After running my Spider 5K with a flamer and 4 MG I agree it's a big let down. I had hoped that along with the damage increase and the crit it would have been a formidable but very situational weapon. Sadly after pelting away tons of ammo the best I achieved was 200 odd damage and 7 assists.
If they made the Machinegun the 'go to' weapon on unarmored sections, for any Mech, it would add a whole new dimension to this game. One way would be to increase the crit chance and multiplier to a level where it would pay off to drop an AC in order to get a Machinegun. It's useless in the beginning of the fight but once there is a break in the armor it will pay off.
If done right one should contemplate using a MG in a Misery brawler.
It would also pave the way for niche builds, like the Spider 5K, that roam the battle looking for weak Mechs. Contiguously cycling through targets until they find one with some armor stripped and then jumping in to take advantage.
The best solution would be to make ALL of the Mech internals crit-able. Then the Machinegun would be a form of debuffing. Taking out the actuators, sensors and gyros to add movement penalties and have enemies grind to a halt. (Though I understand that would take extra coding and I doubt there is time before launch.)
Note that still would not make Mechs boating Machineguns overpowered. The whole system is balanced by the low damage vs armor. Machineguns would be a support tool and rarely get you kills.
This would add more depth to the game, another tactic, something to think about when piloting.
"Am I going to switch to MGs to take out that damaged shoulder of should I drill more on his CT instead."
Along with a harsher heat system this will add levels of complexity that will make the game more of a Mech simulator. At the moment it's a FPS where you have to steer your feet and put out moar alpha dmg!
Now these are all decisions you make while designing a game. So I wonder if they were so pressed for time / money that they couldn't put it in or if they want to build a clunky FPS with robots. If the latter is true we're wasting our breath with this discussion and write off weapons that hitched a ride with canon but are not part of the design for the game.
EDIT: forum ate the layout.
Edited by Doelloos Verdwaald, 22 May 2013 - 12:22 AM.