Eh, make it a 4 shot clip, with pre-nerf direct (like 230 at proto?) and increase missile speed by a bit.

I agree the Flaylock needs to be buffed, but I don't think we need to reinvent the wheel on this one. Just like the MD, the flaylock became OP when splash hit detection finally got fixed and hitscan hit detection was still crap. The MD was rebalanced by lowering each tier by one. (The current Freedom has near identical stats to Chromosome's EXO-5) Revert the Flaylock back to 1.0-1.2 but do the same by making the ADV proto, the STD the ADV and make a much weaker standard.

Slowing the RoF could help as well to make it a true high risk, high reward alpha damage weapon. Also, raise the CPU on the normal variants to slightly higher than other sidearms to prevent it from being the go to when you can squeeze out a little CPU in a fitting while making the specialist variants cost the current CPU values with sufficiently less ammo like the shotgun.

Flaylocks are fine and working as intended. I still have one as backup on all my suits. I use combat rifle and kill 2 to 3 people, then run out of ammo in the clip, swap to flaylock and finish them off at close ranges while their shields are down.

As for clip size, try increasing your Minmatar Assault Suit skill and then the Flaylock Proficiency as well. I get 4 shots as it is per clip now. Six would be nice, but I'd rather have it maintain a Minmatar benefit.

I have my ScP, FP and SMG all at Pro 3, and my FP is the only one which I don't really feel brings anything special to a fight. It's a fun concept, but that's about it. I like my knives, which I only have @ Op 3, better. I'm not even good with my knives, but I would still rather have them on my suit. My ScP can drop a guy with headshots in no time, my SMG is always relentlessly effective and dependable, my knives are great when I get behind guys, but my flaylock is...?

How do you think it should be buffed then?

Please provide details. I will edit the main post to reflect the changes this thread decides upon.

I don't see why people have a problem with others running a sidearm as their primary means of defence.

I've done it with the SMG for months. I've done it with Nova Knives for a short while before CCP introduced the biggest blows to the scout class. I've even done it with the Scrambler Pistol. All three make effective weapons by themselves. The flaylock is the outlier. And people seem to want to keep it that way, for some reason.

With that being said, missile speed needs to improve if the weapon is to encourage direct hits over reliance on splash. A small increase in clip size would also be nice. Six seems like too many, but four or five would be nice. In addition, the weapon needs more than just two variants (being the 'regular' and 'breach'), like the 'assault' and the 'tactical.'

Honestly, the same damage stats with a missile speed increase and a small bump in clip size would probably be enough for me to dust of the flaylock, and begin putting more SP into it.

That is what a sidearm is. Defense. Not offense.

So few people realize this.

That makes it a niche weapon.

And the SMG can do that too. It just doesn't bring anything special to the table.

I want it to be unique in it's own regard.

I agree the Flaylock needs to be buffed, but I don't think we need to reinvent the wheel on this one. Just like the MD, the flaylock became OP when splash hit detection finally got fixed and hitscan hit detection was still crap. The MD was rebalanced by lowering each tier by one. (The current Freedom has near identical stats to Chromosome's EXO-5) Revert the Flaylock back to 1.0-1.2 but do the same by making the ADV proto, the STD the ADV and make a much weaker standard.

Slowing the RoF could help as well to make it a true high risk, high reward alpha damage weapon. Also, raise the CPU on the normal variants to slightly higher than other sidearms to prevent it from being the go to when you can squeeze out a little CPU in a fitting while making the specialist variants cost the current CPU values with sufficiently less ammo like the shotgun.

I've wanted a "Charge Shot" on Flaylocks and Mass Drivers for a while.
Just to change the missle velocity, not the damage or anything else.

So, the Flaylock got hit by the Nerf Hammer a long time ago. It was needed, but now, the things just seem flat out useless in 90% of scenarios. It has become a niche weapon, made to finish off targets that are low on armor. However, every other sidearm can do that as well as the flaylock, negating it's usefulness.

So, let's fix the Flaylock.

First off, what defines a sidearm? In my book, a sidearm is a backup weapon, meant to fix any holes in your loadout, and to compliment your main weapon. It also must deal similar damage, but be balanced by a reduced clip size and overall ammo count. This negates you from running it as a main weapon. It is made to quickly deal with 1-2 targets, and to give you time to reload your main weapon, or to give you time to run away (if your main weapon isn't effective at that range).

So, with that in mind, how about this?

Make it have a 4 round clip.

Bonus to Ops skill is 3% blast radius increase.

Give it around 75 Splash, with a 1.5m Radius at basic.
Increase Missle Velocity
ROF is faster. Not too terribly fast, just faster than what it is now.
Pre-Nerf direct damage

You now have a sidearm that is made to quickly kill 1-2 targets in CQC in Minmatar fashion (Rapid fire and explosions).

For clarity:

Basic FP: 180 direct, 75 splash, 1.5m (1.72 with skill 5)
ADV FP: 200 direct, 85 splash, 1.75m (1.9 with skill 3)
PRO FP: 230 Direct, 100 Splash, 2.0m (2.3 with skill 5)

This will make it a powerful weapon if you can directly hit targets (difficult to do) but still able to take down a target by hitting the ground if you have to (PRO has 600 splash in clip at proto)

Feel free to change these or debate these. Let's try and fix the Flaylock guys!

I do realize that the Minmatar Assault will get an 8 round clip. I am fine with this. It just means he can take down 2-3 targets if he has to. Since he is an assault, that will come in handy as he will probably run into groups of 2 or 3.

Please by all means! If you hate this idea or think it is OP, please come up with a solution to fix it instead of just saying it's OP

Um, I think you just contradicted yourself. You call it "niche" and then say it's not unique. Well which is it?

Minmatar assault says otherwise.

The min assault only has a 25% bonus so it would be a 5 round clip not 8 :)