[Angelone]

Yeah, I met a few and it's almost infuriating how smart they are.

[Ted Fast]

Personally, for a character that specializes in extremely long-ranged combat, a good sniper rifle is without a doubt the best tool for the job.  Even if they have to run and gun, the -1 isn't too bad of a penalty, and if the rifle is modded enough it will be just as deadly at 5 meters as it is at 1000.
I used to give my dedicated sniper a shotgun as a backup weapon, but I found on the rare case she needed to work at close ranges the sniper rifle was still better.  There are very few things it isn't at least adequate for, except concealed carry.

And the mental image of a gnome carrying a Barrett on a run-and-gun scenario is just too awesome.

I'm genuinely interested, why do you prefer sniper rifles over assault cannons for long rage combat?
Seems to me like ACs have the upper hand in range, damage and AP-ability. Is the 14F availability of the ammo why  you don't prefer ACs?

[Mithlas]

Could be the portability, and the utility - Longarms includes shotguns and, if they do things in what I think is the right way in 5E, may include Battle Rifles (Gun Haven and War!).

Being spotted with a sniper rifle means that the corpsec might call high threat response on you. Being spotted with an assault cannon means that corpsec calls the national guard.

[Ted Fast]

Could be the portability, and the utility - Longarms includes shotguns and, if they do things in what I think is the right way in 5E, may include Battle Rifles (Gun Haven and War!).

Being spotted with a sniper rifle means that the corpsec might call high threat response on you. Being spotted with an assault cannon means that corpsec calls the national guard.

Sure Longarms include shotguns but Heavy Weapons has machine-guns, grande launchers and rocket lanuchers along with ACs.
So I would say that you get a lot of bang for you BPs if you pick up Heavy Weapons.

But your right, a AC draws a lot of attention and that's not a good thing if you're a shadejogger.

[Reaver]

Personally, for a character that specializes in extremely long-ranged combat, a good sniper rifle is without a doubt the best tool for the job.  Even if they have to run and gun, the -1 isn't too bad of a penalty, and if the rifle is modded enough it will be just as deadly at 5 meters as it is at 1000.
I used to give my dedicated sniper a shotgun as a backup weapon, but I found on the rare case she needed to work at close ranges the sniper rifle was still better.  There are very few things it isn't at least adequate for, except concealed carry.

And the mental image of a gnome carrying a Barrett on a run-and-gun scenario is just too awesome.

I'm genuinely interested, why do you prefer sniper rifles over assault cannons for long rage combat?
Seems to me like ACs have the upper hand in range, damage and AP-ability. Is the 14F availability of the ammo why  you don't prefer ACs?

Assault Cannons:
Can not mount silencers, or sound suppressors
Limited to AC rounds only
Double uncompensated recoil
Slightly less range then a Sniper rifle (by 50 meters)
SS firing more.

Compare all that to a to a Sniper rifle:
Can use silencers/suppressors
Can use any ammo type available
longer range over an AC (by 50 meters)
usually SA firing mode (some sniping rifles are SS, but the vast majority are SA)


****
If you look at the stats for a AC, they are:
 name:                           DAM      AP      MODE    RC    Ammo     AVAL     Cost
Thunderstruck:               9p     (1/2im)-4    SA       (1)       10c+E    24F        13K
Vigorous                        10p      -5            SS        -         12c         18F         4k
XXL                               10p       -5            SS       (1)        15c        20F         5.5k

Ammo for an AC
Name                             Dam MOD        AP MOD       AVAIL      COST
assault cannon                 as cannon      as cannon     16F            $450
AV                                   as cannon        -1/-3*               20F         $2500
* -1 vs people, -3 vs vehicles

