Submachine gun

[Blofeld]

I'm thinking of giving the rank and file troops in a company I'm working on submachine guns. Would that spoil the balance of the game? The aim is to create a balanced forced and I'm aware of how powerful even one machine gun can be let alone 8 light ones.
Thanks
Blofeld

[Irishrover13]

I would not want to face that. Well they are within the scope of the point system, the turn mooks into killing machines and standard quality troops into scary dudes.

[Blackwolf]

Don't forget that SMGs have a short range and can jam

Cheero

Wolfie

[MalcyBogaten]

I invented my own LMGs and I know others have previously made SMGs in this rule system. The points costing is in the rules and you can always give them a go in a trial game. Then if you or your opponent feels that a tweak or something else more drastic is involved just agree between yourselves.

With my own LMGs I made the decision that you would choose a primary target and then only be able to engage up to another two targets if they were within a radius of the first target. (Got to admit I can't remember at the moment, but I'll dig the weapon cost and addendums I made out and post them here when I do)

But the basics of costing them eats into your points total for your force. So you don't get many super weapons per trooper. (Mainly 'cos you won't have that many troopers!)

[Craig]

I have been rethinking the sub-machine gun. As this is an alternate 1895 there is no reason it cannot exist, but it will not be as effective or reliable as even a Thompson.
So let's break the beast down.
1. Like many sub-machine guns it will use the equivalent of pistol bullets, which it carries in a stick or drum magazine. Pistol bullets do not have the penetrating power of a rifle. So its SV bonus is +2 @ 2pts.
2. However, it does throw a lot of bullets down range so it is likely the target could be hit multiple times. So its Pluck penalty is -2 @ 2pts
3. It has a longer barrel than a pistol, more like a carbine in fact. So it has a range of 15" @ 2 pts
4. Like a full size machine gun it can attack groups @ 3 pts, however it tends to be fired in bursts because it is not belt fed, so it cannot walk its fire.

Sub-machine gun: SV+2, Pluck -2, Range 18", can attack groups, Cost 9 points.

[Metternich]

Thanks for including that Craig.  Scratched an itch of mine too.  Some of the earlier submachine guns (the German Bergmann MP18  and the Italian Villar Perosa M15) have rather a steampunk look to them, and the mechanics are nothing that couldn't have been developed after the appearance of the Maxim gun.  And, as you noted, they both used pistol cartridges (and were not as reliable as some of the more modern machine guns).  And the Eureka "airborne" Prussian/Germans are equipped with them (and I have two for inclusion in my Imperial German band):

http://eurekaminusa.com/collections/pax-limpopo-28mm-enemies-of-the-empire

[MalcyBogaten]

My LMG listed below.

Weapon itself         +1pts
SV Bonus +2          +2pts
Range upto 36"      +9pts
Attacks Grps 3" Radius of main target only +3pts
Pluck Penaly -2      +2pts

Total 17pts.

I take the Max range as 36" and nominate a main target for my Group fire. Only engaging another 2 figs if I have LOS and they are within 3" of the main target. (We measure our ranges from the middle/head of the figure to middle/head) So it isn't as big as you may think.

Well that of course is just the weapon cost and you have to have a fig to carry it who also will cost you.

They don't seem to make me win any games I've used them in so far. So they don't seem over-powered to me.