OK, so who am I to write this post? I’m new to the game, my stats suck, I got no ribbons, and all that crap, but still, I’m an excellent machinegunner. Why? Well, let’s say I understand the function of the support class.
Along with that, I was a machinegunner during my military service. Along with acting as fire support in several other games, and always playing for the team, not for the kills, I got a pretty good grasp on the subject.
So you’ve decided to go for support? Good for you, welcome to the family… But, before we accept you into our triggerhappy brotherhood, there are a few things you have to keep in mind, namely the 4 rules of the support class.
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#1: You are not a killingmachine: Surprised? Well, it’s true. You are NOT a killingmachine. You have the potential to be one, but by default you are not.
#2: Ammo has a purpose: You think those ammo-bags are a nifty thing to carry around? Indeed they are, share the happiness.
#3: You are a roadblock: Your purpose is to deny enemy infantry access. Think of yourself as a bouncer.
#4: Machinegunning is for cool people: Not everyone is a good machinegunner. Accept that.
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I will now delve deeper into each topic. Hang on kitties, this ride isn’t for the weak.
#1: You are not a killingmachine:
It’s true. Your main purpose is not to get kills, your main purpose is to help your other teammembers get kills. Your machinegun is decently accurate, and you’re probably more skilled at handling it than I am, but if you’re out to get a shitload of kills, grab a n00btube and head on in, guns blazing.
If you are good enough you can be a killingmachine, but remember, you got low stamina, you need to get to at least medium range to be effective, and for god’s sake, only fire from anything else than prone when the enemy is at point blank range, your machinegun doesn’t like it any other way.
#2: Ammo has a purpose:
Ammo was invented for one reason and one reason alone. The purpose of ammo is to be depleted. Shoot things! Shoot lots and lots of stuff! And when you’re not shooting, make sure that your teammates have the means to keep shooting. Bullets win wars.
You get points for dropping ammo, hence, dropping ammo is a good thing. Advance to the frontline, but before you get into the thick of it, drop your ammo bags so your comrades can pick them up. You get points, they get bullets and grenades, they deliver said munitions to the enemy, enemy dies, everyone’s happy. It’s that simple.
There’s another neat twist to ammo bags. You are the machinegunner, yes? Shooting us fun, yes? Ammo is not a constant? Well, in your case it is! You have a machinegun and UNLIMITED ammo. Repeat after me: I have a machinegun and UNLIMITED ammo. This is a good thing. Having been a machinegunner during my military service, I know the weight of ammo. Ammo is heavy, and you can only carry so much of it. But, in BF2, ammo weighs nothing. You have an unlimited supply. The only excuse for a machinegunner to let his weapon fall silent is that he’s out of ammo. Which is impossible ingame. Know where I’m going?
#3: You are a roadblock:
Murphy’s first law of combat is: “Incoming fire always has the right of way.” This translates into, whenever someone is shooting at you, get out of the way. This applies to the enemy too. If you shoot at them they either:
A – Get out of the way.
or
B – You score a kill.
Simple mathematics.
The great thing about the machinegun is it’s ability to deliver a lot of bullets into an area in a short period of time. If it’s raining bullets, the enemy won’t go there generally. This gives your team the option to sneak up, pop a few grenades into the area you’ve contained the enemy to, and thereby score for your team. Maybe you’ll even get an assist.
Denying the enemy access to an area by raining buckets of bullets on them is a good thing.
Needless to say, if you just spray and pray, you’re a sitting duck, But firing in bursts, and lot’s of them, has the same effect, only with excellent accuracy. This is a good thing.
#4: Machinegunning is for cool people:
One thing I’ve noticed about a good machinegunner (IRL that is), he’s a mellow guy. Keeps his cool. Hand a machinegun to another grunt and there’s bullets all over the place, BRATATATATATATATATATATA!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Hand a machinegun to an experienced gunner, and you’ll have a shitload of bullets in all the right places. Keep your cool. Take your time. Don’t let the trigger get it’s grip. Bullets are meant to be dispensed, but let each bullet have a purpose.
