For background, I think it is necessary that everyone understands what is meant by type, & CCP's plan for the racial "assault rifles" before moving forward. This is a quote from CCP Remnant on what rifle types and variants.

"The idea being that each race will have it's base variant be Assault (Gallente), Burst (Minmatar), Breach (Caldari) or Tactical (Amarr) and then the variants are a specific race's take on the others using their own tech. So, you'd get an Assault Rail Rifle that attempts to somewhat mimic the behavior of the Gallente Assault Rifle and a Tactical Assault Rifle that attempts to mimic the Amarr Scrambler Rifle and so on."

It is also important to know the ranges of weapons of different damage profiles. Can be found here, from 1.7 weapon dev blog.

Assault type
AR (hybrid-plasma damage profile: short range)
Assault SCR (laser damage profile: medium to long range)
Assault RR (hybrid-railgun damage profile: long range)
Assault CR (projectile damage profile: short-medium range)

Tactical type
SCR (laser: medium to long range)
Tactical AR (hybrid-plasma: short range)
*Future tactical variants for RR (hybrid-railgun: long range)
*Future tactical variants for CR (projectile: short-medium range)

Burst type
CR (projectile: short-medium range)
Burst AR (hybrid-plasma: short range)
*Future burst variants for RR (hybrid-railgun: long range)
*Future burst variants for SCR (laser: medium to long range)

Breach type
RR (hybrid-railgun: long range)
Breach AR (hybrid-plasma: short range)
*Future breach variants for SCR (laser: medium to long range)
*Future breach variants for CR (projectile: short-medium range)



[Comparison]
So we have identified the types, & their comparative ranges (short to long, everything in between) within the type. Now lets compare the rifles by type using 1.8 stats. All stats prototype.

Assault
AR: 412.5 DPS, shortest range (45 optimal/78 optimal)
aCR: 420, short-medium range (56/84)
aSCR: 420.59, medium-long range (56/90)
aRR: 400, longest range (75/102)

Tactical
tAR: 462 DPS (acheivable without modded controller), 69.3 damage per shot, restrictive ROF (you can tap R1 faster than it can shoot). Shortest range range (57/84)
SCR: 841.17 DPS (not acheivable without modded controller), 71.5 damage per shot, non-restricive ROF. Medium-long range (75/96)

Burst
buAR: 474.38 DPS, shortest range (50/78)
CR: 594 DPS, short-medium range (67/84)

Breach
brAR: 330, shortest range (46/78)
RR: 397.69, longest range (75/102)



[Conclusion]

The assault SCR is OP compared to the AR; has both more DPS, on top of more range. Perhaps if the aSCR had overheat play a bigger factor, it would be balanced.

The assault CR is OP compared to the AR; has both more DPS, on top of more range.

The assault RR does have less damage per second in exchange for range, but it gets 30 meters more optimal to deal full damage in exchange for only 12.5 less damage per second. The aRR gets the much better end of the deal. The spool-up time may be enough to balance things, but not clear at this point.

The tactical AR sucks compared to the SCR. SCR has more damage per shot, more rate of fire, way more range, the charge shot ability, better hipfire accuracy; unless you're really really bad at managing overheat, there is no reason to use the tac AR over the SCR.

The burst AR sucks compare to the CR. CR has more massively more DPS, & more range.

The breach AR sucks compared to the RR. Less range, less DPS, less magazine size, there's just no reason to ever use the breach AR.

While not of the same type, the AR & RR are comparable because they are both automatic. The AR has about 14 points more damage per second, but the RR gets 30 meters more optimal range to do full damage in. While it is a tradeoff, it seems far from equitable; the RR gets the better end of that deal. The spool-up time may be enough to balance things, but not clear at this point.

All weapons of the AR family pretty much suck.



[Solutions]
Rifles need to be balanced against others of the same type: the tac AR balanced against the SCR, or assault CR against the AR, etc.

The main thing is the DPS vs range is not something CCP seems to actively think of as a tradeoff for weapons. Generally (meaning not always, yes there are other factors) If a weapon has more DPS than another of the same type, it should have less range; likewise, if a weapon has less range, it should have more DPS.

The AR weapon family has the least ranges within whatever type they are in, they should have the highest DPS within their types.

The CR weapon has the 2nd least ranges within whatever type they are in, they should have the 2nd highest DPS within their types.

The SCR weapon has the 2nd most ranges within whatever type they are in, they should have the 2nd lowest DPS within their types. Overheat should be factored in as well.

The RR weapon has the most ranges within whatever type they are in, they should have the lowest DPS within their types. Spool up time should also be ...

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No, it needs more damage. hybrid-blaster/plasma weapons are meant to be closer range than projectiles of the same general style. The plasma rifle should have more DPS to make up for its lack of range.

Solution: https://forums.dust514.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=146825

a range buff, seriously. I've been doing some test run on the plasma rifle and compare it to the combat rifle. So in my opinion, the plasma rifles needs a range buff by a tiny bit so it can be useful. Why? I have my reasons but to lazy to type it.

Give me your opinion too people.....

Plasma Rifle?

There is no such thing..?

You mean plasma cannon or assault rifle?

He means AR. Some people on the forums disagree with the way it's named and instead took up a campaign that ultimately just leads to confusion.

He means AR. Some people on the forums disagree with the way it's named and instead took up a campaign that ultimately just leads to confusion.

I've had no problems with the current plasma rifle. On what grounds justifies the need for a buff?

It could also be a Blaster Rifle, which is probably more accurate name than plasma or AR.

I would very much like to have that 10% ROF from the old assault bonus to be implemented into the AR.
Half of the reason the Balac is so good is that the extra ROF makes the hip fire that much better, as higher ROF = Better hip fire.

Hip fire is important for CQC, which the AR is supposed to be the best at from the other rifles.

Seriously?

a range buff, seriously. I've been doing some test run on the plasma rifle and compare it to the combat rifle. So in my opinion, the plasma rifles needs a range buff by a tiny bit so it can be useful. Why? I have my reasons but to lazy to type it.

Give me your opinion too people.....

I would prefer a higher RoF on gallente Weapons. RoF is easier to balance as damage per clip is unchanged but DPS is still increased...

Seriously. As stated, I found nothing wrong with the gun when I use it. Your going to have to explain what's wrong with the plasma rifle.

Keep in mind that comparing the plasma rifle to overpowered weapons is not a justification that the weapon is underpowered. Overpowered weapons are broken and should not be used as an excuse to make more game breaking overpowered weapons.

Seriously. As stated, I found nothing wrong with the gun when I use it. Your going to have to explain what's wrong with the plasma rifle.

Keep in mind that comparing the plasma rifle to overpowered weapons is not a justification that the weapon is underpowered. Overpowered weapons are broken and should not be used as an excuse to make more game breaking overpowered weapons.