9 replies to this topic

[DONALD KERENSKY TRUMP]

by that what I mean is that like for example one laser has a duration of 1.5 second we can cut that off if we let go of the firing button and of course the damage should also be less

I am not sure if it will be very hard to program or it would introduce unbalance to the game

[InfinityBall]

What, to reduce the heat created? to avoid shooting an ally in the back?

[Jay Leon Hart]

May I interest you in a Bombast Laser?

[Paigan]

DONALD KERENSKY TRUMP, on 30 September 2017 - 06:56 AM, said:

by that what I mean is that like for example one laser has a duration of 1.5 second we can cut that off if we let go of the firing button and of course the damage should also be less

I am not sure if it will be very hard to program or it would introduce unbalance to the game

I can help with that:
In "well" written code, such a change is a matter of seconds.
In "okay" written code, it's a matter of minutes, with testing maybe hours.

For the usual commercial-level code, especially at PGI (where they are afraid of touching the code for ammo processing because no one understands it anymore), it is most probably a next to impossible thing to do.

As far as balance is concearned:
It would be a kind of buff for lasers, because it would make them more flexible.
Meaning it will never come for balancing reasons alone.

Good idea in principle, though.

Edited by Paigan, 30 September 2017 - 11:23 AM.

[Bombast]

...What? Did someone call me?

Edited by Bombast, 30 September 2017 - 11:23 AM.

[FupDup]

Like the Mechwarrior 3 Pulse Lasers? That could be a nice type of laser to have, but it should be its own separate weapon instead of applying to everything.

[Spheroid]

Yeah how about no. Having a constant fire info packet being sent to the server will just overload them like when boated machine guns first came out.

Controlling heat is far simpler if one just limits the size of the alpha.

Plus the precision of human reflexes really reaches a limit beyond a certain cooldown. If lasers had a huge duration like 5-10 second the contribution of human fire control might be worth while. Certainly not a medium lasers or pulse though.

Edited by Spheroid, 30 September 2017 - 01:06 PM.

[Koniving]

InfinityBall, on 30 September 2017 - 07:57 AM, said:

What, to reduce the heat created? to avoid shooting an ally in the back?

Both actually sound good.
In BT TacOps (or is it Strat Ops?)
and by extension a selectable rule in Megamek based on that written rule, you can decrease the power output of your lasers. This has a few utilities, such as:

• wanting to disable units without outright killing them such as a mobile capture objective.
  
• Not wasting unnecessary energy (fuel-cell engine) or generate unnecessary heat to accomplish the firing solution (i.e. firing on infantry and you don't need the full 30 damage dealt by your one small laser, as just 10 or 20 is more than plenty).
  
• Firing in areas of high flammable risk, as missing with full strength lasers are much more likely to start unwanted fires. Particularly if such could create an explosion of 180 meters or greater and you happen to be in that radius.

I'm certain there are several other reasons for it but I haven't encountered them yet. Cutting off the laser while firing into an ally's back would be very useful, though.

[MechaBattler]

Would this cause problems for hit reg though?

[Athom83]

If PGI do ever inplement the experimental weapons, then the bombast laser could do what you're asking. Hold it down to charge and fire, and once the timespan needed for 7 damage goes by you can release the fire button to turn off the beam while holding it will continue to do damage. Would be interesting, but rarely used, in game.