6 replies to this topic

[Avimimus]

The proposal is very simple - create a machine gun weapon, that is actually two machine guns (but which only takes up one ballistic hardpoint).

Such a weapon would have a new 3d model (showing two machine guns) and have its weight, and rate of fire doubled (i.e. 1 ton, DPS 2, 120 rounds per minute).

Some mechs (e.g. the spider or locust) could have their ballistic hardpoints decreased to match. In addition, the twin machine gun mounting would generate a small amount of heat to ensure balance.

Canon considerations

- Hardpoints aren't an issue in Canon (except in the fluff or on omni-mechs)
- Machine guns are small and could easily be mounted in pairs
- Many mechs mount multiple machine guns in places where other ballistic weapons wouldn't fit (or replacing a single larger weapon)
- Machine-Gun arrays aren't invented in 3050, but in TT they allow linking existing weapons to provide better focussing of damage (equivalent to decreasing dispersion/spread in MWO) rather than mounting more weapons.

Balance considerations

3xBallistic arm (some dragons, victor) would be able to carry 6 Machine guns. These would:
- Weigh 3 tons
- Provide a DPS of 6 (or 4.8 if the old damage values were reverted to)
- Use up a ton of ammo every thirty seconds

The most extreme machine-gun boat would be a Jagermech DD (12 machine guns):
- Six tons of machine gun
- DPS of 10-12
- Use up a ton of ammo every 15 seconds (8 tons equals 120 seconds of firing).

(A 64 kph build with 2xERPPC / 6 double heat sinks, and 12 machine guns carrying 2 minutes and fifteen seconds worth of machine-gun ammunition is possible).

[Pinselborste]

the problem is not the ammount of mgs you can mount, the problem is the effective damage you got for its weight.

[flying1ace]

Sounds balanced, not sure if it is keeping close to the lore but the DEV's arn't doing that well anyway. Yes, it could work.

[Skyfaller]

machine guns would be functional NOW if they just made them converge rather than spray in a cone.

[Solis Obscuri]

Your poll doesn't work, because I have to answer both questions and I want to vote "no" on the first one, but without making further changes to MGs.

[Bhael Fire]

Skyfaller, on 07 July 2013 - 01:37 PM, said:

machine guns would be functional NOW if they just made them converge rather than spray in a cone.

Exactly. MGs either need to be buffed up to at least 2 DPS or have their spread pattern tightened more.

[Avimimus]

Pinselborste, on 05 July 2013 - 09:45 AM, said:

the problem is not the ammount of mgs you can mount, the problem is the effective damage you got for its weight.

I disagree. Having a no heat weapon which is lighter than 15 tons is useful on a lot of mechs... it is also useful to be able to fill those ballistic hardpoints... having a low DPS/weight ensures that the weapon stays balanced...

What would be nice is if you could increase the firepower (and ammunition consumption) so that it makes sense to carry machine guns on mechs with only one or two ballistic hardpoints...