35 replies to this topic

[Mahpsy]

I've been out of the loop a bit and I'm curious to hear what everyone thinks of them. Yeah I already know they are not part of the meta (gause/ppc) but are they actually good or fit their role for close range?

So say I'm going for a close range brawler and I want to use pulse small lasers/small lasers. Are they even worth the time and effort?

[Lorcan Lladd]

Medium Lasers trump Small Lasers almost every single time.
The only exception is when Small Lasers are paired with similar weapons such as MGs and Flamers as these weapons share the same weaknesses and strengths, so there's a lot of synergy between them... For good or ill.

[FupDup]

Lladd's assessment above is correct. Personally, my adjustments for the SL would be a range increase to 180m (360m maximum) and restoring their heat to the TT value of 1.

[Thorqemada]

Yeah, with a better range they would be a viable choice outside of some pacey Light Mechs.

[Huntsman]

SLs belong on some scouts and a peppering of flanker or lrm builds. I don't use them on any of my builds ATM, but I can certainly think of a few usable builds that roll them.

Edited by Huntsman, 30 August 2013 - 12:44 PM.

[Fais]

They have their uses. In fast mechs that dont have a problem closing into range. Who already have formidable weapons and will likely be having heat issues when they are needed and have alot of extra energy hard points available. Also in some mechs as back up weapons once the ammo is depleted & you would rather have another ton of ammo and go with 2 small lasers over 2 mediums for example.

[Screech]

Before double heat sinks small lasers had a place on some light/medium mechs. Not as much now. You can do it still, you just can do better without them. Pulse lasers are in worse shape, there is very little reason to use them at all anymore.

[DoktorVivi]

I'd use them if I could use two in a single hardpoint. Otherwise I'll go with a medium laser, every time.

[Khobai]

90m is too short. They really need their range increased to 120m like machineguns.

[Felio]

They're basically for the Jenner F only. Fastest mech in the game and 6 energy hardpoints. Six small pulse lasers work pretty well. It'll devastate other lights.

You run into trouble on Alpine Peaks, though, unless people stop sniping early enough and get a decent-size brawl going.

[Jman5]

They have good DPS for their weight, shorter beam duration than the ML, and their light weight make them an easy fit. The 90m range is the real killer, but you can make them work if you stay in an enemy's face.

[Angel of Annihilation]

Jman5, on 30 August 2013 - 01:40 PM, said:

They have good DPS for their weight, shorter beam duration than the ML, and their light weight make them an easy fit. The 90m range is the real killer, but you can make them work if you stay in an enemy's face.

I have to agree with you 100%. I think in terms of balance they need to increase the range on them to 180m but that is all. I know for me the range is the only reason I haven't mounted them in some weight starved builds.

Edited by Viktor Drake, 30 August 2013 - 01:46 PM.

[slayerkdm]

Im having really amazing success with splas.

[Foxfire]

I find that Small pulse are acceptable alternatives to ML's if you have a speedy mech.. but small lasers are only really there if you have a free half ton and already have armor maxed out.

[Felio]

When the engine cap is lifted, I might try putting 6 small lasers on a really fast Jenner F.

But like I said, you need a lot of energy hardpoints to make any difference with them in battle. Four is hard to come by in a light, and it's not enough. And mediums are too slow to contemplate using them.

So yeah, even a range buff to 120m would be tremendously helpful.

[Deathlike]

FupDup, on 30 August 2013 - 10:45 AM, said:

Lladd's assessment above is correct. Personally, my adjustments for the SL would be a range increase to 180m (360m maximum) and restoring their heat to the TT value of 1.

Any range increase that infringes on the terribad range of the med pulse laser (let alone the large pulse laser) gets a no from me.

120m is probably where it needs to be.... AND the flamer's range (yes, that other terribad weapon) needs a range buff to 90m.

MPL should have a range of like 200m to 210m and LPL should have a range of 350m-360m.

Otherwise, meh.

[FupDup]

Deathlike, on 30 August 2013 - 02:48 PM, said:

Any range increase that infringes on the terribad range of the med pulse laser (let alone the large pulse laser) gets a no from me.

120m is probably where it needs to be.... AND the flamer's range (yes, that other terribad weapon) needs a range buff to 90m.

MPL should have a range of like 200m to 210m and LPL should have a range of 350m-360m.

Otherwise, meh.

I'd like some pulse range boosts as well, but how would buffing the SL hurt the MPL or LPL?

Edited by FupDup, 30 August 2013 - 03:04 PM.

[Felio]

And the machine gun's range would be fine if it were 100% accurate, like all other weapons. As it is, it has an effective range of about 20m, no matter what the UI says.

Then you could load up machine guns, flamers and small lasers and be a lightweight scrapper.

[Felio]

FupDup, on 30 August 2013 - 02:55 PM, said:

I'd like some pulse range boosts as well, but how would buffing the SL hurt the MPL or LPL?

Because both of those are in terrible positions for their weight as it is.

Obviously, the LPL is competing against the almighty PPC, with both weighing 7 tons. The LPL's only real use is for center torso energy hardpoints, because it takes up two slots. But even there, it's competing against the Large Laser and ER Large Laser, each weighing 2 tons less and giving the mech a long-range option.

In smalls and mediums, which often have energy hardpoints to spare and not a lot of weight to spare, the 2-ton MPL is often competing against two 1-ton medium lasers.

If you can take a 1-ton pulse weapon with the same range as a 2-ton pulse weapon, it's just one more reason to not take the MPL.

[FupDup]

Felio, on 30 August 2013 - 03:05 PM, said:

Because both of those are in terrible positions for their weight as it is.
...
In smalls and mediums, which often have energy hardpoints to spare and not a lot of weight to spare, the 2-ton MPL is often competing against two 1-ton medium lasers.

If you can take a 1-ton pulse weapon with the same range as a 2-ton pulse weapon, it's just one more reason to not take the MPL.

Small Laser buff =/= Small Pulse Laser buff.

But really, the SPL could use a tiny bump as well [in addition to the medium and large pulses].



My own dream stats for pulse and standard lasers:

Small Laser
*180m range
*1 heat

Small Pulse Laser
*120m range
*4 damage?
*2 heat?
(It's gotta compare better to the ML due to same weight and same slot size)

Medium Laser
*Maybe reduce heat to 3? The nerf was made in a time which had different conditions than what we have now...

Medium Pulse Laser
*210m range
*4-4.5 heat
*6.5-7 damage

Large Pulse Laser
*360-390m range
*8 heat
*11 damage

Edited by FupDup, 30 August 2013 - 03:16 PM.