Hello there, troops!
Today i’d like to address curious issue:
Infantry weapons and specially autoguns are suffering from lack of fire-mode switch.
First of all: weapons special ability are unessential, mostly. Chance of staggering with ranged weapons special changes from likely on T2 to less-like on T5. While it’s possible to stagger weaklings and some human-sized enemies, but melee enemies, who will intentionally going to reach active shooter, have less possibilities for stagger.
For example: headhunter weapons are lack of stagger chance, probably because it’s supposed to stay out of melee. At the same time, TTK of HHs against melee charges / disablers are high. That makes melee engagement more possible. On other hand - BrAguns have bigger stagger (subjective opinion), since it’s assault weapon class with full-auto.
Flashlight / torch - slightly more useful tool for specific enviorments. But less common on weapon, while statistically less usable and popular over all, still present on SMG, Kantrael lasgun and infantry autoguns. I’m not sure, how many people will pick gun with torch instead of favorite gun, just for environment condition.
So main issue here is effective distance: most autoguns on distance 35 meters and further have decent sway, but big recoil. That makes clear shots with burst-fire and auto-fire modifications are impossible after 1st bullet. Burst-fire agripinaa Mk9 and burst-fire vraks Mk3 cannot land bullets on head at such distance (both 79% stab modifier).
So rifles are supposed to deliver bullet on distant target. Every in-game weapon have fire selector, some even set on safe, like Kantrael series lasgun (also have Full-auto / semi-auto, but this is another issue). To make autoguns more pickable and efficient without boosting ammo pull (autoguns are mostly ammo efficient after all) or damage, we need simple fire-mode switch. Semi-auto for every gun.
Choosing between HH (any) and MG12 / MG1a - most will pick Lasgun, because of accuracy benefits, stability and ofcource distant target damage bonus. Picking HH autogun for distant targets are simply irrational. Still okey for 10-20 meters. Any point calling it HeadHunter?
Possible impact: More accuracy for distant targets, larger weapon pull for Damnation difficulty, improved ammo conservation for infantry versions. Less guns with torch lights.