they should increase the range and then see how the tac ar performs. If they increase the range on all weps and then nerf the damage on the tac ar, they risk completely undoing the buff the tac ar got in the first place.

Fix ranges first, wait for meta game to settle, then see how the tac ar is performing. If it still needs a nerf, then adjust as necessary.

Need better ranges than that, Orin.

They also need to not be blinded by 5-14, and hold PC if the game isn't fixed before then.

Dis, those are unrealistic ranges, and far too game-changing for what I'm asking for, which is a short-term fix to their "hemorrhaging playerbase" problem.

Besides, SS range is not something I want back anyway. Compromise is the name of the game.

About the HMG range... I thought I read a Dev post stating that it SHOULD (according to their phenomenal coding) be 30m optimal, however for some reason or another is actually functioning at 20m drop.

Which, I think is OK for the role they are looking to create with the HMG. However, I've never even fired one so I can't really comment on it's effectiveness.

Moved from general discussion.

After reading through these threads, and seeing with my own two eyes what is going on, I've compiled a relatively short list of things that need to be done within the next few weeks in order to retain/grow the playerbase, which should be prioritized above any sort of balance/etc. So take it or leave it CCP.

1. Re-toll the aiming again. Make it more responsive.
2. Give vehicles their PG back, and stop nerfing them into oblivion. (also, give timeframe for when the proto tanks will be back, and make them worth the wait.)
3. Make the HMG's base range what it was in Chromosome.
4. Tone down the Tac AR to about 55-60 damage at prototype level.
5. Boost all primary weapons (excluding the shotgun, and Mass Driver) optimals by about 20m.
6. Replace the caldari logi's racial bonus with something less combat-oriented, to encourage Assault players to actually go Assault. (possibly transfer the logi's bonus to the assault)
7. Make the basic medium frame suits a mix between assault and logi, with slightly lower stats than either (to encourage specialization). So, for instance, 1 more equipment slot, 1 less high or low slot, a little more CPU/PG than assault, a lot less than Logi, a tad slower than the basic assault suit.
8. A lot of the newly 5x core skills need to be dropped down to at least 2-3x. 5x is a bitter pill to swallow in light of all the new skills. I understand wanting to slow down the advancement, but jacking up the SP cost of core skills (skills that just about everyone will need to get) is not a good mentality. Even in EVE, these very same core skills (Electronics/engineering/etc) are all 1-2x skills, and everyone knows EVE is quite the lengthy game.

So.. work on these things, prioritize, and your community should come back.

Leave them as they are, or dilly-dally, and shooting for 5k online at a time will probably be your overall goal for a long time.

1. Re-toll the aiming again. Make it more responsive. - YES PLEASE
2. Give vehicles their PG back, and stop nerfing them into oblivion. (also, give timeframe for when the proto tanks will be back, and make them worth the wait.) - I dont use Vehicles. But they are weak as f*** now...
3. Make the HMG's base range what it was in Chromosome. - AT LEAST.
4. Tone down the Tac AR to about 55-60 damage at prototype level. - AND give them back some range.
5. Boost all primary weapons (excluding the shotgun, and Mass Driver) optimals by about 20m. - An give shotguns a little more damage at close range. Needing 5 shots to kill a logi at 5- mts is just ********.
6. Replace the caldari logi's racial bonus with something less combat-oriented, to encourage Assault players to actually go Assault. (possibly transfer the logi's bonus to the assault) - And remove a low powered slot [--] so it has a total of 8 dropsuit module slots,same as the rest (except Amarr that has a sidearm)
7. Make the basic medium frame suits a mix between assault and logi, with slightly lower stats than either (to encourage specialization). So, for instance, 1 more equipment slot, 1 less high or low slot, a little more CPU/PG than assault, a lot less than Logi, a tad slower than the basic assault suit. - Applies to HEAVY too man, There is nothing to encourage Specialization with the Heavy suits.
8. A lot of the newly 5x core skills need to be dropped down to at least 2-3x. 5x is a bitter pill to swallow in light of all the new skills. I understand wanting to slow down the advancement, but jacking up the SP cost of core skills (skills that just about everyone will need to get) is not a good mentality. Even in EVE, these very same core skills (Electronics/engineering/etc) are all 1-2x skills, and everyone knows EVE is quite the lengthy game. - AGREED

So.. work on these things, prioritize, and your community should come back.

Leave them as they are, or dilly-dally, and shooting for 5k online at a time will probably be your overall goal for a long time.