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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excellent post. I'm sick of getting outgunned by a stupid short barrel hand cannon at scout/sniper range. and the same for all the rest.