Bungie, this is something you acknowledge over and over again, that you want the classes to have identity, so why is equipment any different? Why must the characters have identity, but weapons should be all purpose?
We've got these short range scout rifles and pulse rifles, snipers with low zoom optics, fusions that can't decide which reach they should have, hand cannons that think they're snipers, heavy auto rifles that can reach scout distances, etc.
All of these weapons serve their respective purposes, trying to make everything all purpose is just a stupid idea, this is why you struggle with balance. You really need to pick a lane with each weapon archetype, and stick with it. Its fine that they have variation, that's great, but you swing too far to extremes. Scouts are long distance, precision weapons with low to medium zoom sights, that's it, snipers aren't supposed to be something useable in any close quarters scenario, and certainly not meant to be used while moving. Short range sniper scopes are nonsense. They should literally only be long range capable.
These are just two very simple examples in this game. Everything needs to have its purpose. You don't want identity crisis in this game, then stick with simple purposes for all weapon types. Just a simple model something like:
Sniper - Long
Scout - Mid to mid long
Pulse - Short mid to mid
Auto - Short mid to mid
SMG - Short to short mid
H.C. - short mid to mid
Sidearm - Immediate to mid short
Fusion - Short to short mid
Shotgun - Immediate to short mid
Glaive - Immediate to short mid
Sword - Immediate
Rockets - Mid to long
Linear Fusion - Mid to long
Heavy Machine Gun - Short to mid long
Grenade Launcher - short mid to mid
All of these should only compete in those respective ranges, with overlap between some to really help even them out. Outside of those zones is where they need to take hits in other areas depending on heavy rounds with higher recoil and farther travel, and light rounds with less recoil but shorter effective distances. A sniper shouldn't be practical for use outside of long range, a pistol shouldn't be practical for use beyond short range.
It doesn't have to be done exactly this way, I just was thinking about their real world application uses because it makes the most sense. Those higher calibers reach a little better distances. Instead of trying to make everything useable at any range, try simplifying more or something, reign it in some. Just suggestions.
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2 RepliesEdited by A_mo: 7/17/2022 1:53:13 AMThe only thing with that is that it might limit the variety within a particular archetype and when anything new comes along it could possibly (although not surely) limit its potential. Weapons are weird because people don't think they should fall under the whole "space magic" thing a lot of the time when they talk about them. But with abilities "space magic" is used to shut almost any criticism down. A good thing about what you're describing is that it could also help some of the underused archetypes like autos and scouts truly become viable. Which pretty much everyone would like in terms of the variety of things that could end up being useful. But at the same time limiting what works in a given scenario could also start to feel controlling to some people if it goes overboard. And making some of the things the game does easier to do or less noticeable does not automatically always lead to happier players.