Type-33 needler: Difference between revisions

While the Type-33 GML is incredibly effective against most infantry, it is much less effective against vehicles. The crystalline projectiles are slow and ineffective to even light armor and will simply bounce off of them. The needler is also limited to medium range combat situations and even at that range is not as effective, as the projectile loses velocity as it travels, thus losing altitude and reducing the chances of impacting a target. In order for the tracking ability to be most effective the targeting reticule on the users heads up display must acquire the target, or if no targeting reticule is available the user must judge how close he must be to a target in order to effectively use the weapon. While the homing ability is incredibly useful the crystalline shard cannot track a target relentlessly - turning at a certain angle will cause the projectile to simply keep flying and miss the target completely. Fast turns at certain angles will also cause the projectile to lose the target and travel onward. The needler is also ineffective against linear energy fields, like the Point Defense Gauntlets carried by the [[Kig-yar]], or stationary energy shields, as the projectiles are repelled without detonating. Another, more minor disadvantage is that the needler is unsuited to setting off explosive devices like [[Fusion Coil]]s, often requiring several clips of ammunition to destroy one. Another disadvantage would be the Type-33 GML's lack of instant results; in other words one could shoot a target with the 7 needles required to super-combine, but be killed by that target before the needles detonate. Finally, the needler is suited to a very limited medium range. This is because the projectiles have too great a travel time for long range, and at close range, the target can simply move towards the shooter and attempt to kill them with the resulting explosion, thus rendering the attack useless.