[Senko]

I've finally been convinced my personal preference for a pistol for my mage/face (nice concealable and not out of place) just isn't going to work due to their low dice pools and I need to just spray the room when not casting spells. I'm thinking since I'm going to be stuck lugging a big awkward gun around I should go with the FN-Har although the SCK-100 is somewhat tempting its stats are significantly worse. So I ask one last time as a mage/face with low dice pools (3 agility, 2 weapon with spec for a total of 7 dice) should I buy the FN Har?

[Jack_Spade]

No.
Buy an AK with laser sight and liberally use suppressive fire. It's a cheap and efficient way to contribute to combat without you needing a high dicepool.
If you have to, you can just toss the gun and get a new one.

[Senko]

So still an assault rifle then, I see your point about the AK it seems to have the same stats for about 600 yen less odd.

[Xenon]

(You can recklessly cast an utility spell and pull the trigger once in the same action phase)

[Top Dog]

The FN HAR and AK have the same basic stats, yes, but the FN comes with an integral laser sight and Gas Vent 2. These are good things to have, especially since you'll be using full auto to compensate for your lower dice pool a lot.

This only matters for "ordinary" attacks - like Jack says, surpressive fire is a nice option that doesn't need recoil compensation. But at some time you do want to actually shoot at people, so getting some recoil compensation (by, for example, Gas Vents) is a good diea. Of course, you can mod the AK to have those as well - but then you end up at about the same price point.

Assault Rifles are simply better weapons, but if you, as a mage, want a more concealable option, Machine Pistols (and, to a lesser extent, SMGs) offer that in a nice compact option, while keeping the spray-and-pray advantage. You'll do a lot less damage, of course.

Better yet, get both. The FN HAR (or AK if you go that way, or Ares Alpha if you want to risk it - it's functionally similar enough) can be your hard hitter when you're out in the field and need some non-magical firepower, with the MP/SMG as your concealed firearm in more civilized places.

[Jack_Spade]

Actually, if you mod the AK exactly the same as the FN-HAR out of the box the AK is still cheaper and has more ammo(iirc!).

The best trade between accuracy and recoil is probably Full Auto simple action for 6 shots
As a weak mage you should therefore invest in: Shock pad (1), Gas Vent III (3), Foregrip (1) and a Laser Sight

If you aim and have wireless on you gain 7 dice Acc 6 and reduce the enemy's defense by 5, all without building up more recoil than you can absorb.

I would stay away from MPs: Their damage is to low to be worth the complex or simple action. You are a mage. Learn to cast a stunball instead.

I advocate suppressive fire because it helps your team mates who know how to use their guns and hinders your opponents shooting at you.

[Herr Brackhaus]

The only issue with suppressive fire is that someone with a low dice pool using it as their offensive action will be unlikely to generate many hits which means opponents can more easily escape the damaging effects, and the attacker has to remain still for the whole duration of the attack. The fact that you are imposing a negative dice pool penalty to all actions for people in the affected area is significant, however, as it is in essence the effect of a chaotic world spell without the drain.

[Jack_Spade]

Mix it up with payload ammo full of pepperpunch. That should get their attention...

[Senko]

I don't have increase Agility to many other spells I need more e.g. Increase reflexes and carrying a machine pistol doesn't really feel more civilised to me so it's either a proper pistol or the best heavy weapon u can get.

[Top Dog]

Actually, if you mod the AK exactly the same as the FN-HAR out of the box the AK is still cheaper and has more ammo(iirc!).

Yes, but it's close, and you have 2 mod slots free on the FN-HAR for other stuff. (Of course, that may not matter depending on your modding needs).

The best trade between accuracy and recoil is probably Full Auto simple action for 6 shots
As a weak mage you should therefore invest in: Shock pad (1), Gas Vent III (3), Foregrip (1) and a Laser Sight

If you aim and have wireless on you gain 7 dice Acc 6 and reduce the enemy's defense by 5, all without building up more recoil than you can absorb.

3 Agi + 2 skill + 2 spec + 1 laser + 1 aim gives 9 dice, actually. The weapon's RC is 4, with at least 1 from STR and 1 baseline on top, so that's all compensated.

I would stay away from MPs: Their damage is to low to be worth the complex or simple action. You are a mage. Learn to cast a stunball instead.

I advocate suppressive fire because it helps your team mates who know how to use their guns and hinders your opponents shooting at you.

MP's can still do suppressive fire, and they can do more damage than mid-Force spells. Not that Stunball isn't bad to learn (or other AoE's), but MP's aren't useless.

[Jack_Spade]

Good luck finding MPs with enough ammo capacity.
6P without AP is just not good enough against most opponents (Body 3 Armor Jacket 12 Helmet 2 =17dice)

[Raven2049]

Actually, if you mod the AK exactly the same as the FN-HAR out of the box the AK is still cheaper and has more ammo(iirc!).

Yes, but it's close, and you have 2 mod slots free on the FN-HAR for other stuff. (Of course, that may not matter depending on your modding needs).

The best trade between accuracy and recoil is probably Full Auto simple action for 6 shots
As a weak mage you should therefore invest in: Shock pad (1), Gas Vent III (3), Foregrip (1) and a Laser Sight

If you aim and have wireless on you gain 7 dice Acc 6 and reduce the enemy's defense by 5, all without building up more recoil than you can absorb.

3 Agi + 2 skill + 2 spec + 1 laser + 1 aim gives 9 dice, actually. The weapon's RC is 4, with at least 1 from STR and 1 baseline on top, so that's all compensated.

I would stay away from MPs: Their damage is to low to be worth the complex or simple action. You are a mage. Learn to cast a stunball instead.

I advocate suppressive fire because it helps your team mates who know how to use their guns and hinders your opponents shooting at you.

MP's can still do suppressive fire, and they can do more damage than mid-Force spells. Not that Stunball isn't bad to learn (or other AoE's), but MP's aren't useless.
[/quote]

unless im totally thinking wrong, Laser sights dont add dice. emphasis mine.

[Top Dog]

The wireless bonus for a Laser Sight is +1 to your dice pool, just like a (non-implanted) smart link. Doesn't stack with smartlink. And the accuracy bonus is smaller, and you don't get all the side perks of a smartlink. But yeah, you can still get a dice pool bonus.

[ScytheKnight]

Alternately if you've got at least a little bit of strength get a folding stock SMG and a silencer.

Invisibility + silenced 3-round bursts should give a half decent chance of hitting and dealing damage while keeping yourself relatively save from counter attack while they try and work out where the shooting is coming from (you are using caseless ammo right and not giving away your position with the sound of falling brass?) If you're still worried about actually getting a bullet to hit, hold your action until others have fired then then take advantage of successive attacks ont he same target.

[Rooks]

get a Colt M23 that way you can supress twice