As everyone can tell they are yet to be implemented into the game. This isn't about complaining, just a suggestion.

I think the best way to handle it is that it only fires at targets a Scorpion is locked on, and only when you are close enough and out of stealth. In fact, if you are locked on and attack out of stealth it should fire right away. Although another way could be to shoot them every time they do a fast attack. This would put it under more of the player's control instead of it firing it off automatically like my first suggestion.

The second part is how to deal with what the blasters do. It's a given that it's meant for close quarters combat, but making them deal too much damage could prove a big problem. A way to subvert this completely is, instead of the blasters doing damage, they have a suppression effect on their target, similar to the Banshee's Howl, but it starts out very small and grows with successful hits.

Personally, I'm in favor of it going of on it's own, about every second or two, and with the suppression effect.

Thoughts?

If the Scorpion has an effect like the Banshee, plus stealth, then what role does the Banshee have?

My feeling is the mandiblasters should be a rapid-fire Parrying Blow with a cooldown.

I like the idea, but I have to agree with Brujah too.

Maybe they could be just a visual effect, and apply a DOT each time the scorpion hits, or increase the chainsword tier, so the scorpions becomes better in what he should be (face-to-face combat).
There are some (very long) threads about it

Another way to do this is instead of damage the effect the Mandiblasters have is to make the delay stamina regen on the target when hit, Tie it to T same as the Banshee and a cooldown. That way they have a different unique effect but one that still vaguely follows their lore and makes them better at what they do..

That's a nice idea.

Perhaps functionally it should be identical to a Smart Shuriken Pistol, except that it can be fired as your engaged in melee combat without interrupting your melee attacks.

I like this, it is a gun and it should do damage. Mandiblasters don't "stun" enemies, they don't make them easier to hit, or weaken their defenses anymore than a bolter round to the face.

They are face mounted weapons and they should hurt when you get hit by them.

Scorpion Mandiblasters should be a recharging ability that is activated by certain melee actions such as a Basic/Charge Attack or Defensive Bash.

It should be a very short range shot that deals some damage and allows the Scorpion to defeat their enemies in melee more quickly than their melee weapon alone would allow.

Players should gain 50% Ranged DMG RES when they land a melee attack, regardless of class and faction. The Mandiblasters could ignore this RES if the player is not locked-on but would be subject to it if there was a lock.

Exactly, it's been a weapon always, a powerfull weapon its a iniciative 10, wounds at 4+ roll, it can kill even monstruous creatures, its the hard hitting scorpion's tail. Its not a utility.

I do agree in the cooldown, so it can be used only when necesary, but needs to be powerful and fast, but short ranged, it will be a nice addition to the already weak scorpion, who cant stand most of the melee encounters.

Some ideas:

Cant be used in stealth.

Damage its adjusted on distance, the closer the lethal, being even a one shoot kill at ZERO range (that will be almost imposible), quickly losing damage over distance, like max distance 2m doing very little to no damage.

Some minor blind effect like the sun rifle, just for the cool factor.

Absolutely NO YELLOW EFFECTS. Blue, green, white, but NOT YELLOW.

Absolutely no more laser pew pew effects. Something powerful like a energy whip or something.

Look at this awesome 2nd edition art, Huge tyranid getting a nice headshot from mandiblaster.

Agreed, it should be a weapon, perhaps activated the same as the banshees howl is so it doesn't override your pistol, the two can certainly be used together after all for a in your face round of shooting after or as your cleaving someone down out of stealth and turned to the guy beside him to inflict some damage before leaping in with the sword again. (a row of devestators set up is like early christmas to a scorpion.)

Some kind of blinding effect that darkens their vision and makes it easier for the scorpion to slink back off, courtesy of a face full of the weird flechette/laser combo that the mandi-blasters are spraying their face and eyes down with.