Does the laser help the lasher in any way? However, agreed with fun factor. I pulled a lasher yesterday - finally - for the right reasons: to repel an NC max rush. It definitely chewed through those maxes and their clustered support. Still, it just seems so - random...
Don't you mean the grip? Laser doesn't effect recoil as far as I know, just initial COF from hip. Personally I haven't invested much in my Lasher yet, mostly because I'm stuck between two mind sets, the grip helps a lot with accuracy but the extended mag increases it's potency as a suppression tool. Laser I'm not so sure about, it's useful to be able to hip fire it but the projectiles are already large enough that in CQC you're unlikely to miss very often from the hip as it is.
I picked the 88 because it felt like the VX6-7 Carbine, but with more rounds (I'm primarily LA). On top of that, It can equip the comp and HVA which the LSW can't.
TBH I find the Pulsar outperforms both the SVA-88 and Orion in mid range due to the recoil mostly against the SVA-88 and larger mag than the Orion and the SVA-88 in short range due to the recoil and therefore an easier time with flinch, but falls short on the Orion due to the rate of fire. I know the Orion technically has more recoil, but in short a difference between 3 and 4x recoil might sound like a lot but you'll hardly notice it, hell even at long range I can barely notice a difference, and I really don't have any problems with flinch using any gun from any faction until I go above 4x recoil so I don't feel that's a massive bonus against the Orion, although the 2x reflex and larger mag really are. The SVA-88 outperforms both in long due to cone of fire over the Pulsar and even Orion but not by much and mag size to the Orion as well, also has a 3 shot burst fire mode to toggle although personally I prefere to controll my own bursts, totally down to preference of course and I know some people put a lot of stock in fire modes for range weapons. However due to recoil and therefore flinch reaction isn't as good in short and is harder to control on top of that, which I feel gives the Pulsar an edge in mid range as well. As I've established I feel the Orion is the best short range option due to that lovely rate of fire, not to mention the 0.75x movement bonus over the Pulsar when ADSing (SVA-88 has the same bonus though, only 2 LMGs in the game that do). Using the SVA-88 toe to toe you'll flinch like a mfer when people start spraying you down. The lack so the 2x reflex option hurts the Orion for an anything goes play style, since you have to switch out to a 3.4x or I guess 4x every time you want to long range, plus the mag size isn't ideal either. The Pulsar takes the 2x and is decent at everything but the SVA-88 takes HVA, compensator and Grip so can easily be set up to be a great long range weapon and still performs well at mid and short. Personally I actually use all 3, if I need something specifically for long I pull my 88 with the above described build and a 3.4x or 4x chevron attached (occasionally the dot if I want 3.4x... still not sure which I prefer), the Orion I always pull for short with a standard 1x reflex and laser sight but the one I use when I don't know what to expect is the Pulsar, with grip and 2x reflex, it's easy as hell to use and decent at doing anything. People who say VS is easy mode are wrong, but tbh the Pulsar really is easy mode, doesn't mean you won't loose 1 vs 1's, but you can do just fine with it in any situation and never have to struggle with the guns drawbacks, since it doesn't have any other than lacking the ability to be a specialist... well, other than being the only LMG that truly is good at everything, just not the best at anything. TL;DR VERSION: SVA-88: Long range: Very good with grip, comp, HVA and 3.4 or 4x scope of your choice, Mid range: Good with grip, 2x reflex and maybe comp and HVA if you like Short range: Decent with grip and 1x dot or HS/NV, hell even a 2x reflex Orion: Long range: Good with 3.4x or 4x scope of your choice (can't remember what it takes TBH but I know it takes at least 1 of the 4, probably a couple more) and grip. Mid range: Decent with a grip and 3.4x or 1x reflex depending on what you're more comfortable with or hell, what you just happened to have attached Short range: Very good with laser sight and 1x reflex or HS/NV Pulsar LSW: Long range: Good with grip and 2x or 3.4 or 4x reflex, cof isn't ideal but it'll hit some Mid: Good with 2x reflex and grip Short: Good with 2x or 1x reflex or HS/NV and grip. Conclusion: They are all great all rounders but the LSW is the only one I'd say is actually good at everything, even though not very good at anything, the other two will require more fiddling and have obvious draw-backs, LSW doesn't, like it's description says, if you don't know what to expect, pull the LSW, and I recommend you do so with a forward grip and 2x reflex attached.
I'm gonna be the odd man out here and profess my love for the Ursa. Yes, the rate of fire is deplorable compared to the other LMGs, and yes, its recoil is rather painful. To make up for these shortcomings, however, it makes a fantastic mid-long range weapon once you learn to fire off 3-5 round bursts instead of spraying and praying due to its innately high projectile speed - higher than the SVA-88's! - and high damage per shot. Plus, the Ursa gets better when you sink some certs into it. Bolt a 2x holo or 3.4x scope on top and you're suddenly able to pop rounds off at people who're just a handful of pixels on your screen. Slap a foregrip on it and that recoil problem starts becoming more manageable. If you feel you can handle more recoil, high-velocity ammo makes those longer-ranged shots easier and harder-hitting. I don't have the certs for it yet, but I suspect a compensator will do good things to the recoil as well. The Ursa's not a do-it-all LMG like the LSW, not by any stretch of the imagination, but if you like engaging from range instead of storming buildings? You might want to give it a shot.
I prefer the Flare but only with all attachments. Compensator, forward grip, HVA and x2 Reflex scope.
Thats what I'm saying, FROM THE HIP you burst fire and can snipe guys way out. The lasher is a large area suppression tool and is best for side strafing and advancing. the fact that you can't get any sights for it is really a good indication its not meant for it....plus the extended mag only brings you up to 100 per mag, the extra 15 shots isn't going to make that much of a difference especially if you're using it right (IE: in a group)
The extended mag on the Lasher brings you to 150 rounds, though only one reload. With 2 certs into ammo belt, that's an awful lot of ineffective fire. It's good against Maxes because it's explosive damage, MAXes resist 80% Small Arms fire, but only 20% Explosive. It's not an LMG, though.
Generally, whatever LMG has access to the advanced forward grip is the one you should be using for long range.
No VS Lmg has access to an advanced Grip. Not a single one. ... Not that I'd be particularly missing them.^^
