I've been using shotguns since beta and the only three problems I find them to have is:
- Spread
- Range
- Hit detection

A shotgun should never have a lower spread. It makes no sense and is just a last minute bonus in my opinion. Shotgunners depend on this spread, specially at medium range. As for what should replace this bonus, I think range sounds fine. The point of leveling up a weapon is to improve what it already does, NOT reduce its effectiveness.

When it comes to range, it should be improved. Why? Because a shotgun is supposed to kill you at CQC, not tickle like it is doing now. We literally need the enemy in our face to be able to have any sort of effect. If I need to have them this close then, why would I go shotgun when Nova knives would be so much more effective and are balanced properly in my opinion? Now this is where the bonus replacement should be debated. By eliminating the spread reduction and adding an increase to RoF, it will surely make a whole lot of more sense and it should take care of that problem.

As for our good friend, hit detection, it would be wise to take a second look at this. It has been improved compared to previous patches (and yes I'm referring to the patch we couldn't hit ppl that were sitting still), but it still an issue. I have had several encounters where the enemy is able to regenerate shields, reload, etc. and I'm still praying for the shot to be registered.

Overall, I do believe we are almost there with this gun. Is a matter of adding a bit more time to it. I have used it since beta and never changed to any other weapon, simply because is my style and it is a fun weapon to use. It is not meant to compete with any gun, because it is in its own tier. This does not mean it should be in the conditions it is now.

The rifles are getting a nerf in 1.8. You know what happens when CCP buffs one weapon while nerfing another. The Shotgun would end up completely overpowered, and would then be nerfed into he ground in 1.9.

Probably be better to see how it stacks up against the Rifles in 1.8, and then talk about a buff for 1.9.

But I am talking about damage there. No reason not to talk about range and dispersion now.

Edit: The biggest shotgun buff I could ask for is the ability to remove the melee ability from R3. When I tried to use the Shotgun, every time I tried to shoot it I would end up meleeing instead. I have not gotten a melee kill in over a year, but it has probably cost me over a hundred kills. If I could deactivate melee, I might actually be able to use the shotgun.

The rifles are getting a nerf in 1.8. You know what happens when CCP buffs one weapon while nerfing another. The Shotgun would end up completely overpowered, and would then be nerfed into he ground in 1.9.

Probably be better to see how it stacks up against the Rifles in 1.8, and then talk about a buff for 1.9.

But I am talking about damage there. No reason not to talk about range and dispersion now.

Edit: The biggest shotgun buff I could ask for is the ability to remove the melee ability from R3. When I tried to use the Shotgun, every time I tried to shoot it I would end up meleeing instead. I have not gotten a melee kill in over a year, but it has probably cost me over a hundred kills. If I could deactivate melee, I might actually be able to use the shotgun.

It's mostly fine, but could do with a range bonus instead of spread - or make range the ops skill and spread the prof skill maybe. To fully ensure a sneak attack works out, I pretty much have to be in NK range to begin with - they can sprint while you can only walk and shoot.

If damage isn't being increased, extra ammo capacity (total, not clip) would be nice...

Can any dev please say the shotgun will get some sort of buff in 1.8?

I would really liketo see a +1~2 meter increase to optimal range as well as a change to pellets

10 pellets by default
Operations skill: +1 pellet per shot per level
TBH a spread reduction makes no sense for a shotgun skill and instead ADS should reduce spread.

Really, a spread reduction makes no sense for a shotgun? Much as real life should only be used a an influence rather than a rule for gaming, you might want to look up shotgun chokes and learn as to why spread reduction is very useful. I'd actually like to see the operations raise the spread reduction by at least 1% per level to make it more effective. And I play as a heavy so most of my experience is from the wrong side of the muzzle.

No, just no.
Spread reduction as a skill needs to go and instead ADS should decrease spread

I hate that mechanic on shotguns in modern day or earlier based games, but that would work for me in the futuristic setting of Dust. Aiming down sights activates a choke. Sounds good. I'm not sure what could replace operations though.

The only thing I would want is more ammo capacity

Why? Shotguns in 99% of games are unrealistic, and balancing games around realism is a terrible idea
Operations should be +5% ROF per level
Proficiency should be +3% damage per level

Buff range by ~2 meters
Make operations +5% bonus to ROF
Proficiency +3% damage per level

No, just no.
Spread reduction as a skill needs to go and instead ADS should decrease spread

I'm a little confused about how spread should work. Isn't it better to have a concentrated shot where all the pellets hit to have maximum damage, making more spread worse? I'm totally for range increase and better hit detection (and also that ******* sprinting bug where I run like a heavy who weighs as much as a tank, getting almost insta-killed).

Yes it's better with the dispersion skill, if they want to make ads reduce spread (like call of duty) you need to be able to turn left and right on a dime for cqc if your gonna use ironsights.
More pellets hit = more damage dealt.

3% damage per level is useless when half your pellets miss.

Why? Shotguns in 99% of games are unrealistic, and balancing games around realism is a terrible idea
Operations should be +5% ROF per level
Proficiency should be +3% damage per level

If you're at point blank range like how CCP wants it, it isn't useless.

Adopting my idea I see

+1

With the change to the gallente assault skill, shotguns will be able to be considered an assault weapon, and not just a scout weapon.

With that, the base range needs to be increased.

Point blank range on a pump action shotgun is still ten feet.
Point blank just means the bullet drop won't affect your ability to hit the target.

What good is my pellet doing 4 more damage when I could have 1-2 more pellets hitting target that do 40 damage each.
Buffing damage at the cost of accuracy on shotguns is a raw damage nerf.

With the change to the gallente assault skill, shotguns will be able to be considered an assault weapon, and not just a scout weapon.

With that, the base range needs to be increased.

Shotguns are fine and do not need a buff.

No need, shotgun is fine, the spread to LVL 5 has an only effect on the breach but the proficiency is fine... anywhere above would be OP...