109 replies to this topic

[Pr8Dator]

I would agree that the Large Pulse Laser is totally obsolete in an omni mech, no hardpoints limit, scenario. In practise, I have large pulse lasers on two of my fav mechs due to hardpoint restrictions.

[Tempered]

Warlune, on 11 December 2012 - 06:30 AM, said:

Pulse lasers should have a chance to crit with each pulse.

Makes sense to me!

They do.

[Pr8Dator]

Tempered, on 11 December 2012 - 04:44 PM, said:

They do.

By EACH pulse or as a whole?

[Ryebear]

Each 'tick' of damage has a crit chance (as far as I know). Im assuming ticks are either 1 damage/10 ticks in 0.75s, or 1.25 per tick/1 tick every 0.1s with a final tick at the end.

Either way, doesnt actually have improved crit utility over any other beam type weapon.

[SiR DreW]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...echlab#modified

Going to try this out tonight, ive rolled in the 4xLL(STD engine) cata a lot. I'll be intrested to see how diffrent this one plays out.


SiR-DreW

[Xenosphobatic]

The only thing about a LPL that I'd change would be the range, as it stands, the range vs weight does not make sense, especially since you can load either a PPC or ERPPC with the same weight and one more slot.

[Coolant]

Xenosphobatic, on 13 March 2013 - 09:55 AM, said:

The only thing about a LPL that I'd change would be the range, as it stands, the range vs weight does not make sense, especially since you can load either a PPC or ERPPC with the same weight and one more slot.

Slots are an issue, and PPC's are hotter, especially when you really need to go with the ERPPC's that are considerably hotter because of the minimum 90m range of the PPC's.

[EyeOne]

Digging up old threads today.

The LPL is awesome. But it has a different role. I wouldn't want a PPC in the same place if I was making a brawler mech. The LPL is better for putting lots of damage exactly where you want it in a tight fight. Since the heat reduction I've been using them a lot more. Both my Atlas and Stalker builds are based on LPLs (2 on the Atlas and 3 on my Stalker). I've had great success with them.

[Sug]

For all the disadvantages they have the beam duration should be reduced to 0.50 seconds.

that 0.25 reduction is nice but it doesn't quite equate to the -2 to hit in TT.

[Monky]

They are niche but they aren't bad. If you have the tonnage and heat capacity and very few energy hardpoints, they are great close in weapons, two add up to basically an AC20 hit. On my current mechs I find myself using the utility of normal larges for their longer ranges more than I would benefit from the close range accuracy of large pulses.

I am willing to agree that they could stand a beam time duration tweak (small and medium pulses as well - small at 0.25 seconds, large at 0.40 seconds, medium at 0.55 seconds). Total time to refire should be tweaked to remain the same though.

Edited by Monky, 13 March 2013 - 11:03 AM.

[Dishevel]

SiR DreW, on 13 March 2013 - 09:51 AM, said:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...echlab#modified

Going to try this out tonight, ive rolled in the 4xLL(STD engine) cata a lot. I'll be intrested to see how diffrent this one plays out.


SiR-DreW

Could you have found a more dead thread to resurrect?

[SiR DreW]

Meh, im at work.

[Vasces Diablo]

I use them as a back up weapon on my LRM mech. Great for putting damage on fast moving light harassers. Yes, med pulse is more efficiant, but when your in a stalker and can't track a sprinting commando as easily, you have to lay on the damage when you get the chance.

[Angus McBeef]

SmoothCriminal, on 11 December 2012 - 06:32 AM, said:

hmm 1 LPL or 1LL + 2 heat sinks? Once you start putting fire on a target the initial DPS increase is irrelevant as the heat builds. Burst DPS is an undesirable trait because, at close range, chances are youve moved in for the kill anyhow.

Only use i can see for them is a hit and run medium/light, but the tonnage really restricts any actual use. I think the heat should be reduced, to counter the extra weight of the weapon anyhow (but this is a very tricky one).

I replaced two ML with an LPL on one of my Cicadas. I have have experienced no reduction in damage output while generating less heat. It's definitely not good for every chassis/build, but there's nothing wrong with that.

[xDeityx]

MustrumRidcully, on 11 December 2012 - 04:24 AM, said:

LPLs are too inefficient. The Large Laser got a lot of buffs that makes it comparable in damage/weight efficiency to other weapons in its range category, but the LPL is still far off.

The biggest drawback of the LPL may be - it just has 30m more range than a medium laser, but weighs 7 times as much, and has only 0.25 shorter beam duration, and twice the damage. I just can't think of a play style or a build where it wouldn't be better to simply just install 2 Medium Lasers and more heat sinks. Maybe if you have only 2 energy hardpoints? But then you hopefully have ballistic or missile hard points - put something more powerful in those.

This is a great analysis and is the crux of the LPL issue for me.

If I'm min/maxing a build to get the most out of it, LPLs don't even cross my mind. Sometimes I just like using LPLs though, so I might force them onto an unoptimal build for the hell of it. They certainly wipe the floor with the medium laser when it comes to sounding cool.

[Victor Morson]

Stardancer01, on 11 December 2012 - 03:45 AM, said:

using the standard large laser as our base point
would you consider the Large Pulse Laser an upgrade?
or do you ever design a mech with it in mind instead of a large laser?
The main advantages the Large Pulse Laser gets over the standard large laser
1, it dose 1point more damage per discharge
2, its damages 25% faster
3, it has a cool sound
The min disadvantages
1, it has 33% shorter range (450-300)
2, it has 2 points more heat (7-9)
3, it is 2 tons heaver (5-7)
Would be better if it were
lighter?
caused damage at twice the speed?
had a quicker recharge time?
made less heat?
or is it fine the way it is?

You're forgetting the main advantage of the LPL, which is Discharge Time. It discharges in a manner that, while not much faster on paper, makes the damage really stick to wherever you're hitting.

People like to say PLs need less skill because of the lore but in reality I think they're the brawling surgeon's tool of choice.

[XIRUSPHERE]

I run them with fairly good success as point defense weapons. I run a stalker 5s with dual AMS and 4 LPL and while it might not seem like much it can be fearsome. I will run with the heavies for AMS protection and while that .25 second duration bonus seems trivial it can turn the beams into a scalpel when aimed well. In my experience I find LPL to be the most efficient anti-light weapon there is. Even after state rewind and with a steady aim I find I am doing much more damage to lights with pulses rather than LL. All it takes is 1 to 2 volleys and you have practically knocked it out.

[Xinaoen]

The LPL is the highest DPS-per-hardpoint energy weapon that doesn't suffer from either the minimum range of a PPC or the massive waste heat of an ER PPC. Say what you will, there are going to be applications for that.

Example: this variant of the typical sniper 'Phract replaces the PPCs / ER PPCs with LPLs. This sacrifices range and spike damage, but maintains respectable pinpoint damage and vastly improves heat efficiency. In addition, the reduced critical space of the LPL enables the build to load both Ferro Fibrous and Endo Steel, freeing up enough tonnage for a 340XL Engine.

Edit: Double checked; with a Gauss and 2 LPL (and masteries unlocked), that 'Phract will run at an incredibly solid 1.59 Heat Efficiency - without needing any more DHS than the 13 in the engine.

Edited by Xinaoen, 13 March 2013 - 01:21 PM.

[Terradoss]

MustrumRidcully, on 11 December 2012 - 06:24 AM, said:

It's like they come from an entirely different game where these stats made sense...

Which is exactly why excessively strict adherence to balancing around these values is inherently flawed.

[Treckin]