Instead of just randomly bashing eachothers opinions and so on, let's get constructive and look at what the perk should and should not do. We all agreed that the Support isn't "that overpowered", but there is something about it that feels like it needs a little tampering with. I think this is the reason:
It's simply the most versatile perk. It's both good against big crowds of trash AND really good against heavy targets. Which leads to the question:
So, what should the role of the perk actually be? Should it:
A) Be a trashkiller, but not so strong against heavy targets (as Comm/Fbug)?
B) Be a heavy target killer, but not as easy to take care of trash by yourself (as Sharp/Demo)?
C) Be a
supportive perk, which helps with both trash and heavy targets, but with limitations on both and doesn't excel at either direction compared to the other perks? (Sorta like Zerker, but Zerker has different issues, but that's another thread
)
Personally, i think it should be C. Right now it fills that point quite well with trash, as you can kill trash quite easily but you will have troubles with ammo (especially if you try to take on the role as the main trashkiller) and with reloadtimes. Compare that with the trashkilling king, the Commando, who has little trouble with both ammo and reloadtimes. So against trash: Support is fine imo.
On big enemies though, i'd deem it a tad too strong, not only cuz of its power, but also cuz of how easily and fast you can do it.
So what has been suggested, and what do i think of them?
In short these are the suggestions:
1) Fix the multihitting pelletbug
2) Reduce shotguns headshotmultiplier
3) Remove handgrenade damagebonus and/or amountbonus
4) Readjust and thus nerf his speed/weight formula
And now my opinions:
1) Ofc. Fix this bug and alot of excessive damage against Scrakes and Fleshpounds will go away (it occurs mostly on them).
2) Sure, but not by much. It's at 1.65x. Minimum value i'd say 1.5x-ish. That might tone down the Scrake ownage (at least if attacking it by yourself) by quite a bit.
3) Remove the damage-, but not the amountbonus. Why? Well, remembered how i said the perk should support in both main aspects of the game which is trashkilling and heavykilling? Well, by removing the damagebonus you will not be able to do so MUCH damage to Fleshpounds, but you would be able to assist for sure. By keeping the amountbonus, you would allow a (smart) Support player to more often assist the team against Fleshies than the trashkiller perks can, but with less power than the heavykillers will. So, that still makes him able to SUPPORT against heavies more often than the trashkillers, but not be as awesome at it as he is now. Plus he would still have the powerful shotguns to help with both roles as well, and also to SUPPORT the team against enemies getting too close, and hopefully be able to finish of the wounded targets, be them heavy or trash.
4) Personally i think it's a bit unnecessary to tamper with it. Mainly cuz it feels counterintuitive: "Yey, i gained a level and now im stronger and more able to carry more stuff... but i actually got slower by it cuz im actually not stronger now than before". Just seems weird. On the other hand, if this change DOES happen, i wouldn't care much about it though, as it still makes SOME sense to be slower with more weight on your shoulders, even if you are supposedly a stronger weightlifter than others.
So in short:
* My opinion of the Support is that it is balanced in its trashkilling perspective, but a bit too strong in its heavykilling one.
* Thus, my opinion of the Support is that its role should be a supportive perk that is nicely assisting with both heavies and trash, but doesn't excel at either direction, compared to other perks
* To fulfill that, i would reduce the Supports power against the heavier targets by fixing the pelletbug and maybe reduce the headshotdamage of the shotguns a little and remove the handgrenade damage bonus.
That way Support would more or less be a middleground of the Commando and Demolitions perks. More ammo than Demolitions, and more power against heavies than Commando, but less ammo than Commando and less power against heavies than the Demolitions. A "jack of all trades", a SUPPORTING perk...