The best solution here is just let a sniper rifle be a sniper rifle and don't mess with it.
The mini scout is one of the smallest rifles. It should have a lot of sway due to the fact the weight is not helping stabilize the weapon. If having the ADS bolt naturally is strong, then make it not have that naturally and force people to spend the points on it like every other weapon.
The change they made is just bad. There's no way to look at this and think "Yea, I can see the reasoning." Just like the recent armor changes. Absolutely no reason to do that, but here we are.
The mini scout is one of the smallest rifles. It should have a lot of sway due to the fact the weight is not helping stabilize the weapon.
The Mini-Scout is a weapon that, by design, doesn't really need stability while firing.
When it was first introduced, it was categorized as a mid-range weapon.
In fact, it was created with the intention of being used at ranges where firing stability isn't all that important.
If having the ADS bolt naturally is strong, then make it not have that naturally and force people to spend the points on it like every other weapon.
Although the Mini-Scout is currently categorized as a long-range weapon, it was originally designed for medium-range combat.
Since it is intended for the same engagement ranges as LMGs and DMRs, it makes little sense—given its design origins—to remove the "ADS bolt" functionality (which is essential for close-to-medium-range fighting) and replace it with the same ADS bolt attachment system used for other sniper rifles.
The change they made is just bad. There's no way to look at this and think "Yea, I can see the reasoning." Just like the recent armor changes. Absolutely no reason to do that, but here we are
For those who typically use sniper rifles, this nerf might seem inexplicable; however, there is undoubtedly a reason behind it.
While a search through forums and social media reveals some requests for a nerf to the "mini-scout" such posts are few and far between.
Generally, a nerf wouldn't be implemented unless there were numerous requests from players or if the weapon/setup were deemed excessively powerful.
It is highly unlikely that a nerf was driven by the opinions of just a handful of players on social media or forums; therefore, I view this adjustment as an effort by EA and DICE to bring the weapon closer to its intended design.
It is highly unlikely that a nerf was driven by the opinions of just a handful of players on social media or forums; therefore, I view this adjustment as an effort by EA and DICE to bring the weapon closer to its intended design.
Well, that, or their data show them the weapon is overly used.
I do agree on the intended design, though. That's exactly what the initial damage model was intended to promote; it's just nobody cared about the damage model because snipers go for the head and headshots were kills no matter what. The whole sweet spot damage curve clearly hasn't panned out.
I will say though that the current solution is not elegant in the least. "This is the one sniper rifle that will not one-kill to the head after 150m BECAUSE" is just counterintuitive. They would have been better off limiting access to high zoom scopes instead, limiting it to x3 or something. If you can still get a 200m+ headshot with a x3, congrats, but at least the damage model remains coherent.