Now look at the Sniper rifles:
Name:                           DAM          AP     MODE      RC      ammo    Avail      Cost
Strike                             8p             -3         SA          (1)          14c       10F       3.3k
121                                9p             -4         SA          (2)          14c       18F        9k
Enforcer                         7p             -3        SA          (2)         2x12c     12F       4.8k
SM-4                              8p             -3        SA          (1)           15c        16F      6.2k
2100                               7p             -3        SA          (1)           10m       10F       5K

then the Ammo that in commonly used:
Name:                           DAM MOD         AP MOD         Avail       Cost
APDS                                  -                     -4                    16F        $70
EX-EX                                 +1                  -1                    12F        $100
AV                                       -                     -4/-6*               18F        $120
reg                                      -                      -                        2R        $20
SS                                      6s(e)               -1/2 im               5R        $80
*  -6 vs Vehicles and barriers -4 vs people


So, Aside from the thunder stuck, I throw APDS and AV rounds into my sniper rifle and I have better AP then an Assault cannon (by 2 points with the barret 121) The weapon is mostly silent, I get 2 shots off to a assault Cannon's 1, and I have better range. all for only -1 to -3 less damage per shot. Not a bad trade off, especially considering the second extra shot.

[Ted Fast]

I bow to your expertise Reaver.

Oh well good thing I non of my players so far have made a long range fire support expert.

I'd feel like a foo for giving 'em jive paydata.

[Reaver]

I bow to your expertise Reaver.

Oh well good thing I non of my players so far have made a long range fire support expert.

I'd feel like a foo for giving 'em jive paydata.

it's all about the right tool for the job.

A sniper rifle is a great tool for splattering heads at range...
An assault cannon is great for busting open vehicles and drones.....

That said, what sounds more panic inducing? "OMG he has a sniper rifle!!" Or, "OMG! he has an Assault Cannon!!"

Sometimes the best weapon isn't the one you shoot... just the one you have to point

[RHat]

There's one serious aspect you're missing, Ted: sotguns and sport rifles are civvie-legal.  That can be a huge benefit.

[Ted Fast]

There's one serious aspect you're missing, Ted: shotguns and sport rifles are civvie-legal.  That can be a huge benefit.

Yeah that is true, I tend to focus more on high-end guns and how to make them snazzier so sometimes I miss things like that.

I'll keep that in mind my for my players.

[RHat]

That's generally not the best focus, especially as a GM - the hostiles most runners deal with aren't gonna be armed with state of the art tech, after all.  Corpsec, for example, is going to be armed with whatever does the job the cheapest - this doesn't mean their gear sucks, but it's not going to be fantastic custom modded stuff, either.  NPC's that do have that sort of thing are going to be something else that's in a whole different order of dangerous.

[PeterSmith]

That said, what sounds more panic inducing? "OMG he has a sniper rifle!!" Or, "OMG! he has an Assault Cannon!!"

I'll go with Door Number Three:

"OMG! He has a laser designator!"

[RHat]

That said, what sounds more panic inducing? "OMG he has a sniper rifle!!" Or, "OMG! he has an Assault Cannon!!"

I'll go with Door Number Three:

"OMG! He has a laser designator!"

Few vocalizations inspire the brownings of pants more than "Snip-AGH!".

[Reaver]

That said, what sounds more panic inducing? "OMG he has a sniper rifle!!" Or, "OMG! he has an Assault Cannon!!"

I'll go with Door Number Three:

"OMG! He has a laser designator!"

Few vocalizations inspire the brownings of pants more than "Snip-AGH!".

true.
one of them being "Assault CA-" <BOOM!!!> *wet splatter sounds*

[Nal0n]

That said, what sounds more panic inducing? "OMG he has a sniper rifle!!" Or, "OMG! he has an Assault Cannon!!"

I'll go with Door Number Three:

"OMG! He has a laser designator!"

As the old quote goes: "God always favors the side who fields the most Artillery!"

[CanRay]

That said, what sounds more panic inducing? "OMG he has a sniper rifle!!" Or, "OMG! he has an Assault Cannon!!"

I'll go with Door Number Three:

"OMG! He has a laser designator!"

As the old quote goes: "God always favors the side who fields the most Artillery!"

"When the going gets tough, the tough call in CAS."