Rifleman Archive

This is likely to be disjointed and poorly focused, but I've been running some things through my head and I'm getting nowhere. I figured I'd run this by the public at large and see what comes of it. My gut tells me I'm on to something but I'm missing a link somewhere.

My theory is that the real problem with rifles is that they aren't viable as a primary weapon. The melee multiplier, accuracy issues, etc are contributing factors to this problem, but aren't the core of the problem.

It's hard for me to explain exactly what I mean so I'll give an analogy.

Your leg hurts, so you take some pain killers. The reason your leg hurts is that it's broken. The pain killers do nothing to address this, they only allow you to function with a broken leg. I'm saying that perhaps the issues raised are the pain, not the bone.

The rifle is designed to be fired from a stationary, prone positionat a distant target that is preferably not moving.In this situation, the rifle is the best weapon to be using. Any deviation from this situation incurs severe penalties, and this situation does not last long. The reason rifles gain so much power at master status isn't speed in and of itself, it's the ability for the master to capitalize on the ideal situation to a far greater extent than was previously possible.

The problem with accuracy isn't that one misses, it's that each hit is so important that a miss is devastating.

The problem with the melee multiplier isn't that one takes more damage, it's that one suffers melee attacks so often.

I'm not saying that the issues aren't valid. I'm saying it might be better to define the problem in terms of the results of these these issues, not define the issues themselves as the problem. This may lead toanswers that solve the problems without diminishing the rifle's uniqueness.

I'm also attempting to find a common thread between these issues. A small change in an unexpected area might end up being better than a sweeping change. I just have a hunch that theres something being overlooked that will seem obvious once discovered.

I'm not sure if that made any sense or is correct, but I'm willing to attempt to explain better if asked. Please find the holes and points of confusion so that I may either pursue or abandon this line of reasoning. If you think you can add or clarify please do.