, putting a special weapon in the player's hands in the right moment can be an empowering experience. It can be frustrating in equal amount, though, to let the player get a special weapon in the wrong situation.
Timeline-wise, we're back at the Thermite Rifle enemy fight described on the previous page.
After the player defeats the armored guard, he feels rewarded by the opportunity to pick up the dropped special weapon. However, the brief "clean up" fight after that is against only 4-5 enemies and part of it takes place without a "backboard," making the weapon more difficult to use.
Whether the player uses the weapon on those guards or not, he likely hasn't emptied its cartridge, so he probably keeps it with him in preparation for a big, upcoming fight.
Working his way up some scaffolding and a few climbable ledges, he approaches the sniper who has Lakshmi pinned down in the nearby street!
After taking out the sniper, Galahad takes up his weapon and takes his place, ready to protect Lakshmi and help her move forward.
But, wait! The player character in The Order is only allowed one "rifle-like" main weapon, and the designers have just forced a sniper rifle into his hands! Where did the Thermite Rifle he was saving go?
Naturally, it's lost. As mentioned on the previous page, the Thermite Rifle enemy was a late addition, squeezed into a spot he wasn't originally planned for.
Overall, we designers on The Order: 1886 tried to ensure we never scripted a good weapon—or even a bad one—out of the player's hands. The weapon choice should be the player's whenever possible.
Certain cases have certain needs, though, and this one just turned into a bummer.
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