25 replies to this topic

[1453 R]

The C-ERSL needs to go back up to 5 damage, and frankly the IS SL could use a damage bump too. Cutting its heat won't fix it, because then it still loses knife fights against medium lasers. The small laser should, ton for ton, clearly outperform the medium laser inside the small laser's given range (on both sides of the tech base), as elsewise there's no reason to use the small laser over the more generally useful medium laser. Medium lasers already drastically outperform large lasers ton-for-ton inside their given range envelop, with the large laser typically used only as a distance weapon, or to get more absolute performance out of limited numbers of energy hardpoints. Is there any particular reason small lasers aren't even remotely the same way? Is there any reason someone shouldn't be worried if an enemy gets within SL range of them?

4x C-ERSL on my Stormcrows used to be an excellent close-range dagger for backing up heavier, longer-ranged weapons like the C-ERPPC; they could outperform the medium lasers solidly enough inside their range basket that there was a real choice involved in their use. In the early days of the Clan release I honestly preferred a mix of heavy weapons with small lasers as a backup. Nowadays there's really no reason at all to use the small lasers, on either side. If the SL does outperform the ML inside its given range basket, it's by such a slim margin that the loss of the ML's extra range and general utility isn't worth the mediocre gains in close combat.

The small laser should be a very real contender for brawlers, strikers, or assassin lights. The fact that it's not a contender for anyone in any role bothers me.

[Angel of Annihilation]

CrushLibs, on 28 September 2014 - 11:24 AM, said:

Just drop the heat from 3 to 2.5 otherwise why even own one.

example to 2 CER small vs. 1 CER med.

range 150m vs 400m = -63%
Crits 2 vs 1 = - 50%
Tonnage 1 vs. 1 = 0%
Heat 6 vs. 6 = 0%
Damage 7 vs 8 = + 12%

So less than 1/2 the range , twice the crits , and barely anymore damage = WORTHLESS

I understand the nerf from 5 dmg to 4 that was needed but heat needs to come down to make the small lasers worth considering.

How about lets un-nerf C-ER MLs as well. 6 heat is crippling for a Nova and going to be even more crippling for mechs like the Ice Ferret and Mist Lynx who are going to be reliant on this weapon while not being able to mount enough DHS to cool them.

Change it back down to 5 heat and nerf damage from 7 to 6. Problem solved. C-ER ML now become more like IS MLs as far as damage and heat while being cool enough you can run 3 of them on 10-12 DHS just like IS mechs can.

[Fuggles]

yeah its so sad seeing novas running around with 2-3 erll or 2 erppcs.

[Alistair Winter]

I don't have anything to add. For the life of me, I can't understand why PGI hates the weapons below.

• IS small lasers
  
• IS small pulse lasers
  
• IS medium pulse lasers
  
• Clan ER small lasers
  
• Clan small pulse laser

Even the IS LPL's were nerfed unnecessarily, during the days where LL's and PPC's were dominant and not a lot of people were using LPLs to begin with. PGI has had several incidents of nerfing energy weapons that didn't need nerfing at all, by any account. It's kind of surprising they haven't nerfed flamers yet.

Anyway. Russ, if you're reading. Do the right thing. Give us some more diversity. Give us a reason to boat small lasers again. Bring the Nova back.

[Coolant]

agree with OP....please buff both Clan small lasers and IS small laser regular and pulse. The range makes them unusable in MWO's heavily lop-sided long range warfare...

[Felio]

Problem: The Nova Prime is OP with 12 ER Small Lasers.
Solution: Nerf the ER Small Laser.