To me, it simply depends on sheer numbers. If I know I am going to face large numbers of enemies, I will prefer the HMG, but in most situations, I will prefer the shotgun, simply because of adaptability, while still retaining the ability to deal massive amounts of damage quickly.
Tricky question, I thought I'd have a solid answer to this but now that I think about it it all depends on the situation. Lots of fades? shotgun. Lots of onos? HMG. I like the fact that the hmg chews through onos so damn fast, but really if you're on your own against any half-way decent onos your dead anyways.
...
Mostly I like to kill gorges. <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif' /><!--endemo-->
If I only need to worry about aliens I prefer an hmg. You can start firing sooner and keep firing longer with the hmg, I do way better against skulk rushes with an hmg.
If I have to kill alot of chambers/hive/res nodes and a buddy with a grenade launcher is not available, then give me a shotgun. I just hate shooting hmgs at structures because of the half damage.
A mix of both is best. Like the lmg and sg combo the hmg sg combo is even better. The sg is better against structures so the sgs can concentrate on them while hmg protects them and if aliens get close BAM the sgs now rape them too.
I prefer Shotgun over all guns. Purely because I can blow skulks in two, and when I'm not doing that, I can kill res towers very quickly. I usually only want an HMG or a GL for that matter, when I'm in Heavy Armor. Dropping expensive guns to light armors just seems like a waste to me, well ofcourse if they don't have any fades or onos or anything then it's sort of ok... but still, I like shotgun the best, just because it can own aliens, and alien structures equally.
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>HMGs are far superior to shotguns for anti-alien duty. Two light armor marines with HMGs will kill anything short of the entire alien team in seconds. Equip your whole team with HMGs, and go hunt the aliens down. The shotgun is a superknife. They're pure early game. You only hand them out if you can't afford better. I'd much rather the com spend an extra five res per person so that we can actually kill something in a jam. The shotgun takes a lot of work to kill higher lifeforms, requires multiple shotgunners, and you can only engage one target at a time with the shotgun. You can barely solo against fades with it, and that's assuming the other guy sucks. I frankly prefer the LMG to the shotgun in most cases. I'd rather camp long hallways with an LMG than camp tight spots with a shotty, if just because if I miss the first shot, I stand to lose the team 10 res. The LMG is free and just as effective. But yeah, hands down, the HMG is the best weapon for just killing aliens of any kind. They are the only counter to Onos, and utterly annihilate fades. Once you get HMGs, you hardly need anything else to win. Just go in, set up sieges, blast the hell out of anything stupid enough to try and stop you, and do it again to the second hive. Jetpacks or heavy armor is redundant if you have HMGs. You're already going to win.
Shotgun: - Cheaper - Quicker to reload - Can give fades nasty surprises and frags lerks in one shot
HMG: - Lots of damage, but shared to a longer time-span. - Effective at long range - Makes instant-toast of anything smaller, and tears bigger cretins to shreds in a few more seconds.
You make the conclusion of that. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo--> For me, it's always a mixed group (at hive 1 aliens do not stand even a smallest chance) when commanding, and don't care otherwise.
it depends, if you are gonna be sieging a hive while they have fades then HMGs would work alot better. But if you are just ramboing around killing rts then for sure you would want a shottie
and for owning aliens in pubs, i would pick the shotgun
On rare occasions I prefer HMG but only when there are **ALOT** of Onos.
Shotguns simply require less (point wise) and can deal huge damage when point blank and reload seems better IMO. Nothing like reloading a single shot to get off that last blast for the win. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
As for distance with the shotty, I'll usually take JP.
I prefer a shotty to go with my strange ninja vent running. HMG is nice but I think it works best with combined arms. SG much more suited to vent running.
I prefer the HMG in most situations. I'm a feckin' horrible shot. I'm getting better with the shotty though. One of the few good things about Combat is that it allows players who actually know what they're doing to experiment and practice with parts of the game they usually don't touch, because they aren't competitive with them.
I usually prefer shotgun over HMG. It's cheaper, does more damage in bursts, and makes fades run. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> Admittedly that means you need to be a good shot. Anyway, when I get HA I usually ask the comm for a shottie instead of an HMG, and when I comm I usually drop shotties to the people I know can aim, and HMG to the randoms. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I used to think shotguns were the best gun in ns and it's far superior to hmgs, but yeah i've learned. Think about it, with the hmg you could deal constant damage to the fade when it's blinking at you, when it's slashing you, and when it's trying to blink away. And besides that, it's awesome for killing everything else except for buildings.
<!--QuoteBegin-BOBDOLOL+Apr 21 2004, 10:45 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (BOBDOLOL @ Apr 21 2004, 10:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I used to think shotguns were the best gun in ns and it's far superior to hmgs, but yeah i've learned. Think about it, with the hmg you could deal constant damage to the fade when it's blinking at you, when it's slashing you, and when it's trying to blink away. And besides that, it's awesome for killing everything else except for buildings. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> you might forget taht 4 shottie blast kill a fade with our cara not to mention if ur in a squad also the fact that when a fade is blinking it is way easier to hit with shottie then an hmg
Depends on the map, if it's small then I like a shotgun if it's large open map then I like a HMG. But level 3 shot gun really does own if your in melee range
<!--QuoteBegin-1337lerk+Apr 21 2004, 10:51 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (1337lerk @ Apr 21 2004, 10:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-BOBDOLOL+Apr 21 2004, 10:45 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (BOBDOLOL @ Apr 21 2004, 10:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I used to think shotguns were the best gun in ns and it's far superior to hmgs, but yeah i've learned. Think about it, with the hmg you could deal constant damage to the fade when it's blinking at you, when it's slashing you, and when it's trying to blink away. And besides that, it's awesome for killing everything else except for buildings. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> you might forget taht 4 shottie blast kill a fade with our cara not to mention if ur in a squad also the fact that when a fade is blinking it is way easier to hit with shottie then an hmg <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> and 24 hmg bullets will kill a fade, what's your point?
