Yeah I agree, it is the structure of the current game build that is the problem.

Free charge without lock on would go a long way towards solving this problem....

You sure you want that?

I am pretty sure Lascannons used to be somewhat like that. And they were the go-to sniper...

Can confirm, lascannons with free charge were cancerous in Alpha. Nobody even bothered to use them against tanks most of the time because you could just zap infantry left and right. Hence why the lock-on mechanic was added...I don't necessarily agree that was the right choice but I understand why it was done.

How is it any different than rokkits or reaper launcher? You still get a heads up if someone is sniping at you. If they get you once then you know they are out there and play accordingly. If too many people end up using it then they would get wrecked by short range. It is a self regulating problem.

Giving Devastators more defences is a fine line... (Especially a pistol).

I mean, if Reapers get it then people will call OP.

I mean I love Reaper, but I would trade a pistol for better weapons, but that's just me.

In a better world the teammates should protect their canbusters. So they should not see any need for defense machanisms. But I rarely see it happen outside of premade teams.

I'd like to try it where it works like a long range melta. The ailment/sec should be lower and time to apply should be longer, so it matches the current damage.

It would give you a chance to fight closer range, and be very good against vehicles, while it would be easy for infantry to step into cover,

I think it would be easy make an (alt) lascannon to try it out.

I'm calling BS on this, and I would even think that you don't play LC at all. You have a video to back these statements up with?

Because Woe an I play LC devs togather a lot of the time, and this last week we've put in some good time with them and I can assure you there is no way your topping the score board with a LC. And if you are, then everyone else on your team is gawd awful and very likely your team lost.

Lots of people here seem to be on board with how amazeballz the LC is which makes me wonder if they are playing it, but it takes 4-6 hits to kill a vehicle. The 4 if its in the rear (excluding Eldar tanks which are less, but good luck finding one to stay put or offer up it's rear long enough for you to score 3 hits)
-it takes ~2 seconds to lock on and shoot, ~4 to cool down, so 6 seconds unless your using MC which is 5.6 seconds. So that's 24-36 seconds of shooting non MC which tells all where you are, you happen to have LoS with no issues and there is no driver.
-the vehicle is moving which is much more common now or it is concealed well enough which I would even say is the standard now, there is no way you will be killing much for vehicles. You can not stay at long range and expect the vehicle to stay put.
-if that vehicle has a gunner, you will get one shot and then have to re position as they are expecting you now. No matter the range, they are a threat to you.
-the laser is a dead give away for jump troop to go get a free kill.
-teamwork to defend you? well if you move with a squad, you are still a defenseless opponent. As well for you to be in the needed positions to get lock on vehicles is not where the squad needs to be. Melta can function here far better than a LC can and still be an asset to the team.

Long range is their defense?
-if your at long range, you have a limited LoS, and against moving vehicles they won't hang out long enough for you to spend half a minute acing them.
-run away? you know Devs move slower right?

In all honesty, I don't believe any of what your saying as practical. I will eat all I said if you show me proof, but aside from Fortress maps your vehicle killing tally and top of the score boards xp is a fallacy.

The LC is fun as hell to play but it actually needs a bit of buffing. I would even say a slight damage increase to reduce the to kill shot number by 1, and they definitely need a pistol more than any other heavy.