...and this is, in particular, because K1 sniper rifles are so bad. Right now K1 ammo is set at Damage 12 no matter what, but the ammo could benefit from that being removed and K1 combi rifles being set at Damage 12 and K1 sniper rifles being set at damage 14. The only peripheral effect this would have is making the K1 combi on the Xeodron Damage 13, but it might have the side effect of making the Teucer and Vanguard K1 sniper profiles actually playable.
Agreed for Teucer. The damage potential for K1 doesn't get better than EXP until ARM values that don't even exist in the game.
K1 Snipers are definitely strange. I think K1 combis are great... A slight reduction in efficacy against light targets to be able to tear up heavy stuff is good. K1 combis may not resonate among players who are calculated to dominate their established local scene, but it's the kind of easy solution that provides great answers in the take-all-comers atmosphere of a big ITS setting. The Sniper needs help though.
I have nothing bad to say about K1 combi rifles. I think they're priced appropriately and very effective. Haven't use a K1 marksman but it's probably the same thing. K1 snipers are just... bad.
MMS L2-able K1 marksman rifle is definitely scary :) The problem is totally about the K1 sniper and not the K1 ammo in a whole. K1 should be -1 DAM everywhere. K1 sniper with DAM 14 would not even be a must have. Compary to MSR, it trades versatility (and very very dangerous ARO) for a little more lethality versus highly armoured targets (that is, something we don't see that often). And it's still a B2 weapon.
For those curious, K1 is better (at inflicting that first wound) than the following at these ARM values for the target*: Out of cover... Sniper (Shock ammo against STR, so...) - ARM 3+ MSR w/ AP - ARM 6+ MSR w/ DA - ARM 8+ In cover... Sniper - ARM 3+ MSR w/ AP - ARM 6+ MSR w/ DA - ARM 7+ In addition, MSR w/ AP is only better than DA with ARM 7+ target in cover or ARM 10+ target out of cover...