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Karagin
Imperial Karagin Army
Imperial General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 4120
Location: United States
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 Posted: 28-Oct-2007 12:24 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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Which do you think is best for anti-infantry work? Which would you go with on a mech or vehicle?
Include all things that even the two out for you, for example the need for CASE with the MG Ammo and the need for Heat Sinks with the SPL...etc...
I believe I posted this once before, but I couldn't find it after a quick search so...here it is again. Please add to this the new rules for MGs and Pulse lasers.
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Karagin
Only the dead have seen the end of war. - Plato
"Wasted trip Man. Nobody said nuthin' about lockin' horns with no tigers." Oddball
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Rudel Gurken
Allisters Light Thunder
Major
Joined: 15-Jun-2005 00:00
Posts: 1447
Location: Germany
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| Posted: 28-Oct-2007 12:40 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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For me it totally depends on style.
MGs for units with a more low-tech feeling and small pulse lasers for high-tech fighting machines.
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Reality is where the Pizza-man comes from!'Gucken, petzen, verpissen!' (Look at it, squeal it, get the hell away from it!) – Motto of the recon troops'Artillery doesn´t know friend or foe! They only know worthwhile targets!‘ – Kuritan Infantrist
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Sleeping Dragon
Draconis Combine
Tai-i
Joined: 06-Apr-2005 00:00
Posts: 4820
Location: Czech Republic
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| Posted: 28-Oct-2007 15:50 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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I generally prefer MGs as backup guns when the 'Mech tries to balance the heat or for vehicles,since they don't produce any heat. I usually try to use at least three or four since the main problem is how to get rid of ammo without having to dump it. If you look at my designs then you may spot that I like to use paired MGs, that's just a personal preference based on German WWII MG 81Zs.
SPLs are on the other hand good fillers for machines that have some need for an anti-personnel weapon, but their role prevents them from using MGs often. It's an ideal backup weapon with accuracy that makes it well suited for use against secondary targets.
For a Battlemaster the MGs are okay, for an Archer I would go for the SPL.
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Vagabond
Mercenary
Mr. Referee
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 5624
Location: United States
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| Posted: 28-Oct-2007 18:40 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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I will use MGs for low tech, low heat, or ICE vehicles.
I will use SPLs for everything else.
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 29-Oct-2007 10:15 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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| My gaming group in college never played with infantry so I do not really have any experience to base my answer from. Thinking tactically though it would really depend on the machine I am building. I would probably lean towards the MGs. When I design mechs and vehicles I usually put at least 2 mgs. Uses ammo faster. Now if we are talking a light mech where armor is a bit thin then the SPL would be a better fit. The last thing you need is a lucky crit on something small.
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CO_17thRecon
Kell Hounds
Major
Joined: 10-Sep-2002 00:00
Posts: 1297
Location: United States
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| Posted: 29-Oct-2007 12:00 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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Generally, I prefer SPLs for their accuracy, independence from ammo, and greater use against non-infantry targets. (Though this use is still minimal.)
I prefer MGs for low-tech units, and for use in Machine Gun Arrays. I have a particular fondness for the LMG, especially when grouped into arrays and fired from above. It's amusing to kill 'Mech pilots without a crit, and without even breaching the head armor...
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AWAD
Draconis Combine
Chu-sa
Joined: 06-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 766
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| Posted: 30-Oct-2007 11:54 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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We have all been through the argument before. But Lasers are better.
SPL has a better chance to hit, no ammo to explode, or run out, can be used underwater, etc.
But it is a pain the in add for a vehicle.
Besides vehicles,MGs rock when in clustered together, Razorback, Stinger, Firestarter, T-Bolt. All have 2 or more MGS.
That is 4D6 infantry slaughter- average of 15 guys, 50% dead. If you roll well then almost the platoon. The SPL is an annoyance weapon and if you are a laser boat you have something to use against fleshy types. (Based on 1D6 SPL and 2D6 MG, forgot if that is still right in Total Warfare)
So if you want just an option then SPL, if you are a vehicle or the ability to mow down infantry go MG.
