Wow.
FN FAL.
SCAR-H.
HM-401.
Stoner 63A.
Mkb.42.
Count em - FIVE T4s. I suspected that a 2nd Commando weapon might be coming as we were sort of due for one independent of the vote anyways, but I expected one of them to be T5 (turns out that's the Medic gun, maybe?). Hmm. Regardless, I'm not really disappointed. This might be a good thing, actually. Perhaps Commandos should count themselves lucky that all their newest options are as high powered as it gets. This helps ensure that the new guns hit the scene where they'll be appreciated the most - until the end.
I'm not too certain that more T2 weapons are needed. Maybe its just me, but it seems almost like a bit of a waste on resources to develop weapons that might get some use, but won't stick around for the boss. More T3s? Sure. Plenty of T3s stick it out throughout the round, and have good lasting power. Still, I admit that the Mkb.42 feels a bit more T3. I won't say no to it being T4 strength, but it might be a stretch. Firing the 7.92×33mm Kurz round, it was a new round specially developed for the WW2 hopeful. It was considered a middle ground between the 9x19 Parabellum pistol rounds we all know, and the full strength of their 7.92×57mm Mauser rounds -a rifle bullet slightly bigger than the .308 Winchester- used extensively in the likes of the Karabiner 98k & the MG 42.
So, it feels more likely that it might compete with the 5.45x39 used by the AK12, making a sensible fit into T3. However, if it were, say, a special version refitted to fire the full Mauser rounds, that could be an easy explanation as to why they're T4. Think about it - custom receiver & barrel forged to withstand the higher pressure of the Mauser bullet without anything new to compensate the newfound high recoil such a combo would bring? Seems outright silly, unless one considers that the gun scanned to bring us this wild thing came directly from Volter - a mad scientist who runs around in an exoskeleton that gives him the strength to dual wield two of these and burst fire them with considerable accuracy and control. Suddenly, all becomes clear. What was easily handled by Hans might not be so for us. We'll see what comes of this.
The FN FAL is the big shocker for me. So, it IS SS Crossperk. I really didn't think it would happen. But does this mean that its truly Semi-auto only, or full auto capable? Because that scope....4x? Its basically the ACOG still. Is this the same magnification as the M14? Because if the sight shakes the same, that's gonna be a major pain to full auto. I assume it'll be select fire. SS will probably need it - they can't mitigate the recoil like Commando can. 35% by SS vs 50% by Commando, and most SS probably don't take the -10% recoil perk, so its more like 25%. This makes me wish for adjustable zoom on the scopes. Having the option to zoom out for rapid fire could make a world of difference and balance.
While the new Medic Rifle doesn't move me quite as much as the other two, maybe that's just because we're not certain of the details around it. Awesome to see that it's crossperk again, but for whom? Commando/Medic? My first thought was that someone Horzine'd the heck out the M16 M203, which made me think Demo until I heard about the underbarrel firing healing grenades, so maybe not so boom boom. I admit, this doesn't just look futuristic, but not -too- futuristic. Its like its design is steeped in reality, just enough that I really really REALLY wanna see something that badass looking become reality, and that it SEEMS possible to do with the right tech of today. I can't really say what I make of it beyond that, so I'll wait for gameplay footage of it, but its absolutely the most impressive looking, stylewise. Whomever's designing these might have an interesting future in weapons design.
