SMG or Shotgun practical for main weapon?

[Lidda-Bit]

I just did 2 playthroughs as a soldier and spy, soldier using Assault rifle and spy using pistol and melee. I did not realize that those were the 3 best things in the game at the time =p

 

I'm curious now after reading some posts, is it viable to make a shotgun or SMG character? and what would those weapons work best with, tech specialist?

 

Thanks

[Oblarg]

I just did 2 playthroughs as a soldier and spy, soldier using Assault rifle and spy using pistol and melee. I did not realize that those were the 3 best things in the game at the time =p

 

I'm curious now after reading some posts, is it viable to make a shotgun or SMG character? and what would those weapons work best with, tech specialist?

 

Thanks

 

SMGs are plenty practical once you get max skill. Haven't tried shotgun yet.

[Dragoncat]

SMGs are working pretty well for me on my current playthrough (this is, what, the... 4th playthrough of AP I'm going through?)

[Grand_Commander13]

SMGs are a lot better for ranges and mowing down mooks. Heck, they may actually have better damage overall (Brayko was harder with SMGs, though I didn't get the tainted cocaine for him that time; Marburg was much easier with SMGs). You really miss that automatic knockdown with the SMGs though... Good thing the enemies don't survive long enough for it to be really a problem.

[Oblarg]

SMGs are a lot better for ranges and mowing down mooks. Heck, they may actually have better damage overall (Brayko was harder with SMGs, though I didn't get the tainted cocaine for him that time; Marburg was much easier with SMGs). You really miss that automatic knockdown with the SMGs though... Good thing the enemies don't survive long enough for it to be really a problem.

 

I found Marburg to be next to impossible with SMGs until I was a fairly high level. I did Rome first, and had to leave and then return.

[Spiked]

Shotguns are awesome combined with gadgets. To me it seamed like shotguns are underpowered, but I just finished the game on hard difficulty as a tech specialist and it was awesome. The thing is, you shoot enemies when they are in close range regularly, but when they are far away, just wait for critical hit to form and then when you hit them, no matter how far they are, they will fall down and stay down for about 5 seconds, which is enough to run to them and stomp them, or just shoot at other enemies, or throw a grenade or whatever. Like I said, I managed to finish the whole game like this, on hard difficulty. In my opinion, of all the weapons, I like the design of shotguns the best.

 

And I didn't even mention the incinerating bullets/shells, one of the best things in the whole game. They set enemies' clothes on fire. Lots. Of. Fun.

[player1]

In my first playthrough I used shotguns as my secondary weapon to AR. I pretty much used them in only with room sweep for quick knockdown effect and didn't have many points at that.

 

On the other hand, in 3 other playthroughs I used them combined with AR or pistol.

 

In my stealth pistol + SMG playthrough there where my main weapon for tough situations for things at medium to close range (with pistol with chainshot for far away targets).

 

I did most of boss kills with them (in both pistol/smg and ar/smg combos), if boss is the kind that likes to gets to close range.

Edited June 25, 2010 by player1

[Lidda-Bit]

Thanks guys :D

[Tigranes]

Any build can be powerful in AP, but you have to adapt the way you play to fit your strengths.

 

SMGs - get yourself in short/medium range situations where opponents can't scatter or hide. Use the fact that once you start hitting them they're too busy dying to hit back at you. SMGs also work well with Martial Arts in case enemies get to you and you haven't been able to get them down. Also, you can sneak up, deliver a flying knee to their face, then immediately hold left-click, letting Mike unload a dozen bullets in his face - very fast way to finish anyone or anything off without resistance.

 

Shotguns - use cover to get them to come at you, duck around doorways. Exploit the fact that even if a shotgun shot doesn't kill them, they writhe on the floor for a while, letting you get the others first. As aforementioned, gadgets work well. Phosphorus bullets are quite nice for bosses to disrupt their armour regeneration.

[Lidda-Bit]

Great tips, thanks Tigranes!

 

What do you guys think are the most important values to shop for in SMGs and shotguns? I was thinking small scatter pattern in shotguns... but I have no idea in SMgs. I'm terrible at picking guns

[player1]

As someone who played with upgraded SMGs a lot:

 

1st priority:

-Damage: SMGs have base damage around 10, so adding something like +2 to damage is around 20% increase. Still, it's not so much important to take higher damage SMG weapon over some with big penalties to accuracy and recoil.

 

Tip: if you want to play with SMG, but don't want to fully specialize, take 4 skill levels for +3dmg bonus.

 

Tip2: SIE has some of the best damage upgrades for SMG.

 

2nd:

-Magazine size: One of the few weapons where this is really important, since bonus damage you get after killing someone lasts until you empty the clip

 

3rd:

-Accuracy and Recoil: Both are important in same amount, and will help in getting more accurate short burst at medium range.

 

Tip: Don't forget some scope. With scope you can zoom on targets you want to shoot at medium range.

 

not important:

-Stability: Base stability of SMG is good enough, and you really don't need to move too much when firing. It's perfectly OK to take upgrades that reduce stability, but increase accuracy, recoil, damage or magazine size.

Edited June 30, 2010 by player1

[Luckmann]

If you've got Toughness and like getting close, I'd say Shotgun.

 

For everything else, SMG. SMGs are extremely terrible at low levels, but at higher levels, they actually become amazing.