MechanicalWraith, on 25 January 2018 - 08:17 AM, said:
Ballistic weapons are sorely limited in MWO, while we may be resigned to never getting alternative ammunition types there's still hope for fresh new toys. MG-Arrays offer a new weapon that'll take next to no work to implement, yet fill a tonnage bracket no ballistic weapon currently does, and provide slow heavy mechs with a much needed yet subtle weapon to fight light mechs with.
Proposed weapons:
Each weapon would simply be a heavier, larger variant of the single MG, clustering four machine-guns into a single weapon that assumes the same slots as 4 single MGs, and 0.5 tons additional weight.
Inner Sphere Light Machine Gun Array - 2.5 tons, 4 slots.
Inner Sphere Machine Gun Array - 2.5 tons, 4 slots.
Inner Sphere Heavy Machine Gun Array 4.5 tons, 4 slots.
Clan Light Machine Gun Array - 1.5 tons, 4 slots.
Clan Machine Gun Array - 1.5 tons, 4 slots.
Clan Heavy Machine Gun Array - 2.5 tons, 4 slots.
Implementing these weapons requires no special work, merely cloning the existing MGs and altering a few stats would suffice while new models/particles/sounds are pending.
Models should be identical to existing MGs, but with duplicate barrels.
Particle FX are easier still, cloning and duplicating the existing VFX.
Sounds (SFX) are equally easy to achieve if deemed necessary (they're really not), a faint metallic echo applied to the existing MG sounds would perfectly reflect the rattle of slightly offset muzzle blasts.
GX9900 Gundam X, on 25 January 2018 - 01:53 PM, said:
I think this would be a good idea. I have the Cicada that has ECM and a single ballistic hardpoint, and have been using it as a light gauss sniper. I always wanted to try running machineguns on it though, but cant because it only has one hardpoint. Similarily, on my Shadowcat, I wanted to use the ballistic hardpoint on the right arm for machineguns so I could use an ECM torso, but again, only one hardpoint. Having these machinegun arrays would open up new options for mechs with few or only a single ballistic hardpoint, or with hardpoints grouped together in weird areas (like for example, you have 5 ballistic hardpoints but they're spread out all over your mech as opposed to just being in the arms or in a single torso).
It would also let some Urbanmechs run 9-12 machineguns depending on if an Array contains 3 or 4 machineguns. Heheh.
Daggett, on 26 January 2018 - 07:09 AM, said:
The problem i see with this that it has the potential of making many mechs OP especially on Clan side. Most clan mediums and heavies can field at least 4 of those arrays, some even more. That's 16+ MGs with enough ammo and in most cases additional weapons. No one wants to face that.
Imagine a DWF-UV with up to 8 MG-Arrays (=32 MGs / 22.4 - 44.8 DPS) and 3 Lasers...
Khobai, on 27 January 2018 - 02:20 AM, said:
pretty much the worst idea ever
youre letting clans jam 4 machine guns into one ballistic hardpoint
and you somehow expect that to turn out well?
because we really need shadow cats with 15 machine guns running around. or huntsman with 16 machine guns. or whatever other clan medium gets obscene numbers of machine guns.
linebacker gets 12 machine guns. because linebackers really need the firepower of an assault in addition to the armor of a heavy and speed of a light.
because thats not broken at all...
machine gun arrays are really the last thing we need.
we could use mech rifles though. as a lightweight and longer range alternative to machine guns.
Syn Pryde, on 29 January 2018 - 03:58 PM, said:
i`m grinning wildly from my piranha at that stupid idea
(because it will entirely sink gameplay.)
BTGbullseye, on 30 January 2018 - 10:37 PM, said:
Just to be clear, I'm 100% for this, for both factions.
Sir Immortal Shadow, on 15 March 2018 - 07:15 AM, said:
I say yes but increase the ton penalty otherwise mg arrays would make HMGs completely irrelevant. Although I am hoping they'll increase the damage and decrease the critical bonus on HMG's to alter their role a bit.
3 regular HMGs, 4.2 DPS, 3 tons, short range bad spread and crap ammo per ton.
1 MG array, 4 DPS, better weight range spread and ammo, all in exchange for one extra slot.
I say IS arrays should be in groups of 4 with a one ton penalty and 1/10 heat and Clans should be groups of three with a half ton penalty and 1/10th heat.
Also I want to point out yeah, most Pirhana's Can just take MGs normally, no benefit to arrays. But on others you could combine a single MG array with micro pulsers or heavy Small lasers.
You should all contact every one you know and oppose this idea. It would just be terrible for the game play. We don't want to make light mechs more annoying do we? This wouldn't help the current worst MG spamming lights much if at all but you are going to create so many more offenders. What if I told you there is a light currently not in mainstream use that would be able to mount 18 MGs, as much as 7 tons of ammo and move at 130 speed. And that's if you wanted to keep the ER medium. And yes you would start to see similar 16 mg load out on heavy and medium mechs. This is advertised as a good secondary weapon for assaults but in reality I think assaults would be the biggest loser. some one floated the idea that collision damage should be increased so light mechs won't be as fond of leg humping and that would have to be a requirement before implementing a MG change like this.