Addition of SMG Holsters To Marine and/or Spec Racks

[Steelpoint]

Summary: Several pairs of M39 SMG Holsters are added to the Marine Weapon Racks and/or to the Specialist weapon racks.

Benefits: SMGs are a very niche weapon to use, which is not necessarily a bad thing. However in order to really make the SMG viable you need to take a holster to carry it in your belt slot, otherwise you may as well take a M41A/Shotgun and carry it.

The only people who really benefit from SMGs are Specialists or a Marine standard who really, really, wants a SMG sidearm. Since Engineers and Medics have no pressing items to carry in their suit exo-slot, whereas most Specialists do.

Having there be easier access to a SMG holster would be a positive boon to the people who want to take a SMG as it puts even less pressure on them to rush the cargo line to get a holster.

[Imperator_Titan]

SMGs are weapons of heresy and they shall be treated as such.

+1 though. There's absolutely no reason to take a SMG in my eyes but for those special people who do, might aswell let them enjoy it.

[SecretStamos (Joshuu)]

No, not going to be happening. They're meant to be a pretty low-issue item that you can only get from cargo.

SMGs were never meant to fit on the belt slot ever, so having these in small numbers was our compromise.

[Steelpoint]

SMGs are not really powerful enough to warrant taking over a M41A or a Shotgun, yet without a holster you can only place it on your exo slot (don't know about your back slot). The holster is all that makes the SMG viable nowadays.

If that's the decision then so be it, but I think this suggestion would be a positive one for the few people who have a real justification to take a SMG.

[Casany]

Grab two and duel wield man, use a hot key (X) to switch and set both to burst and you have a great weapon there
But, even though this will probs be denied, +1

[SecretStamos (Joshuu)]

SMGs are not really powerful enough to warrant taking over a M41A or a Shotgun, yet without a holster you can only place it on your exo slot (don't know about your back slot). The holster is all that makes the SMG viable nowadays.

If that's the decision then so be it, but I think this suggestion would be a positive one for the few people who have a real justification to take a SMG.

SMGs occupy the awkward middle ground between the M41A and the M4A3. They're mainly for support roles who need a deterrent, but don't care to deal with wielding the weapon before firing, and don't want to suffer the movement penalties associated with wielding. You're essentially taking a performance hit against larger castes in exchange for ease of use and mobility.

It is decidedly not a sidearm. It is not meant to replace the M4A3 or the M44 in any way. The SMG holster is really nothing more than a rare luxury that pushes it a bit into that role.

[Steelpoint]

Except its extremely uncommon for anyone to take a SMG sans either a Standard who wants to duel wield them (Ala Halo 2) or a Specialist that is already carrying a very powerful weapon in their exo slot (SADAR, Sniper, GL) and wants to carry a strong enough fallback weapon.

The SMG is more a tertiary primary weapon, it straddles the ground between primary weapons (M41A, Shotgun) and secondary weapons (Pistol, Revolver). Its not powerful enough to be a true primary weapon, but its too big and clunky to be a effective secondary weapon.

The reason it is oft taken by the above two roles is because they both can use the weapon to bring out its advantages over its weaknesses. The Standard can mitigate its lack of damage and penetration with the sheer amount of bullets they can churn out, and the Specalist does not need the SMG to excel as a strong weapon, they simply need it because its the closest they can get to a M41A.

Medics, Engineers and Squad Leaders have no use of the SMG because they have nothing competing for their exo slot. Civilians have no need because they can only ever carry a Pistol at best, and if they must arm up they can run right for the M41A/Shotgun. Specalists can only make a SMG work if they get a holster, if they don't get one then they'll just accept the disadvantage of having to drag/drop a M41A around and take it. Standards have absolutely no management issues due to the nature of their role.

----

My suggestion is a minor QoL suggestion that is more aimed towards the one role that actually has a genuine need of SMGs, the Specialist. If they don't get a holster, they just get a M41A and they carry more ammo for the M41A in a belt.

[MrJJJ]

Taking a pistol holster or revolver holster is just pointless, SMG fires faster than them and hits harder and has big ammo capacity, and its often either used to make aliens back off or finish off the alien you JUST sadared (or you ran out of ammo on smartgun)

I really don't see why is making something like a SMG holster is difficult in this age.

[forwardslashN]

This is denied.