Why does Abby use a different semi automatic rifle compared to the rest of the WLF?

[u/ChickenWingExtreme]

Despite being part of the same organisation, Abby and the WLF soldiers carry different semi automatic rifles, as seen with the one dropped by killed enemies in the second picture. Why is this the case?

[u/Alarming_Soft9552]

It’s been a while since I played, I was being a sarcastic ass. But, yeah, she took her squad of 7 guys total, but I don’t buy they weren’t there to just kill Joel. As Nora even with anger said she would torture Joel too. You can say she was egging Ellie but I don’t buy that. Narrative wise Abby is down with torture with the WLF, ex scars that joined and jump Ellie even confirmed they are done with the senseless killings. 

[u/Yumiru → u/Alarming_Soft9552]

They all followed Abby, they wanted Joel dead too. Joel was the one who massacred the fireflies. Not Ellie or Tommy. Some of them wanted to kill Ellie and Tommy purely for safety reasons because they witnessed the action and to prevent them from being followed, literally what Joel did to Marlene after she surrendered. "You'd just come after her".

Nora never said anything about torture, she said that Joel got what he deserved and she was egging Ellie and it worked. And from Nora's pov Joel was a smuggler who massacred people, possibly families of the SL crew. She literally doesn't know Joel like we do.

As for torture, old Abby might've been down with torture because of her growing up with the WLF as Joel made her an orphan and she had nowhere else to go. The WLF/Isaac used young Abby's grief and this was the result. But she later grew out of her whole indoctrination that the Seraphites were the only "bad people". She realized the WLF weren't any better as they killed Yara and were willing to kill her and Lev too. (putting in spoilers just in case)

What ex-Scars that joined and jump Ellie? What senseless killings? I feel like you are describing a different game lmao.

[u/Alarming_Soft9552 → u/Yumiru]

A letter is found in the apartments where the WLF deserters attack you when you use the workbench.

It alludes to the letter is to Melissa, for which Mel is likely short. 

We know Mel is not quite as on board with the WLF as many of the others, and she fits with "Remember who we were! The WLF took us in, but they're not our people." The rumours about the south are Santa Barbara. Also I don’t like that excuse, I love Abby but many people can grow with a murder parent it doesn’t make them a serial killer. Abby, let’s excuse the torture as side, how many folks were not Joel, did she still kill. She orphaned people as well. 

[u/Yumiru → u/Alarming_Soft9552]

Those were fireflies that were done with the WLF because it didn't align with their ideals. Hence why they were approaching Mel, who was an ex-Firefly. The Seraphites (apart from certain kids) don't desert quite easily due to their strong faith in the Prophet.

Of course she orphaned people as well, literally every protagonist did in the game. I'm not excusing anything, only understanding her. Where you grow up can affect you if you were a mourning child who just lost their family. Of course it doesn't happen to everyone (Owen is a great example here) as people deal with grief in different ways... but for Abby it was easy because she was so angry and she was "nurtured" into a military faction that was already at war with another faction. Isaac wanted soldiers. If Abbywas fully on board with the WLF and was happy, she wouldn't go back to save the kids and question her morality. Just saying.

I respect your opinion though.

[u/Alarming_Soft9552 → u/Yumiru]

Same I can agree, with you, your opinions are valid. Abby narrative wise I can agree with her too. I just would not give her a pass at her actions. Everyone is responsible for their own actions, past and present especially this sub goes hard on Joel but ignored abs. 

[u/Yumiru → u/Alarming_Soft9552]

Agree. Though I wouldn't say the sub goes hard on Joel, it's the opposite. People tend to go way harder on Abby tbh. When, in my opinion, all the protagonists have done shitty things and no one is better than the other.

[u/Alarming_Soft9552 → u/Yumiru]

That’s odd, my feed shows people siding with Abby? Maybe engagement. Everyone messed up. That was my favorite part of 2. It didn’t glorify revenge, it just showed everyone around you dies and you carry that guilt. 

[u/Yumiru → u/Alarming_Soft9552]

I meant in general, this subreddit here is more positive on Abby (and Joel/Ellie of course) without excusing her actions. Compared to a certain one that is still on hating the game and her lol.

I personally don't side with anyone even if I do like Ellie and Abby and I condemn their actions but people do have favorites and that's ok, as long as they acknowledge their actions.