^ This
Give the magsec a reflex scope or something a little more powerful. Its a rail type weapon so I don't see why the single shot bolt pistol gets a scope while the magsec runs with an iron sight. I run the magsec on just about all of my cal suits scaling with their tier.

Although can scopes even be implemented in a hotfix? I understand if it already exists but isn't set to the weapon but if its not is that possible?

The Scrambler Pistol was the first weapon I got to prototype level. I have been unhappy with all sidearms since 1.8. Please return Scrambler pistols to the way they were.

Extremely helpful, am finalizing the Delta proposal with the CPM and this is very useful. Thanks!

nothing unbalanced about the SMG, it has short optimal and fitting requirements similar to light weapons, yet it can only dream to match the light weapons dps. all other sidearms require a lower PG, CPU or both to fit.

if you want to give the other sidearms such range and DPS combined then you obviously will have to increase their fitting requirements too.

Would it be possible to add the Bolt Pistol 'scope' to the Magsec.. then have iron sights on the Bolt...?
This could possibly be a way to introduce Variants of those weapons....

I'd like to see an option with Bolt Pistol to be used CQ as thats where the sidarm is needed.

After numerous threads and many different ideas being thrown about we still don't have a single unified idea of how to balance side-arms.

As many have pointed out the Ion Pistol and the Flaylock are both hugely underpowered. The other pistols while better are still poor options compared to the SMG and the Magsec SMG.

I previously proposed balancing the pistols around an inverse range to damage relationship with the scrambler pistol as the mid point. BL4CKST4R proposed buffing many of the weapons stats as well as changing the heat mechanic of the ion pistol. Rattati further proposed that since the SMG is the most used weapon all the side arms should actually be balanced with it in mind. Many others also commented that because of its short range the ion pistol needed a much higher DPS than the bolt pistol.

Taking these ideas into consideration I have revamped my original spreadsheet. The new sheet incorporates all of the ideas above and assumes the overheat mechanics proposed by BL4CKST4R. Please note that I have have only shown the stats for prototype weapons. These weapons should only be a 10% improvement over basic weapons with advanced ones lying right in the middle (5% weaker than proto 5% more powerful than basic) Ranges should be equalized across weapon tiers (like what was done with pistols).

Weapon varients have not been included at this time but should be part of the balancing. I would of crouse like feed back about what to do with them. I am leaning towards the breach flaylock being an AV varient, and a decrease in pershot damage for the assault SMG (to make up for its higher rate of fire).

Take a second, look the spread sheet over and make comments. Lets try to build something productive here.

Sidearm Balance Spreadsheet

Please note that I have included BL4CKST4R's spreadsheet as well so we can easily compare the two.

would be reasonable to make the flaylock a burst fire sidearm, not explosives? I know it would destroy the sunniness of this weapon, but it would be easier to balance.

My issue with that is that it would totally change the flavor of the weapon.

SMG - No one has ever complained about SMGs being OP. They are the one thing in this game that has always been balanced. Leave as they are.

ScP - Not the god mode weapon they were prior to the assault variant RoF reduction but remain very effective. Still kill more quickly than an SMG in the hands of a skilled user. Leave as they are.

Magsec SMG - Obviously it's fantastic having that range in a sidearm, so there has to be a tradeoff in terms of damage application. Nevertheless a small buff may be reasonable. Either kick reduction or slight (5% or so) damage increase.

Flaylock pistol - They are a little UP but tread VERY carefully. When these were good the game was absolutely horrible. It was frequently used as a primary weapon and explosive spam was everywhere. I would discourage increases to blast radius as it is this, not damage per se, that is the real killer with this weapon - it is impossible to respond once you're hit as your aim is thrown all over the place. Getting that massive advantage over your opponent should remain a matter of skill. Maybe a slight increase to damage would be okay.

Nova Knives - With the latest buff they have become the nearest thing to a modern day flaylock, i.e. a sidearm widely used as a primary weapon. Seeing people get a lot of 30 or 40 kill games with them. Maybe the increase in range brought in in Charlie should be rolled back a little so it's less of a 'shotgun in a sidearm slot'.

Ion pistol and bolt pistol - Don't know.

I like where we're going with the RoF boost to the bolt pistol, but the charge time between shots needs to go. No other automatic rail weapon works like that and it really cuts the dps as shown in the google doc. By all means leave the initial charge time in, in line with the other rail weapons.

I wonder if buffing the hipfire would be going too far. I use the bolt pistol a lot, sometimes as a primary for fun, and while it is deadly pinpoint accurate in ADS, it could benefit a little bit more in CQC from having similar hipfire to the scrambler pistol. Both have similar crosshair bloom when continuously firing, but having that first shot accuracy be that much more accurate would lend it more of that 'skillshot' feel.

Considering the initial charge time, you really need to make that first shot count, especially in close quarters.

The charge between shots is the only thing keeping that weapon from being OP. Take that away and you got a mini semi auto sniper.

The charge mechanic is pointless when you can just change the RoF, it would make it more in line with the other railguns. Also the bolt pistol is already fully automatic, just slow. You would still have the initial charge when you release the trigger and pull it again.

Nova Knives - With the latest buff they have become the nearest thing to a modern day flaylock, i.e. a sidearm widely used as a primary weapon. Seeing people get a lot of 30 or 40 kill games with them. Maybe the increase in range brought in in Charlie should be rolled back a little so it's less of a 'shotgun in a sidearm slot'.

The charge mechanic is pointless when you can just change the RoF, it would make it more in line with the other railguns. Also the bolt pistol is already fully automatic, just slow. You would still have the initial charge when you release the trigger and pull it again.

At standard, with a base of 135 damage, it would become overpowered. There's no question to it. If you were to increase the RoF, then the maximum would be 5-10% increase. Perhaps increasing the magazine by 1-2 rounds would be nice, but it's balanced as is. People just don't tend to like non-spray-and-pray weapons. It's excellent in the right hands.

Other rail weapons do work like that btw, with the charge between shots (maybe it doesn't actually charge, but it works the exact same way with it's RoF on turrets). It's just that it isn't displayed with the rail turrets. Once 'charged', you have a set amount of time inbetween shots that are either charging, or simply have a low RoF. There is essentially no difference...

You want to remove the one thing that made nova knives enjoyable to use?

Do they have to be OP for them to be enjoyable to use? Plenty of people had fun with them before. And in any case, I'm not saying put them back to exactly how they used to be, just dial it back a little. It should be possible to get 40 kill games with a sidearm but not easy like it is now with NKs.

Do they have to be OP for them to be enjoyable to use? Plenty of people had fun with them before. And in any case, I'm not saying put them back to exactly how they used to be, just dial it back a little. It should be possible to get 40 kill games with a sidearm but not easy like it is now with NKs.