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Machine gun / Autocannon Discussion

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Vengence:
 Currently it seem that the machine gun is generally ineffective. Why not replace the machine gun with a autocannon as a supporting weapon? It seems logical that a autocannon with HE rounds, should serve as a much more effective squad support weapon.

Discuss.

Winter:
Because the laws of physics say there is no possible way an autocannon/minigun will ever be an effective infantry weapon, unlike a good reliable machine gun.

Regards,
Winter

mattheus:
But small caliber (5,56 or 7,62) minigun could be usable thing in heavy powerarmor if man in it weights three times as much as normal soldier. Such minigun's are used in transport helicopters as fire support weapons. Even giving machine gun fire while standing is unrealistic, machine gun should be fired in crouching mode or when laying down.

But machine gun is quite useless in moment. Maybe it could be useful when huge (2x2) alien monsters with very high health points are implemented, but in moment most aliens would be killed also easily by assault rifle and submachinegun fire. Otherwise it works when spreading bullets in line of aliens - but this is very unrealistic situation, because they will hide normal wise.

Surrealistik:
The machine gun is one weapon I've changed dramatically after an extensive series of tweaks and playtesting. Deadly accurate when crouched (most deployed machine guns are highly accurate), deadly inaccurate when standing, the 100 clip size it's supposed to have, with per bullet damage comparable to the assault rifle (it uses the same ammunition, and I don't see why it'd have less muzzle energy). I've also given it a 'spread' autofire mode that allows a soldier to sweep an area, and potentially kill multiple enemies. Thus far it works wonderfully in its intended role as support/suppression.

SpaceWombat:
I support Surrealistik's point of view.
About the accuracy: Modern special forces like Navy Seals and Army Rangers use squads with a machine gunner. And they are using it while moving. A machine gun does not have that much recoil as one might think (fired one myself). It is heavy and the accuracy is quite lower when used standing of course but that does not matter because its role is surpression fire and "wall of steel".

Since some assault rifles are also available as light machine guns (with 100 rounds ammo barrel) there is some similarity between assault rifles and machine guns. I think there should be a distinction between those two like different ammo as we see it today - 7.62mm ammo for "real" mgs and 5.56mm for modern assault rifles. Machine guns have a bigger punch (more kinetic energy) but lack the effectiveness over high ranges as well as some weaknes against certain amrour types (larger diameter of the projectile leads to less penetration).

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