I'm starting this petition in hopes DICE/EA will address a serious balance issue in Battlefield 4 that has impaired an entire play-style. If you agree with the following please sign, I'd like to see the community have some say in the game they love.

--The Designated Marksman--

Via Wiki- "The DM's [Designated Marksman] role fills the gap between a regular infantryman and a sniper (typically being deployed at ranges of 250–500 metres or 270–550 yards) and DMRs have been developed with this middle ground in mind.)"

I understand that Battlefield isn't entirely about realism, I want to have fun too and I'd say that 250-500m is probably little too far for the average DMR gameplay. This said I see a great imbalance regarding DMR's that didn't exist in Battlefield 3 or in many other shooters.

I had a great time in Battlefield 3 with the M39 EMR and other semi-auto rifles. Taking down targets at these mid to long ranges, the hardcore 2 hit kill was reasonablly balanced and the 8x and 7x scopes gave us a clear picture of where our shots were landing.. it was challenging but rewarding which made it fun. Really- It was a blast supporting my team from a reasonable distance- spotting targets and counter-sniping the 1 hit kill snipers... I made a few freinds playing this protection-focused support role.

In Battlefield 4 the DMR's only offer 3.4x and 4x medium-range scopes. Simply put-This is a serious balance issue because it means we can't effectively engage those mid to long range targets. Snipers get 20x and 40x scopes. A DMR can't effectively compete against that with a 4x scope- it quickly becomes a "dance" trying to avoid sniper rounds while aiming accurately... it's simply not effective. Furthermore the DMR's seemingly can't aim accurately during any movement, i've found my shots going way off target during minor straffing/position adjustments even while ADS.

Without 8x (or similar) scopes- it's extremley difficult to sight in a sniper at 250 meters... The graphics (even on ultra with 4xaa) just don't give you a definable target to aim at. Yes the sniper's scope glare helps a little, but a big part of the issue is that you can't see where you're shots land. Again- the snipers glare helps you locate him but what can you do? 90% of the time you'll run and hide, if he gets you then you spawn back in and fly a chopper to him. It's not a balanced system because we can't actively engage snipers...without being snipers. Quickly we get this "Sniper Syndrome" where the whole server starts sniping and counter-sniping.

So- DMR's don't work against snipers, we are then pushed to fight in the faster pace <150m (more often than not <75m) range- amongst soilders with full auto Assault Rifles, LMGs, PDWs and Carbines. DMR's are also (obviously) less-than-effective at these ranges. All of these high rate of fire, low recoil weapons easily overpower a DM who must pace and aim shots accurately while compensating for much more recoil/spread... DMR's aren't good CQC weapons, they aren't designed for that.

As a DM my shot's are precious to me...I want to see those shots landing on target and as BF4 is now I simply can't... BF3 was fantastic for this- it repesented a DM's job very well.

DM's should typically keep their range, a more defensive, slower paced, support role that I realy appreciate (and have in countless other FPS games). This play style has been a major part of Battlefield in the past, we have always had access to mid-long range semi-auto 2-3 shot kill weapons... it was fun gameplay that challenged the player to pick their engagements tactically and aim carefully.

DICE/EA: Please offer us higher power optics for the DMR's- even if it was soley for the Recon class. Battlefield 4 is missing this fundemental element that makes a mid-long range support role and gameplay style viable and fun. It would drastically help reduce the "Sniper Syndrome" and simultaneously provide a good use for the currently underused class of weapons you've worked so hard to implement into the game. Thanks!