Gameplay: Light Machine Gun

[DviddLeff]

Planetside lacked a dedicated infantry carried machine gun that could lay down suppressing fire for a good length of time, pinning enemies behind cover so that other infantry could advance. Trying to perform this role with other weapons was feasible, but only effective for long periods of time if that player dedicated their inventories to it. It could be argued that the One Man Field Turret filled this role eventually however.

These Light Machine Guns would be deployed using a bi-pod to fire effectively, although hip fire could be possible but wildly inaccurate. For a great example of how I envision these working check out Day of Defeat: Source.

Each empire could have their own design reflecting their weapon philosophy as well a common pool middle ground weapon.

[Trolltaxi]

You could easily suppress your enemy if you wanted, some snipers, a plasma-thumper, 2-3 MCG-s could do it. A pounder max... Or a tank at the tower door... (Did I mention I'm a TR? )

There were already too much stalemates at chokepoints, now imagine a backdoor held with 3-4 SAW-s, indoor snipers, maxunits, grendade spam...

While a light machine gun has it's use in real life, I think it would really work against game mechanics, pace and dynamics.

[DviddLeff]

As you said: MCG and Pounder did the job already. The other empires did not have those options for suppressing fire.

Snipers do the job effectively but only at long range; you wouldn't worry too much about a close range sniper as you can flush them out of cover with Thumpers anyway (plasma is not for suppression; what is the point of hiding?). Tanks to do the job? no thanks, the idea is about infantry being able to fill the roll themselves.

As for back doors; I really hope we don't have the same poor camper centric base designs again; led to stalemates over nearly every contested base. Look at other FPSs map design and you will rarely find the same situation where a camper can just stay put and really not worry about being flanked at all.

[SuperMorto]

Hmmm the suppressor? Did exactly what it said on the tin! The big point here is suppressing firs is location based and scale of battle based, if out doors in a big battle there is no point with heavy weapons kicking about like tanks etc, but indoors its more useful, Maxes were designed for that but the rockets took them out to quick, they should have been banned indoors.

[Traak]

Originally Posted by SuperMorto

Hmmm the suppressor? Did exactly what it said on the tin! The big point here is suppressing firs is location based and scale of battle based, if out doors in a big battle there is no point with heavy weapons kicking about like tanks etc, but indoors its more useful, Maxes were designed for that but the rockets took them out to quick, they should have been banned indoors.

Decimator should have a backblast that would severely injure and permanently blind a player who was anywhere within ten feet behind the decimator, you mean?

Or something like that? The decimators were definitely stagnation-guaranteeing weapons inside. Might as well have had a Fury or Enforcer in the stairs or corridor.

[SuperMorto]

Originally Posted by Traak

Decimator should have a backblast that would severely injure and permanently blind a player who was anywhere within ten feet behind the decimator, you mean?

Or something like that? The decimators were definitely stagnation-guaranteeing weapons inside. Might as well have had a Fury or Enforcer in the stairs or corridor.

Thats what I meant, at least some sort of danger factor to using it indoors. Maxes indoors are as weak as cloaker because of it.