Why use anything except the RPG/Hydra?

[some (momi)]

Intended as an innocent question. The Assault Rifle is a third usable gun, simply due to its massive base mag size and fire rates, but it doesn't have the free built-in bonuses the other two listed weapons do.

There's two main problems I see with them versus other weapons:
(1) Unlimited area damage (100%*all), versus Tesla's limited (1/3*3, at highest).
(2) They gain 1-2 free augments; Explosion (which normally requires Explosive mag) for both, and Homing (which normally requires Sniper scope) for the Hydra.

Te only real negative these weapons have are screen-clutter as a result of the explosions; which is more a problem for the RPG then the Hydra (due to explosion sizes). And personally, if a game is balancing itself around player-screen visibility being a balance factor, I simply am not interested in those types of games myself.

My question primarily stems from comparison to the Teslion rifle, as it's the other "aoe gun". The bullet-firing weapons are their own discussion, which largely stems down to internal balancing, as they're fun to use in their own right.

Off the top of my head two potential changes would be:
(1) Make the teslion rifle scale off special-damage as it's base, versus the standard normal-damage. This would give it a more unique place in the lineup - the player could more easily do an "underbarrel" build while not feeling like they're handicapping themselves by not taking normal damage. That said, it may pigeonhole the Teslion as the go-to weapon for underbarrel builds; but at least I'd be thinking about it.
(2) RPG/Hydra weapons are forced to take the Explosive Magazine augment (given at start); that said, this would limit build options which is less fun (couldn't do splitting shots, etc). If one did want to go down that route, they could have their own special Explosive-Mag augment line, giving different options/stats than the base due to the nature of the weapons (aka losing an augment slot as a cost, but still retaining some flexibility/potential build options). [It also doesn't address the Hydra having homing base, but that's not the end of the world/has its own limitations already.]

[tymadsen14]

where is the blueprint located? I am having a ton of trouble finding it.

[some (momi)]

Don't remember, I recall having trouble locating it when I started a new save - the RPG is there somewhere relatively normal, but I forgot where the Hydra was; maybe you need to upgrade the tech station a couple times to get it. :shrug:

I suppose I'll have to reinstall and see if I can find it again