PGMP and FGMP who are they for?

[GuernseyMan]

Looking through the equipment lists I'm wondering who would buy a TL14 PGMP?

The stats are identical to the TL13 version except it isn't bulky. Since you can mitigate the bulky trait with a 500cr gyrostabiliser who is going to pay the extra 35,000cr for the higher TL offering. There is the same problem with FGMPs.

Usually you would expect the damage to increase slightly from one TL to the other but the lack of granularity in the detructive (x10) weapons makes that hard to acheive.

 

[-Daniel-]

In the first edition rules the PGMP had the Auto trait and the Auto rate went up between the TL13 and Tl14. From Auto 4 to Auto 6. Not sure if that is worth the additional cost, but it is clear they just cut and pasted the costs over. Same for the FGMP. By eliminating the Auto they removed one of the few stats that made them different. If the intent was to eliminate the auto fire, they should revisit the costs vs the stats to make sure they make sense. As it is now, there is no real reason to buy a TL14 PGMP in my point of view.

 

[Infojunky]

The short answer is, in CT the PGMP-13 and the FGMP-14 did not require the operator to be wearing Combat Armor or Battledress.

 

[-Daniel-]

The short answer is, in CT the PGMP-13 and the FGMP-14 did not require the operator to be wearing Combat Armor or Battledress.

Side note, this old restrictions are not clearly outlined in the Beta CRB or CSC. This is one I think needs to be cleared up in both. Don't hint at it, make it clear. Even if you do not want to lift the need for Battle Dress at higher TLs, still just state they must use Battle Dress or clearly state which must and which do not.

 

[Libris]

The short answer is, in CT the PGMP-13 and the FGMP-14 did not require the operator to be wearing Combat Armor or Battledress.

Actually, they did. The PGMP-13 and FGMP-14 had high recoil which battledress absorbed whereas the PGMP-14 and FGMP-15 had grav recoil compensators to allow their use without battledress. Of course, with the radiation damage that fusion guns now put out not wearing seriously heavy armour isn't recommended.

I always preferred to think of the PGMP-14 and FGMP-15 as the rapid pulse versions not unlike the role of the squad light machine gun.

 

[Infojunky]

The short answer is, in CT the PGMP-13 and the FGMP-14 did not require the operator to be wearing Combat Armor or Battledress.

Actually, they did. The PGMP-13 and FGMP-14 had high recoil which battledress absorbed whereas the PGMP-14 and FGMP-15 had grav recoil compensators to allow their use without battledress. Of course, with the radiation damage that fusion guns now put out not wearing seriously heavy armour isn't recommended.

Yes, yes, I typo-ed the TLs.... But you get what I mean....

 

[MongooseMatt]

Good point!

Gyrostabilisers now no longer work on Destructive weapons. Mega-Stabilisers could be a thing, but not for the Core Book.

 

[Annatar Giftbringer]

Good point!

Gyrostabilisers now no longer work on Destructive weapons. Mega-Stabilisers could be a thing, but not for the Core Book.

So, as long as the weapon-wielded wears battledress, there's no real practical difference? Only users with "inferior armor" (anything not boosting STR) need to worry about buying the more advanced, and more expensive, versions?

Weren't the low TL versions of PGMP and FGMP limited to firing every other round? Any thought about reinstating that rule? Since all TL versions of the guns deal the same damage and none have the auto trait, right now the only thing differing them is bulkyness and price, and with high enough STR only price matters.

 

[ErinPalette]

Speaking of such weapons and who they're for..

I was under the impression that the PGMP and FGMP were heavy weapons, i.e. in a military unit there is only one person per squad who has them. The modern equivalent being the machine gunner, with everyone else carrying rifles.

Looking over the 2e CSC and the armor ratings for battledress, it sure looks like the consensus is that the FGMP is the battlefield weapon of choice for all Imperial Marines.

Is this by design?

I bring this up because previous versions of Battledress had lower armor ratings, which made me think that the standard weapon was a laser rifle and only the heavies carried the FGMPs. But with armor ratings increasing, it makes me wonder.

 

[-Daniel-]

Speaking of such weapons and who they're for..

I was under the impression that the PGMP and FGMP were heavy weapons, i.e. in a military unit there were only 2 people in a platoon who had them. The modern equivalent being the machine gunner, with everyone else carrying rifles.

Looking over the 2e CSC and the armor ratings for battledress, it sure looks like the consensus is that the FGMP is the battlefield weapon of choice for all Imperial Marines.

Is this by design?

This has always been based on TL. The higher the TL, the higher the armour value and the more powerful the weapons. One chases the other. A new armour is invented, a new weapon is used to punch through it. So when you hit the TL where the average trooper is in Battle Dress, it is not shocking to think of the PGMP as the standard issue weapon.

There is a reason Characters do not want to mess with the Imperial Marines. :mrgreen:

 

[Condottiere]

Unless they have stealth, jedi training and carry light sabres.

Though I'd think those neon tubes would be dead giveaways.

 

[-Daniel-]

Unless they have stealth, jedi training and carry light sabres.

Good Point. :mrgreen: :lol:

 

[Infojunky]

Yah know when it comes to Imperial Marines I am less worried about the Smallarms, its the vast panoply of Nuclear Weapons. When your Sniper response is a Tac-Nuke to the zip code you tend worry less about their Kill-o-Zaps....

But yes in earlier editions PGMPs, FGMPs and even the dreaded PGPMs where support weapons....

 

[-Daniel-]

But yes in earlier editions PGMPs, FGMPs and even the dreaded PGPMs where support weapons....

Interesting, I wonder when they shifted to support weapons. In the original LBB Book 4, the first time I remember seeing them, they are listed under the header Energy Weapons and the list/header for Support Weapons is the next section (With fun toys like the VRF Gauss Gun).

I was sad to see several things dropped from that original listing over time. I liked that most of them required Battle Dress to use. Even going so far as to describe the interface between the weapon and the suit. I also always loved the line.... "the FGMP-15 is the most powerful man-carried direct fire weapon covered in these rules."
I remember thinking, with as powerful as these are, how powerful are the weapons not covered in this book. :lol: