I don't know if everyone here is familiar with Blood Spirit's 3073 "invention" of Protomech Autocannons (PACs). PACs come in three sizes:
Model Tons Damage Range
PAC 2 3.5 2 1-20
PAC 4 4.0 4 1-15
PAC 8 5.5 8 1-10
I guess the question that bedevils me in the current environment is: are there actual uses for these things that cannot be filled by other weapon systems? I'd just as soon use LRMs instead of the PAC 2, an ERML or MPL than the PAC 4, and a iHML or HML than the PAC 8. All of these options replacement options are superior in essentially every way as I see it. I will admit that PACs do give a "dakka dakka" gritty feel to units mounting them, but that's not going to win games, is it? ;)
On conventional vees, I can maybe see some utility for these weapons, if you are using ICE or Fuel Cells. And even then, why not use a Chemical Large Laser or several Chemical Medium Lasers for about the same tons required to mount a PAC8?
Maybe PACs have some use as field guns for infantry? But I seem to recall that Field Guns can't use alternate ammo, which is the main advantage of PACs.
Thoughts?