PPCs are the single best weapon in the game. Period.
There are several reasons for this which are all well known, but I want to iterate on this point again. Additionally, I hate 1-liners in forums.
Compare PPC's in short to the other 'big' energy weapons available (won't look at ballistics here.):
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PPC: 10 damage / 8 heat (=1.25 damage per heat generated), Cooldown 4.0 (dps = 2.5, hps = 2.0), 540m / 1080m range, 7 tons / 3 criticals, pinpoint damage; bonus: highest bullet speed available (next to AC2)
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ER PPC: 10 damage / 11 heat (0.90 dph), CD 4.0 (dps = 2.5, hps = 2.75), 810m / 1620m range, 7t / 3cr, pinpoint damage + highest bullet speed
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LL: 9 damage / 7 heat (1.28 dph), CD 3.25 (dps = 2.8, hps = 2.15), 450 / 900 range, 5t / 2cr, 1s beam, therefore damage spread likely
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ER LL: 9 damage / 9.5 heat (0.95 dph), CD 3,25 (dps = 2.8, hps = 2.9), 675 / 1350 range, 5t / 2cr, 1s beam, therefore damage spread likely
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LPL: 10.6 damage / 8.5 heat (1.24 dph), CD 3.25 (dps = 3.3, hps = 2.6), 300 / 600 range, 7t / 2cr, 0.75s beam, pulses = more pinpoint
ER Large are definitely out. The extended range isn't needed even on the bigger maps sans maybe Alpine because the range advantage can be easily neutered on the maps by using cover and intelligent movement.
In comparison to both the LL and the LPL there are small advantages in some points for the one or other laser, but the PPC in it's current state simply offers the best and most rounded package... the most bang for the buck if you want to say so. All of the variables looked at above could be altered to tune them a bit.
- Why on earth do they still only generate 8 (11) heat now that HSR is implemented? +1 heat on each of the two variants would already change a lot. Remember, their heat was their main balancing factor in TT of old.
- I am fine with a linearly lowered damage beyond the optimum range. But why isn't the minimum range considered a given, so that PPCs can even be used for limited close range defense?
Edited by Aylek, 22 June 2013 - 11:23 PM.