Improved Weapon Balance  

Weapons in the game feel a bit weak in straight-up fights, which makes sense in this setting and encourages careful exploration. However, in certain situations like open combat with groups or later-game boss fights, it can be frustrating. Additionally, the way firearms focus (when the crosshair tightens and any corresponding stat changes) works differently for different weapons.

This mod aims to address these issues and improve the overall balance without making James too powerful. It selectively and conservatively increases damage output while making adjustments to handling and capacity to compensate and maintain the tension in combat.

Melee weapons (excluding the chainsaw) have received a 25% boost to their damage. Firearms have had tweaks to secondary stats and damage buffs for the shotgun (20%) and rifle (25%). The handgun does not receive a damage boost by default, but an optional add-on is available that gives it a 20% boost. There is also an optional chainsaw add-on, which balances it for use as a strong "standard" melee weapon.

The mod is balanced around the hard difficulty level, so your experience may vary on lower settings.
Alternate "buff-only" Lite version also available.
Alternate Melee-only version also available, if the firearm adjustments aren't to your preference.
Alternate "nerf-only" Hardcore version also available, with a flat 50% weapon damage reduction.
All versions are fully compatible with Extreme Difficulties (see installation instructions below).

==// Melee Weapons //==

**Wooden Plank**
Damage increased: 25 → 31

**Pipe**
Damage increased: 36 → 45

**Chainsaw (optional)**
Damage decreased: 400 → 135

The standard melee weapons are well-balanced, but a slight increase in their damage helps enemies fall faster. The chainsaw can now be seen as a strong but more balanced "regular" melee weapon, allowing you to choose your preferred approach.

==// Firearms //==

**Handgun**
Unfocused spread decreased: [0.4, 1.0] → [0.4, 0.8]
Focused spread decreased: [0.4, 0.5] → [0.2, 0.3]
Focus gain speed increased: 1.0 → 1.35
Focus movement penalty added (optional)

This mod speeds up the reticle focusing and increases overall accuracy, making it easier to use tactical leg/knee shots to set up melee finishers. There is no change to the damage, emphasizing the role of the weapon as a tool, but an optional 20% buff is available as an add-on.

Movement (character, not camera/aiming) now reduces focus, similar to the rifle and most games with these mechanics. This affects both reticle bloom and accuracy, but it is not present in the Lite version and can be selectively disabled using the optional add-on if you prefer the vanilla behavior.

**Shotgun**
Damage increased: 35 [x6] → 42 [x6]
Focused spread decreased: [3, 4] → [3, 3]
Unfocused spread increased: [3, 4] → [4, 5] (optional)
Ammo capacity decreased: 6 → 4 (optional)

In the vanilla game, this weapon has the same accuracy/spread values in both focused and unfocused states, making stopping movement to line up your shot meaningless. To fix this, the spread when focused (which is most of the time when not moving, as the focus gain speed is very high by default) has been slightly tightened, so more of the 6 pellets are likely to hit your target. The unfocused spread has an (optional) corresponding increase. Additionally, the shotgun has an optional reduction in ammo capacity to balance the damage increase.

**Rifle**
Damage increased: 150 → 187
Focus gain speed increased: 1.0 → 1.15
Ammo capacity decreased: 4 → 3 (optional)

The rifle gets a slight boost to handling and a larger one to damage, with an optional capacity reduction to offset the change and maintain tension.

**Hardcore Mode / Extreme Difficulties 1-10**

If you prefer a different approach to combat tension in your survival horror, the hardcore version combines the "nerfs" from the base version of Improved Weapon Balance (handgun focus movement penalty, increased unfocused shotgun spread, decreased shotgun/rifle ammo capacity) with a flat 50% damage reduction to all weapons (excepting the chainsaw). All other weapon stats are vanilla – no handling buffs.

An optional 35% reduced healing add-on is also available for health drinks and/or syringes. It is intended for use with the Hardcore version of this mod, but can be used with any version or entirely standalone (no IWB required). If you prefer a greater reduction, a 50% version is available here.

All versions of Improved Weapon Balance are fully compatible with Extreme Difficulties, should you prefer any of these weapon adjustments combined with the enemy damage and AI changes from that mod. Install both, then remove from the ~Extreme folder you're using any individual weapon files that you'd prefer to have the Improved Weapon Balance versions of – there are 3 files per weapon.

**Compatibility**

This mod should work with anything that doesn't also adjust individual weapon statistics (model swaps and/or weapon sway adjustments should work fine). Keep in mind that alphabetical load order based on the mod file titles determines which mod's changes win any potential conflict (higher dominating lower). You can adjust the titles of any mod's files (be sure to adjust all three of its files identically) to manipulate your load order to your desired outcome.

**Installation**

Download the preferred version of mod and any desired add-ons.
Extract contents (3 files) of.zip file(s) into SILENT HILL 2/SHProto/Content/Paks/~mods.
-- create the ~mods folder if it doesn't yet exist.
Keep only one version of the base mod and one version of any add-ons installed at a time.

Download:

Improved Weapon Balance - Standard
Improved Weapon Balance - Lite
Improved Weapon Balance - Hardcore