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As mentioned above, the addition of these new weapons (along with three new ammo types) translates to some new tactics and gameplay strategies. For one, if a player picks up a Glock 18C, he is essentially packing another primary weapon. And in general, anytime a mod adds new weapons, its bound to affect the gameplay balance so carefully examined by the original developers. But it is here that ARMM really outdid itself. Not only did it spend the time to add only real-world guns to the mod, but it also took a couple of months to test the mod out and work on play-balancing issues, ensuring that the game was still as balanced as the original developers of Rogue Spear had originally intended. But what really pushes this mod over the top are the credentials of the mod creators.

The team of mod makers are all extreme gun enthusiasts, with over half of them having experience with the weapons in military environments or otherwise. Their expertise is further highlighted by the superb manual released with the mod, available on their website (http://armm.rainbowsix.net/nato3/nato3_manual/index.htm). This amazing mod manual spares no detail about each individual weapon added to the mod, thanks to the military intelligence of D.E. Watters, aptly known as "Q." This amazing manual includes descriptions, ammo type, and tactical recommendations on each weapon. The exemplary work shows up in Q's EIGHT paragraph description of the HK G11K3 and so many other guns.

Fig. 5. Some NATO 3 weapons.

So, are there are any failings of this mod? Since it's nearly impossible to critique their choice of weapons in the mod and their manual/support is outstanding, there really is only one critique left of NATO 3. Some of the modeling, in the opinion of some users, could stand to be improved. That is, some of the weapons look a bit too flat and unrealistic and have a "cardboard" appearance. But this is the ONLY legitimate complaint against this stellar mod.

The mods goes above and beyond so many other mods by not only providing seventy one new weapons, but also adding new sounds, new graphics effects, new modeling, new reticules, and a library of information. Even installation is a breeze (one-click installation, no joke), and with the new mod system in Urban Operations, you simply cannot go wrong. Take it from me, someone who used to downright avoid mods, NATO 3 is probably the best mod available today for either Rogue Spear and Urban Operations. If you've never tried out mods, or even if you're an old pro, this particular mod is well worth the download.

Fig. 6. The new FN P90-SD's reticule.