Bishop Steiner, on 08 June 2014 - 03:01 PM, said:
"For the time being, we have created a one off weapon type thathas the exact same characteristics as the LB-X in terms of weight and space requirements but fire slugs with the same characteristics of the Clan Ultra AutoCannon counterparts. For example, the Clan LB 2-X will fire a cluster round totalling 2 damage. The Clan AutoCannon/2 will fire a 2 round volley with each slug doing 1 damage for a total of 2 damage."
so, the Standard AC " has the exact same characteristics as the LB-X in terms of weight and space requirements" being 7 tons, and 4 critical slots. (using the LB-5X for example)
while it "fires slugs with the same characteristics of the Clan Ultra AutoCannon". Meaning a burst fire mode.
The issue?
The Clan UAC5 weighs the same 7 tons, but only takes up 3 critical slots. Both will use the same burst mechanic. But the Clan UAC is less bulky than the "placeholder" Standard AC. And the UAC has the ability to double-tap.
BTW, the breakdown by type, Clan UAC vs LBX:
UAC: 2 (5tons/2crit), 5 (7tons/3crit), 10 (10tons/4crit), 20 (12tons/8crit)
LBX: 2 (5tons/3crit), 5 (7tons/4crit), 10 (10tons/5crit), 20 (12tons/9crit)
So since you can pick or choose your ballistic anyhow, what earthly reason would ANYONE choose to mount a Clan Standard AC when they could just mount the Clan UAC, instead?
I have tweeted (the PGI preferred method of communication, dontchaknow?) Russ, Bryan and Paul, and of course have gotten the usual resounding silence one gets when somebody questions a "grand idea" of PGI..
Seriously mind boggling, unless Paul just pooched his write up and explained things totally and utterly wrong.
*edited to give correct higher crit counts to LBX
I could have read the post in the Command Center wrong but I think you're misinterpretting the point of the "one off", Bish. The whole idea is that when you equip an LB 2/5/10/20, you also end up getting a free Standard AC in the weapon group. It allows you to carry multiple ammunition types so that you can fire differently. It is a coding plan that lacks in ellegance but gets the job done.