I was curious to know what is the role of an HMG Heavy; target practice?

The support HMG Heavies provide for their teams is minimal. When running in squads, they are often at the rear due to their slow movement speed. This leaves Heavies incapable of playing a support role because of their already distant positions and lack of range. In addition, the bullet dispersion renders the HMG useless if fired outside of its optimal range. However, even within its optimal range, the HMG is often outplayed by the speed of a Shotgun Scout, or more often, a TAR user.

After testing different approaches and strategies to become a decent HMG Heavy, I have made little progress because the class just does not fit in with the type of long range combat that is prevalent in most matches. I often find myself as the center of attention for the opposing side's gunfire and any attempts to retreat or fire back are useless.

Due to frustration, I decided to run with just my Flaylock for a few matches. I did better in these games than I did with my Boundless or Freedom. To experiment further, I dropped my proto and went into a standard fitting with a basic Forge Gun. With eight kills, three LAVs destroyed, five Blaster Installation Turrets and one Clone Reanimation Unit shot down, I have never felt so useful in my entire career of playing a Heavy.

So, my question still stands: what is the role of an HMG Heavy?

i already have some threads on the subject:

https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=81725&find=unread

https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=82270&find=unread


lance 2ballzstrong has a thread as well:

https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=73100&find=unread


mike pole a play i imagine similar to yourself had similar concerns:
https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=79438&find=unread



my main point with regards to the balance HMGs have to have against everything else is that balance is 2nd place to purpose. or rather, when balancing the purpose of whatever item your balancing must be considered. why?

because your approach to the balance must not make the item lose its purpose.

right now ARs out gun HMGs in just about every respect, the HMG isnt even balanced with or on par with the AR but for examples sake, lets say they were.... (HMG does less dps than a militia AR with half the accuracy and 2x the dispersion)

what is the purpose of an AR? multiple purpose weapon, jack of all trads master of none.
what is the purpose of an HMG? anti personell, supression, fire power

clearly the HMG should excel in the area of its purpose, its not supposed to be a versitle weapon, its supposed to have raw power through fire rate, dps, damage per shot, and ammo capacity.

when CCP tried to balance the HMG they made it pointless because you can do everything a HMG can do better with an AR, at 2x the range.


i recommend that the HMG gets a damage and range buff to about the same damage and range as a fully automatica AR of the same class (STD, ADV, PROTO). before you scream OP in girl shrills, remember, everything else about the HMG will remain the same, the reload, over heating, high dispersion and high recoil high damage drop off. so the standard hmg should do 31 hp per shot.

this way the HMG can proper supress the enemy. also, you must have weaponry lvl 5 and put extra points into alot of things for the HMG it must reflect the effort required to attain it.

inaddition, the heavy suit should get the following slight buffs: 15% increase in run and turning speed (still slower than eveeryone else, but fast enough to keep up with squad, and hit targets). 30%-45% resistance to small arms fire (this is in the description of the suit, and the heavy is a slow bullet sponge should be good at absorbing the bullets. this may take the form of a skill OR blanket amount per suit lvl i.e. STD HVY suit = 15%, ADV 25%, proto 45%... or a sprarte skill for heavies only for resistance to damage to shields and armor,, etc)

^^this is your rebuttal?

i have over 5million SP in heavy suits and HMGs. I am part of the 1armed bandits as a high ranking member. i have played against notable corps and made a name for myself. still if you want to see if im a bad player, add me as contact and play on my team, or we can get two squads, go to opposite sides of a merc battle and i can show you my skill. to be fair ill only use std heavy gear.


i dnt care whether you accept the invitation or not, but its there.

i am willing ready and capable of proving my point. the weapon is inferior. period. the suit is weak period.

why does that matter? I have family and friends that served and serve in the united states army, and special forces.

i am willing ready and capable of proving my point. the weapon is inferior. period. the suit is weak period.