alex_kaeda wrote:Who qualifys for a 450fps gun? As in - if I wanted to form a fireteam of 4 SAW gunners, whats to keep me from being dangerous? What form of training/certification does it take to start laying down the plastic law with one of these beasts.
What is the absolute minimum ratio of SAW type weapons to riflemen?
What constitutes a SAW? As in, if I slap a box magazine on a G3, does it become a HK21? Or does it require some physical conversions to the body of the weapon?
I think that people should start looking at how their teams are composed, and try to regulate their team positions to meet accordance to realistic military organization. If this is supposed to be MilSim, then team assignments should be simulated as well. This means that there should be two fireteams per squad, and each fireteam should be organized properly. A normal fireteam is made up of a Team Leader, Rifleman, Grenadier, and Automatic Rifleman (aka SAW Gunner). So to answer your question, there should only be one SAW per four men (as per US Army organization).
I also think that in the future there will be training classes designed for "specialized" positions, such as Sniper and AR. There is already discussion about future SAW Gunner classes, and there are already Scout/Sniper classes in the works. It might be possible that classes will be set up for Grenadiers as well, although airsoft grenade weapons are a lot different than the real thing. Anti-armor personnel that use heavy weapons such as rocket launchers might have training classes too, not being an AP staff member I am only guessing. I have seen several simulated rocket launchers that might be deemed "unsafe" in the hands of inexperienced people.
I am personally very happy with this change. So far I have seen very few people with sniper rifles performing proper sniper activities. I have the impression so far that the majority of people who use sniper rifles are just wanting to go "Rambo" and sneak around racking up the kills like a Lone Wolf. From what I've read on this site and from what I've seen from local airsoft groups, so-called "Snipers" usually have no idea at all what a real sniper is, or what a real sniper's purpose is. So by limiting the number of snipers on the field and requiring them to have attended a weapon safety class (due to higher power of their weapons, hence more dangerous if used by inexperienced player), then fewer people will be running around with such weapons. This should then lead to more people actually behaving like real snipers during events compared to what I've seen lately. As I always say, realism is key.
And just because these new rules will allow people to upgrade their automatic rifles to a higher energy limit, I still don't see a drastic increase in SAW weapon buyers. Due to their higher cost and maintenance, even now few people own them. I don't really see an increase in buyers, but simply see a few people who already own them to upgrade them once the change is in full effect. I do not see more snipers in the future either, but instead a slightly lower amount. Although power limits and range are now going to be increased, I see the rules on sniper employment becoming more realistic (aka "Strict"). This means that many current "snipers" will be dropping out of the sniper roles, leaving only the serious marksmen. I see a much brighter future in AP events due to these new rules and what they will bring in regards to operational changes.
