The problem with side-arms, great when you need them but a 100% waste the rest of the time (which is most of the time).

I just can't make such a upgrade and/or purchase unless I am going to be guaranteed to use it, which is also a main problem with the way Dust is played.

Now if side-arms all had BPO's, then it would be worth working towards. Otherwise it's just a massive waste of everything. If i am going to waste all that SP and ISK, then I should get my monies worth on each and every suit I equip it on.

Either that or I should not be charged for weapons/equipment that I do not use. As I have a REALLY hard time convincing myself that I need a expensive side-arm that adds thousands to my suit price that I may not even use.

some stuff i agree with

The problem with side-arms, great when you need them but a 100% waste the rest of the time (which is most of the time).

I just can't make such a upgrade and/or purchase unless I am going to be guaranteed to use it, which is also a main problem with the way Dust is played.

Now if side-arms all had BPO's, then it would be worth working towards. Otherwise it's just a massive waste of everything. If i am going to waste all that SP and ISK, then I should get my monies worth on each and every suit I equip it on.

Either that or I should not be charged for weapons/equipment that I do not use. As I have a REALLY hard time convincing myself that I need a expensive side-arm that adds thousands to my suit price that I may not even use.

When you're using a suit 100 k+, it's easy to ignore the ISK. Survivability is what matters, in the end, it's about making it through the game with the suit intact.

@ This Guy Up Here:
Disagree sir. When I have a Mass Driver/Assault SMG combo, I tear it up. My Mass Driver is for the situations I have under control, and the SMG is for when I'm dangerously close and there's a lot of obstacles. Two different weapons, for two situations. Same goes for forge and a side arm, you know? Also what the two guys above me wrote.

As for Proto SMG's, anyone know how good a Proto Breach and a Proto Assault Are?

True, however I was referring to a side-arm use as an AR player. For players with a main weapon that is bad at close range, then yes a good side-arm makes more sense. Not sure if it would be worth the price, but it would be more useful than if on a AR player.

And even when you don't need them, you can certainly use them. I've used Scrambler Pistols over ARs to catch my enemies by surprise. Sidearms have different uses and strengths than ARs.

Dual smg FTW

Even with proto everything and every skill maxed out completely, players (except for heavies) are still easy to take out near instantly with a variety of weapons and situations. I could have this great and awesome 200k suit with all these fancy weapons, modules and equipment, then spawn in front of an enemy and die instantly.

The slight bonus to survivability is practically pointless when you consider the cost difference. I seriously doubt I will ever use a suit that costs 100K+ (unless I am trying to blow all my ISK for a reset or something). My limit right now is about a 60k suit, and even then a few unlucky situations and now I am going negative in ISK for that match.

This game isn't like a single-player RPG where when you level up you become significantly harder to kill and have super insane weapons (unless your a heavy ).