Description
In this issue, I will refer to secondary fire as alt fire.
This screenshot is from an old HL2: DM video:
In said screenshot, the pickup for every alt fire ammo item shows individually, in a vertical list on the right, above the currently equipped weapon's ammo. The current weapon ammo does not show icons, only numbers, but afaik this has been the case for over 13 years, or maybe I just had an outdated font. (The video this was taken from also shows primary ammo item pickups, as well.)
Jumping to current HL2 for a bit:
I only tested one 'impulse 101' at a time, so whether multiples of alt fire pickups will be grouped, idk. But what I do see is the pickup for alt fire ammo item shows in a vertical list on the right, above the currently equipped weapon ammo (same as old hl2dm, just different style). Plus the current weapon ammo has icons for both primary and secondary ammo (unlike old hl2dm), with the ammo number shining brighter (e.g.: 3). Afaik this has been the case for over a decade.
Here is a screenshot from a fresh installment of HL2: DM:
While I am grateful that currently hl2dm has icons for equipped weapon ammo (both primary and secondary), today the only indication of ammo pickup is the ammo number shining brighter in the bottom right (e.g.: 3). For the most part. Sometimes the first pick up of an ar2 alt fire ammo will show, but it's rare/random and I cannot reproduce it on demand. For some weapons (crossbow), the first pickup will show the ammo it contained while being picked up.
But sadly for a lot of weapons (nades, shotgun, smg) no pickup is shown for the primary ammo, only the icon of 'full' during pickup attempt.
And for alt fire ammo for smg and ar2, almost no pickup icon ever (exception explained above), only when 'full' during pickup attempt.
Why does this matter?
- A working list (like the old hl2dm one or the one in hl2) lingers more than the currently equipped weapon's ammo. And is more detailed than a single digit changing on the screen. Therefore harder to miss.
- A working list shows all picked up items in case of items for multiple weapons. Including those for weapons not currently equipped. As opposed to a currently equipped weapon, which shows changes to ammo for that weapon alone.
Players hearing the pickup sounds will be left asking themselves what the heck they just picked up. Players not hearing the pickup sounds will be left oblivious.
Temporary impractical solution is to switch to important weapons often and check for any changes.