This is how the plasma launcher should work.

Standard = napalm
Advanced = atomic
Prototype = nuclear

Buff the magazine size for one and give it a plasma burn DOT effect for direct hits
Having it be single shot with a charge time makes it all but useless for AV which it is supposed to be, the DOT is just something I think would make it more appealing by increasing its usefulness since right now swarms or a forge gun are better options due to their longer range

Tbh, I think the clip size is fine. I like the idea of a shoulder mounted "rocket" weapon in the game. It does, however suffer from a lack of a benefit, so here's what I'd do:

Swap swarm launcher damage with plasma cannon damage. The swarm launcher is in every way superior to the cannon - clip size, damage, range, and accuracy. I think that the plasma cannon should reward proper placement by being a burst damage close range rocket, while the benefit of swarms should remain the lock-on feature, at the cost of a lower damage.

Projectile speed needs to be increased. Sometimes I feel like I can out run the projectile.

Also it does need a damage increase OR it should have a higher efficiency when the projectile hits the vehicles weak spots. Similar to the scrambler pistols headshot bonus (although not as high). Maybe a 250% damage boost for hitting a vehicles weak
point.

Higher projectile speed will make it a more viable weapon.

Increased damage vs weakpoints will keep it a weapon that requires skill.

So I main the plasma cannon ie max out proficiency, here how I fill it a capable av gun with 3 complex damage mods but to only shielded vehicles the damage is about 1950 on a direct hit Against armor it not pretty, bing a light weapon make it easy to close distances with it but it falls short in terms of clip size, it like the plasma cannon from halo but less ammo and a charge fire. Against infantry a direct hit will kill but if you miss it not to pretty. Splash damage with this set up is 610 damage with a 3.5m splash make it easier to kill with but if you miss the direct or splash you might be killed. Range I can get kills up to 60m witch is about it max distance and the plasma take some time to get there if you don't lead your target your going to miss. In all I like it I don't thank damage needs to be buffed, I thank the speed and clip size needs to be increase. Clip size needs to be 3, and speed needs to be 15% faster that all. But if ya'll buff its damage I just be getting more kills witch is fine buy me.

Hehe but it would do wonders against those heavy infantry Terminators with HMGs and Forge guns!

I don-¦t think we should change the mechanics of the plasma cannon (like adding a damage over time component).

It should be a dumbfire skillshot rocket launcher that OHKs infantry if you hit them with the plasma ball. See this weapon as the hard counter to heavily tanked (and slow) infantry, such as heavies.

Adding a DoT component on direct hits will only be applicable for vehicles. Infantry will get OHKd anyway if you direct hit them.

Also, not sure if the clip size should be increased. Maybe the ammo pool should though.

This.

My post earlier suggested that we swap the current swarm launcher damage at all levels (all rockets combined) with the plasma cannon. This would turn it into a close range dumbfire alpha weapon, while the swarms would keep the benefits of long range and tracking.

Sounds like it just needs a little more direct damage and a much faster projectile speed.

What it doesn't need is more splash damage or radius.

We already have enough problems with explosives and splash damage in this game... we don't need more FOTM no skill weapons.

What make more damage better than a bigger clip. I do 1950 per shot right now with my plasma cannon. If I had a clip of 3 I could in 1.4sec do more damage than a buffed plasma cannon with 1 shot. That why I thank a bigger clip is needed.

Say goodbye MD spam and say hello to plasma cannon spam
Doing that would introduce a weapon that would one shot every single person on foot without the drawback of poor speed that the heavies and forge gun deal with and encourage people to sit in safe places sniping all day and make certain objectives within installations virtually untakeable

Plasma cannon is my favourite weapon. As it states in the description it was intended for close quarters and city combat. This means it wasn't necessarily intended for av and i never use it as such. Its great the way it is but the minor tweaks i think needs to be done is one: fix the glitch where it shoots blanks, and two: enlarge the splash radius. Whoever said change the reticle i think its perfectly fine and does help the mortar effect. I also agree that the projection speed should be slightly faster but it's not too bad.

Plasma cannon is my favourite weapon. As it states in the description it was intended for close quarters and city combat. This means it wasn't necessarily intended for av and i never use it as such. Its great the way it is but the minor tweaks i think needs to be done is one: fix the glitch where it shoots blanks, and two: enlarge the splash radius. Whoever said change the reticle i think its perfectly fine and does help the mortar effect. I also agree that the projection speed should be slightly faster but it's not too bad.

Sounds like it just needs a little more direct damage and a much faster projectile speed.

What it doesn't need is more splash damage or radius.

We already have enough problems with explosives and splash damage in this game... we don't need more FOTM no skill weapons.

I think the speed is fine. Also, the DMG is good for the STD, ADV could use a tiny buff in direct DMG and proto is just not worth the isk to use it.

Fix the glitches, and make the proto worth it and I will be happy.

A clip of 2 now that I looked at numbers does look better just I don't thank a damage buff is needed and to compared to a md it get bonus to shields not armor. So heavy rarely die unless hit directly and what stopping people using it to kill infantry the forge gun istthe same way.

No where in the weapons description does it talk about AV.
http://www.ign.com/wikis/dust-514/Plasma_Cannons

I disagree with this thread completely, everyone who has posted has forgot the fact that the Plasma Cannon is not intended to be an AV weapon, while it can damage a vehicle its not meant to be a major threat to them, its basic use is CQC anti-infantry, the stats are almost perfect i would like to see it deal more splash damage as atm the MD does more and thats madness. But overall the weapon is perfect bar the glitch fire shots sometimes