I would spec in STD level

Sounds ok but scrap the spool up, just keep the basic idea and stats and think a bit simpler like maybe a wide dispersion hip firing, like SMG without any skills and a large recoil rate, like ar with no skills. So it would be a niche weapon. I'd definitely skill into that I love LMGs.

Maybe give it an overheat mechanic as well, skills could be reduction to heat build up per level and sharpshooter reduces recoil, that way it wouldnt beast cqc as dispersion can't be reduced, I'd lower the ROF though to just above breach ar and offer an assault variant.

Just my thoughts.

Damage 40
ROF 800
Effective range 60 meters
Clip size 200
Max ammo 1000
Reload time 5.0 s
Meta Level 1
Slot (H)
Spool up time 1-2 seconds (needs further thought)
Iron sights

This is my idea for an alternative to the HMG. It has higher damage than the AR, it has about the same range, bigger clip size, but for its drawback, it should immobilize the user at the beginning of the spool up until the user stops firing. Also if that isn't enough of a drawback you could give it a short deployment time with a limited angle of use. Say perhaps 90 degrees. This way it is VERY good for suppressive fire but you are a huge easy to hit target, that if flanked has to swap to his sidearm or wait to spool up in the direction of the flankers. The benefit for heavies is there is an alternative to the HMG that can kill from AR range. Since the heavies cant move even during spool the HMG would still be better for chasing someone but the LMG would provide better suppressive fire, in a small angle of fire, if your team was defending.

What are your ideas for this weapon?

Well, if it's an LMG it shouldn't have multiple barrels. And it's lighter so why should it immobilize you?

It should be a laser weapon (Laser Machine Gun) that would fire in a staccato rhythm with each beam at maximum power. It's drawback is that it would overheat really fast, which is where the sentinel bonus would come in handy.

Could not the LMG be a modified AR when modular upgrades are released?

Extended Mags, Range and RoF Upgrades, possible damage enhancers? That I wouldn't mind.

Make your AR a combat/tactical rifle standard, or LMG.

I WANT HAVE NOW, BE CALDARI BE COMMANDO, BE WITH HUVY WEAPONS GUMME GIMME GUMME!

Reduct Ar mag capacity in line with this ages fire arms then make the LMG a 100 round Squad Support Weapon.

I wouldn't mind seeing a weapon like a LMG in game for a purpose of suppressive fire or a large casualty producing weapon. My time in the military was spent in the infantry and every fire team has a M249 SAW (squad automatic weapon) used for suppressing the enemy. I think DUST could use a similar style of weapon as in it has a similar range to the AR, lower damage than the AR (due to its high RoF), large magazine so it can suppress the enemy without having to reload and finally it should have an overheat setting as in real life your barrel will melt.

In regards to mobility a SAW can be fired from the hip while standing and does not make anyone unable to move. That is why fire teams will use them, it fires a 5.56mm round (same as a M4 but has a bit more knock down power) so it is basically a M4 on steroids. Now another LMG used by the infantry is the M240B, this does make a soldier immobile. It fires a 7.62mm round which makes it completely unable to be fired from the hip and is always fired while supported from a tripod or bipod. This weapon has more power and range but is traded for its mobility since like I said it is always fired while mounted. Weight plays an important part in both weapons as well; the M4 fully loaded with sling weighs 7.5 lbs, the M249 weighs 16.41 lbs, and the M240 weighs a whopping 27.1 lbs. Some of you might be saying wow thats pretty light shouldnt be an issue... Obviously you have never done a battle march and shoot while carrying a M240B with a full 1000 round load (usually the 1000 rounds are split up between the squad), trust me you prefer to be the one carrying the M4 with a typical 7 magazine load out. People often forget the large size ACH (army combat helmet) weighs 3.31 lbs (all of which is on your neck) and your large size IBA (interceptor body armor) weighs around 40 lbs for the large size if I do remember right. Not figuring in your own weight or ruck sack with a M240B you are easily carrying at least 70 lbs of equipment. Try carrying that on a 12 mile ruck march at a fast pace.

I look at the HMG or chain gun as being the SAW (maybe we could get a machine gun with more accuracy than the HMG but less damage than an AR) which allows the heavy infantry to still be mobile and bound with his squad while providing suppressive fire. The machine gun that could be put into the game you are speaking about could be more like the M240B which would make the heavy infantry immobile while firing but provides a tight spread with decent damage and a nice RoF. Basically trading damage for mobility.

I am not sure if anyone pointed this out yet BUT if a LMG style weapon for heavy armor was implemented into DUST then it might also help fix the Heavy assault/ AR combo going around by giving them a more accurate longer range weapon than the HMG that is meant for them while still keeping the fire suppression role. Maybe even giving some specific suit bonuses for the LMGs for heavy suits would help discourage heavies using ARs.

So only heavies could use LMG? Or Heavy Frames like the commando and possible Crusader/commander suits?

Lmg is a light machine gun wich defeats the purpose of it being a heavy weapon

That's literally just a more powerful AR with a spool up. Try 27 damage with 800 rpm and good accuracy with a range of 75m and a 100 round clip size with a skill that increases it by 5% per level up to 125. Reload time is good. It should be moderate DPS at range. No spool up time.

The reason for an AR rifle not getting too hot is due to the fact it is not belt-fed like machine guns are. If you do not fire an M240B in bursts you will melt your barrel, if you use a M4 magazine (30 rounds) in an M249 you do no have to worry about melting the barrel. This is also why you are required to switch out barrels every so often. Same could stand true in New Eden, ARs are not belt-fed therefor do not fire enough to over heat and LMGs with 100-200 round drums would fire enough to over heat the barrel.

That's literally just a more powerful AR with a spool up. Try 27 damage with 800 rpm and good accuracy with a range of 75m and a 100 round clip size with a skill that increases it by 5% per level up to 125. Reload time is good. It should be moderate DPS at range. No spool up time.

So your telling me that an HMG is not better at suppression fire than an AR.

How is this better than a Duvolle AR?

I didn't mention anything about it being short ranged.

Think of any FPS game where an :LMG has a spool up time.... I don't think there are many, if any. LMG with higher than AR dispersion, RoF, increased bullet damage, and increased range, but higher CPU and PG costs seems pretty balanced to me.

if this lmg is a heavy weapon then why does it have the word light in its name?

If i can move with a HEAVY machine gun why should a light version immobilize me? besides have you seen how slow heavies move?