Why does the Medic get assault rifles, rather than the engineer or another class?

I've been wondering this for a while. The obvious answer might be that the medic engages at longer range more often, but isn't that even more true for the engineer?

Because we're foremost combat, latter medic. The combat medic is secretly SOE speak for medium assault. We have C4, we have self regeneration, we have assault rifles.

They switched it in beta.

Engineers are the intended vehicle users. Which means they use the big guns at range, and the small ones (carbines and SMGs) when the enemy gets close.

From a balance standpoint, ARs are among the best (IMO they are the best) weapon class in the game. Engineers have unlimited ammo. It would shift the Combat Medic to Medic, and Engineer into Commando. Able to kill nearly anything in the game (with the best weapons and the best explosives selection, C4, mines, AV turret). Add in a flak turret and most likely more than half the pop will play Engineer.

Engineer's long range ability is their turret.

We lack the name but we are the mid soldiers. Anyway its no issue since there is no noticeable difference between carbines an assault rifles. If it wasnt for the big magazine I would say the same for lmgs.

I'd say it is also there to make more people try to get into the class. Vanu knows medics who know what they are doing are always in demand.

We're battlefield's equivalent of black people with M16A3s.

what does that even mean?

It means that many people play medics for the assault rifles and the ability to heal themselves.

Think what Koci means is "Because: Battlefield"

That... Has nothing at all to do with what you said.

I always figured LAs should've had ARs and the support classes should've received Carbines. Though I suppose Carbines being more useful in CQC works better with the LAs mobility.

If you play russians in BF3, 90% of the players in enemy team are black people with M16a3, ergo they are medics with assault rifles.

In PS2, people mostly play this class for the ARs and ability to heal themselves. So we are an equivalent of BF3's black people with M16a3. People like this class for the weapon class and self-heal.

Carbines only, would make it a little bit less appealing.

I simplified it now as much as I could ;o

Kapiszczi? Panimajesz? Gut.

Also as a class designed to be the last guy standing so he can get every one else up on their feet when they go down it makes sense for them to have a longer range than most of the other classes in the game. It allows them to hang back behind their allies and still be effective and leathal.

Part of the design. They do not want any strict "support" classes, as those are not fun for a large portion of people, so they gave them a unique, versatile and powerful weaponset, to ensure they always have a place in combat on the battlefield.

Nope, at no point did medics not have assault rifles.

Because why not?

I can absolutely assure you that you are wrong. Medics definitely had carbines to start with, there was a huge discussion with higby and the change was made.

to be honest i thought he was talking about the guy from predator

This had to be tech test. I was part of the very first wave of invites into closed beta, being a former PS1 player and all. Medics always had assault rifles.

As for the reasons to weapon privileges.

LA can find nice, high perches to pick people off.
Engineers have unlimited ammo.
Medics don't have anything that supports the strength of their rifle. So they get the rifle, and the other two get a weapon that ramps back ranged effectiveness marginally. It isn't a massive difference by any means, just an extra bullet and slightly higher recoil at the more extreme ranges.