@ Belcard I do like those changes, but the LJ would still be capable of dumping 1000 more damage on someones head from a mile away. Just pointing that out
Plus, it isn't hard to snipe with an LJ.
But it's quite a bit harder to hit the target from that far away, and you're not guaranteed the hit unlike how the weapon is currently being used. Which is barely beyond arming range. Keeping a ship bouncing on the ground so both, if not all, the ship's Engineers are instantly put into damage control mode and the ship is, by any means, worthless.
With six shots and a reasonably decent reload speed, it doesn't matter if you miss a few. You'll get it eventually. And when you do... Oh man, the other team is screwed!
But that's not the point. The point is it'd still be more difficult to hit the target due to the speed of the Lumberjack's shot. Sure, you could speed it up with Lesmok rounds, but that's beside the point I'm trying to make.
Target is farther away, takes longer for the shot to travel the distance, more difficult to predict for enemy ship's behavior. Hydrogen, Chute Vent, Moonshine, or Kerosene could cause the shot to miss just as easily as if the gunner's aim had been off.
But again, that's
not the point.
The point is the Lumberjack being abused in closer-ranged fights to pop the opposing ship's balloon in 2-3 shots and keep it popped permanently, then proceeding to tear through both armor and permahull while the balloon is down and the target ship is barely moving at all.
Pre-buff the Lumberjack had a grand total of 2,200 damage versus balloons. Post-buff, as it stands, it has 3,300. It just needs to be brought back into line. They added two shots to the clip because people were complaining they couldn't kill balloons with it (Because they either sucked at aiming with it or needed a couple test shots to dial in the exact angle to fire at to hit the ship) without balancing the damage to match. If they simply reduced the flechette damage on the Lumberjack to 200, this entire mess would more than likely be resolved.