Shard bombs are arguably lacking damage, but that is definitely something that can wait to be balanced in the future. The design is not at all flawed - wanting players to use more thought into where to place the bombs, such as Dark Rrtribution, is fine by me; however, knockback is not.
In this game, there is not a single elemental bomb that is viable in group play as a pure DPS tool. It isn't because we lack elemental DPS bombs, but because our only elemental DPS-based bomb is flawed.
Electron Vortex - Great in group, but only when paired and timed with other attacks from other weapons. Great tool, not a pure DPS tool.
Status Bombs (fire and shock) - Doesn't offer burst damage, will make for great sustained DPS overall with the Ash of Agni or Voltaic Tempest, but does not suffice as a pure DPS tool to be spammed in order to blow stuff up quickly. Other status bombs are purely utility.
Deadly Crystal Bomb - Not viable in group play as a pure DPS tool, due to random knockback. The inner knockback is absolutely fine, it is noticable, there is a ring to display where they will get knocked for group members, and it isn't ridiculously random. The issue is the outer ring, which currently throws monsters everywhere and even makes setting up and stacking the bombs more difficult. As a gunner, I am very disappointed to ask bombers to just go back to status bombs for elemental-heavy levels (or Dark Briar Barrage if it's undead) because the developers want so much knockback.
I am not sure what the intention of the developers wanting DPS bombs to be knockback knockback knockback knockback knockback like it is a must, when it can prove to be nothing but problematic in groups.
Knockback is important for feel. If you removed knockback from damage bombs they would feel bland to use and in the end not be very fun. This is partly why I don't use DBB much against neutral undeads. (Against gremmies, fiends and beasts, you get the knockdown and interruption, which also bears some satisfaction.)
The current behaviour encourages teamwork. Here are some ways to remove knockback issues:
-Combine with Shivermist
-Combine with Vortex
-Combine with Voltaic Tempest
-Stick to bombing heavy enemies, such as Lumbers and Trojans.
-Combine with EVEN MORE shard bombs. Who cares about knockback when things die instantly?
-Everyone could just go bombing and the knockback would pose no problem.
-People not bombing could use g- What the liquids? You're a gunslinger? My teammate who usually uses swords said he had no problems with me spamming normal shards while he was using guns so I'm not sure where your problem lies.
Shard bombs need fixing, but in the bug-fixing sense. When shardblocking, disappearing shards and arbitrary hit limits are gone, I'm just about ready to declare the bombs perfect.