I think you need to increase the rate of fire on starswarm to be something similar to autocannons. I say this because the splash damage is very minimal. The accuracy is still bad because of the moving projectiles, they don't always hit the aimed at target. The projectiles take longer to get to their target than the autocannon. The projectiles do less damage per shot then the autocannon. Remove the burst fire mode, and replace with automatic fire.
They have been doing multiple iterations of this weapon, as they are not really quite sure what to do with it. Honestly I think it should just work as something between a stalker bolter and auto cannon. As you said, fast firing, accurate shots with high penetration.
Until then, it would be great if the Starswarm shots converge earlier. I am sure it puts people off when they fire 6 shots and they basically fly everywhere BUT the crosshair and only converges after flying a certain distance.
As an idea at close range. Each missile aoe should only just intersect giving you a larger are but make the aoe weak, but the centre (direct hit strong) and at longer ranges the missiles converge on the Crosshairs giving a stronger direct hit and a stronger but smaller aoe. Which makes it viable for short range but not very strong and be really strong at long like reapers should be.
This is pretty much what I have been saying repeatedly on here. The reaper launchers are sniper weapons, I wouldn't even care if they removed the blast entirely off of the standard shot, besides, reapers should be getting the Eldar Missile Launcher and covering an area in burning plasma with micro-missiles is the job of that weapon, right now its treading firmly on its toes, though both will share the starshot.
I think they need to nerf splash, nerf the damage, but buff RoF and Overheat (so I can shoot more) dramatically. Make it almost like the Auto-Cannon; just with more RoF. Shuriken Cannon will be your suppressor, but Reaper Launcher will be your infantry killer.
I like asymetric balance so I would be against making it a clone of the Autocannon. I like the star shot mode as it is a slight but interesting variation from the plasma cannon, but I am far from mastering its curve-controlled fire. For the starswarm mode I really liked it until last patch. I don't know if it is because of the weapon being nerfed or the SM armour buff, but right now it seems almost useless unless for fully charged shots on packs hugging a cap point. The single shot seems completely useless two direct hits at 2m distance cannot kill a marine...
Sorry but, the single shot...if you directly hit anything with that it will die 100%. You meant the starshot right? About the starswarm, its completly useless. They have to find another formula. Meanwhile autocannons and plasma spam are dominating the heavy support field. Reaper Launcher needs a mechanic change, both firemodes. Ork lootas seems fine, but i've not tested. Plasma need major nerf in charge time and consequences for suicide. And remove the machinegun mode ¿?¿?. Autocannons seem fine, but need to nerf that pinpoint precision just a little, even braced.
