So I've been thinking about how PB2.5 could combine both the current upgrade system along with some other additions, mainly attachments, and here's what I've come up with:
Attachments could be added to weapons past a certain weapon upgrade level. Weapon upgrade levels would also give a general damage/accuracy buff, but not enough to warrant not using accuracy related attachments.
Here's a list of attachments:
Laser (Human): The laser looks like it does on most weapons that have lasers, but longer (not as long as the sniper's laser). Improves accuracy. It can give away your position
Laser (Alien): Above, but instead the laser would be green/purple. For only alien weapons, improves their accuracy slightly more so than the regular laser. Laser is brighter and a bit more noticeable.
Grip: Has a few variants that all have the same stats (CS, C9, Alien, etc). Decreases recoil as well as increasing the speed in which you can move your weapon (double edged sword here).
Scope: Has variants. Zooms the screen of the player out slightly when used. Cannot be used on all weapons by default. The sniper rifle always has this attachment by default (and the laser, too), but it can be taken off.
Suppressor: Has an Alien variant. The suppressor is only for basic ballistic weapons (pistols, rifles, shotguns). Muffles shots, improves accuracy slightly, hides you from the minimap (if that is an added feature) while firing, but lowers damage.
Hair trigger: Improves rate of fire, with a slight accuracy nerf. Only available to basic ballistic weapons (pistols/rifles/shotguns), with the exception of some energy based automatics (Ray Rifle, Plasmagun).
Sight: Comes in several variants (Red dot, Alien, etc) all with minor differences. Allows you to right click and 'sight in' which would give you a bit more accuracy, zoom your screen out slightly, and lower your movement speed.
Energy accelerator: Increases the projectile speed of energy projectiles, but lowers damage slightly. Only works on energy based weapons such as the BNG and the Plasmagun.
That's just a few, I could probably list more but I don't want this post to become any bigger than it already is.
Anyways, attachments would give at least one upside to the applied weapon, while also giving at least one, generally minor, downside.
Attachments would unlock depending on how upgraded the weapon is. A level 3 BNG would have all attachments (that work with the gun that is) unlocked for it, while a level 1 CS-RC might only be able have a sight attachment or grip attachment unlocked. Weapon upgrades would also affect how many attachments the weapon could take, ideally one attachment slot would unlock with each upgrade (0 at no upgrades, 3 at max).
Any thoughts?