[dresdran]

So I've been making a couple of backup characters for a game I am in (just in case one of our plans goes full pink mohawk and gets me killed) and I noticed a positive quality by the name of Brand Loyalty. This got me thinking about a corp that we been fun to be a complete and utter stooge to and after making making an Ares stooge I decided to make another, this one to the manufacturer H&K. This is because I have become incredibly enamored with the idea of using the HK XM30 (and yes I would be using Restricted Gear in order to get it). The problem is I am not sure where to go from here and what kind of role I want him to fill. As it is it's quite a modular gun and looks to having a lot of uses for the various parts but I am not sure if this guy should be a street sam, an infiltrator, an adept, or any combination thereof. Anyone have any good ideas on how to best utilize the HK XM30?

[Jack_Spade]

Honestly, the XM30 is best used for drones since you only need to buy one autosoft for different weapon systems.
Otherwise it's a sub par weapon in nearly every configuration, easily outclassed by a simple AK.

So I'd say be a rigger or take one of the many other shiny guns from H&K (The Urban Combat is the dream of an infiltrator adept)

[dresdran]

Interesting and saddening at the time. Although I must admit it would be good to have another rigger character in case my current one dies. What would be the best kind of drone for the job? I'm assuming something that can take advantage of the different firing attachments so something like an aerial drone.

[Jack_Spade]

You can't go wrong with the MCT-Nissan Roto-Drone or the Steel Lynx. But for truly modular fun I'd suggest an anthro drone that can just use it's hands for whatever weapon config you want.
For that the ammo reloading drone from HT is ideal since it already has two arms.

[Duellist_D]

If you want to use the XM30, go with it.
Not every Runner needs to be hyper optimized, just try to be useful for your group.
The gun might be a subpar assault rifle, but the Carbine-Config is actually quite interesting if you want an intermediate between SMGs and Assaultrifles. Higher Damage than the very viable Ingram Smartgun, better concealability than a normal Assault Rifle and lots of flexibility.
Would go for some sort of streetsam.

[Jack_Spade]

About that: The XM30 is meant for police forces as a one size fits all solution. A professional runner would probably rather use more specialized tools for their job (especially if they have to ditch the weapon afterwards.)

The carbine isn't bad but still not really concealable. There are better carbines out there.

[Duellist_D]

Which one?
Can't recall any other other AR that is explicitly stated as being a short Version in the text.
Going by name, maybe the Rainforest, but that one is ridiculous anyways, errata or not.

[Jack_Spade]

If you go by the language in the books those two are actually the only carbine weapons (and I just noticed they don't have a separate entry on the concealability table making the XM Version pretty pointless)

But there is a SMG by H&K in the Schattenhandbuch 2, the HK75 with the same damage and only one less AP and better AVA.

[Duellist_D]

Well, bullpups have a separate entry, I would put Carabines in the same category.
The MP75 is very good, might be a problem to get a non-German GM to approve it.
Also i really like it the possibility to use an underbarrelGL with the XM30, which SMGs can't do.

[Jack_Spade]

Correct, but bullpups are in the same concealment category as full blown assault rifles (and before we draw the ire of Reaver: Bullpup-design and carbines are two completely unrelated things that only have in common that they usually have weapons with a reduced overall length)

If you want to carry an under barrel GL just get yourself an Ares Alpha with chameleon upgrade.

[Duellist_D]

But they aren't in the same category.
Bullpups have a +4 conceilability mod, normal ones a +6.

Ares Alpha is a bit to boring in my book and also falls short one dice on the concealability chart with the Chameleon Coating 4 vs 5).

[Reaver]

Correct, but bullpups are in the same concealment category as full blown assault rifles (and before we draw the ire of Reaver: Bullpup-design and carbines are two completely unrelated things that only have in common that they usually have weapons with a reduced overall length)

If you want to carry an under barrel GL just get yourself an Ares Alpha with chameleon upgrade.

Did someone say my name??


Meh, if it was up to me, I would lump Carbines and Bullpups together too on the concealment table... But I am just a gun nut, not a developer or writer.

[dresdran]

Where can I find the concealment categories? I don't think I've actually seen them yet. Also I didn't even notice before that there are no underbarrel slots for SMGs (although I am not surprised), that's good to know.

[Jack_Spade]

p.420 core

@ Duellist_D
Yeah, I meant that +4 to +6 isn't much difference in the long run.
Beside that, I'm pretty sure the Ares Alpha is a bullpup (at least it has been in every previous edition)

[Duellist_D]

Yeah, some older Pics of the AA have it pictured as a Bullpup, but as long as there is nothing in the text about it being short, I'll keep it as a long gun.
Going by Illustrations opens up a bit to much room for additional inconsistencies (eg Steyr TMP with foregrip, FN HAR being a Bullpup, nothing of that getting mentioned in the rules).