Just saw this, had a thought... Could both have a "brick" modifier like the dev suggests below *and* keep the brick as a projectile skin.

Have the modifier be called "Foreign Objects" or "Unsporting Conduct" or the like, default the projectile to a solid box (like some of the "Alpha" bot parts). Offer "Brick" as an object to use in that mode, along with other things like a short/thick/chunky wrench that fits with the same rectangular hitbox as the brick. (Other possible things like, I dunno, shoes or whatever would still be close-ish enough to use the same hitbox, I'd hope.)

Heh, huge long lump of coal that barely fits inside the hitbox bounds as a christmas-related one, call that one something like "The Naughty List". Or better yet a "Fruitcake" skin for it, those are about the same shape and such as a brick, right?

Considering that there is a spherical force field on the balls that is more noticeable on the natural 20 and the satelite, I think it's perfectly fine as a skin.

Perhaps getting hit by a brick adds 3 seconds to respawn timer?
I'm more for a skin, but wouldn't mind if a whole new dimension of gameplay variance is added; however it calls for other kinds of stuff aswell (like wrenches or tyres :D ).
Man, this is about to get nasty.

a power up like this would have been nice, cheap one, ball-brick flys faster but 3/4s as far.

I was writing a reply which just got longer and longer. Unfortunately it's too long for a comment now so here's a link to the full version: Pastebin [pastebin.com].
TL;DR:
- Changing physics could give unfair advantage.
- I don't mind if the item is integrated and not sold.
- There are a few things you could change to make it look better but act the same.
- You could make ball skins apply per ball, not per player. There's no unfair advantage that way.
- [Excited talk about a new idea]

Thanks for all the positive comments! I'll be seeing what else I can cook up when I get a proper computer, but it might take some time since I'm new to modelling!

-Erik- Maybe just have a ball of concrete or something along those lines? It's close to it :P

That's really clever! Love the idea.

I have a few thoughts about the implementation, and could use other people's thoughts on this.

All the current balls, no matter how they look, have the same spherical collider (hitboxe) around them. So they all bounce the same way, and roll around the same way.

It would probably look pretty weird to have a brick 'skin' but the spherical collider.

Now, maybe that's ok? Or should thrown bricks actually bounce and collide differently? I wouldn't think it would give the thrower an advantage...but you never know.

Alternately, I could add a match modifier where all thrown balls are bricks. But then, this wouldn't be a purchaseable ball skin which is a bit of a bummer (for the author) because it's clearly popular and people would be likely to buy it outright and generate revenue for the author.

So where to people fall on this?

omg yes

Maybe just a bit ;). Maybe try making a scrunched up paper ball. I would but i have no idea how, and I'm lazy XD

Thank you! It's my first model, and it's actually something I've had the idea for for a while. It's quite encouraging to see that people like it, I'll be making more stuff if I can (silly and serious). Some people suggested a wrench, but maybe that's deviating from a sphere a bit too much :D

I will actually buy this if this gets accepted. i laughed way more than i should have when i saw this was front page.