That is all. Feel free to comment, these are just my thoughts on the subject.
Along with that, I was a machinegunner during my military service. Along with acting as fire support in several other games, and always playing for the team, not for the kills, I got a pretty good grasp on the subject.
So you’ve decided to go for support? Good for you, welcome to the family… But, before we accept you into our triggerhappy brotherhood, there are a few things you have to keep in mind, namely the 4 rules of the support class.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1: You are not a killingmachine: Surprised? Well, it’s true. You are NOT a killingmachine. You have the potential to be one, but by default you are not.
#2: Ammo has a purpose: You think those ammo-bags are a nifty thing to carry around? Indeed they are, share the happiness.
#3: You are a roadblock: Your purpose is to deny enemy infantry access. Think of yourself as a bouncer.
#4: Machinegunning is for cool people: Not everyone is a good machinegunner. Accept that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I will now delve deeper into each topic. Hang on kitties, this ride isn’t for the weak.
#1: You are not a killingmachine:
It’s true. Your main purpose is not to get kills, your main purpose is to help your other teammembers get kills. Your machinegun is decently accurate, and you’re probably more skilled at handling it than I am, but if you’re out to get a shitload of kills, grab a n00btube and head on in, guns blazing.
If you are good enough you can be a killingmachine, but remember, you got low stamina, you need to get to at least medium range to be effective, and for god’s sake, only fire from anything else than prone when the enemy is at point blank range, your machinegun doesn’t like it any other way.
#2: Ammo has a purpose:
Ammo was invented for one reason and one reason alone. The purpose of ammo is to be depleted. Shoot things! Shoot lots and lots of stuff! And when you’re not shooting, make sure that your teammates have the means to keep shooting. Bullets win wars.
You get points for dropping ammo, hence, dropping ammo is a good thing. Advance to the frontline, but before you get into the thick of it, drop your ammo bags so your comrades can pick them up. You get points, they get bullets and grenades, they deliver said munitions to the enemy, enemy dies, everyone’s happy. It’s that simple.
There’s another neat twist to ammo bags. You are the machinegunner, yes? Shooting us fun, yes? Ammo is not a constant? Well, in your case it is! You have a machinegun and UNLIMITED ammo. Repeat after me: I have a machinegun and UNLIMITED ammo. This is a good thing. Having been a machinegunner during my military service, I know the weight of ammo. Ammo is heavy, and you can only carry so much of it. But, in BF2, ammo weighs nothing. You have an unlimited supply. The only excuse for a machinegunner to let his weapon fall silent is that he’s out of ammo. Which is impossible ingame. Know where I’m going?
#3: You are a roadblock:
Murphy’s first law of combat is: “Incoming fire always has the right of way.” This translates into, whenever someone is shooting at you, get out of the way. This applies to the enemy too. If you shoot at them they either:
A – Get out of the way.
or
B – You score a kill.
Simple mathematics.
The great thing about the machinegun is it’s ability to deliver a lot of bullets into an area in a short period of time. If it’s raining bullets, the enemy won’t go there generally. This gives your team the option to sneak up, pop a few grenades into the area you’ve contained the enemy to, and thereby score for your team. Maybe you’ll even get an assist.
Denying the enemy access to an area by raining buckets of bullets on them is a good thing.
Needless to say, if you just spray and pray, you’re a sitting duck, But firing in bursts, and lot’s of them, has the same effect, only with excellent accuracy. This is a good thing.
#4: Machinegunning is for cool people:
One thing I’ve noticed about a good machinegunner (IRL that is), he’s a mellow guy. Keeps his cool. Hand a machinegun to another grunt and there’s bullets all over the place, BRATATATATATATATATATATA!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Hand a machinegun to an experienced gunner, and you’ll have a shitload of bullets in all the right places. Keep your cool. Take your time. Don’t let the trigger get it’s grip. Bullets are meant to be dispensed, but let each bullet have a purpose.
That is all. Feel free to comment, these are just my thoughts on the subject.