This is the final suggestion post (I hope) that I will be making before the release of Part 1 of my Commonwealth Weapons and Vehicles Suggestion Series (Part 1 specifically about rifles).
Backstory of the suggestion - Non-essential
As I’ve been writing this first part of the planned suggestion series, I realised that I have quite a lot to say about the weapons already in the game - specifically about the Lee-Enfield family of rifles and the P14 family of rifles - and my upcoming suggestion would definitely be better served by having all that baggage somewhere else.
I’ve already written about changes I’d like to see to the Lee-Enfields in the past, which you can read here, and that I 100% still stand by. So now only the P14 family remains, and I’ve got even more to say here than I did on the previous one.
Without further ado, here is my suggestion post proper.
1. The British rifles are incorrectly named.
In the game the rifles have the wrong names, just like the SMLE Mk III. After 1926 the British military went through nomenclature changes, where old weapons were renamed and newer weapons started out using only this new system. So, the correct name by WW2 is “Rifle No. 3 Mk I”, which I would then edit for the game’s current system and thereby match the existing “Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I” and the “Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I (T)” in the game.
Thus, it should appear as “Enfield No. 3 Mk I”, and for the premium sniper variant of the same weapon, “Enfield No. 3 Mk I (T)”.
2. Increase the Rate of Fire of the No. 3 Mk I to 62
The No. 3 Mk I currently has the worst Rate of Fire of any US rifle at 56, and and worse than almost all starter rifles of other countris. In fact, the only rifles that are worse in RoF than this one are some (not most) starter rifles, and two tech tree Japanese rifles (the Type 38 Rifle still being their superior option, the best BR I rifle IMO, and that’s a starter, so I don’t feel perticularly sorry for them).
When considering the following factors:
- This is the only rifle option for someone wanting to recreate an accurate BR I British line-up - why should they be relegated to shoddy rifles?
- It’s an unlock rifle (the first you can research in the US tree), not a starter rifle.
- It offers zero tactical benefits to balance out the awful RoF - it’s simply a BR I rifle saddled with a unjustified handicap.
- The starter US rifle, Springfield M1903A1 USMC, is superior in every single way, and it’s a starter rifle.
- The standard RoF, and that of almost all its peers, is 62 (M1903A1 USMC, Gewehr 30/40, Kar98k, Carcano Mod. 38, Arisaka Type 38 Carbine, Mosin M1938 and Mosin M44).
- All Mauser-style action rifles in the game (Kar98k, Springfield, they’re built around the same mechanical system) have noticably higher RoF stats than it.
Does the current RoF make any sense? Honestly, try and justify it - I can’t. I’m not asking for the best RoF stat, simply a competitive and fair one, which clearly is 62.
This new RoF should be applied to both the tech tree No. 3 Mk I Rifle, and the Premium No. 3 Mk I (T).
3. Lower the BR of the M1917 Enfield to BR I
I don’t believe that having one extra bullet in the magazine is worth a BR increase, especially when that extra round is not fed in the same clip but inserted separately (creating a longer overall reload from empty). This should be a tactical choice for the player: a quick single reload, or a 20% larger magazine at the cost of a longer reload.
This doesn’t particularly affect the average Commonwealth player, as it’s a US weapon, but since it’s part of the same rifle family as the No. 3 Mk I, I thought it only fair to mention it.
4. Add missing bayonets to the No. 3 Mk I and the M1917 Enfield
Neither of these two weapons have bayonets, despite them having this capability in real life.
They’re practically identical, so you could use the same in-game model with minimal changes (or even none, if leaving markings off entirely).
This would be exceedingly easy to do, as the Pattern 1913 is essentially just a slightly modified Pattern 1907 bayonet, which is already in the game as the bayonet on the SMLE Mk III:
Adding these bayonets would also be a long-term masterstroke, as it would enable you to add more US shotguns in the form of WW1-style Trench Guns, which all used the M1917 bayonet (and continued to be used for almost the entierty of the Cold War).
That’s it from me for this time. I hope you’ll support these very reasonable changes - or if not, at least tell me why you don’t think they’re reasonable, reasonably. And please, visit a previous suggestion post of mine, asking for a very similar set of changes as this one, but for the Lee-Enfield family of rifles:
Until next time, gentle forum readers, and remember: never bring a bayonet to a tea party… unless it’s to butter the scones.
