34 replies to this topic

[Sephlock]

PEW! PEW! PEW! PEW! PEW! TIMMMMBERRR!

[Hauser]

They are situational.

Small lasers are good when you can go 140+ and carry 6+ of them. At that point you can dictate the range of engagement and bring sufficient firepower to make it worth the risk.

They can also be good when you've got long range covered and still got slots to spare. For example with 2 Large on a Jenner F the 4 Smalls are nice complement.

Beyond that there are very few situations in which a medium laser isn't simply better. Due to their range they've got a much higher utility, they are useful and effective in more situations then a small laser.

By talking about "respecting" a weapon you kinda miss the point. Weapons are tools to help solve a problem. The mighty hammer isn't deserving of more respect then a screwdriver. Its just more generally applicable. The screwdriver can put screws into wood, a hammer can be used to put both screws and nails into wood.

edit: Besides, weren't you around in the time of the SlasBacks?

Edited by Hauser, 02 March 2014 - 11:38 AM.

[Sug]

I hear 400 machine guns is an awesome loadout.

[Escef]

I don't respect any weapon, but I respect the capabilities of those that demonstrate skill in using them.

[Nick Makiaveli]

Hauser, on 02 March 2014 - 11:32 AM, said:

They are situational.


By talking about "respecting" a weapon you kinda miss the point. Weapons are tools to help solve a problem. The mighty hammer isn't better then a screwdriver. The screwdriver can put screws into wood, a hammer can hammer both screws and nails into wood.

I think you miss the point.

Many people didn't think they were useful at all.

Hammer a screw and it won't hold for long as it rips a huge hole rather than slipping between fibers.

That said, this is more about why have a small "lady's" hammer when you can have a larger, heavier carpenter's hammer? Because, as you said, they are both useful, but in any given situation one might outdo the other. Need to drive a 16 penny nail? Good luck with a small, light hammer, but try putting in a finishing nail with a large hammer.....

Sug, on 02 March 2014 - 11:38 AM, said:

I hear 400 machine guns is an awesome loadout.

Had a buddy put like 18 on a Charger in TT....people laughed until they realized that was 36 damage a turn with no heat.

[Deathlike]

Short answer: No
Long answer: Still don't.

There's still no reason to run with Small Lasers. It's Medium Lasers or die laughing.

[C E Dwyer]

Cycling s las music to my firestarter ears

slasbacks were to slow and large, ballistic meta means they die out of range slasjacks almost worked, I think the FS is the first mech to make them truly useful, and not just added because you couldn't control your heat with Mlas

Edited by Cathy, 02 March 2014 - 11:47 AM.

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

I've used SLs on Jenner builds (used to dominate with a 4 SL 2 SRM4 D build but SRM hit detection going away has killed that build for now), I've run Slunchbacks (Mlunchbacks are simply better now), and I have SLs on my Firestarter K (6 SL in the arm is brutal but risky).

The SL could use a 120/240 range bracket (SPL should go to 100/200), but aside from that they do good work if you have the right carrier for them, and light mechs with too many energy hardpoints are the best platform for SL builds.

[Amsro]

Nah they still kind of suck, even the small laser too, just when you have 8 of them its kinda ok at high speed.

[Thiak]

i dont use SLas, even with the Firestarter, they have way too limited use

[Bishop Steiner]

I used them on Jenners since closed beta. And ran a HBK-4P called the "Sewing Machine" with 7 SPLasers and 2 Large for a long time.

[Sephlock]

Bishop Steiner, on 02 March 2014 - 03:24 PM, said:

I used them on Jenners since closed beta. And ran a HBK-4P called the "Sewing Machine" with 7 SPLasers and 2 Large for a long time.

Closed beta doesn't count . Everyone tried the slasback!

[Bishop Steiner]

Amsro, on 02 March 2014 - 01:56 PM, said:

Nah they still kind of suck, even the small laser too, just when you have 8 of them its kinda ok at high speed.

a single ac2 or single ac5 kinda suck. But add them in pairs, or with the right back up weapons and they are very useful. Same with small lasers. The thing is you need something that can get up close fast to use them, but once there, en masses, (like MG) they are useful.

Sephlock, on 02 March 2014 - 03:27 PM, said:

Closed beta doesn't count . Everyone tried the slasback!

actually ran that HBK on the last Medium Vs the World tournament. Hit top 10 with it before having to get a life and do real stuff.

[El Death Smurf]

if you only have 4 tons and 4 energy slots, use medium lasers. due to range limitations smalls are not that great.
HOWEVER I do rather love small lasers when all I have is 2 tons left and 4 energy slots and I can work around the range limitations. I have a blackjack that I do love that has 6 smalls and 2 ERLL. 6 smalls is far more effective than 2 large lasers when within 100m.

[Ngamok]

Sephlock, on 02 March 2014 - 10:32 AM, said:

PEW! PEW! PEW! PEW! PEW! TIMMMMBERRR!

Nice run by suicide run the other day.

[Sephlock]

Ngamok, on 02 March 2014 - 03:59 PM, said:

Nice run by suicide run the other day.

<3.

[Commander Binz]

Sug, on 02 March 2014 - 11:38 AM, said:

I hear 400 machine guns is an awesome loadout.

I now respect Machine Guns.

[HlynkaCG]

Hauser, on 02 March 2014 - 11:32 AM, said:

edit: Besides, weren't you around in the time of the SlasBacks?

Can't speak for the OP but I have always respected the small laser.

[Hauser]

Nick Makiaveli, on 02 March 2014 - 11:42 AM, said:

I think you miss the point.

Many people didn't think they were useful at all.

Hammer a screw and it won't hold for long as it rips a huge hole rather than slipping between fibers.

That said, this is more about why have a small "lady's" hammer when you can have a larger, heavier carpenter's hammer? Because, as you said, they are both useful, but in any given situation one might outdo the other. Need to drive a 16 penny nail? Good luck with a small, light hammer, but try putting in a finishing nail with a large hammer.....

Had a buddy put like 18 on a Charger in TT....people laughed until they realized that was 36 damage a turn with no heat.

People didn't think them useful at all because the platform on which they could be useful didn't exist.

Cathy, on 02 March 2014 - 11:43 AM, said:

Cycling s las music to my firestarter ears

slasbacks were to slow and large, ballistic meta means they die out of range slasjacks almost worked, I think the FS is the first mech to make them truly useful, and not just added because you couldn't control your heat with Mlas

Slashbacks weren't slow in closed beta before the engine ratings were capped. It was also before HSR so at 140kph (IIRC) the hunch had great survivability.

[xengk]

SL are good if you have the speed to close the range.
Great for fast light that can dodge in and out of melee range, the faster cooldown and duration lets you fire them more often and more concentrated on a component.
Like MG, they can be terrifying when stacked.

I pack 4 of them on my BJ1DC for point defend and last game mop up.
For the same weight and heat of a pair of ML, I get 2 more damage and more frequent shots for a lost of range, which a fast BJ can make up for.