5 replies to this topic

[RandomLurker]

Trying to fit out a number of medium mechs, in particular the upcoming Shadowhawk, I am constantly stymied by ballistics slots. These are lightweight mechs that depend on mobility, yet so often are built around big, tonnage-consuming guns. The AC/2 might be an option, but it's huge ammo and heat requirements make it a 10 ton proposition to use one effectively.

So how about a mid-level ballistic weapon? Above the machine gun, below autocannons. It's not entirely against BT canon, since they have heavy machine guns in some of the later source material, and it's something that really feels like it needs to exist for the sake of game balance.

Random Ideas:
Carbine AC- AC damage, half the weight, half the range. No /20 version.
Heavy Machine Gun- what it says on the tin. 2 tons, 0 heat, low damage but with moderate range (270 or so).
Light Gauss- this one actually exists in the TT. Out of timeline, but I think it fits a needed role.

I'm sure others could come up with better ideas.

[Stingray Productions]

oh yes, heavy machine guns all the way!,.. and i would love light gauss rifle.. and heck, wasn't there some sort of "light" autocannons, less damage but more range?

[uberwolf21]

Well there is group of weapons simply called "rifles"(light, medium, and heavy), they are a bit new to the TT(only appearing in Tactical Operations in '08), they considered obsolete and only used by Periphery world that can't afforded ACs and are said to very rare on Battlemechs, But are available "Pre-spaceflight" and weigh 3,5, and 8 tons.

[Strum Wealh]

The additional ballistic weapons that could be available at the point at which MWO is currently set (that is, circa 3050) are:

• the Silver Bullet Gauss Rifle (R&D Start Date: 3050 (Federated Commonwealth), Prototype Design and Production: 3051 (Federated Commonwealth) - TacOps, pg. 314),
  
• the light/medium/heavy Rifles (essentially modern real-world tank cannons, and mainly used by Periphery forces that can't afford Autocannons - TacOps, pg. 338; they would need a +1 or +2 damage boost to be workable),
  
• the Sniper & Thumper artillery cannons (available from the Lyran Commonwealth since 3012 - TacOps, pg. 285),
  
• the Vehicle Flamer (consumes flammable ammo rather than venting plasma from a Fusion Engine), and
  
• the Vehicular Grenade Launcher (weigh 0.5 tons; see TacOps, pgs. 314-315 & 363-364 (for munition types)).

The Light Autocannons (available in LAC/2 and LAC/5 variations only) trade range for weight (that is, they have a shorter effective range than their standard counterparts), but are not available until until 3068 (with the R&D for them not starting until around 3058).
"After spending nearly a decade in the prototype stages - long enough to actually give rise to the rotary AC - Light Autocannons (abbreviated as LACs) only hit full-scale production with the unveiling of Yeffters Weapons’ Mydron Flyswatter and Mydron Snakekiller models in 3068." - TechManual, pg. 207

The IS versions of the LB 2-X and LB 5-X are the same weights as their standard counterparts (6.0 tons and 8.0 tons, respectively), and neither is available until 3058 (after being reverse-engineered from captured Clan-built examples).

The Light Machine Gun and Heavy Machine Gun are developed bu the Clan Smoke Jaguar around the late 3050s (immediately prior to being destroyed by the IS), and IS versions are not available until 3068.

R&D for the BattleMech-scale Magshot (a MG-scale mini Gauss Rifle) doesn't begin until after 3060 (with the introduction of the Infiltrator Mk.II Battle Armor), and the weapon itself isn't available until 3072.

The Light Gauss Rifle isn't available until 3056, and was developed as a response to the Clans' version of the Gauss Rifle.
"The Light Gauss Rifle was born as a joint project by Imperator Automatic Weaponry of Atreus and Corean Enterprises of Stewart. Sponsored personally by Captain-General Thomas Marik, their efforts were aimed at duplicating the lightweight construction of the Clan Gauss rifl e system for use by Free Worlds League Military forces." - TechManual, pg. 219

[RandomLurker]

Light Autocannons are precisely what's needed. Too bad they are out of timeline by so far.

Rifle's sound very promising. I can imagine a few ways to mix up the gameplay mechanics to make them interesting without outclassing autocannons. Dedicated sniper weapons, or 3/5 shot clips with a lengthy reload for hit and run weapons (aka, no 'auto', just cannons), so forth.

Strum Wealh, on 25 September 2013 - 03:56 PM, said:

The Light Machine Gun and Heavy Machine Gun are developed bu the Clan Smoke Jaguar around the late 3050s (immediately prior to being destroyed by the IS), and IS versions are not available until 3068.

Sometimes, the stretches the lore makes in order to explain why this or that wasn't available earlier is pretty painful. Yeah, we get that games evolve and sourcebooks can't include every imaginable weapon all at once. Really, there's no reason a Heavy Machine Gun couldn't exist at any time. Just make it a larger calibre version of what we already have.

Edited by RandomLurker, 25 September 2013 - 06:20 PM.

[Firewuff]

I've got an UAC5 on my hunchback and dont have a problem with weight..... very effective.