Is that a bad thing for Vanilla? That's really the point of Vanilla... Get some really good solo units, because you don't get link teams or high AVA. And if you take the SMG, you miss out on the Minelayer, which is also a really good profile.
Truth be told LSGs as main armament are up there with SMGs in terms of being effective. Template, +6 ARO within 8" and they're even a point cheaper than the SMG. Magisters, Hardcases, Libertos Minelayer, LSG+Bow Hardcases are all I can think of right now, but all of them are pretty damn efficient. One of the... problems(?) with SMGs is that they often get paired with a dirt cheap multiplier, mostly an X-Visor or a second SMG. With that they're still cheaper than the Combi, but much closer to a Multirifle in performance.
Probably even DAM11, same as regular Pistols. That would go a long way to make them less deadly - but would neuter assault troops like Dart that rely on SMGs being pretty much OP to work as a Profile. Maybe SMGs should have different classes like other guns. Basic SMG DAM12 Normal ammunition. AP SMG... Shock SMG... We could retain the current SMG as "Multi SMG" for Elite Skirmishers who want to use a SMG as main armament like Dart. That would also "buff" NWI/Dogged, those Skills took a pretty big hit with the recent Shock inflation.
New Swiss is wearing a chestplate similar to Maximus'. The comment about Kosmo was my own speculation, not any official info. But I would expect her to be a controversial figure that went on an early retirement. Similarly how in something as innocuous as Duck Tales Flintheart Glomgold was changed from Boer to Scottish because Apartheid was a hot issue in the 80s-90s.
They seem to combine both main types of SMG around these days: The traditional pistol calibre ones using fairly large rounds that make big holes without too much penetration (some shock rounds are basically just hollowpoints after all), and the PDW style ones aimed at defeating armour without having to go full blown rifle calibre. Why they have to be the same weapon in Infinity rather than separating them and having a MULTI SMG is a mystery, but hey. Where's it say that? His profile on the website seems to indicate he's just adhering to kayfabe.
Knives are shock because teaching someone to actually fight with a knife involves knowing where to stick it for greatest damage (no, I'm not going to give you a list). Shock ammo for firearms is usually hollowpoints (or more exotic arrangements, like the Russian 5.45mm, that tumbles like a blender). DA ammo may also be hollowpoints.
I agree regarding the knife, its the precision and knowledge where and what to cut that illustrates the shock effect. That same logic, IMO, applies to any other weapon with shock. And nicely illustrates marksmanship as well. I don't see why would it apply differently in an smg situation. But fine, eye of the beholder and whatnot :)
It may have been retconned then, the RM100 and a few other things were N1, but either don't exist or have turned out somewhat differently. We may never really know. That's already represented in Marksmanship L1, where people who have it can shoot to kill with flamethrowers. O-o It also means it adds shock to other ammo types - Something the SMG does not. Unless the shooter has Marskmanship L1 in which case they'll pretty much always be declaring AP ammo cos you can't doubleshock.
Funny enough OSS can be used as a very good base of proxies for FC. Rudra as Kriza. Shukra as Hannibal. Also FC is OP, they have AVA2 Warcors ;P