AWAD- Flamer +MG= Infantry nightmare= Firestarter
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Rudel Gurken
Allisters Light Thunder
Major
Joined: 15-Jun-2005 00:00
Posts: 1447
Location: Germany
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| Posted: 30-Oct-2007 13:44 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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Total Warfare:
LMG: 1D6
MG: 2D6
HMG: 3D6
SmPL: 2D6
Flamer: 4D6!!
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Reality is where the Pizza-man comes from!'Gucken, petzen, verpissen!' (Look at it, squeal it, get the hell away from it!) – Motto of the recon troops'Artillery doesn´t know friend or foe! They only know worthwhile targets!‘ – Kuritan Infantrist
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Ruger
Lyran Alliance
Hauptmann General
Joined: 04-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 1866
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| Posted: 31-Oct-2007 21:45 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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Personally, I prefer the ratattat-tat of MG fire, although I admit that the SPL is probably superior in the long run...
Also like flamers for the options they give you...
Ruger
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01-Nov-2007 10:05 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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| FIRE!! FIRE!! oooOOOaaaAAA
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AWAD
Draconis Combine
Chu-sa
Joined: 06-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 766
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| Posted: 02-Nov-2007 13:23 Post subject: Re: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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| Rudel Gurken wrote: | Total Warfare:
LMG: 1D6
MG: 2D6
HMG: 3D6
SmPL: 2D6
Flamer: 4D6!! |
Of Course you could use LRM Frag rounds. That means the little fleshy guys can not even shoot back. An LRM 15 is 2X damage ? so that means a platoon is toast. And if for some reason you catch one in the open?
For some reason that seems so unfair and inpersonal. Of course there is also Artillery.
AWAD- .5 ton loads for missile weapons means you will see more special ammo types
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mud
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 23-Jul-2002 00:00
Posts: 1618
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| Posted: 04-Nov-2007 14:07 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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Neither weapon really belongs on most 'mechs, but MGs can be useful in situations where you want a weapon which doesn't generate any heat; Phoenix Hawks come to mind here. Generally though, I'd rather have extra heat sinks with that weight.
As for SPLs, I'd almost always prefer a medium laser. I'm not really too worried about a 'mech's anti-infantry capability. 'Mechs, first and foremost, should be designed to kill other 'mechs. I'll leave the infantry mop-up to my own conventional forces. The only exception I'll make to this rule is for little 20 ton screening 'mechs, like the Locust or Stinger. Even in that case, I'd rather use small vehicles for that job, and keep the light 'mechs as a mobile reserve, ready to exploit any weaknesses on my opponent's flank.
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jymset
Scavenger
in pursuit of LosTech
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 956
Location: Germany
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| Posted: 21-Nov-2007 13:41 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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With TW the IS SPL has transcended the "useless" tag it used to carry. So much so, that the MG now almost looks redundant. But yeah, no heat and all that....
What really strikes me is that the Clan SPL, with its doubled range, has turned from almost completely useless (when compared to the equally-sized ERML) to just about the best anti-PBI weapon out there. Of course, then they also had to go and invent the AP-Gauss, instantly challenging the laser for that title as well!
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The AC5 is a great gun!
On heat, 3025 style:
A Rifleman knows no heat.
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Storm
Draconis Combine
Chu-i
Joined: 06-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 278
Location: United States
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| Posted: 12-Dec-2007 12:41 Post subject: Sm. Pulse Laser |
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The SM PL.
Why? Because I hate being limited on ammo in any way shape or form, and I like the -2 to-hit modifier.
Storm
8)
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Storm  "The More that thou sweatest and swearest in training, the less thou bleedest and diest in combat."--Dick Marcinko
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Rarich
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 991
Location: United States
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| Posted: 17-Dec-2007 04:15 Post subject: MG or Sm. Pulse Laser: Which would you pick? |
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Been a while, but SPL's get my vote. Supply if you're running a campaign, same performance as MG,, better chance to hit. If heat is going to be an issue, you need to rework your mech, especially with the DHS out there.
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