This is just my opinion tat all.No need to listen to me if dnt agree with me. People use scout differently- hacking, sniping, scanning, and alot more. All im saying, think like a scout.

The problem with the HMG lies in the "damage cone" it is supposed to have actually firing with extreme laser-accuracy. Try using a laser rifle in CQC and you'll understand. Actually, go use an HMG in CQC against pretty much anything and you'll find the fight quite difficult in an area it should dominate no question. I often find the SMG or a ASCR to be a more usable weapon.

If you don't see that there is something wrong with scouts/light frames, you clearly haven't played scouts enough, or at least not at a level where the problems become evident. The main issue is that TTK is absurdly low at the moment. The other issue is that Scanners reading "SOME MARGIN OF ERROR" breaks the whole point of dampening. My roommate is a Proto GalScout with Profile Dampening V and three dampeners in his lows, and he more often than not would rather put his sniper rifle on an Assault suit. Something is wrong with that picture.

As reiterated a thousand times, the only real problem with Heavies is lack of racial Suits and Weapons.

The problem with heavies started when CCP decided to get rid of Sharpshooter skill for heavies

The shotgun is actually ok at the moment. It most certainly isn't as strong as it was a few months ago, but it still does the job. It has hit detection problems every now and then but not gamebreakingly so (although there have been days....)

The biggest gripe I have with shotguns is that TTK+AA make my strafing and dodging around pretty useless. This combined with the shotgun (and flaylock...and sniper rifle)'s reduced power has significantly affected scouts.

There are a lot of "well it doesn't affect me" arguments made about some aspects of this game, but it pays to look at some things objectively. Not everyone has the same internet connectivity, skill at FPS, or luck as you. You don't even have to invest a lot into heavy or scout suits to see the inherent problems they have. One of them you might notice if you do is that the higher tier suits barely improve over STD suits. I urge you to only use heavy frames (maybe even only heavy weapons) for a while (a month or so) and let me know how long it takes before you wish you had all of the racial suits and weapons. Tell me how it feels to shoot at at strafing protosuit with a Duvolle. Play as a just light frame for a while, maybe with just a shotgun or sniper, and let me know if you make any money. Let me know how much you like Scrambler Rifles.

Actually don't do the second one...you might go broke. /Rant. I want to use my shotgun again.

Once the "cone" gets fixed you'll see my name just left of (Freedom Assault Heavy Machine Gun) on a regular basis.
Til then, Fatty with AR/ScR

Nothing that I can see I was with a corp heavy last night on the cargo hub socket and he went 47/4. Just learn how to play the suit.

Problem with the heavy?

HMG is out damaged by every other gun past 20m, I find the HMGs true "Optimal" range is below 20m. Fix this.

They are big targets, easy to hit, so all that extra HP is meaningless.

Biggest problem is there has been no new content for the heavy, Sentinel suit is garbage and not even a real heavy suit IMO.

I'm going to say it, give the heavy suit yet another HP buff, A single militia AR should not be able to chew up a heavy at 20m under no circumstance other than every other shot being a head shot.

scaling is a big problem when going up the tiers

the first set is the same for the sentinel and gallenti scout

basic
1 high 2 lows
advanced
1 high 3 lows
proto
1 high 4 lows

compare this to the mini logi

basic
2 high 2 low
advanced
3 high 3 low
proto
4 high 4 low

every level the medium suit gets twice the benefit over the heavy and scout suits per level. at the basic and militia level I think there is balance and I do use the minmitar militia light frame and basic sentinel but above that I see things as a waste.

As for the HMG .......ill dust mine off occasionally, but I prefer to use light weapons most of the time on the heavy suits. they are just better guns for 9/10 situations. the only HMG I do like is the burst but it overheats too quick imo.

Everything! Don't look at my face boy let me cry in peace (crying proceeds).

That a GEK-38 can drop me in 5 seconds.

A heavy with a smg seems to work better then a heavy with a hmg. What a waste of skill points maxing out the hmg. Even with double damage modes almost every other weapon in game will out dps you.

(the heavy turns around with tears falling from his face) Is there anything that gives a hint of a "joke" in this matter?

Well, I liked at least earning the right to shoot farther. But really, I enjoyed how people feared heavies. Heavies were a psychological unit at one point. If an assault guy was in the same room with a heavy, he'd be running away. Nowadays, I hear stories of how people take down heavies with 4 shots of a scrambler rifle, 10 shots of a Duvoulle and even 1 grenade through all with full health. They don't need to do a ton of damage but, come on. Give them some durability. What really through me over the edge is when LAV's killed me in one fell swoop when I have literally equal amount of health as the LAV. They made that a bit better thank god. But I find the perfect suit to have is the basic suit with 2 complex heavy damage modifiers, 2 kinetic catalyzers and 1 complex armor plating. I add the catalyzers because most of the maps are 70& open ground. Even then I barely hold up. Which, I know I must but most of the blame on me for doing bad.
The thing about heavies though, is that they were supposed to be godlike at close quarters. They have a fricken mini-gun firing at you at close range, AND they were supposed to take alot of damage. Time was, my biggest threats were snipers and open ground. You catch a heavy in the open then he is pretty much dead meat. Snipers don't even have to catch you on open ground, get 3 or 4 consecutive shots in (with proto sniper on proto heavy) and he is dead. Or even 2 headshots then he is dead. When I finally got proto fittings in beta, is when I started to compete like a heavy should. It should be a tanking unit that is difficult to take down, It is designed to push through the enemy line. That is my opinion on the heavy.

the prototype versions aren't up to par with prototype med suits. that and HMG is just terrible.

if you unlock all proto, you will see. std heavy= okay pro heavy=kinda good std med=okay pro med=really really good

Gotta love that sentinel bonus THAT ISN'T THE SLIGHT BIT USEFUL
see sig, nuff said