Or alternatively, just redesign the magnedart ammo because none of those solutions would actually work in practice considering how paper-thin the Kain is (possibly explosion resists, but that'd just mean we'd have Rep-x2 exp. resist -LWF kains running around at max speeds going TROLOLOLO).

The entire "shotgun" system and all other close-range weapons are obviously useless since explosion damage was put in.

The problem isn't the the gun itself, its range is fine for a short-range weapon. The problem is in the magnedart, because it has -75% range, which just plain kills it.

I like the concept of delay the explosion.
With some sort of shinny annimation something 5 second delay you allowed people to get out of range if they aware.
It s make the gameplay even more dynamics and suits well to this bots, Rush in burst it an rush out before it s blow up in your face.

Put the one second +- random(0.5s) delay. Should solve a problem.

Assaults have to risk it. We've lost people time and again to big *** explosions from mechs and heavies. No offense, but this seems like one of those suck it up situations for Kains. You can trade out the ammo for lower dps or take the risk of getting hammered into bits by the pop. That seems pretty fair given how sexy Kains are.

Otoh if you want to lower explosion range I know for a fact a lot of our guys will be pleased lol.

+1 for an aoe dampening leg mod.
Graphicaly change the Evasive mod alittle.... Bam theres your mod itself
T4 reduces received Aoe damage by 40%, reduce Top speed a bit and is a unique item. Stack that with close range dual plated Kain and you have a uber gate camping machine. Probably would cause Imba imo but why not give us more goodies to try.

Do we take less from mech pops in raw damage? Yes. But as a percentage of expected ehp, it's much closer than you'd think. Not to mention assaults take a cockslapping when they engage a mech.

Is the ammo balanced? Maybe. But that's a different question, and not one I want to weigh in on as I don't pvp in mechs (yet). I just want to say that assaults have to risk it too, and if the damage is good enough that shotgun kains are worth using then they should suck it up like we do and enjoy their opportunity to *** face with lolarious dps.

Why would a kain not use lwffor this?  How could I get in close without it or with plates on it?  You could tele camp but that's dumb.

We're not talking about missiles btw, so just stop. Magnedart with EM is stupid because tou get better dps and range with gauss and other ammo.

Maybe increase range of magnedart, but it would have to be quite a bit to get away from explosions, and negate the purpose of it.

I am a blue pilot.

I would prefer a change in gauss guns that boost falloff and cut down optimal ranges. This would allow for magnedart ammo to be used in pvp more successfully, because you'll be doing most of your damage in falloff unless you want to be shotgunning it. This also synergizes with the Kain's falloff modifier.

Another alternative is to change the ammo itself so that it has a falloff increase and optimal decrease. Probably +50-100% falloff, and -75% optimal still.

I'd also prefer it if magnedart ammo was not 100% kinetic damage, as that makes it absurbly easy to tank for; but then, that might make it imba and also simply replace composite ammo.

Then reduce damage with increased range.  I love how people dismiss something that's very incremental as being imba and not adjustable.

Heat IX and crypto have negative damage bonus and higher optimal!!!

Magnedart have HUUUUUUUGE damage bonus and huge negative optimal. So its just fine.
You can have magnedart on -50% optimal mods .... but than nerf the damage!!! (and dont come with that missiles (compact) makes same damage as magnedart ... just watch the rof ... kain have much much much more dps ...
so maybe for magnedart (medium) : -50% optimal, 50 kinetic damage ?