Expand upon LMG weapon class.

[frail linden]

There's plenty of ARs to go around, and there's SMGs, Snipers, Shotguns.... what about LMGs? There's only one LMG in the game: the LMG. It would be cool to see LMGs be a separate class, with stuff like the M249 SAW, RPD, RPK, plenty of ideas. LMGs should be the class with good vehicle damage, so in BR they'd probably be in Care Packages like the LMG. They should be high recoil, high fire rate, but super accurate spread and much less drop off than ARs at range as a reward for good recoil control. For example here's stats for an M249 if it were added:
-Nearly same damage as SCAR
-Fire rate close to that of the SCAR
-Drop off of a hunting rifle
-Not in BR sadly (optional)
-50 RND mag default
-Recoil of the LMG
This is stats for it compared to other guns, to show how it would perform compared to others. In this example, an LMG would be similar to the SCAR but less drop off and significantly higher recoil.

[oak smelt]

I'm gonna be completely honest with you. This is the greatest idea EVER!

The M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) is a belt fed weapon, it has a 200 round belts same for the box that it has same for the box that it has
Plus the M249 can take 30rd mags

Technical Specifications
Caliber: 5.56×45mm
NATOWeight: 17 lbs (7.5 kg) empty; up to 22 lbs (10 kg) fully loaded with a 200-round pouch
Length: 40.75 inches (1,035 mm) standard configuration
Rate of Fire: 700 to 1,000 rounds per minute (cyclic)
Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 ft/s (915 m/s)
Effective Range: 700–800 meters for point targets; up to 1,000 meters for area targets

Dual-Feed System: The M249 primarily feeds from 100- or 200-round disintegrating metallic link-belts. However, it features a unique emergency backup system that allows it to accept standard 30-round STANAG (M16/M4 style) magazines if belt ammunition runs out.

Open-Bolt Operation: Firing from an open bolt aids in heat dissipation and eliminates the risk of "cook-offs" (where residual barrel heat accidentally ignites a chambered round). It can happen!

And the three others versions of the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon)
M249 Para: A compact version optimized for airborne and armored infantry, featuring a shorter 16.25-inch barrel and a collapsible aluminum buttstock.
Mk 46 / Mk 48: Highly modified variants utilized by USSOCOM (Special Operations Command) that strip away the magazine-feed mechanism to save weight.
FN M249S: A legal, semi-automatic civilian replica produced by FN America that fires from a closed-bolt position

[frail linden]

Thank you man, this is about as good of feedback any of my proposals have ever gotten.

And plus M249s are just cool asl

[quick pivot]

and I'm gonna be real with you... this is the Minigun lite

this doesn't create an appropriate distance between the LMG and Minigun that makes it considerable to use, while not overbearing

this is currently sitting below the usefulness of either option

Minigun already has something similar to the Hunting Rifle for damage drop... Minigun is FASTER, fairly alright on spread, rewards control of recoil, same damage range for 4 head shots that this LMG idea is going for, 100 rounds...

_ _
near the SCAR's fire rate, the current LMG actually has comparable TTK based on reaction from the first shot

the LMG is like a laser and provides a separate sort of option

[frail linden]

What if it was just a BR exclusive care package weapon? Also this isn't exactly what I want the M249 to be I just listed it as an example for the general area of what the class would be like

[night raven]

What weapon niches are even open nowadays

[quick pivot]

the same effect could be given by dropping the Minigun in those drops

if not greater

plus the main benefits of these types of weapons is lost in BR where vehicle presence is not heavy, and the mode prioritises agile players

something that doesn't slow you much, ideally great in quick assault

and something to let you sit and camp somewhere slow and patient

typically the good old AK/Sniper kinds of loadouts

[untold wasp]

yes

[quick pivot]

the Minigun is an extremely rare find in BR, but when it's found it gets ignored unless players want it for sentimentality

also generally bad idea to lock a weapon to a game mode exclusive

wasted effort... especially for BR which is by far the least-popular mode in the game

actually it could be Death Match Royale... they're practically tied

the Healing Pistol is an example of unfortunate design, where it just can't justify being in Classic at all... but then in trying to do what it does in survival it is considered mostly useless anyway and is ignored

and a lot of players don't even realise the Healing Pistol exists

[quick pivot]

very few

[neon zinc]

what if minigun lost it's ads?

you can't logically aim down a minigun

also give minigun more bullets

then we can have an lmg with 100

and make the current LMG its own weapon

with 20 bullets 😭

at the same time, the reload time of the minigun would have to increase

so the new lmg reload time is less

[fathom burrow]

Something that rips like a MG42 or slower like an M60 would be neato. Im not big on the FN machine guns MAG58 or Minimi. Something effective in combat and can work on a plane also. Even better is fixed mounted weapons. A howitzer or mounted machineguns. Ooof off topic.

[quick pivot]

why nerf the Minigun, which isn't the greatest weapon by any means... to now make it less useful

just so we have more room to fit in another weapon into an area

so we can have 3 trash weapons

instead of 2 weapons on par

[neon zinc]

The minigun wouldn't be less useful, just more difficult to use. The hipfire recoil could be reduced while the reticle could be smaller if ads is removed. The reload time doesn't necessarily have to increase, but a new lmg would have shorter reload time compared to the minigun. The capacity would also increase. The changes proposed aren't so much a nerf as a change.

The changes to the current lmg would be to reduce it's capacity for more realism and change it's name to BAR.

A new lmg would have a slower fire rate similar to the current LMG, larger capacity (50 - 100), longer reload time, and slower walk speed.

The current lmg would then be more of an assault rifle with the suppressive fire rate of an lmg. A new lmg would be more for holding space and stopping advancements. The minigun would then become it's own niche weapon focused more on taking down vehicles. The anti-personal part of the minigun would be reduced by losing the ads, however hipfire would be buffed.

The current LMG and the minigun are not on par with each other imho. you can decide if theses changes would make all three weapons trash

maybe reload time compared to the new lmg and minigun doesn't matter that much

both would have to be relatively long though

reducing reticle and recoil on the minigun might actually be a buff for the anti-personal as ads with the flash is pretty difficult at long distances

recoil on the minigun maybe doesn't need to change