penpenpen
Topic Author
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat 06 Dec 2025, 22:35

Drum mags and balance.

Fri 05 Jun 2026, 17:42

The RPK has 75 round drum mags. These are compatible with standard AKMs. The AKM is a lot more handy than the RPK, being an assault rifle instead of a LMG.
So dropping the RPK and using the drum mags in your AKM makes sense. While it doesn't exactly break the game, it still feels like a hack, so I've been toying with a few solutions.

EASIEST FIX: Don't bother keeping track of magazines, and just organize bullets into appropriate reloads. Grabbing a drum from the RPK gives you 2½ reloads for your AKM and reloading the AKM fills it with no more than 30 round. Video game logic.

EASY FIX: An AKM loaded with a RPK drum now follows the rules for a LMG, but retains it's normal stats (except Mag.).

COMPLICATED FIX: For people who like to add other drum-fed or drum compatible weapons to the game (PPSh-41, M1928 Thompson, KP-31 Suomi, AKM short carbine variants).
Loading a drum mag into a weapon has a difficulty of -2 to the reload roll. Taking out a drum mag and loading a standard magazine is normal difficulty.
Drum magazine reloads weigh ½ for a capacity of 50-75 rounds. Larger drums weigh 1 per reload.
Weapons loaded with a drum magazine receive a -1 penalty to Quick (ie not aimed) shots, unless they are heavy weapons.

Opinions?
 
paladin2019
Posts: 539
Joined: Mon 07 Dec 2020, 09:16

Re: Drum mags and balance.

Fri 05 Jun 2026, 18:10

Drum mags have a -2 to fast reload. Bam. Done. Also, the base mag is the size of a reload, not the drum.

If you want, add a Mobility penalty when carrying larger guns.
 
penpenpen
Topic Author
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat 06 Dec 2025, 22:35

Re: Drum mags and balance.

Fri 05 Jun 2026, 18:25

Also, the base mag is the size of a reload, not the drum.
I'm not quite following this. Please explain.
 
paladin2019
Posts: 539
Joined: Mon 07 Dec 2020, 09:16

Re: Drum mags and balance.

Fri 05 Jun 2026, 20:15

Just because you put a 75-round drum on an AK doesn't mean a reload is now a 75-round drum. It's still a 30-round box magazine, or a 40 with an RPK. Same with a PPSh. A reload is a 35-round box, not a 71-round drum.

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