by Steve » Wed Mar 24, 2010 2:17 pm
I advocate upping the FPS on DMRs and squad support weapons.
But I also advocate restrictions on SSWs above 400 FPS.
1: No TBBs.
2: Mixed ammo boxes with at least two pellet weights jumbled about.
SSWs are not meant for pinpoint accuracy. They are best utilized to pin an opposing element so that they can be taken in the flank with fire and maneuver. By upping the FPS max, it allows the guys carrying the SSWs to keep suppressive fire on riflemen at the edge of the typical AEG engagement range without needing to install a TBB and run a single ammo weight. They are still fairly easy meat for a DMR with an accuratized semi-auto platform. But they will not have to advance as far into the teeth of an enemy team before being able to set up effective suppressive fire.
I really can't see an effective way to certify DMR or SSW operators across the board. About the best way I can come up with is for event organizers to have additional instructions for DMRs and SSWs and have them sign off on it as part of the entry agreement. Possibly event organizers can have whatever training they feel is necessary immediately prior to an event, with a certificate of completion being provided to those that complete the course. That cert would need to be on-hand at the chrono station if the platform exceeds 400, with the responsibility for maintaining the cert being in the hands of the players.
Other event hosts would then have the choice of requiring attendance at one of their courses or offering 'reciprocity' for certs from other events.
If we were looking to set a standard across the board, I would recommend opening up a discussion limited to responsible participation. We can all agree that event organizers have the right to establish whatever FPS requirements that they choose. As players, we decide if we wish to participate in an event based on the description, including FPS requirements. As a community, we can provide assistance to the event organizers by determining a standard curriculum for DMR courses and SSW courses.
What I would prefer to see happen is that we have an adult discussion regarding the proper tactical employment of DMR and SSW platforms. Once we are mostly on the same page for their uses, we then figure out what the minimum acceptable safety and doctrinal training should be required prior to a new user being allowed to run a post-400 fps platform as well as any minimum number of events at which a user must run a DMR or SSW below the 400 FPS mark safely. These training requirements would then be put together in a simple lesson plan and posted for review and comment. After determining the final set of guidelines, volunteers from the community would step forward to agree to provide course instruction. They would get together over a weekend, run through the course, and hammer out a standard course layout. This way, everyone is on the same page and all of the instructors are able to teach the (fundamentally) same course the (fundamentally) same way. The instructors sign off on a pledge to the community and themselves to teach the course to standard and with no cost to community members beyond reasonable expenses (training materials, certificate costs, field use fees) at either dedicated workshops or before / after games. Annually, or as determined by the community needs, any member in good standing with a SSW / DMR card can show up at one or more instructor workshops to go through the instructor course and, upon completion, be qualified to teach and certify other players, subject to signing off on the instructor charter. Also, the annual gathering would provide an opportunity to review the current curriculum as well as decide what changes should be added.
Now, this is just an off-the-cuff series of thoughts, and not meant to be taken as a “We MUST do this!â€
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