Close-Up and Personal: SMG's vs Shotties vs Pistols

[ozymandiaz]

I started with combat shotguns. I got a legendary orange pump shotgun from a lockbox and fell in love. Combined with all my cloak perks I could pretty much sneak up and 2 shot somebody from close range before they even knew what hit them. Secondary was a fully modded ar.

you know you just simply rank up on weapons after a while any weapon should be outstanding to use, more damage etc but as you said legendary weapons make the difference lol

That sounds like fun! How was range damage fall-off with the LMG?

awesome, I had the same thing and I was picking enemies from far beyond their reach. LMG with all perks, hands-down one of the best close and wide range weapons in the game. the shotguns have a lot of damage but almost no range, pistol are pretty much the same, no smg and ar's are a good option but the ammo cache runs low pretty quick.

let's go by the criteria:

CC = Close combat effectiveness on a scale 1-5 (1=not so much, 5=very much so)
RT = Reload time 1-5 (1=slow, 5=very fast)
LR = Long range effectiveness 1-5 (1=nope, 5=definitely yes)

__________________________________________________ ________________________

1) shotgun = CC:5 (it does a load of damage), RT:3 (depends on if it is a mag or single loader), LR:1
2) pistol = CC:3, RT:5, LR:1
3) SMG = CC:3, RT:4, LR:2
4) AR = CC:3, RT:3, LR:3
5) LMG = CC:4, RT:1, LR:4
6) SNiper = CC:1, RT:3, LR:5

and I even don't want to get into the sub sections (this is just a basic lookover), the more range you add the less effective in close quarters and reverse, loading time on weapons is a basic must go. loading a rocket launcher takes far more seconds than reloading a sidearm (pistol)

[winterforge]

Assault rifle main, auto-shotgun secondary for when I'm getting swarmed by charging melee types. BMG in second loadout when I want to play healer.

[Muzzah]

That sounds like fun! How was range damage fall-off with the LMG? I noticed that Pistol/SMG even with a scope, had serious range issues; damage dropped FAST as range increased. With a bolt-action sniper rifle, if you can see 'em, you can kill them, often without aggro'ing others in the vicinity. Never really got to play much at long range with a scoped AR/LMG; how effective was that?

at long range with the LMG, i burst fired 2-3 rounds at a time due to the spread. but burst firing it was damn accurate and deadly

[BleakPanther]

I feel like we need to factor in playstyle into this discussion as well. I favored a mid-range playstyle. My preferred AR's were electric elemental and my pistols were incendiary. Spray and pray electric bullets to slow down a crowd. Burst fire electric crits on the big minigunners and the like. I like full auto for the ability to put the rounds downrange anyway I see fit. For the pistol, I liked the semi-auto for the same reason. Double tap a couple crits and if they don't drop, empty the clip or swap weapons. Incendiary so that if i have to reposition myself or they are wearing a helmet or toting a shield, the damage is still ticking.

I'm sure on release and with time more weapons will open up and this might change but I know what i'll be hunting for on April 2nd.

[Arsenic_Touch]

That sounds like fun! How was range damage fall-off with the LMG? I noticed that Pistol/SMG even with a scope, had serious range issues; damage dropped FAST as range increased. With a bolt-action sniper rifle, if you can see 'em, you can kill them, often without aggro'ing others in the vicinity. Never really got to play much at long range with a scoped AR/LMG; how effective was that?

With a recoil suppression stock, a scope, extended magazine and a ionic barrel on a fire elemental LMG, the range was insane and it was deadly as hell. Even on full auto, I was able to rip them apart. Would either burst fire, or unload from the hip, especially with the perks.

[Ensu]

I used an assault rifle and melee at close range.

[Warspawn]

Would be neat if they had knives...or bayonets that attached to a/r's and shotties. I've seen the melee stocks, but a big blade at the end of your weapon with +melee would be pretty nifty.

[ozymandiaz]

Would be neat if they had knives...or bayonets that attached to a/r's and shotties. I've seen the melee stocks, but a big blade at the end of your weapon with +melee would be pretty nifty.

would be sweet to have melee weapons to begin with.

[Lord Marshal]

A little before I had to log out, I found a pistol with a purple swirl icon on it that had a 16 round clip and fired two or three shots each time. Dead enemies would look like they got ate alive by grape jelly.

[Vin]

I'll have to jump in to the LMG/Shotgun club.

I used a LMG as main; felt like it had just enough ammo to finish out a monster before I had to reload.
I used a double barrlel shotgun in PVP (One shot kills) and an auto fragger in PVE.

Both worked well but god help you if you needed to reload mid fight...