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jymset
Scavenger
in pursuit of LosTech
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 956
Location: Germany
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 Posted: 25-Jan-2005 02:27 Post subject: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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I've just looked at some TRO reviews on this site and was quite puzzled by some calls to replace standard medium lasers with ER variants.
Would you agree that the standard lasers (at least in the medium category) are one of the most efficient weapons that the IS can fall back on? Or is it just me?
I mean, when looking at an ER variant, you have a range increase of 33%, while the heat output increases by 67% over the standard weapon. And the range is still not on par with the Clan weapon, while the Clan version still has the considerable damage advantage.
The IS mlas causes 1.67 damage per heat, while the Clan ERmlas causes 1.4 - the IS ERmlas causes just 1. And the Clans will always outrange the IS..... Give me that standard laser any day!
I've included the mplas there as well, for completeness' sake. But I think most will agree that that one can't really compete....
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"Rear armour is defeatist!" - unknown Kuritan Mechwarrior
The AC5 is a great gun!
On heat, 3025 style:
A Rifleman knows no heat.
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Erenon
Blighted Sun Battalion
2nd Company
"Seraph's Slaughter"
Sergeant
Joined: 04-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 976
Location: Singapore
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| Posted: 25-Jan-2005 08:41 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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I can plant more medium lasers in the target than i can with ER lasers. Nuff said.
The only time i use the ER versions in any design is when i cna get away with the heat...
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"My job is to keep the majority of people in this country alive. That's it. If fifty-one percent eat a meal tomorrow and forty-nine percent don't, I've done my job." - The Beast (AKA The President), Transmetropolitan
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Nightmare
Lyran Alliance
Kommandant-General
Joined: 03-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 2214
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| Posted: 25-Jan-2005 11:10 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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I'd go with the standard medium laser, unless there's some particular reason to use the others. MPLs are good for filling the last tons on assault mechs, for example. ER mediums are fine if there's no other heat hogs on the mech. I'd happily use them as backup for a Gauss.
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Oafman
Draconis Combine
Tai-sho
Joined: 18-Nov-2003 00:00
Posts: 1657
Location: United States
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| Posted: 25-Jan-2005 13:01 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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I usually use the med lasers. I have never used the ER med lasers to the best of my knowledge. Occasionally I do use the pulse lasers on mechs like my fast frog. It is strictly a jumping mech so the -2 from the pulse lasers makes it worth the effort.
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Festina Lente!
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StarRaven
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 01-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 1138
Location: United States
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| Posted: 25-Jan-2005 15:19 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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I prefer the standard medium laser under most circumstances. You can pack in a lot more of them without boiling yourself. Just look at Erenon's
Bloodthirst; it has incredible firepower for not that much heat.
The only place I use the ER is if I only have a few lasers. The extra range is nice to have if you only have two or three lasers; this is mostly on light or medium 'Mechs, but occasionally on something heavier. I use the medium pulse only if I'm short on crits.
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- Attributed to General Aleksandr Kerensky
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Shadowking
Kell Hounds
Captain
Joined: 22-May-2002 00:00
Posts: 365
Location: United States
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| Posted: 25-Jan-2005 22:10 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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| I like to have a combination of them generally. Granted, I'd likely have more standard than I would ER. But it's nice to have a couple just for that little extra range.
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Seraph
Blighted Sun Battalion
2nd Company
"Seraph's Slaughter"
Major
Joined: 11-Mar-2004 00:00
Posts: 1744
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| Posted: 25-Jan-2005 22:59 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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Standard laser is just fine by me. Though I will use pulses on occasion as the design warrants. Like Oafman said, I'll mount pulse lasers when I have a mech with a good jumping range. 6,9,6 + to help keep the to hit numbers low while keeping the opponent's high. I avoid ER mediums as much as possible. I think I've used them twice on custom designs. Too much heat for their size/weight. Only ER's I see as feasable are large lasers and PPC's. Other than that I'll mount a host of standard mediums over mixed arrays. Check out a couple of my customs. Like my 75 ton POR-1A Porthos.
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If ignorance is bliss, then why are you so miserable?
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Stinger
The Knights of Chaos
General
Joined: 30-Apr-2002 00:00
Posts: 1833
Location: United States
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| Posted: 26-Jan-2005 02:09 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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I tend to use ER lasers unless I am designing a mech before they were avaliable. I prefer the extra range. But then I never really use pulse lasers as the IS are a waste of time, and space. But that is just me.
