Squad Leader Archive

I am not a SL at the moment...but I am thinking of going back. Let's ignore the SL issues for the time being.

What I would like to discuss is whether to use pistols or carbines. I am not interested in rifles so I am leaving them out. I would like a pure raw discussion of pistols vs carbines and which will help a group more.

First, I am going to make 1 assumption but I feel it is a strong one. I am going to say that any pool-specific special that targets anything but health is uselss in mixed groups. I have been in groups, it is my own personal opinion they are and many others say the same. So I want to discuss the advantages of the weapons as I see them.

Pistols. Specials that target health and bleeds that target health. Fast fire rate allows using stims or non-combat specials fast when you need to. Low HAM costs.

Carbines. Bigger damage because if AP2 laser carbine on "end game" types of mobs. Knockdowns. AoE specials (though some people, myself included, find the cone specials hard to use in certain places for fear of drawing in extra agros)

Essentially...I would call this debate health-targeting specials and fast speed with low HAM vs big damage from AP2 guns and knockdowns. I am a carbineer now...actually a BH/carbineer. So, I am fully aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the carbineer. I am very interested to know how pistols hold up against the armored mobs. I know they have the health-bleeds and that helps alot. Can experienced players comment on how well your pistols do? And please....pistoleer specials and speed only please....I cant bring BH speed in and that does change alot. Assume I would be a pistoleer/squad leader or carbineer/squad leader with medic on the side.

Thank you.

Let me clarify more...the HAM costs are and are not an issue. They arent because a good doctor who buffs and revives is always along on any big hunt. However, they are an issue because carbines do drain your mind quite a bit.

I am most interested in the comparison between big damage from AP2 guns and knockdowns to pistols which can target and bleed health.

Which is the bigger help to a group?

Carbs take a lot of mind???? First I heard of it. I think you might be mixing up Carb with Rifle.

My current laser carb has HAM cost of 26,42,22and does 52-342 so you know the HAM cost wasn't sliced.

Most carbine specials do 1x mind cost. So that carbine you referenced does 22 mind...every shot.

When you get to the point where you can fire fast...near the speed cap of 1 sec. You are talking about losing 22 mind every second. A 20 second battle results in your mind losing 440 - not including regen.

Well, I just made thw switch a few weeks ago from pistol to carbine...here is what I can tell you.

HAM costs are getting to be a little outrageous with the carbine, I understand that they are not an issue to you, but that is one of my bigger issues with carb.

One of the main reasons I went with pistol, was because of the speed and the KD ability it had before the nerf. As far as KD goes, charge shot is awesome, but KD isnt worth going for with pistol.

As far as damage, Pistol was just fine for me. Targeting health pools is great, and the speed makes up any difference in damage. Although I do have a dh17 krayt carb with 2.2 speed, and 88-290 dmg (only got a 17% dmg slice, so it could be alot better)

Also since you are a BH, I have a few friends that use a scatter pistol with eyeshot, and have thier pistol speed at around 120 or so..this is a great combo for PvP.

Bottom line is basicly what do you like better. Personally I am think I liked Pistoleer better, but I just got cripple shot yesterday, and havent gotten to play with it much, so I will stick it out with a carb and see how it goes

And I just finished reading the bottem of your post...so I am a jackass

Pistol specials - Stopping shot is great and I think Cripple will be the equivelent to it.

The one thing I do miss is the health bleed, and health targeted shots for pistol. Carb is a little to random for me at times, and action shot is worthless to me.-

Speed ( i will elaborate more) - The upper lvl pistols are possibly just a little faster than most carbs, my DX2s were around a 2.4-2.9 in speed, and I think my slowest carb is my laser 3.5 and my DXR6 advanced 3.9. I dont use those as much as my ee3 or my DH17, which are just as fast as some pistols. Also depending on the slice, it can go either way for both types of weapons.

DEVs will soon fix carabines HAM issues

I'm carabinier myslef, and squad leader, I must say that this duo works very well

For the current hight HAM cost, I use powerups on my laser carbine ( 23-266 2.5)

for lower damage carbine, like my DH17 subnose, ( 96-216 2.1 ) I use a damage powerup, the maximum damage is buffed up by 31%

And i alway carry an EE3 ( 76-170 1.9) for low heat resist monster

charge shot is very usefull, even tho if you have to stand to do it, therefor being less accurate

Crippling shot quivalent to stopping?? have you even done 1500-3500 damage at a 2.5 speed ratio?

And legshot is usefull ( will be even more when legshot3 will be fixed) against player, since they generally have lower action than health.

And for those how'd want to be BH/SL or commando/SL, what a shame! a BH for leader... my own opinion anyway