Just so you guys know, the DPS for rail rifles and assault rifles are as follows (proficiency 5 for both):

Rail rifle vs armour: 457 hp/s
Assault rifle vs shield: 521 hp/s
Assault rifle dps vs shield with Gal assault lvl 5: 599 hp/s

I'm showing dps vs armour and shield as both have a 10% damage bonus.

The data is all available on protofits, if you don't want to get it straight from the game. Although it doesn't have the Gallente assault bonus.

So, as you can see the assault rifle has considerably higher dps than the rail rifle. To make up for this the rail rifle has much greater range and accuracy. Although the rail rifle's hipfire accuracy is very poor.

Rail rifles and assault rifles are two of the most balanced weapons in the game. In fact so are Caldari and Gallente assaults, except for the fact that assaults in general are a bit OP compared to other classes.

edit: it is arguable that the Gallente assault bonus is a bit too powerful, but it's not a major issue. If anything it implies assault rifles are kind of weak without it.

Rail rifle vs armour: 457 hp/s
Assault rifle vs shield: 521 hp/s
Assault rifle dps vs shield with Gal assault lvl 5: 599 hp/s

Oh your poor, poor shields have a weakness! How awful! It's bad enough you're nearly immune to everything else in the metagame! Poor you.

All the suffering you must have endured as your PC districts were taken from your corp by LASER RIFLE USERS.

I myself have never thought of any of the weapons in the game is "unbalanced". They are what they are. To me, the AR is better than the RR because of the demonstrable superiority for close range encounters - higher ROF, higher DPS, shorter range, yes, but better for close range. The RR on the other hand is much better at range.

The problem arises when someone like me, as a dedicated Caldari, has to deal with close range encounters in a Caldari shield suit, with a RR. Almost every other race's weapons seem to cut through Caldari suits due to the shields and minimal armour. AR is certainly one of them, hybrid like the RR though they may be, their ROF and DPS just eats shields while my ARR has a very difficult time against heavily armoured suits, Gallente being one of them.

Caldari suits and weapons are designed for range. But to do most of what this game demands for any mode other than Ambush, like hacking objectives or installations, you must be able to deal with close range encounters. That's when the superiority of every other suit and weapon seems to show itself.

The imbalance isn't in the weapons and suits, it's in any attempt to play racially. When you're up against people who just use whatever weapon they want on any suit they want, and you aren't doing that yourself, you're likely going to see the game as unbalanced.

This is some high quality salt. Will fetch a high market price

Is this comment aimed at me? I'm not complaining about imbalance, just trying to help by making you aware of the facts. Both you and Alena stated that the rail rifle has higher dps than the assault rifle, which is incorrect as I have shown.

Also I clearly stated that I thought assault rilfes vs rail rifles and Caldari assaults vs Gallente assaults were balanced.

Also, I use all races of assault suit and have no alegence to either shield or armour tanking.

I also use shield and armour scouts, and shield and armour sentinels. The only thing I don't have is a shield commando.

I understand the problem you have, sticking to only Caldari gear makes close quater combat difficult. Much like using only Gallente gear would make long range combat difficult. I will however make the following comments:

I know the game's nearly gone, but I think it's good to clear this up for a future EVE fps. I'd prefer to have racial distinction and flavour than they all be the same, just with different graphics. It's good that Caldari are better at long range and Gallente are better at short range.

1) The game is not designed for characters to use only one race of suits. By imposing this restriction on yourself it is natural that you would be at a disadvantage in some situations. Though you are perfectly entitled to play this way.

2) Most battles involve the use of long and short range combat. There are plently of situations where range is extremely useful. In fact, back when the rail rifle was OP many people argued on the forums that range was by far the most important attribute (which I disagree with btw).

3) There are plenty of Caldari options for close combat. Assault rail rifles are very effective at short range as well as medium range, so are Magsecs. Nova knives are excellent CQC weapons and can be used well on a Caldari scout with it's dampening bonus and powerful passive scans. The Caldari logi can work well when operating in built up areas by using equipment to support thier team. Nano hives are great for grenades which are usefull for close combat. Rep hives are great. Nanite injectors are great.

4) Mixing weapons and suits from different races gives little benefit and isn't worth worrying about. Sure I like to use a scrambler pistol with my Caldari suit for anti-shield capabiliy. But I could easilly use a bolt pistol and benefit from the sweet reload bonus. Also, there is no need to fit armour on a Caldari suit regardless of engagement range.