also it's easier for me to solo fades with an hmg than a shotgun so...
you ever seen those comms that get lvl2/1 HA and then ONLY hand out shotguns? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I like the HMG better becuase it's the same kinda weapon behind the LMG and deals a pistol's load of damage with 125 ROUNDS! IF something survives that, then you deserved to die.
Early game you don't have this choice, as you lack adv. armory. Late game, as a commander, ask yourself - do you want an average close range only anti-alien and good close range anti-building unit or a long range awesome anti-alien and sucky anti building unit. Because that is the choice you're presented with. Pick according to your strategy.
Early game:shotteh pwns all. Late game however: A few HMGs with a <u>GL</u> for Wols and other buildings. <----pwns all. period.
I would much rather wait a tick or two for the res and have one rine in the group get a GL. Unless it was a small group of two or so, but what are you sending out expensive weapons in a lone group of 2 for anyway? Unless jp, but then ur just rushing anyway and the shotteh would be best. Under ideal conditions 6v6, 4 HMGs and 1 GL and of course 1 comm supporting will pwn anything short of an incredibly organised attack by the aliens.
Really depends on what you're up against. I have no preference over them, as they both have their uses :
SG : - Nullifies close-ranged advantage of skulks if skilled - Kills alien structures faster than anything (most posibly more than a GL) - Tears down Fades easy
HMG : - Further strentghens marine's range advantage - Can tear up almost anything from a distance. Even more with a jetpack - Better in ability than the LMG and pistol combined.
I agree HMGs are definately better for killing aliens than a shotgun. It's just that when you need to get through some ocs, or any structure for that matter quickly, shotguns are far superior. Taking down a hive with HMGs will work, but shotguns will do it 100 times quicker. Plus like swift said, not all reloading at the same time is a GOOD thing. Can't count how many times an entire team of heavies goes down trying to siege furnace hive from smelter, becuase they all unload killing skulks, then die all reloading at the same time. I've gotten to the point where I just won't fire my HMG if everyone else is, even while everyone and the comm are screaming at me to do so. THen when they are all frantically jumping around reloading all at once, I open fire and here comes the string of Norml E. High kills a tthe top of the screen. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->. "Omg TY Norm!"
Comments
...
Mostly I like to kill gorges. <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&::gorge::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif' /><!--endemo-->
If I have to kill alot of chambers/hive/res nodes and a buddy with a grenade launcher is not available, then give me a shotgun. I just hate shooting hmgs at structures because of the half damage.
Just don't all reload at once.</span>
- Cheaper
- Quicker to reload
- Can give fades nasty surprises and frags lerks in one shot
HMG:
- Lots of damage, but shared to a longer time-span.
- Effective at long range
- Makes instant-toast of anything smaller, and tears bigger cretins to shreds in a few more seconds.
You make the conclusion of that. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif' /><!--endemo--> For me, it's always a mixed group (at hive 1 aliens do not stand even a smallest chance) when commanding, and don't care otherwise.
and for owning aliens in pubs, i would pick the shotgun
Shotguns simply require less (point wise) and can deal huge damage when point blank and reload seems better IMO. Nothing like reloading a single shot to get off that last blast for the win. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
As for distance with the shotty, I'll usually take JP.
yet vs onos I am in doubt. hmg probably then
But shotty is cheaper and doesnt need an Advanced armory, and is way cooler than the hmg, or at least i think that.
Anyway, when I get HA I usually ask the comm for a shottie instead of an HMG, and when I comm I usually drop shotties to the people I know can aim, and HMG to the randoms. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
you might forget taht 4 shottie blast kill a fade with our cara not to mention if ur in a squad also the fact that when a fade is blinking it is way easier to hit with shottie then an hmg
you might forget taht 4 shottie blast kill a fade with our cara not to mention if ur in a squad also the fact that when a fade is blinking it is way easier to hit with shottie then an hmg <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
and 24 hmg bullets will kill a fade, what's your point?
also it's easier for me to solo fades with an hmg than a shotgun so...
you ever seen those comms that get lvl2/1 HA and then ONLY hand out shotguns? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
they get cained soooooooo much...
Pick according to your strategy.
Late game however: A few HMGs with a <u>GL</u> for Wols and other buildings. <----pwns all.
period.
I would much rather wait a tick or two for the res and have one rine in the group get a GL. Unless it was a small group of two or so, but what are you sending out expensive weapons in a lone group of 2 for anyway? Unless jp, but then ur just rushing anyway and the shotteh would be best. Under ideal conditions 6v6, 4 HMGs and 1 GL and of course 1 comm supporting will pwn anything short of an incredibly organised attack by the aliens.
SG :
- Nullifies close-ranged advantage of skulks if skilled
- Kills alien structures faster than anything (most posibly more than a GL)
- Tears down Fades easy
HMG :
- Further strentghens marine's range advantage
- Can tear up almost anything from a distance. Even more with a jetpack
- Better in ability than the LMG and pistol combined.