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Stinger
If it's "creepy" to use the Internet, military satellites, and robot aircraft to find a house full of gorgeous young models so I can drop in on them unexpected, then FINE, I'm "creepy". Howard Wolowitz. BBT.
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Erenon
Blighted Sun Battalion
2nd Company
"Seraph's Slaughter"
Sergeant
Joined: 04-Jun-2004 00:00
Posts: 976
Location: Singapore
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| Posted: 26-Jan-2005 06:52 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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Well iS pulse lasers CAN be useful in the right role. Look at the Penetrator for example. Yes those six medium pulse lasers could be replaced with maybe 8 medium lasers and the extra weight used for other purposes, but somehow it loses character if you do that.
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"My job is to keep the majority of people in this country alive. That's it. If fifty-one percent eat a meal tomorrow and forty-nine percent don't, I've done my job." - The Beast (AKA The President), Transmetropolitan
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Rarich
Federated Suns
Leftenant General
Joined: 05-Feb-2002 00:00
Posts: 991
Location: United States
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| Posted: 26-Jan-2005 19:36 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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ErMlas, you have to be able to reach out in the field. The increased range is needed simply to help offset the probability of hit against clans when maneuvering. With DHS the extra heat is not as severe a limiting factor.
City or Forest fights with IS Mechs I would mount Mlas. The Std Mlas is the most efficient weapon, sometimes that is not what you need, but in shorter range situations it is excellent.
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Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side & a dark side, and strings also lie under it all.
Life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.
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bladewind
Free Rasalhague Republic
Major General
Joined: 02-Oct-2004 00:00
Posts: 1054
Location: Singapore
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| Posted: 26-Jan-2005 21:51 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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the IS workhorse for life.
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Blackhand
Draconis Combine
Chu-i
Joined: 05-Jul-2002 00:00
Posts: 334
Location: Canada
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| Posted: 26-Jan-2005 22:08 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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I'd choose to mount maybe one ER medium out of every 4 I have.
so I have the abillity to fire a bit longer than expected but still keep the heat down. Its more an issue of balance rather than liking one more than the other.
If for say I've got an ER PPC, 3 of my medium lasers will be ERs simply because its a more efficent damage engine to rely on rather than the ER PPC.
Yet I voted pulses because pulses targeting computers no matter the range is a lethal combo.
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Boneshaman
Draconis Combine
Go-cho
Joined: 13-Aug-2004 00:00
Posts: 52
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| Posted: 26-Jan-2005 23:26 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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i like to go with a mix of standerd and er if i get ahold of clan tech i will use them till they get distroyd
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Daphne Wilde
Star League Defense Force
Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 19-Sep-2003 00:00
Posts: 425
Location: United States
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| Posted: 30-Jan-2005 23:38 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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Sigh....Again.
Here's the poop.
Standards: Low Tons, Low Crits, Relative Low Heat, Low Range. No Hit Mod.
ER\'s : low Tons, Low Crits, Med Heat, Med Range, No Hit Mod.
Pulses: Low Tons,Low Crits, Med Heat,Med Range, -2 HIT MODIFIER!!!!!!!!!!
Rule: ONLY IF YOU HIT IT CAN YOU KILL IT!
I'll eat the Heat,Tons,Range,Crits...To be able to hit my target !
I Pulse everything( almost....)
I do use some ER's rarely on my scout machines for the simple fact I SCOUT with them not just call them scouts.
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Lt.Col.Daphne Wilde
504 Para. 82 Div.
Io
? & ?
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Blasty McNasty
Free Worlds League
Corporal
Joined: 06-Jan-2004 00:00
Posts: 65
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| Posted: 31-Jan-2005 00:43 Post subject: RE: Which medium lasers do you prefer? |
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IS MPLs are crap. Pure crap. The only time that to hit bonus gives the weapon an advantage over even the standard medium laser in accuracy is at the MPL's short range.
I'd rather have the capability of hitting at up to 9 or 12 hexes than having a boost when shooting at 2.
My choice, with all taken into consideration, is the standard medium laser with the ER version a very close second.
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"And Blasty said: A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. And all rejoiced." - The Word of Blasty, verse 22:2
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