Assault rifles have become OP with the ROF buff, I've been getting killed by Duvolles and GEKs WAY too often lately. Calculate the DPS of the assault variant of all the rifles and you'll see what i mean.

I think it has something to do with kick or even dispersion, but I guess the dispersion is maxed using the Assault gk.0? I agree with the OP, there is something that is not quite right about it and you will end up just using the CR. I was using it today on my galmando and I think its the kick especially when comparing it to the aCR. What do you think?

Damage profile.

Maybe it's the damage profiles?

Could this be a big part of why we're so close to balance, but it just feels out of whack?

Check out the damage profiles. Do you see what I see?


The issue could be the ranges.

The damage profiles VS. their respective ranges?
Armor is arguably more important than shielding, as without it, you are instantly dead.
Do we really want the weapons with greater range, to be more effective against armor?


I would adjust the profiles like this maybe...
The higher your range, the higher your effectiveness against shields, the lower your effectiveness against armor, the lower your dps.
THEN
The lower your range, the lower your effectiveness against shields, the higher your effectiveness against armor, the higher your dps.

Hybrid - Railgun (Long Range): +20% shields, -20% armor
Laser (Medium-Long Range): +10% shields, -10% armor
Projectile (Short-Medium Range): -5% shields, +5% armor
Hybrid - Blaster (Short Range): -10% shields, +10% armor
Explosives to remain at -20% shields, +20% armor

I mean think about it. The RR and CR are preferred SO heavily, precisely because they do EXCELLENT damage vs. armor AT RANGE. This is what makes them preferable to the AR, even though the AR is supposed to be the close range predator.


These changes would make sense to me... but this HEAVILY violates established EVE lore and racial weapon conventions.

To really get into this I'd like to look at the damage profiles more just to make the differences clear to everyone.

Laser: +20% vs shields, -20% vs armor
Hybrid Blaster: +10% vs shields, -10% vs armor
Projectile: -5% vs shields, +10% vs armor
Hybrid Rail: -10% vs shields, +10% vs armor
Explosive: -20% vs shields, +20% vs armor

Just looking at these numbers one would think that the AR would behave like the RR but since the RR has a higher alpha damage it is able to take down shields just fine regardless of the damage profile. The AR on the other hand, with its smaller damage per shot will have a very hard time with armor.

Similarly to the RR the Scr, with its massive DPS, can easily kill armor tanked suits regardless of its -20% penalty vs armor.

The CR kills both armor and shields relatively well compared to the other rifles simply based on its damage profile. It has the smallest penalty after all.

The AR with its very short range has the hardest time applying its damage thus it having a higher DPS than other assault variants. It is a pretty simple concept and is the main reason the AR is as balanced feeling as it is at this time.

Damage profile.

Maybe it's the damage profiles?

Could this be a big part of why we're so close to balance, but it just feels out of whack?

Check out the damage profiles. Do you see what I see?


The issue could be the ranges.

The damage profiles VS. their respective ranges?
Armor is arguably more important than shielding, as without it, you are instantly dead.
Do we really want the weapons with greater range, to be more effective against armor?


I would adjust the profiles like this maybe...
The higher your range, the higher your effectiveness against shields, the lower your effectiveness against armor, the lower your dps.
THEN
The lower your range, the lower your effectiveness against shields, the higher your effectiveness against armor, the higher your dps.

Hybrid - Railgun (Long Range): +20% shields, -20% armor
Laser (Medium-Long Range): +10% shields, -10% armor
Projectile (Short-Medium Range): -5% shields, +5% armor
Hybrid - Blaster (Short Range): -10% shields, +10% armor
Explosives to remain at -20% shields, +20% armor

I mean think about it. The RR and CR are preferred SO heavily, precisely because they do EXCELLENT damage vs. armor AT RANGE. This is what makes them preferable to the AR, even though the AR is supposed to be the close range predator.


These changes would make sense to me... but this HEAVILY violates established EVE lore and racial weapon conventions.

Yeah.... but in EVE the damage types are also modified by each ships own base resistances, again modified by their racial opposition.

Lasers do Primary EM damage and secondary Thermal Damage....

Most Minmatar ships have moderate EM and Thermal Resistances, in fact Min T2 Frigates.... the Wolf and Jaguar have 90% EM resistances against their shields...... just like the Retribution T2 Amarr Frigate as an 87.5 Resistance to Explosive Weapons on Armour......

I made a post on it if you can be bothered to search.

Yeah.... but in EVE the damage types are also modified by each ships own base resistances, again modified by their racial opposition.

Lasers do Primary EM damage and secondary Thermal Damage....

Most Minmatar ships have moderate EM and Thermal Resistances, in fact Min T2 Frigates.... the Wolf and Jaguar have 90% EM resistances against their shields...... just like the Retribution T2 Amarr Frigate as an 87.5 Resistance to Explosive Weapons on Armour......

Yes, I saw that thread. Brilliant!
Your graph on properly balanced rifles is exactly what I have thought it should be.

Thank you!
Doing it that ways solves a lot of problems including Jathniels problem with the damage profile.
Since the relation between damage and range is linear the damage profile will no lomger effect that balance in the same way.

Futhermore it already included scope for the 6 or so remaining weapons.

Burst Scrambler Rifle
Burst Rail Rifle
Tactical Combat Rifle
Tactical Rail Rifle
Breach Scrambler Rifle
Breach Scrambler Rifle

Which I'm sure everyone would love to see.
Finally it allows the characteristics of each weapon to be emphasised more clearly without effecting balance.

it's completely fine