Do you use the rifle? [Pistol vs Rifle test]

[reborn]

I wanted to play a sharpshooter kind of assassin, hitting from range and stealth. When I equipped the rifle I was really disappointed to see that not only did it take my main weapon slot, but I could not see an advantage to using that over the pistol of the same price range. Is there an advantage to using the rifle over heavy weapon/pistol combo?

Edit:

If anyone is interested I did some testing after the discussion below.

Pistol: Arno's Pistol
Rifle: Long RIfle

I repeated the same mission while trying to shoot the same enemy a the same distance with both weapons.

Range: The exact same. The aiming reticle went red at the same distance with both weapons.

Advantage: none

Damage: While the stats say that the rifle does more damage, both perform one shot headshots and one shot body shots.

Advantage: none

Shooting speed: The pistol can fire about 5 shots before reloading while the rifle can only shoot one. The pistol has more ammo than the rilfe as well.

Advantage: Pistol


So in the end I can't see any advantage gained by using the rifle. The range and damage is the same, but the pistol can fire much more quickly. By using the pistol you will also be able to free up a slot to use a melee weapon.

I think the way Ubisoft could make rifles more useful would be to increase the range of rifles and decrease the damage of pistols, so that it takes two body shots, but only one headshot for a kill. To me that would make the rifle more useful, but for now a sword and pistol just makes more sense.

[Rekin]

Maybe range? :d
I didnt really compare them , but the difference isnt that big and if you want to have your sharpshooter assassin then go with it , immersion is key :P

[Hadji]

Only difference as far as I can tell is range. Hardly ever use it.

[reborn]

I"ll have to do some experimentation with pistol vs. rifle, but I have the same range with my pistol as enemy snipers who use the rifles. I want the immersion, but I also don't want to feel crippled. I'll just need to see if the trade off is worth it.

[-Armageddon-]

Originally posted by NoobNoobingtonIII:

I wanted to play a sharpshooter kind of assassin, hitting from range and stealth. When I equipped the rifle I was really disappointed to see that not only did it take my main weapon slot, but I could not see an advantage to using that over the pistol of the same price range. Is there an advantage to using the rifle over heavy weapon/pistol combo?

Edit:

If anyone is interested I did some testing after the discussion below.

Pistol: Arno's Pistol
Rifle: Long RIfle

I repeated the same mission while trying to shoot the same enemy a the same distance with both weapons.

Range: The exact same. The aiming reticle went red at the same distance with both weapons.

Advantage: none

Damage: While the stats say that the rifle does more damage, both preform one shot headshots and one shot body shots.

Advantage: none

Shooting speed: The pistol can fire about 5 shots before reloading while the rifle can only shoot one. The pistol has more ammo than the rilfe as well.

Advantage: Pistol


So in the end I can't see any advantage gained by using the rifle. The range and damage is the same, but the pistol can fire much more quickly. By using the pistol you will also be able to free up a slot to use a melee weapon.

I think the way Ubisoft could make rifles more useful would be to increase the range of rifles and decrease the damage of pistols, so that it takes two body shots, but only one headshot for a kill. To me that would make the rifle more useful, but for now a sword and pistol just makes more sense.

Its the same with heavy vs long weapons, 0 advantage for long weapons while heavy weapons hit more, makes enemy stagger and have better power attack.

[Mellendor]

i really wish that they would add baljonettes for the rifle

[Mellendor]

and increase the range

[Alejandro]

No point of using the rifle, I played the game with a sword and pistol it's much more fun and lets be honest it's not only easier but it fits better to the feeling of that time and all that.

[Zeke]

Well the added damage for Rifle is for the melee attacks, The rifle is in fact better then a good portion of one handed weapons and a good deal of long weapons but has faster speed.

I use the Rifle most of the time because it has non lethal kills.

[reborn]

Originally posted by Ezikeyal:

I use the Rifle most of the time because it has non lethal kills.

Is there a benefit to non lethal kills? Or is it more of an immersion thing?

[Zeke]

Originally posted by NoobNoobingtonIII:

Originally posted by Ezikeyal:

I use the Rifle most of the time because it has non lethal kills.

Is there a benefit to non lethal kills? Or is it more of an immersion thing?

More of an immersion thing for me, Just guards doing their job you know? And it leaves my very lethal co-op buddy something to stab.

[EdgarFriendly]

I'm trying to use a rifle, but my aim is off (see pic):

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=343039043

[reborn]

Originally posted by numlock:

Originally posted by NoobNoobingtonIII:

So in the end I can't see any advantage gained by using the rifle. The range and damage is the same, but the pistol can fire much more quickly. By using the pistol you will also be able to free up a slot to use a melee weapon.

I think the way Ubisoft could make rifles more useful would be to increase the range of rifles and decrease the damage of pistols, so that it takes two body shots, but only one headshot for a kill. To me that would make the rifle more useful, but for now a sword and pistol just makes more sense.

There is absolutely no way Ubisoft would start rebalancing and editing stats of any kind in ACU now, it's not their style. Make it big and mainstream, ♥♥♥♥ the rest -- this is Ubisoft. Besides, it's on PS4, Xbox One and the PC. I mean, even if you could change the stats on the PC with a patch, I'm not sure about the other two platforms.

You know something? The Solid Long Gun, a flintlock pistol, is supposedly painted white. I have never heard of this, ever. And there is zero emphasis on variations for authentic looking end game weapons. Basically, once you are 5 stars, to get epic status or whatever (all 5 star gear and weapons), what you have to choose from are one or two weapons in each category, inspired by Skyrim? Now these are things we probably will, or could see change. At least I hope.

If you can spend four to five years and pay hundreds of people full time to work on a videogame, you can come up with some sort of weapon crafting system instead of this stuff. It would have taken maybe a week, and a team of 2-4 people to do. Like combining different hilts, blades and give it a personal name, like in that movie, Deer Hunter. Wait, that was Full Metal Jacket. Anyway. Something more interesting then four basic stat variations is what I am saying, and absolutely no Skyrim stuff in 18th century France, including this silly optimus prime sword.

Just like professional soldiers, trained assassins use what they train with and know to be reliable, they don't just pick up a random weapon -- in this case wrong weight and off balance -- and use it as their main weapon. Logic says authentic only.

I rest my case.

No please, tell us how you really feel. :D j/k

But seriously, I don't think that Ubi will do anything to fix balance between weapons, especially when they had such a rocky release. They have too many other things to fix. I'm just upset that they didn't make each weapon shine in thier own way. They made a beautiful game, and I am having genuine fun with the majority of the missions, but I feel like individual identitiy is missing from items and characters. Give me one upgradable weapon that gives a feeling of progression and personalization, instead of 30 that feel almost identicle.

I don't think these are things that could have been fixed in "2-3 weeks" but they are fundemental design decisions that I feel could have been made differently. I'm not a programmer or game designer so I don't know how hard it is, but I can't help but feel they worked very hard in the wrong direction.

[reborn]

Originally posted by EdgarFriendly:

I'm trying to use a rifle, but my aim is off (see pic):

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=343039043

lol those French assassins...

[Jydis]

Well, the rifle does have a pretty darn awesome slide animation when you quickshoot while running

[ubik]

Rifles can parry. I think from my POV that is the only real advantage to them. Otherwise a pistol is preferable in any case, fires faster and less reloading, and range seems about the same in my experience.