Using birdshot in a combat shotgun sounds dubious at best.
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So does using a Bow and Arrow or a Sword.
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And guess what? No one is really happy with the current place of swords and bows in the sandbox.
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Or Pulse Rifles, or Scout Rifles, or Grenade Launchers, or Linear Fusion Rifles, or Sidearms, or SMGs, or Auto Rifles. I'm pretty sure none of that has to do with the real life lethality of of the caliber of bullet they use.
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You've listed three absolutely meta weapons there. And except for sidearms the rest is definitely above bows and swords. Sidearms, huh? Any idea why those are also not in a good place? ;)
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A single outlier, no matter how good, does not elevate the entire weapon class. You're also avoiding the subject. If it serves the gameplay what's "realistic" doesn't matter.
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A single outlier elevates Pulse Rifles? Or Grenade Launchers? Interesting. The subject though... See, I have a dream. I think a lot of shotgun problems can be solved with a simple rule. In PvE all of them are loaded with shot and In PvP it is slugs only. Your idea doesn't fit in my little ideal world so I don't like it. And gameplay wise I see no reason why would anyone use it. You are doing something very wrong if you have to use special to clear red bars. Better? ;)