* Weapon tiers streamlined so that more side grades are unlocked in the advanced tier and more exotic variants in the prototype tier

I don't quite see the rationale behind this:

You've removed the Burst Rifle...why?
Why has the Assault Mass Driver been moved up to level 4?
Same goes for Specialist shotgun and TAR.
I was in a squad with a tanker and Large Accelerated missile turrets only exist in Standard and Proto, he said.
I don't even want to glance at the scrambler pistols now, I used all the variants.....

I really liked the versatility that existed among weapons but now it seems that in order to support your Niche, you must delve into that weapon to the Prototype or Advanced levels just to get a handle on them.

I suggest bringing back weapon variations to their former glory and then some. I was expecting to see more weapons and variations, not less.

Also, define "exotic variants". One man's garbage is another man's treasure, so why was my beloved Burst Assault Rifle removed and my once go-to now-OP TAR moved up to ADV-PRO only?

It's a limitation that I would like to see removed, I think that the market should be a sea of items, so that our battles can be a hodgepodge jumbalaya of unique mercenaries.

If it's a niche, it should take a heavier investement to widen your options.

If it's a niche, it should take a heavier investement to widen your options.

I don't quite see the rationale behind this:

You've removed the Burst Rifle...why?
Why has the Assault Mass Driver been moved up to level 4?
Same goes for Specialist shotgun and TAR.
I was in a squad with a tanker and Large Accelerated missile turrets only exist in Standard and Proto, he said.
I don't even want to glance at the scrambler pistols now, I used all the variants.....

I really liked the versatility that existed among weapons but now it seems that in order to support your Niche, you must delve into that weapon to the Prototype or Advanced levels just to get a handle on them.

I suggest bringing back weapon variations to their former glory and then some. I was expecting to see more weapons and variations, not less.

Also, define "exotic variants". One man's garbage is another man's treasure, so why was my beloved Burst Assault Rifle removed and my once go-to now-OP TAR moved up to ADV-PRO only?

It's a limitation that I would like to see removed, I think that the market should be a sea of items, so that our battles can be a hodgepodge jumbalaya of unique mercenaries.

Yeah that's what Level 2 and Level 4 are for: Unlocking the niche weapons (same with proficiency)
But it doesn't make sense that Level unlocks less variants, it was perfectly fine in chromosome.
Also, this causes a problem: Niche do not have cheaper counterparts, now if you want to actively play your role, you have to shell out unnecessary ISK for a level higher than you may want.

Niche Weapons are not OP but why ze nerf?!

I don't think you're understanding the concept of a niche.

Since when does niche mean expensive?
Such talk is asinine nonsense.

If everybody had easy access to it, it wouldn't be a niche.
Niche 101

If everybody had easy access to it, it wouldn't be a niche.
Niche 101

I'd rather have more weapons than more weapon variants.

This

So Burst Mass Driver is no go?

I'd support that only if it had a bunch or arc and was used like artillery.

burst mass driver sounds freaking sweet though.

I would like to see more weapons as well but at the same time more weapon variants, I prize both (new weapons slightly more).

But there are a whole bunch of roles that restoring/adding variants can do:

Burst Mass Driver
Assault Shotgun
Burst Sniper Rifle
Tactical SMG
Breach Swarm Launcher
etc.

I also hope for more variants than just the current 5
Breach
Assault
Tactical
Specialist
Burst

Burst Mass Driver-I don't understand how this will work and have balance.
Assault Shotgun-not sure if I would like this added just doesn't seem to fit for lore/balancing
Burst Sniper Rifle- not sure why you want this or why this should be added
Tactical SMG- I thought all the SMG were the tactical variants, but no.. that breaks the sidearm code
Breach Swarm Launcher- ok this is just mean to vehicles, stop it and would only work if it add an even longer lock on with an even lower RoF so im going to say naw.

shotgun niche role
snipers niche role
^ just a few

they removed the lower tiers to add more sp sinks for people that liked those niches.

oh btw the advanced accelerated missile (large) is missing and there were two at201 missile launchers one being the accelerated one it must of just got lost in the move

Burst Mass Driver-I don't understand how this will work and have balance.

So Burst Mass Driver is no go?

If everybody had easy access to it, it wouldn't be a niche.
Niche 101

WTF?
Niche

I'm thinking you don't understand the concept of niche

Incorrect. Everybody has access to it.
It's a niche because it has a specific non-generic/non-utility purpose. Meaning not everyone will/can use it.

No reason for it to be more expensive SP/ISK-wise.

Again, "asinine nonsense".

Strawman argument. Try again.

Strawman argument. Try again.

First of all, you quoted that wrong. Debate fail.

Secondly, would you be so kind as to elaborate on why a weapon that supports a further specialized role aka Niche Weapon, has to be an ISK sink?

You can't really figure out on paper what weapon & variant suits your specialized role (I'm just going to keep using specialized role so no one ends up confused) you have to use the weapon. Well as it is, if you have SP in the sniper, and want more damage, you have skill all the way up to charge which is now at proto level, only to find that it's like a forge gun. That was a big waste of SP, because on paper, the gun isn't what it seems.

Provide a valid point on why it must be an SP sink? Niche and specialized roles don't have anything to do with expenses. If I want to try Ice Cream, I don't have to start at Vanilla and work my way up. I can buy whatever flavor I want at any given moment. I don't need to get advanced Ice cream to taste sherbert, but why do I need advanced shotguns to get specialist?

You're arguments are no longer coherent. There is no point continuing this.

Missing the point of specialisation once again.