I think that CCP owes us an explanation of how exactly passive scanning works.

TL/DR
As the Scout's viability gap has grown quite wide with 1.4, an earnest effort to restore balance will require consideration of numerous gameplay factors.

To CCP
I've made these points brief and have highlighted key elements. I've run Scout exclusively since Chromosome and have read every ounce of feedback offered by my peers. My intent here is to help you help Scouts in a meaningful manner come 1.6. I offer these observations and suggestions in attempt to explain why our performance has declined and how you can help us reverse the pattern.

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On Cloaking & Stealth
An ability to "cloak" will be too little, too late. We're already good at getting into position undetected. Sneaking about with less effort will likely have little impact on our declining performance, especially if cloaking requires that we forgo other (more necessary) equipment. Balancing the Scout will likely not be accomplished by a new piece of equipment.

On Speed
We Scouts sacrifice eHP for slight tactical advantage. Speed is primary. More specifically, relative speed. At present, we are only marginally faster than biotic medium-frames. Slower if we wear plates. We understand that performance limitations prevent a substantial increase to our speed. Balancing the Scout will likely require reduction of medium-suit speed. Hit-and-run doesn't work if we can't outrun non-Scout pursuers.

On Aim Assist
Quite simply, this is working too well and is to every Scout's detriment. Magnetism should take into account target speed and hitbox size. Either we aren't fast enough, our hitbox is too large, or magnetism is compensating for too great a degree of user error. Balancing the Scout will likely involve dialing back aim-assist. Or rendering the Scout less vulnerable to it (see Thread #2).

On Weapon Range
Weapons that devastate Scouts at close and medium range shouldn't be equally capable of insta-kill at long range. Balancing the Scout will likely involve a reduction to damage at range of Scrambler Rifles and Assault Rifles (TAR excluded). As with relative speed, hit-and-run doesn't work if we're always within optimal range of a pursuer.

On Insta-Kill
In embracing Hard Mode, we accept the fact that we should die when we make even the slightest error or miscalculation. This is how we learn. Balancing the Scout will likely not be accomplished by adding more HP. A slightly more durable Assault-Lite is still Assault-Lite.

On Alpha Damage
Imbalance will exist so long as the targets we flank can survive and counter a perfectly executed sneak attack. Balancing the Scout will likely involve an increase to its Alpha Damage or a "back-stab" multiplier. We're very excited to see how well the Shotgun performs tomorrow, and are equally excited by the current "lunge" discussion on Nova Knives.

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Thank you for your time and consideration.
Shotty GoBang

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Troll Box
To save you guys a little time and effort:

• "Your tears taste good." - Malcom Xo (Xero?)
• "May there always be scouts for me kill in a quarter second. " - Meeko Fent
• "Dying 6 times in a row is not bad..." - XxWarlordxX97
• "Grow up ..." - demens grimwulff
• "I'm not feeling the impact of aim assist." - Alldin Kan
• "You guys got by because the hit detection was trash. Get good." - Icy TIG3R
• "Is it really a surprise a suit that was meant for speed dies quickly?" - TEXA5 HiTM4N
• "Shouldn't scouts be sniping?" - Sotapopthegrey
• "Get faster, dance around in a circle, and live longer." - Ignatius Crumwald

It doesn't matter XiBravo, they're precentages.
Bonus of 25% and 10%

45 with 10% reduction is 40.5
Add 25% reduction now 30.375

45 with 25% reduction is 33.75
Add 10% reduction now 30.375

I haven't tested profile damping, but with hack speed the first module is applied to base regardless of skill. So it would be 35% off with the skill and the first module. The second module would reduce from the remainder.

I have all the math and video proof in a /r/dust514 thread.

If it is not suppose to work this way, then hacking is broken.

One more item. Hit detection on sniper rifle sucks as well. It should not take three hits from a kaalakiota to take out a logi.

I don't think this is the way it works with dampeners. If that was true, with full skills (two of them) and a basic dampener, it would be a 50% reduction putting a scouts at 22.5. Would be awesome. Would someone be willing to test this tonight(Edit: around 0200-0300 dust time)? I can set up multiple suits to try it out. I need someone with proto scanners.

Is it the first module equipped, or the top one? Which gets the bonus.

It would be great news if this was the case, it would mean that Minmatars can hide from all scanners if they build for it.

I don't think this is the way it works with dampeners. If that was true, with full skills (two of them) and a basic dampener, it would be a 50% reduction putting a scouts at 22.5. Would be awesome. Would someone be willing to test this tonight(Edit: around 0200-0300 dust time)? I can set up multiple suits to try it out. I need someone with proto scanners.

Is it the first module equipped, or the top one? Which gets the bonus.

It would be great news if this was the case, it would mean that Minmatars can hide from all scanners if they build for it.

That math gets ridiculous rather quickly then. I was just taking the percentage off the remainder, as I show in previous posts.

How about you just increase the scout suit speed? Why must "balance" always be achieved by nerf'ing something?

We think there is a ceiling on speed. Thus, for the scouts to seem faster, if there is a cap to speed, other suits need to slow down.

That's all.

TL/DR
As the Scout's viability gap has grown quite wide with 1.4, an earnest effort to restore balance will require consideration of numerous gameplay factors.

To CCP
I've made these points brief and have highlighted key elements. I've run Scout exclusively since Chromosome and have read every ounce of feedback offered by my peers. My intent here is to help you help Scouts in a meaningful manner come 1.6. I offer these observations and suggestions in attempt to explain why our performance has declined and how you can help us reverse the pattern.

---

On Cloaking & Stealth
An ability to "cloak" will be too little, too late. We're already good at getting into position undetected. Sneaking about with less effort will likely have little impact on our declining performance, especially if cloaking requires that we forgo other (more necessary) equipment. Balancing the Scout will likely not be accomplished by a new piece of equipment.

[/list]

I agree that cloaking will do nothing for scout suits and you are right on everything you said in my opinion. I think cloaking should be implemented but not on scout suits, but rather scout lavs. As of now they are almost useless and very underpowered compared to every other vehicle. With cloaking, it will give them the effectiveness they need and I think that that's all they need. Not cloaking to make it like invisible because we don't want ******** invisible murder taxis. The cloaking would make it phase out (as cloaking is but still fairly visible) resulting in swarm launchers and av grenades to not be able lock on to it for a certain amount of time. Change the passive turret tracking into cloaking duration. Not a module but only useable with scout lavs. What do you think about this?