I have been using mid level assault rifles, particularly the single fire ones, as i figured such a weapon would reward and compliment the player's aiming skill. I figured that using a semi-automatic gun in a game like this would be a suitable sacrifice for a modicum of stopping power and accuracy. but apparently not, as this is the most worthless weapon in the game. for most enemies it takes at least (no exaggeration) a dozen semi consecutive shots to kill them. do you realize how impossible that is with a weapon such as this, especially if you end up in a face to face confrontation?

sure, I can put 6-8 shots in them easily, before they can even get a beat on me, and in any other game that would be enough to kill them, with a gun such as this. but not in this game, where the player is punished for riding on skill, rather than heavy armor and overpowered heavy machine guns. speaking of which, it is literally impossible for me to kill these heavy soldiers with this gun. literally impossible. even if I hit them with every single bullet in my magazine, it will most likely only bring down their shields. and while im reloading, they are taking cover and their shields regenerate, repeating the process over. and this is all assuming they dont tear me apart in literally 2 seconds with possibly the most overpowered weapon I have ever seen in an FPS game. I mean, I thought the wraith in resistance 2 was overpowered, but the heavy machine gun in this game is ridiculous.

in closing, there are some serious balance issues going on with the classes and it is looking less and less skill based and more about exploiting overpowered classes, armor, weapons, and so on. This was my greatest fear going into this game. This is the biggest problem with the game and it needs to be rectified, because they arent, it will be the most unbalanced playstation exclusive shooter out there. im not trying to be mean or derisive. its just the truth. I have not gone through all the trouble of getting into the beta, just to hate it for no reason.

My advice to you is the same I have given to many others. If you feel that something (in this case the Heavy Dropsuit w/ Heavy Machinegun) is "literally impossible...to kill," try playing as one. It will become apparent very quickly all the scenarios in which it does not excel. To save you a bit of time, you will find that the HMG loses out to the AR at medium to long range, where the HMG can no longer maintain accurate fire. You'll also find how helpless they are when someone is 2ft away and strafing you. Finally, you will see all the people you simply cannot catch as you're terribly slow and they can simply run away from you. Give it a try, maybe you'll come up with some new tactics yourself.

Regards,

RaM

the thing is, these semi auto assault rifles do not even have good long range damage (which is something I forgot to mention earlier. something that is a staple of these guns in other games, but is surprisingly absent here). I would venture to say that the heavy machine guns have just as much range as they do. I have experienced it first hand. I would use the strategy of retreating and attacking at a long range, but my gun couldn't possibly wear down their shields at that range. the only way to take down these heavy soldiers is with a team, or with another soldier with heavy weapons. and that is just unmitigated unbalance.

Sure, but not to get more dmg.
A skill that gives you 25% more dmg is bad, really bad...especially since that skills increase even if you don't play.