Yeah, exotic weapon balance is PvP's real problem. (Destiny)

by Ragashingo , Official DBO Cryptarch, Tuesday, April 07, 2015, 17:37 (3309 days ago) @ iconicbanana

Look at the HC crucible range nerf that just happened. It didn't actually make the exotics less viable; it just made rare/legendary HC's less viable. Suros is still usable in crucible, but look at everything that isn't a vanquisher/grim citizen. Silvered Hushwinds aren't really cutting it anymore.

Really, I think the case of Auto Rifles is somewhat unique in that the entire class isn't as good a match for Destiny's gameplay. If you tone them down, like Bungie has, they put their wielders at a real disadvantage vs longer ranged guns, while also forcing their wielders to fight in closer where sticky grenades and even shotguns become a much greater threat. But if you buff Auto Rifles they start landing a lot of shots on the longer ranged guns while still being better in close and it becomes unclear what the Pulse Rifles and Scout Rifles are there for.

Ultimately, I think Destiny's combat cycle, as chiefly defined by the average length of sight lines and the distance required to effectively dodge thrown grenades, creates specific zones where fighting is effective:

• Close, where shotguns rule.
  
• Medium, where both Pulse and Scout rifles live.
  
• Long, where sniper rifles become powerful.

Auto Rifles demand a fourth "Medium-Close" zone be both viable and sufficiently separate from the other zones... but "Medium-Close" has too much overlap. Again, if Auto Rifles focus too much on the "Close" zone they start losing to Pulse and Scout Rifles and if they extend into the "Medium" they interfere with the other primaries too much and become good at everything.

The real solution (that nobody wants to admit) is to give up on the concept of the Auto Rifle.